Music History Today: June 24, 2023

June 24, 2012: Billboard named Olivia Newton-John's 1982 hit, "Physical," as The Sexiest Song Of All Time. 

Olivia Newton-John

Music History Today: June 16, 2023

June 16, 1978: The movie Grease, adapted from the famous Broadway play, premiered in New York City.

Grease is the highest-grossing musical film at the time. Its soundtrack album ended 1978 as the second-best-selling album of the year in the US, only behind the soundtrack of the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever which also starred Travolta.

Music History Today: April 8, 2023

April 8, 1975: Aerosmith released their first commercially successful album, Toys in the Attic.

Music History Today: December 31, 2021

According to Billboard, "The Twist" by Chubby Checker was the best-selling and most-played song in the US from 1958-1969.

Music History Today: November 21, 2021

November 21, 1981: Olivia Newton-John takes over the top of the US Hot 100 chart with "Physical." 

“Physical” was a phenomenon. The song’s 10-week run at #1 tied a record previously set four years earlier by Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life.”

Olivia Newton-John

Music History Today: August 9, 2021

August 9, 1980: Diana Ross had one of the hottest up-and-coming songs in the nation as "Upside Down" moved from 49 to 10.

In 1980, as disco was disappearing from the pop charts, Diana Ross recruited the biggest and best group of the late disco era to become her backing band. On Ross’ 1980 album Diana, Chic were basically her backing band. 

Diana Ross

Music History Today: August 2, 2021

August 2, 1973: American Graffiti premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland. 

American Graffiti, produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by George Lucas from a screenplay by Gloria Katz, Willard Huyck and the director, is certainly the freshest American movie in years and may well prove to be a watershed film of major importance. 

Music History Today: June 29, 2021

June 29, 2002:  Eminem's "Without Me" goes to Number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

This tackling disco remarks the return of Eminem and his intentions to save the world from boring music with him away. It is one of his most successful tracks.

Eminem

Music History Today: June 10, 2021

June 10, 1978: John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John's Grease duet "You're The One That I Want" hits Number 1 in the US.

If you didn’t like John Travolta’s face, then 1978 must’ve been a tough year for you. Saturday Night Fever, which made Travolta a star, opened in theaters during the last month of 1977. 

John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

Music History Today: March 8, 2021

March 8, 1975: Styx' breakthrough hit "Lady" rose from Number 10 to it's highest point on the charts, Number 6.

A failed single from Styx' sophomore album, "Lady" got a second chance in 1975, when it landed at No. 6 on the Billboard charts.

Music History Today: March 2, 2021

March 2, 1991: Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" peaked at Number 6 on the US chart.

“Wicked Games” is about loving someone who isn’t good for you, and Isaak has publicly stated where he got his inspiration for the song from: 

Music History Today: March 1, 2021

 March 1, 1973: Pink Floyd released Dark Side Of The Moon.

There are hit albums, and then there’s Dark Side of the Moon. Pink Floyd‘s eternally popular song cycle has sold more than 15 million copies in the U.S. since its release on March 1st, 1973, and more than 45 million units worldwide. 

Music History Today: November 1, 2020

November 1, 1960:  Elvis Presley released the single "Are You Lonesome Tonight."

The young Elvis, the vengeful sex-demon who took the country by storm in the mid-’50s, was the best Elvis, the one who changed the world and completely rewrote the rule-book of American popular song. 

Music History Today: August 7, 2020

August 7, 1976: Elton John & Kiki Dee's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" hit Number 1 in America for the first of four weeks.

Kiki Dee, Elton John’s duet partner on “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” was born Pauline Matthews. In 1970, Dee released a few of her own singles and became the first white British woman to sign to Motown.