Monday, August 23, 2021

Music History Today: August 23, 2021

August 23, 1980: David Bowie's "Ashes To Ashes" hit Number 1 on the UK chart.

In 1980, David Bowie was in the middle of a new kind of transformation. 

David Bowie "Ashes To Ashes"
David Bowie

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After launching himself to stardom in 1969 with his first hit single, "Space Oddity," he spent a decade morphing from Major Tom to Ziggy Stardust to Aladdin Sane to Halloween Jack to The Thin White Duke. By the end of the '70s, however, he dispensed with such alter egos. Instead, he absorbed them all into a single if mercurial persona, one known simply as David Bowie. And that persona hinged on "Ashes To Ashes." 

Read more: NPR

Aug. 23,  1969: Johnny Cash's album Johnny Cash At San Quentin hit Number 1 on the album chart as the single "A Boy Named Sue" peaked at Number 2 on the Billboard singles chart.

In 1969, just one year after furthering his proto-punk and outlaw image with famed live album At Folsom Prison, Johnny Cash visited another California correctional facility.

Johnny Cash At San Quentin
Johnny Cash

His February concert at San Quentin State Prison near San Francisco was filmed by Granada Television from the UK and recorded for the CBS/Columbia Records album At San Quentin. It remains a career-high point and a key reason why "A Boy Named Sue" became one of his best-known songs. 
Read more: Wide Open Country

 

August 23, 1975: Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds' "Fallin' in Love" hit number 1 in the US

In the history of the Billboard Hot 100, hundreds upon hundreds of artists have scored #1 singles. And none of them has used a name as ugly and ungainly as Hamilton, Joe Frank And Reynolds.  By the time they hit #1, drummer Tommy Reynolds had left the group in 1972, starting a career as a preacher instead. A guy named Alan Dennison stepped in to replace him. The trio changed their name to Hamilton, Joe Frank And Dennison and never had another hit. 
Read more: Stereogum

August 23, 2001: Linkin Park released "In the End" from the album Hybrid Theory.

“At the time of you asked somebody what they were listening to they’d say, ‘Rock. I listen to hip hop. I listen to jazz’. It wasn’t until five years later they’d say, ‘Everything’.

Linkin Park Hybrid Theory

Mike Shinoda is considering the legacy of Linkin Park’s  debut album, Hybrid Theory. “It did some of that work,” says the band’s rapper and songwriter proudly of that 20-million selling juggernaut. “It was part of the progression towards breaking down boundaries between styles of music.” 

Read more: Louder Sound

 

Aug. 23, 2014: Guardians Of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 hit the top of the Billboard 200 album chart.

Guardians Of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 works as a sampler of the soft rock and yacht rock hits that are familiar not only from constant exposure on the radio, but also their use in movies. "Hooked on a Feeling" played a pivotal role in Reservoir Dogs, "Spirit in the Sky" opened up Miami Blues, "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" was in Boogie Nights, and "Escape (The PiƱa Colada Song)" has been in countless films and TV shows. 
Read more: Allmusic 


Ashes To Ashes 
David Bowie

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