On this day in 1983: The first Narara Music Festival was held near Somersby, NSW over the Australia Day weekend, the line-up included Men At Work, The Angels, The Church, The Choirboys, Cold Chisel and INXS.
On this day in 1984: Frankie Goes To Hollywood started a five-week run at #1 on the U.K. singles chart with ‘Relax!’ BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read expressed on air his distaste for both the record’s suggestive sleeve and its lyrics, he announced his refusal to play the record, not knowing that the BBC had decided that the song was not to be played on the BBC anyway. Produced by Trevor Horn, the song remained on the U.K. chart for 48 weeks.
Also on this day in 1984: The band Yes started its second of two weeks at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart.’
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1984:
1 1 OWNER OF A LONELY HEART –•– Yes (Atco)-13 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 3 KARMA CHAMELEON –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-9 (2)
3 4 TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP –•– The Romantics (Nemperor)-17 (3)
4 6 I GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES –•– Elton John (Geffen)-14 (4)
5 5 BREAK MY STRIDE –•– Matthew Wilder (Private I)-20 (5)
6 8 JOANNA –•– Kool & The Gang (De-Lite)-13 (6)
7 2 SAY SAY SAY –•– Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (Columbia)-16 (1)
8 9 RUNNING WITH THE NIGHT –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-10 (8)
9 7 TWIST OF FATE –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-13 (5)
10 12 THAT’S ALL –•– Genesis (Atlantic)-10 (10)
11 14 THINK OF LAURA –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-8 (11)
12 13 PINK HOUSES –•– John Cougar Mellencamp (Riva)-8 (12)
13 11 UNION OF THE SNAKE –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-13 (3)
14 16 I STILL CAN’T GET OVER LOVING YOU –Ray Parker, Jr. (Arista)-12 (14)
15 10 SAY IT ISN’T SO –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA)-14 (2)
16 17 HOLIDAY –•– Madonna (Sire)-14 (16)
17 15 THE CURLY SHUFFLE –•– Jump ‘N The Saddle (Atlantic)-9 (15)
18 22 LET THE MUSIC PLAY –•– Shannon (Mirage)-12 (18)
19 24 AN INNOCENT MAN –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-7 (19)
20 34 JUMP –•– Van Halen (Warner Brothers)-3 (20)
On this day in 1985: The recording took place for ‘We Are The World’, the U.S. equivalent of Band Aid, at A&M Studios in Hollywood. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, the all star cast included Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Daryl Hall, John Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Perry and Bob Geldof.
