On this day in 1981: MTV broadcast its first stereo concert with REO Speedwagon performing in Denver, Colorado, The band had released the album Hi Infidelity ten months earlier and performed the hit singles, ‘Keep On Loving You,’ ‘Take It On the Run’ and ‘Don’t Let Him Go.’
On this day in 1987: U2 scored their second U.S. #1 hit single from their Joshua Tree album with ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’. The song received two nominations at the 30th Grammy Awards in 1988, for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. it would spend two weeks in the top spot.
It was the second track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album’s second single in May 1987. The song was a hit, becoming the band’s second consecutive #1 single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, while peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart.
The song originated from a demo the band recorded on which drummer Larry Mullen Jr.. played a unique rhythm pattern. Like much of The Joshua Tree, the song was inspired by the group’s interest in American music.. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” exhibits influences from gospel music and its lyrics describe spiritual yearning. Lead singer Bono’s vocals are in high register and lead guitarist the Edge plays a chiming arpeggio. Adding to the gospel qualities of the song are choir-like like backing vocals provided by the Edge and producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois.
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” was critically acclaimed and has subsequently become one of the group’s most well-known songs and has been performed on many of their concert tours. The track has appeared on several of their compilations and concert films as well. Many critics and publications have ranked “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” among the greatest tracks in music history including Rolling Stone which ranked the song at #93 of its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1987:
1 2 I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR –•– U2 (Island)-9 (1) (1 Week at #1)
2 4 I WANT YOUR SEX –•– George Michael (Columbia)-10 (2)
3 1 SHAKEDOWN –•– Bob Seger (MCA)-12 (1)
4 6 HEART AND SOUL –•– T’Pau (Virgin)-15 (4)
5 8 LUKA –•– Suzanne Vega (A&M)-10 (5)
6 5 RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU –•– Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine (Epic)-11 (5)
7 11 WHO’S THAT GIRL –•– Madonna (Sire)-5 (7)
8 7 CROSS MY BROKEN HEART –•– The Jets (MCA)-10 (7)
9 3 ALONE –•– Heart (Capitol)-13 (1)
10 10 WOT’S IT TO YA –•– Robbie Nevil (EMI-America)-11 (10)
11 24 LA BAMBA –•– Los Lobos (Slash)-7 (11)
12 16 DON’T MEAN NOTHING –•– Richard Marx (Manhattan)-9 (12)
13 15 ONLY IN MY DREAMS –•– Debbie Gibson (Atlantic)-14 (13)
14 17 ROCK STEADY –•– The Whispers (Solar)-10 (14)
15 14 THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE –•– Janet Jackson (A&M)-12 (14)
16 21 BACK IN THE HIGH LIFE AGAIN –•– Steve Winwood (Island)-11 (16)
17 9 I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (Who Loves Me) –•– Whitney Houston (Arista)-13 (1)
18 12 KISS HIM GOODBYE –•– The Nylons (Open Air)-13 (12)
19 27 IT’S NOT OVER (‘Til It’s Over) –•– Starship (Grunt)-7 (19)
20 26 SEVEN WONDERS –•– Fleetwood Mac (Warner Brothers)-8 (20)
