Music History Today: February 24, 2022

February 24, 1997: The Wallflowers released the single "One Headlight."

The Wallflowers’ 1996 hit “One Headlight” wasn’t just a song choice that set a mood for the trailer of “The King of Staten Island.”

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It appears in the film itself, in a quick but telling barroom scene that gets at how near-strangers can bond over music… even if it’s music they don’t quite remember well enough to proficiently sing along with. 

Read more: Variety

February 24, 1968: Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart had a Top 10 hit when "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite" peaked at Number 8 on that chart.

Boyce & Hart, the songwriting and (later) performing team of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, are most famous for writing several of the Monkees' big hits, including "Last Train to Clarksville," "Valleri," and "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone."

Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart

Together and separately, they also wrote or contributed to hits by several other acts in the 1960s, including Freddy Cannon, Curtis Lee, Little Anthony & the Imperials, and Jay & the Americans. In 1967 they began recording on their own as a duo, landing a Top Ten hit the same year with "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite."  

Read more: Allmusic

February 24, 1973: Loudon Wainwright III entered the American Top 40 chart with a novelty tune, "Dead Skunk." 

"Dead Skunk" is a 1972 novelty song by Loudon Wainwright III. Musically. it's a simple folk song based on banjo, but accompanied by guitar, drums and fiddle. The lyrics describe a dead skunk in the middle of a busy road and the smell it produces for people as they drive by. Wainwright has said that the song came out of an actual accident involving a skunk, and that he wrote it afterward in 15 minutes. 

Read more: Wikipedia

February 24, 1996: Mary J. Blige's "Not Gon’ Cry" peaked at Number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

"Not Gon' Cry" by Mary J. Blige is from the soundtrack to the film Waiting to Exhale. The song is also featured on Blige's 1997 album, Share My World.

Mary J. Blige

It was written and produced by Babyface and became a major hit for Blige in the United States. Blige received her third Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (her first nomination in that category) at the 39th Grammy Awards in 1997 for the song. 

Read more: Wikipedia

February 24, 2001: "Stutter," by Joe featuring Mystikal, took over the top spot on Billboards singles chart.

"Stutter" refers to Joe's girlfriend, who comes home early in the morning while he wakes up and they discuss where she had been. She's "stuttering" because it seems she is lying to him about having an affair. 

Read more: Wikipedia

 

One Headlight
The Wallflowers