Music History Today: October 20, 2022

October 20, 1984: Madonna topped out at Number 4 on the US music chart with "Lucky Star."

Written by Madonna, "Lucky Star" was her first single from her debut album.

Madonna

(sign up to follow by email) 

It went nowhere, but was successfully re-released six months later after "Holiday" became a hit. The success the second time around was largely because of the video, which MTV put in hot rotation. 

Read more: Songfacts

October 20,  1962: Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Crypt Kickers started a two week run at Number 1 on the US singles chart with "Monster Mash."

October 20, 1973: Chicago moved into the top 40 section of Billboard's Hot 100 with "Just You 'n' Me."

The second single released from their fifth studio album Chicago VI, "Just You 'n' Me"  was more successful than the first single, "Feelin' Stronger Every Day." The track reached Number 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Number 1 on Cash Box. 

Read more: Wikipedia

October 20, 1979: The Eagles started a nine week run at Number 1 on the US album chart with "The Long Run." 

The Eagle's "The Long Run" album title song kicks things off.

Right from the jump, the group forges a sonic masterpiece with just enough of this, a bit of that, splashed in this standard pop/rock tune, including bluesy guitar riffs, horns, and vocal choruses. 

Read more: Classic Rock Review

 

October 20, 2001: The highest entry into Billboard's Hot 100, at Number 54, belonged to Backstreet Boys with "Drowning."

Written by Andreas Carlsson, Linda Thompson and Rami Yacoub, "Drowning" was the only new song included on The Backstreet Boys 2001 Greatest Hits album. The song opens with a piano intro that sounds a lot like "Right Here Waiting," a hit for Richard Marx in 1989. 

Read more: Songfacts

Lucky Star
Madonna