Music History Today: May 12, 2022

May 12, 1998: Matchbox 20 released the single "Real World."

Matchbox 20's "Real World" was initially ineligible to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 due to not receiving a physical release in North America. 

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Instead, it peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart in August 1998. However, in December 1998, the Hot 100 chart rules were changed to allow airplay-only singles to chart, and "Real World" became the band's first single to enter the listing, debuting and peaking at number 38. 

Read more: Wikipedia

May 12, 1973: Jim Stafford's "Swamp Witch" entered Billboard's Hot 100 chart. 

Jim Stafford's self-titled debut album gave him four Top 40 chart singles, with the school-boyish charm of "Spiders and Snakes" reaching the highest at number three in July of 1973. His friendly voice and novelty style of songwriting actually carried some well-deserved weight, especially throughout the lesson-teaching lightheartedness of "Swamp Witch," a well-crafted story song. 

Read more: Allmusic

May 12, 1979: David Naughton moved into the Top 40 of Billboard's single's chart with "Makin’ It."

David Naughton's first and only musical release, "Makin' It," was the theme song for the television series, starring Naughton, of the same name 

David Naughton

It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris, the team also responsible for Gloria Gaynor's #1 hit "I Will Survive" and Peaches and Herb's #5 hit "Shake Your Groove Thing" and #1 hit "Reunited". It appeared in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 16 weeks, and in the top 10 for five weeks. It peaked at number 5 for two weeks. 

Read more: Wikipedia

May 12, 1984: Billy Idol's "Eyes Without a Face" made a big move, from 63 to 40, his second week on the American music chart.

Billy Idol was inspired to create the track by the influential 1960 French horror movie of the same name.

Billy Idol

The film tells the story of a plastic surgeon who kidnaps young women to use parts of their anatomy to rebuild his daughter, who was disfigured in a car crash. The film is referenced via the backing vocal “les yeux sans visage,” its original-language title. 

Read more: Ultimate Classic Rock

May 12, 1990: Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville start the climb up the Top 100 in the US with a cover of "When Something is Wrong with My Baby."

"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" is a classic hit song, a soul ballad, written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. It was first released in 1967 by Sam & Dave on Stax Records. It was covered by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville as a Top Five duet in from the 1990 Triple Platinum album Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind. 

Read more: Wikipedia

Matchbox 20
Real World