Music History Today: October 30, 2021

October 30, 1987: George Michael released his first solo album, Faith.

Just a cursory spin of his official solo debut is enough to spell out blockbuster even in non-music-biz minds. 

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It would be easy to dub George Michael the Elton John of the Eighties; too easy, because for all its craft and catchiness, Faith is grounded in a passion and personal commitment as palpable as the grinding bump beat of “I Want Your Sex.” And with this album, George finally proves once and for all that he’s no mere genius chart hack. 

Read more: Rolling Stone

October 30, 1965: The Toys peaked at Number 2 in the US with "A Lover's Concerto."

One of the last major hits of the original girl-group era was released in late 1965 by the Toys, a Queens-based teenage trio that got a relatively late start. 

The Toys

For the group’s first single, “A Lover’s Concerto,” writer/producers Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell came up with a clever gimmick, borrowing the melody of the familiar classical piece “Minuet in G Major” by Christian Petzold. 

Read more: Rebeat Mag

 

October 30, 1971: "Got to Be There" by Michael Jackson entered the Billboard hot 100 single charts.

"Got to Be There" is the debut solo single by Michael Jackson. 

 

The single became an immediate success, reaching number one on Cashbox's pop and R&B singles charts, while reaching number four on Billboard's pop and R&B singles charts. Released to select European countries, it also found success, reaching number five in the UK. 

Read more: Wikipedia

October 30, 1993: "All That She Wants" by Ace Of Base made it to Number 3 on the US music chart.

"All That She Wants" was the first hit for Ace Of Base.

Ace Of Base

A few months later, "The Sign" stayed at #1 in the US for six weeks. The whistling melody was originally heard at the end, but Denniz moved it to the introduction, making the song instantly recognizable. 

Read more: Songfacts

October 30, 1993: "What Is Love" by Haddaway peaked at Number 11 on the US Billboard singles chart.

What is love? Countless musicians have asked the question in one form or another—it’s basically the central thesis of every love song. Yet a Trinidadian-German singer named Nestor Alexander Haddaway monopolized it in 1993 with a Europop banger that more than 20 years later remains relentlessly catchy and far more profound than it ever had any right to be.  

Read more: AVC Club

I Want Your Sex

George Michael