Music History Today: July 5, 2023

July 5, 1974: Linda Ronstadt recorded her breakthrough hit, a cover of Dee Dee Warwick's "You're No Good," at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles, California.

Music History Today: July 3, 2023

July 3, 1986: Joe Cocker released a cover of Randy Newman's "You Can Leave Your Hat On" from his 1986 album, Cocker. It was featured in the film 9½ Weeks during the striptease scene. 

Music History Today: June 12, 2023

June 12, 1994: The soundtrack album to the Quentin Tarantino movie Pulp Fiction crept into the Billboard Top 50. It eventually peaked at Number 21.

Music History Today: June 7, 2023

June 7, 1993: The groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, OH. The Foundation chose Cleveland over locales such as New York, San Francisco, Memphis, and Chicago.

Music History Today: May 15, 2023

May 15, 1980: The British mockumentary The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle about the Sex Pistols was released.

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle centers around the Sex Pistols and their manager Malcolm McLaren. The movie's title was inspired by an article written by Skiffle musician Lonnie Donegan in the 1950s titled "Rock and Roll - It's a Swindle."

Music History Today: May 12, 2023

May 12, 1973: Led Zeppelin started a three-week run at Number 1 on the US album chart with their fifth album, Houses Of The Holy.

Houses Of The Holy follows the same basic pattern as Led Zeppelin IV, but the approach is looser and more relaxed. Jimmy Page's riffs rely on ringing, folky hooks as much as they do on thundering blues-rock, giving the album a lighter, more open atmosphere.

Music History Today: April 23, 2023

April 23, 1991: Michael Bolton released "Time, Love and Tenderness."

"Time, Love and Tenderness" was written by Diane Warren, one of the most successful songwriters of her era. She also wrote Michael Bolton's "When I'm Back On My Feet Again," a hit from his previous album.

 

Music History Today: April 10, 2023

April 10, 1971: John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads" hit the Billboard Hot 100. It was his first appearance on the charts.

John Denver wrote "Take Me Home Country Roads" with his friends Bill and Taffy Danoff. After performing with the Danoffs, they went back to the couple's home, where they played John what they had of this song.

 John Denver 

Music History Today: March 4, 2023

March 4, 1989: Bette Midler's cover of "Wind Beneath My Wings" entered Billboard's Hot 100.

In 1982, Nashville songwriters Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley wrote and recorded the demo for "Wind Beneath My Wings." Roger Whittaker was the first artist to take record it.

Music History Today: February 5, 2023

February 5, 2006: The Rolling Stones played three songs during the halftime show of The Super Bowl in Detroit. 

Music History Today: December 6, 2022

December 6, 1970: Gimme Shelter, a documentary film about the Rolling Stones' 1969 tour of the states, opened in the US. 

The 1970 documentary Gimme Shelter opens with a rousing rendition of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” during a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden.

 

Music History Today: September 19, 2022

September 19, 1981: Thanks to MTV airplay for the lead single "Start Me Up," The Rolling Stones album "Tattoo You" started a nine-week run at Number 1 on the US album chart. 

Music History Today: August 31, 2022

August 31, 1991: Metallica started a four-week run at Number 1 on the US album chart with their self-titled LP.

The best songs on Metallica's self-titled "Black Album" are the crushing, stripped-down grooves of "Enter Sandman," "Sad but True," and "Wherever I May Roam."

Music History Today: August 17, 2022

August 17, 1939: The Wizard of Oz premiered in New York. Judy Garland became famous for the movie's song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Music History Today: July 16, 2022

July 16, 2002: Eminem released the single "Cleanin' Out My Closet" from the album The Eminem Show. 

In "Cleanin' Out My Closet," Eminem talks about his mother who he feels neglected and mistreated him.

Music History Today: July 6, 2022

July 6, 2002: John Mayer had his first Top 40 hit when his debut single, "No Such Thing," moved from Number 41 to 36.

The lyrical theme of John Mayer's "No Such Thing"  encourages the audience to forge their own path, and not to "stay inside the lines."

John Mayer

Music History Today: June 26, 2022

June 26, 2010: "Alejandro" reached Number 5 on the Hot 100, becoming Lady Gaga's seventh consecutive top ten hit in the United States.

"Alejandro" by Lady Gaga, the third single released from The Fame Monster EP,  was inspired by her "Fear of Sex Monster".

Music History Today: June 11, 2022

June 11, 2005: "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers topped out at Number 10 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Waking from his sleep, Brandon Flowers had a feeling that his girlfriend was seeing someone else, headed to a local Las Vegas pub the Crown and Anchor, and saw it for himself.

Brandon Flowers 

 

Music History Today: June 3, 2022

June 3, 1989: June 3, 1989: The Guns N' Roses song "Patience" topped out on Billboard's Hot 100 at Number 4. 

"Patience" by Guns N' Roses was released as a single in 1989. The song is considered a classic hair metal ballad.

Axl Rose 1989

Music History Today: May 22, 2022

May 22, 2019: The biographical film Rocketman, starring Taron Egerton as Elton John, debuted in US theaters.

None of the makers of Rocketman, from director Dexter Fletcher to writer Lee Hall and co-executive producer Elton John himself, described the blockbuster film of Elton’s singular life as a biopic.