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: May 29, 2023

May 29, 1992: Sister Act was released.

Whoopi Goldberg stars in Sister Act as Deloris Wilson, a lounge singer forced to join a convent after being placed in a witness protection program. The Reverend Mother orders Deloris to join the struggling choir.

Music History Today: March 7, 2023

Music History Today: March 7, 1980: The Loretta Lynn biopic "Coal Miner's Daughter," starring Sissy Spacek, premiered in cinemas. The soundtrack included Lynn's chart-topping singles, performed by Spacek. The album hit the top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart. 

Music History Today: January 16, 2023

January 16, 1992: Eric Clapton recorded his MTV "Unplugged" special at Bray Studios, England, in front of a studio audience.

Eric Clapton's MTV "Unplugged" set included a version of the successful 1992 single "Tears in Heaven" and an acoustic version of "Layla."

Music History Today: December 10, 2022

December 10, 1967: Otis Redding was killed at age 26 when his tour plane crashed into a Wisconsin lake.

In 1967, when Aretha Franklin famously rerecorded Otis Redding’s song "Respect," it shot to number one. Later that year, Redding returned to the studio at Stax to record what was to become his first and only number-one hit, "Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay. " 

Otis Redding

Music History Today: September 23, 2022

September 23, 2002: Randy Newman won the Oscar for Best Original Song with "If I Didn't Have You" from Monsters, Inc.

Music History Today: September 8, 2022

September 8, 2000: The movie Almost Famous premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The soundtrack album to the film Almost Famous features some of the biggest hits from that time.

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: July 13, 2022

July 13, 1991: An unreal duet of "Unforgettable," featuring Natalie Cole and her deceased father, Nat King Cole, entered Billboard's Hot 100.

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: April 22, 2022

April 22,1974: The Who began filming the movie version of Tommy, with Tina Turner's turn as the Acid Queen filmed first. 

Music History Today: December 18, 2021

December 18, 1981: Rod Stewart's concert at the Forum in Los Angeles, broadcast via satellite to 35 million people, featured a "Hot Legs" duet with Tina Turner. 

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Rod Stewart & Tina Turner

Music History Today: November 24, 2021

November 24, 1976: The Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser collaboration Wanted! The Outlaws becomes the first country album certified Platinum.

The term "outlaw" had been bandied about after Waylon Jennings' 1972 hit "Ladies Love Outlaws," but it didn't permanently gel until the release of the album Wanted! The Outlaws in 1976.

Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings

Music History Today: November 23, 2021

November 23, 1991: "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt enters the Billboard Hot 100 single's chart.

"I Can't Make You Love Me" was recorded by Bonnie Raitt for her 1991 album, Luck of the Draw. 

Bonnie Raitt

Music History Today: October 15, 2021

October 15, 1977: "Here You Come Again" by Dolly Parton enters the US Top 100 single's chart.

Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again" became her first gold single. At the time of the song's release, Parton was making a big push to break into the pop world. That's certainly evident from "Here You Come Again." 

Music History Today: September 7, 2021

September 7, 1985: The theme from the movie "St. Elmo's Fire" replaced the theme from the movie "Back to the Future" at the Number 1 position on the US music chart.

St. Elmo's Fire was the definitive Brat Pack movie, following Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Andrew McCarthy, Rob Lowe, and Mare Winningham as they tried to sort their life out after college.

Music History Today: May 29, 2021

May 29, 1984: Tina Turner released Private Dancer, her big comeback album.

Few would have predicted Tina Turner’s triumphant comeback in 1984, when Private Dancer put her on top of the album charts – least of all, perhaps, Turner herself. 

Music History Today: December 10, 2020

December 10, 1967: Otis Redding died at age 26 when his personal Beechcraft plane crashed into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin.

Otis Redding, 26 years old, a former well-driller from Macon, Georgia, died in a plane crash in an icy Wisconsin lake on December 10. With him were the five teen-age members of the Bar-Kays, a group which made the popular instrumental, “Soul Finger,” and who backed Otis on his recent tours and appearances.

Music History Today: November 26, 2020

November 26, 1939: Tina Turner is born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee.

Tina Turner began performing with musician Ike Turner in the 1950s. They became known as the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, achieving popular acclaim for their live performances and recordings like the top 5 hit "Proud Mary. 

 

Music History Today: August 21, 2020

August 21, 1971: Paul & Linda McCartney moved from 65 to 21 with "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey."

“Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” is one of the loosest and silliest songs ever to reach #1 on the Hot 100.