Music History Today: June 2, 2023

June 2, 1975: The Bee Gees released their first disco album, "Main Course."

Music History Today: April 14, 2023

April 14, 2001: Staind entered Billboard's Hot 100 on the way to Number 5 with "It's Been Awhile."

"It's Been Awhile" was a monster hit for Staind, spending 20 weeks atop Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Staind

Music History Today: March 17, 2023

March 17, 2015: Postmodern Jukebox uploaded a European Tour version of Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass."

Music History Today: February 23, 2023

February 23, 2017: A live-action movie adaptation of Disney's 1991 animated film Beauty and the Beast premiered at Spencer House in London with a new version of the title song, performed by Ariana Grande and John Legend. 

Music History Today: February 8, 2023

February 8, 2004: Pink won her first solo Grammy Award when her single "Trouble" was named Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. 

Music History Today: January 21, 2023

January 21, 1978: The defining soundtrack of the disco era, Saturday Night Fever, began a 24-week run at the top of the US album chart.

Saturday Night Fever is the second-biggest-selling soundtrack of all time, after The Bodyguard.

Music History Today: December 22, 2022

December 22, 2004: A film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera opened in the US. 

Directed by Joel Schumacher, The Phantom of the Opera stars Gerard Butler, who had no singing experience.

Music History Today: December 14, 2022

December 14, 1977: The film Saturday Night Fever opened in theaters. 

The Bee Gees had written "Stayin' Alive," "Night Fever," "How Deep Is Your Love," "If I Can't Have You," and "More Than a Woman" for what would have been the follow-up album to Children of the World.

Music History Today: October 11, 2022

October 11, 2003: Fountains of Wayne's break-out hit, "Stacy's Mom," entered Billboard's Hot 100 at Number 59.

Despite achieving moderate success, Fountains of Wayne had to consider their future after being dropped by Atlantic Records following 1999’s Utopia Parkway.

Fountains of Wayne

Music History Today: May 27, 2022

May 27, 1977: Supertramp released "Give a Little Bit" from their album Even in the Quietest Moments...

The title of Even in the Quietest Moments... isn't much of an exaggeration. This 1977 album finds Supertramp indulging in some of their quietest moments, spending almost the album in a subdued mood. 

Music History Today: April 21, 2022

April 21, 1990: "Nothing Compares 2 U," by Sinéad O'Connor, began a 4-week run at Number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 single chart.

Music History Today: January 30, 2022

January 30, 1988: REM entered Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart with  "It's the End of the World as We Know It."

“It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” was built from the melody of an earlier, more straightforward R.E.M. track, 1985’s “Bad Day.”

Music History Today: October 3, 2021

October 3, 1981: Two months after MTV's debut, Blue Öyster Cult's "Burnin' For You" reaches its peak of number 40 in the US thanks to a video shot in a Los Angeles culvert. 

"Burnin' for You" by Blue Öyster Cult was released as the lead single from the band's eighth studio album, Fire of Unknown Origin. 

Music History Today: July 24, 2021

July 24, 1971: "Walk Away" by the James Gang peaked at Number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Joe Walsh has been a part of many a band, and also delved in solo ventures. The singer-songwriter was also an amazing guitarist, and showcased his arsenal with his time in the James Gang.

James Gang

Music History Today: July 22, 2021

July 22, 1978: "Time for Me to Fly" by REO Speedwagon makes its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

REO Speedwagon front-man Kevin Cronin recalled the 10-year delay between starting to write “Time for Me to Fly” and completing the song.

Music History Today: June 9, 2021

June 9, 1979:  Bee Gees were at the top of the US music chart with  "Love You Inside Out." 

“Love You Inside Out,” the Bee Gees’ final #1 single, peaked on the charts a few weeks before the Chicago Disco Demolition Night, the event that at least crystallized the long-brewing disco backlash. 

Bee Gees 1979

Music History Today: March 24, 2021

March 24, 2001: Crazy Town had the Number 1 song with "Butterfly."

Writing a completely sincere love song is difficult – without the protective layers of irony, metaphor and bravado, laying one’s heart bare is an extraordinarily hard thing to do, rendering oneself emotionally vulnerable. 

Music History Today: January 12, 2021

January 12, 1980: Bee Gees Greatest was the number 1 album.

"There is a spirituality about this album and these songs always meant the most to us. So, it is extraordinary that it came together in such a natural way."

Music History Today: January 5, 2021

January 5, 1969: Marilyn Manson was born Brian Hugh Warner in Canton, Ohio. 

Known for his outrageous outfits and on-stage antics, Marilyn Manson is an American goth-rock performer who has been protested and boycotted because of his perceived 'dark' views.

Marilyn Manson

Music History Today: December 24, 2020

December 24, 1818: A church choir in Austria introduced a new Christmas song for their Midnight Mass: "Stille Nacht!" better known as "Silent Night."

On Christmas Eve in 1818, a preist named Joseph Mohr asked his friend Franz Xaver Gruber, an organist and teacher, to compose a melody to a poem he had written two years earlier. Happy with the results, Mohr included the song in a short ceremony following Christmas Mass that same evening.