Music History Today: March 30, 2023

March 30, 1996: The German Eurodance duo La Bouche debuted on the US music chart with "Sweet Dreams."

"Sweet Dreams" by La Bouche reached Number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 3 on US Hot Dance Club Play.

La Bouche

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American entertainment company BuzzFeed ranked "Sweet Dreams" number 53 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s" in 2017. 

Read more: Wikipeida

March 30, 1957: Buddy Knox became the first rock and roll artist to write his number-one hit, "Party Doll."

Just 1,500 copies of the record were pressed, but when a DJ in Amarillo began playing the tune in 1956, "Party Doll" became a regional hit.

Buddy Knox 

The record was picked up by Morris Levy's Roulette label in New York and given a national release. Following a memorable rendition by Buddy Knox and his group on the Ed Sullivan Show, the song topped radio playlists coast-to-coast and rose to the top of the Top 100 chart. 

Read more: Songfacts

March 30, 1971: Jethro Tull released "Locomotive Breath" from the album Aqualung in Europe.

The locomotive in Jethro Tull's hit "Locomotive Breath" is a Classic Rock staple.

Jethro Tull

It took a few attempts to record this song, as frontman Ian Anderson had to impress on the band that, musically, it was supposed to feel like a train on the tracks, not one that goes off and explodes. Restraining the drummer is always a challenge when performing this song.  

Read more: Songfacts

 

March 30, 1988: The film Beetlejuice, with a memorable scene involving shrimp and Harry Belafonte, opened in US theaters. 

March 30, 1991: "I Touch Myself" by the Divinyls entered the top 40 section Of Billboard's Hot 100 on the way to Number 4.

Singer Christina Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee wrote "I Touch Myself" with the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, who has a knack for writing hit songs for female vocalists. They also wrote "I'll Stand By You," "Like A Virgin," "Eternal Flame," "True Colors," and "So Emotional."  

Read more: Songfacts

Sweet Dreams
La Bouche