Music History Today: September 1, 2022

September 1, 1984: After a 25-year career, Tina Turner had her first solo Number 1 single in the US with "What's Love Got To Do With It."

“What’s Love Got to Do With It” marked the rise of Tina Turner’s solo career.

Tina Turner

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The singer released the track from Private Dancer to great success. And not only did it receive critical acclaim, but it also won Turner her first solo Grammy Award. 

Read more: Cheat Sheet

September 1, 1962: The Springfields moved into the Top 40 section of Billboard's Hot 100 with "Silver Threads and Golden Needles."

The Springfields were a Peter, Paul & Mary-style folk trio of Dusty Springfield, her brother Tom, and their friend Tim Field. "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" was originally recorded by Wanda Jackson in 1956. The Springfields heard Jackson's version and recorded their own. 

Read more: Songfacts

September 1, 1972: David Bowie released "John, I'm Only Dancing" in the UK. The song was not released in the US until 1976.

"John, I’m Only Dancing" was David Bowie’s follow-up to the hit single "Starman." 

David Bowie

 Standalone singles were common in the 1960s and 1970s, when artists and management sought to give their fans value for money by not endlessly issuing songs as singles which were already available on albums. The practice mostly died out in the 1980s. 

Read more: The Bowie Bible

September 1, 1976: Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album, released in September 1975, was close to spending one year on the UK chart. 

Pink Floyd released Wish You Were Here in the wake of the massive commercial success of The Dark Side of The Moon.

David Gilmour Los Angeles 1975

Before The Dark Side of the Moon, the Floyd was a popular progressive rock band with a cult following. The Dark Side of the Moon made the Floyd mainstream rock superstars. 

Read more: Festival Peak

September 1, 1977: Rush released their fifth album, A Farewell to Kings. 

On 1977's A Farewell to Kings it quickly becomes apparent that Rush had improved their songwriting and strengthened their focus and musical approach.

 

Synthesizers also mark their first prominent appearance on a Rush album, a direction the band would continue to pursue on future releases. With the popular hit single "Closer to the Heart," the trio showed that they could compose concise and traditionally structured songs. 

Read more: Allmusic

What's Love Got To Do With It
Tina Turner