Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Music History Today: March 17, 2022

March 17, 1984: Tracey Ullman had a Top 40 hit in the US when "They Don't Know" moved from Number 42 to 34 on the music chart.
"They Don't Know" is a song composed and first recorded in 1979 by Kirsty MacColl, which became a Top Ten hit via a 1983 recording by Tracey Ullman.

Tracey Ullman
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MacColl's "They Don't Know" reached number two on the Music Week airplay chart without generating sufficient sales to reach the UK Singles Chart.  Tracey Ullman reached number two on the UK Singles Chart with her recording. 
Read more: Wikipedia
March 17, 1970: Joe Cocker recorded "The Letter."

Joe Cocker was in the middle of rehearsals for the tour that would help define his early career, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, when he went into a studio in Los Angeles in March 1970. There, he cut his distinctive version of the Box Tops’ 1967 US No.1 “The Letter.” 
Read more: U Discover Music

March 17, 1973: Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show's "Cover of the 'Rolling Stone'" peaked at Number 6 on the American Top 10 chart.

Rolling Stone magazine was only five years old in 1972, as Dr. Hook looked ahead at its options, but it had already become a very big deal in the counterculture.

'Rolling Stone' cover of Dr. Hook and the Medicine

Coverage by the magazine could boost a band’s career while being ignored or shunned would paint a rock band as too unhip for consideration. “The Cover of the Rolling Stone,” with lead vocals by Sawyer, wasn’t quite serious but neither was it parody. 
Read more: Best Classic Bands

March 17, 1979: "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" by Bad Company entered Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

"Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" by the hard rock supergroup Bad Company was written by vocalist Paul Rodgers, and released as the first single from the group's fifth studio album Desolation Angels.

Bad Company's Desolation Angels album cover 

Inspired by a guitar synthesizer riff that Paul Rodgers had come up with, it's not the band's highest charting single in America but is their best selling, having been certified Gold by the RIAA. 
Read more: Wikipedia

March 17, 1990: "I Go to Extremes" peaked on the US chart at Number 6 for Billy Joel

"I Go To Extremes" is either a song about manic-depression (see also "Summer, Highland Falls"), an apology from Billy to Christie Brinkley for acting out, or probably a bit of both.  The message is simple and straightforward, the singer goes to extremes and does not know why. 
Read more: One Final Serenade

They Don't Know
Tracey Ullman

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