Thursday, July 29, 2021

Music History Today: July 30, 2021

July 30, 1988: The Number 1 song this week was Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy."
Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy” became the ultimate left-field #1, 30 years ago this week. The first chart-topper without any instrumentation, it sounded, almost by definition, unlike anything else on the radio.
Bobby McFerrin
Bobby McFerrin
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It was a phrase popularized by Meher Baba, an Indian spiritual master who had developed a sizable American following prior to his death in 1969. I say “phrase” and not “saying” because, in 1925, Meher Baba ceased speaking. “Don’t worry, be happy” was something he would send his Western adherents, and because they were Western, the phrase started appearing on posters and cards. 
Read more: Stereogum
July 30, 1966: Tommy Roe reached Number 8 with "Sweet Pea."
"Sweet Pea was a comeback single for Roe as it was his first Top 40 hit in two years. was recorded in Los Angeles with some of the top studio musicians of the day: Ben Benay and Mike Deasy on guitar, Jerry Scheff on bass, Jim Troxel and Toxie French on drums, and Butch Parker and Mike Henderson on keyboards. 
Read more: Songfacts

July 30, 1977: "I’m in You" by Peter Frampton peaked at Number 2 on the US music chart.
How do you follow a career-changing, era-defining phenomenon like Frampton Comes Alive!?

,Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton

Peter Frampton spent several months in several studios working on that particular challenge, before unveiling his answer on May 28, 1977. The album was I’m In You, a record that brought the British guitarist and songwriter continuing prominence on both the LP and singles charts. Producing himself as usual, Frampton recorded it at three equally celebrated New York studios, Electric Lady, the Record Plant and the Hit Factory. 
Read more: U Discover Music

 

July 30, 1983: In its first week, Asia debuts halfway up the Top 100 chart at Number 50 with "Don't Cry."
In a 1983 radio interview, keyboardist Geoff Downes said, "'Don't Cry' was the last song we wrote for the album. We actually wrote it in a bit of a hurry, because we felt we didn't have the right track to kick the album off with. I had an idea, John [Wetton] had another idea, and we cemented them together." 
Read more: Songfacts

 

July 30, 1988: "Roll With It" by Steve Winwood was the new Number 1 song.
By 1988, Steve Winwood had been doing pantomime for more than half his life.  

Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood
With the Spencer Davis Group, Winwood had been a British blues-rock child star. With Traffic and Blind Faith, Winwood stayed in the rock-establishment mix for decades. In the ’80s, Winwood made a conscious decision to play toward his mass-entertainer side, moving to New York and hiring a high-powered manager. 
Read more: Stereogum

 Don't Worry, Be Happy
Bobby McFerrin

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