Music History Today: January 7, 2023

January 7, 1997: The Spice Girls' debut single "Wannabe" was released in the United States.

"Wannabe" by The Spice Girls was already a hit in the United Kingdom before it was released in the US.

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After reaching Number 1 on the UK Singles chart on July 27, 1966, it stayed for seven weeks. It topped the charts in the US and at least ten other countries, including Australia, Canada, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. 

Read more: Official Charts

January 7, 1967: Jack Greene entered Billboard's Hot 10 with "There Goes My Everything."

"There Goes My Everything" by Jack Greene peaked at 65 and spent seven weeks at the top of the US country music chart. The song won "Single of the Year" and "Song of the Year" at the first CMA Awards presentation. The accompanying album of the same title won "Album of the Year," and Greene won "Male Vocalist of the Year." 

Read more: Wikipedia

January 7, 1978: The sixth week on the US singles chart, Lynyrd Skynyrd entered the top 40 section with "What's Your Name."

"What's Your Name" by Lynyrd Skynyrd reached Number 13 on Billboard's Hot 100. The song is based on a true story. But the incident in this song didn't happen in Boise, Idaho. The original first line was  "It's 8 o'clock and boys, it's time to go," but lead singer Ronnie Van Zant changed it when he found out his brother, Donnie, was opening his first national tour with his band .38 Special in Boise. The first line became, "It's 8 o'clock in Boise, Idaho." 

Read more: Songfacts

January 7, 1994: Oasis started recording their debut album, Definitely Maybe, at Monnow Valley Studio in South Wales.

Definitely Maybe by Oasis was a commercial and critical success in the United Kingdom.

The album sold over 8.5 million copies worldwide and brought widespread critical acclaim. It went straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart and became the fastest-selling debut album in the UK. 

Read more: BBC

January 7, 2012: "The One That Got Away" from Katy Perry's album Teenage Dream hit Number 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, making the album the first in history with seven chart-toppers on that tally.

Wannabe
Spice Girls