On this day in 1982: The J. Geils Band started a six week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Centerfold’, the bands only U.S. #1. The band’s album ‘Freeze- Frame’ started a four-week run at #1 on the U.S. album chart on this day as well.
The song is about a man who is shocked to discover that his high school crush appeared in a centerfold spread for an unspecified men’s magazine. The song’s narrator is torn between conflicting feelings: his disappointment due to her loss of innocence, and his lust until the end of the song.
It was released in autumn 1981, and would eventually go to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on February 6, 1982 and would stay there for six weeks. It was the first single released from the album ‘Freeze Frame’ and was an early staple on MTV. It also peaked at #1 in Australia and Canada. It would be a #3 hit in the U.K.
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1982:
1 3 CENTERFOLD –•– The J. Geils Band (EMI-America)-14 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 I CAN’T GO FOR THAT (No Can Do) –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-13 (1)
3 2 WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU –•– Foreigner (Atlantic)-18 (2)
4 5 HARDEN MY HEART –•– Quarterflash (Geffen)-17 (4)
5 7 TURN YOUR LOVE AROUND –•– George Benson (Warner Brothers)-16 (5)
6 6 LEATHER AND LACE –•– Stevie Nicks (with Don Henley) (Modern)-16 (6)
7 4 PHYSICAL –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-19 (1)
8 9 THE SWEETEST THING (I’ve Ever Known) –Juice Newton (Capitol)-17 (8)
9 13 SHAKE IT UP –•– The Cars (Elektra)-12 (9)
10 10 HOOKED ON CLASSICS (Medley) –•– Louis Clark Conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RCA)-15 (10)
11 12 COOL NIGHT –•– Paul Davis (Arista)-14 (11)
12 19 SWEET DREAMS –•– Air Supply (Arista)-9 (12)
13 14 WAITING ON A FRIEND –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-10 (13)
14 16 LEADER OF THE BAND –•– Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon / Epic)-11 (14)
15 21 OPEN ARMS –•– Journey (Columbia)-4 (15)
16 17 TAKE IT EASY ON ME –•– Little River Band (Capitol)-10 (16)
17 8 LET’S GROOVE –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (ARC)-19 (3)
18 18 COME GO WITH ME –•– The Beach Boys (Caribou)-12 (18)
19 20 YOU COULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-11 (19)
20 11 COMIN’ IN AND OUT OF YOUR LIFE –•– Barbra Streisand (Columbia)-13 (11)
On this day in 1988: Tiffany started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Could’ve Been.”
“Could’ve Been” was the third single released from ‘Tiffany’, the self-titled debut album from American teen pop singer Tiffany. Commercially, the song proved to be a successful follow-up to her debut (cover) single “I Think We’re Alone Now”, peaking atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart, and the Irish Singles Chart in early 1988. It also reached #4 on the U.K Singles Chart and #5 in New Zealand.
Music industry insider Don McGovern first heard the song when he walked into a Hungry Tiger Restaurant in Thousand Oaks, California and heard a local performer, Lois Blaisch, singing the song. McGovern introduced it to producer George Tobin.
The song is a slow ballad about love that could have been better. Both Tiffany’s label, MCA Records, and her manager, George Tobin, were concerned that she was not old or mature enough to handle a song with such emotional depth. However, Tiffany convinced them that she could, and the song was recorded and included on her self-titled debut album, becoming its third single.
After debuting at #86 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in November 1987, “Could’ve Been” quickly rose up the chart and spent two weeks at #1 in February, becoming Tiffany’s second consecutive #1 hit following “I Think We’re Alone Now.” The song was also a #1 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart.
Here’s a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1988:
1 2 COULD’VE BEEN –•– Tiffany – 11 (1)
2 3 HAZY SHADE OF WINTER –•– The Bangles – 13 (2)
3 1 NEED YOU TONIGHT –•– INXS – 16 (1)
4 5 SEASONS CHANGE –•– Expose – 11 (4)
5 6 I WANT TO BE YOUR MAN –•– Roger – 13 (5)
6 8 HUNGRY EYES –•– Eric Carmen – 14 (6)
7 12 WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS? –•– Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield – 9 (7)
8 13 SAY YOU WILL –•– Foreigner – 10 (8)
9 14 TUNNEL OF LOVE –•– Bruce Springsteen – 10 (9)
10 11 I COULD NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR MAN –•– Prince – 13 (10)
11 15 DON’T SHED A TEAR –•– Paul Carrack – 13 (11)
12 4 THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL –•– Michael Jackson – 12 (1)
13 17 I LIVE FOR YOUR LOVE –•– Natalie Cole – 14 (13)
14 18 EVERYWHERE –•– Fleetwood Mac – 11 (14)
15 21 SHE’S LIKE THE WIND Patrick Swayze Feat. Wendy Fraser – 8 (15)
16 24 NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP –•– Rick Astley – 8 (16)
17 10 TELL IT TO MY HEART –•– Taylor Dayne – 18 (7)
18 7 GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU –•– George Harrison – 16 (1)
19 30 FATHER FIGURE –•– George Michael – 4 (19)
20 25 PUMP UP THE VOLUME –•– M/A/R/R/S – 11 (20)
