Music History Today: November 24, 2021

November 24, 1976: The Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser collaboration Wanted! The Outlaws becomes the first country album certified Platinum.

The term "outlaw" had been bandied about after Waylon Jennings' 1972 hit "Ladies Love Outlaws," but it didn't permanently gel until the release of the album Wanted! The Outlaws in 1976.

Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings

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It marked the industry's recognition of the changing times as the center point of a campaign to publicize Nashville's new "progressive" breed. 

Read more: Allmusic

November 24, 1979: "Message In a Bottle" by The Police enters the US music chart.

Released as a single a week and a half before Reggatta de Blanc (on which it was the opening track), Message In A Bottle was an immediate smash in the UK, becoming the group’s first No.1 single.

Subsequently it also topped the charts in Ireland and Spain, but reached only No.74 in the US – which would eventually become one of The Police’s strongholds. It wasn’t until 1983 that the trio hit No.1 in the US, with Every Breath You Take. 

Read more: Louder Sound

November 24, 1973 : Cheech & Chong debut on the Billboard Hot 10 chart with "Sister Mary Elephant."

"Sister Mary Elephant," a comedy skit by Cheech and Chong, appeared on the duo's second album, Big Bambu, released in 1972. It was re-released as a single in 1973 and climbed to No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1974, making it the only non-music, spoken word recording to ever make it into the Top 40. 

Read more: Wikipedia

November 24, 1984: Tina Turner makes it to the US Top 5 with "Better Be Good to Me."

Better Be Good To Me is a rock song, originally from the US band Spider and the fourth single from the album Private Dancer. 

Tina Turner

Tina promoted the song at several TV-Shows in Europe and America and performed it live at every concert tour. Live versions are available on the album Live In Europe from 1988 and TINA Live from 2009.  

Read more: The World of Tina

November 24, 1990: "More Than Words Can Say" becomes a Top 3 US hit, peaking at number 2, for Alias.

"More Than Words Can Say" was written, arranged and co-produced by former Sheriff vocalist and bandleader Freddy Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi. Their dissolved band had hit #1 with "When I'm With You," and the other band members refused to come back together. Curci and DeMarchi joined ex-Heart members, guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen, and drummer Mike DeRosier to form Alias.  

Read more: Songfacts

Good Hearted Woman
Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson