Music History Today: January 12, 2022

January 12, 1974: The Steve Miller Band topped the Billboard singles chart with "The Joker."

“Some people call me the space cowboy. Some call me the gangster of love.”

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Those opening lyrics sure sound like an introduction, but Steve Miller wasn’t really introducing himself. He had already been around, as the front man of the Steve Miller Band, for nearly a decade. 

Read more: Musicoholics

January 12, 1963: The Rooftop Singers enter the American Top 40 with "Walk Right In."

"Walk Right In" was written by two members of The Jug Stompers who used to perform at medicine shows: Gus Cannon (banjo, jug) and Hosie Woods (guitar, kazoo). 

The Rooftop Singers

The Rooftop Singers were Erik Darling, Bill Svanoe and Lynne Taylor. Darling, formerly of the Tarriers ("Cindy Oh Cindy," "The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)") and the Weavers (he replaced Pete Seeger). 

Read more: Songfacts

January 12, 1974: Paul McCartney and Wings make it to number 10 in the US with "Helen Wheels."

In the book "Paul McCartney: In His Own Words" published in 1976, McCartney said: “Helen Wheels is our land rover. It’s a name we gave to our land rover, which is a trusted vehicle that gets us around Scotland.

Paul McCartney & Wings

It takes us up to the Shetland Islands and down to London. The song starts off in Glasgow, and it goes past Carlisle, goes to Kendal, Liverpool, Birmingham and London. It’s the route coming down from our Scottish farm to London, so it’s really the story of the trip down." 

Read more: Paul McCartney Project

January 12, 1981: John Lennon released the single "Woman" from his album Double Fantasy in the US.

Lennon wrote "Woman" as an ode to his wife Yoko Ono. He regarded it as the most Beatles-like track on his Double Fantasy album and he called it the '80s update of "Girl," which is a track on Rubber Soul. 

Read more: Songfacts

January 12, 1976: "Wanted! The Outlaws," a compilation album including songs by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Jessi Colter, was released. 

Wanted! The Outlaws marked the industry's recognition of the changing times, and as the center point of a campaign to publicize Nashville's new "progressive" breed, it worked like a charm. It quickly became the first country album to sell more than a million copies, and it boosted the careers of all involved. 

Read more: Allmusic

The Joker
Steve Miller Band