Music History Today: July 6, 2023

July 6, 1964: The Beatles' debut film, A Hard Day's Night, premiered at The Pavilion in London. 

Music History Today: June 26, 2023

June 26, 1974: Cher divorced Sonny Bono after ten years of marriage. Four days later, Cher married guitarist Gregg Allman. The couple split ten days later, got back together, and broke up again. They stayed married for three years, producing Elijah Blue Allman.

Cher

Music History Today: May 24, 2023

May 24, 1975: Supertramp first Billboard Hot 100 single, "Bloody Well Right," peaked at Number 35 after ten weeks on the chart. It failed to chart in the UK.

One theory on Supertramp's "Bloody Well Right" performance in their homeland is that Brits were still offended by the adjective "bloody" in 1975. These days it is considered a mild expletive at best worldwide. The track answers the previous song on the album, "School."

Music History Today: April 28, 2023

April 28, 2001: Dido peaked at Number 3 on Billboard's Hot 100 with "Thank You."

Dido wrote "Thank You" after meeting her boyfriend, a lawyer named Bob Page, in 1995 and falling for him hard. Eminem sampled the track on his 2000 hit "Stan," which uses the first verse as the hook.

Dido

Music History Today: April 20, 2023

April 20, 1973: David Bowie released his sixth studio album Aladdin Sane, the follow-up to his breakthrough The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Most of the tracks for Aladdin Sane were written on the road in the US and are influenced by Bowie's perceptions of America. The record features a more brutal, heavier glam rock sound than its predecessor. 

Music History Today: April 9, 2023

April 9, 2005: Green Day entered Billboard's Hot 100 with "Holiday."

"Holiday" by Green Day is about the American government and society during the Iraq War. It begins by commenting on how the thousands of dead Americans and Iraqis are nameless to the average American citizen.

Music History Today: March 26, 2023

March 26, 2004: Jan Berry of Jan & Dean died after a seizure eight days before his 63rd birthday.

When they met, Jan Berry was studying to be a doctor, and Dean Torrence was studying architecture and graphic design.

Jan & Dean

Music History Today: February 21, 2023

February 21, 1981: REO Speedwagon's ninth album, Hi Infidelity, replaced John Lennon's Double Fantasy atop Billboard's 200 album chart for the next 15 weeks.

Hi Infidelity hit commercial pay-dirt for the Illinois-based group REO Speedwagon.

Music History Today: January 30, 2023

January 30, 1999: Britney Spears topped the Billboard Hot 100 with her iconic debut single, "…Baby One More Time," and her debut album of the same name went Number 1.

"…Baby One More Time" was Britney Spears' first hit. The slick sound earned plenty of radio play, but the image of the 16-year-old schoolgirl made her a sensation.

Music History Today: January 26, 2023

January 26, 2014: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album with their debut album, The Heist.

The most commercially successful single released from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's debut album The Heist was  "Thrift Shop." It peaked at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Music History Today: January 8, 2023

January 8, 2016: David Bowie released his twenty-fifth and final studio album, Blackstar, on his 69th birthday. He died two days later.

Music History Today: January 3, 2023

January 3, 1976: The Scottish boy band Bay City Rollers saw their debut single, "Saturday Night," hit Number 1 in the US.

"Saturday Night" by the Bay City rollers got a huge publicity push.

Music History Today: December 25, 2022

December 25, 1982: David Bowie had a Number 3 UK hit with a duet with Bing Crosby, "Peace On Earth - Little Drummer Boy." 

David Bowie on the set of
Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth

Music History Today: December 17, 2022

December 17, 2012: Adele was named Billboard's top artist of 2012. Her record, 21, was named the top album of the year in the music magazine's annual review. The 24-year-old was the first to receive both honors two years in a row. 

Music History Today: November 28, 2022

November 28, 2000: David Bowie was crowned the musician's musician. Bowie beat The Beatles and alternative rockers Radiohead in a survey by the NME that asked hundreds of top rock and pop stars to name their biggest musical influence.

David Bowie Paris 1980

Music History Today: November 22, 2022

November 22, 1997: INXS front-man Michael Hutchence was found dead at age 37 in his Sydney hotel suite.

Michael Hutchence was found naked, kneeling, and facing his hotel room door with his belt secured to the automatic enclosure and tied around his neck. It appeared he’d died of an apparent suicide.

Music History Today: October 19, 2022

October 19, 1999: A Very Special Christmas Live album by was released along with a video of "Give Me One Reason" featuring Tracy Chapman and Eric Clapton to promote the single.

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

Music History Today: August 23, 2022

August 23, 2003: Maroon 5 made their first appearance on Billboard's Hot 100 chart when "Harder to Breathe" entered at Number 76.

Maroon 5 vocalist Adam Levine admitted "Harder to Breathe" describes the band's frustration with their label during the making of their debut album, Songs About Jane.

Music History Today: July 9, 2022

July 9, 1996: Trainspotting: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack was released.  

The film Trainspotting concerns the adventures of a group of young, nearly criminal, drug-addicted Scottish friends.