On this day in 1980: Blondie was enjoying her second week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Call Me.’ ‘Call Me’ would spend a total of SIX weeks at #1 and would not give up the top spot on the charts until late May when ‘Funkytown’ by Lipps Inc. would take the top […]
Author: charlie
This Day In Music, April 23rd
On this day in 1983: U2 kicked off their 48-date ‘War’ North American tour at The Carolina Concert For Children benefit in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Also on this day in 1983: David Bowie started a three week run at #1 on the UK album chart with the Nile Rodgers produced ‘Let’s Dance’, featuring the […]
This Day In Music, April 22nd
On this day in 1985: “We Are the World” by USA for Africa was enjoying its third week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart. It would spend one more week at #1 before giving up its top spot to Madonna’s ‘Crazy For You’ in early May. On this day in 1989: Madonna started a […]
This Day In Music, April 21st
On this day in 1982: Clash front man Joe Strummer disappeared for three weeks, which resulted in the group canceling a tour. The singer was found living in Paris, France. On this day in 1983: Dexy’s Midnight Runners were enjoying their first and only week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Come On […]
This Day In Music, April 20th
On this day in 1980: 84 year old George Burns, who starred in the movie ‘Oh God’ with John Denver, became the oldest person to have a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when ‘I Wish I Was 18 Again’ peaked at #49. When asked if he wished he were 18 again, Burns replied “I […]
This Day In Music, April 19th
On this day in 1980: R.E.M. played their first gig as R.E.M. at the 11:11 Koffee Club, Athens, Georgia to 150 people. The show ended at 2am when police closed it down due to the venue being unlicensed. Here’s a concert clip from about a year later…. Also on this day in 1980: 32 year […]
This Day In Music, April 18th
On this day in 1984: Michael Jackson underwent surgery in a Los Angeles hospital to repair damage done after his hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial. On this day in 1985: Wham! Became the first-ever Western pop act to have an album released in China. On this day in 1987: Aretha […]
Charlie’s Early MTV Chronicles: African-American Artists On MTV 1981-1982
I started watching MTV within a few days of its launch on August 1, 1981. It was only a few weeks after my 10th birthday. The first video I ever saw was ‘Tempted’ by the band Squeeze. From that moment on, I was hooked. Prior to MTV, I was a radio and record junkie. I […]
This Day In Music, April 17th
On this day in 1983: Michael Jackson was enjoying his last week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Billie Jean.” The song had been #1 for the past seven weeks, since topping the charts for the first time in early March. “Billie Jean” was awarded honors including two Grammy Awards and an American […]
This Day In Music, April 16th
On this day in 1984: Phil Collins started a three week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now).” This would be the first of seven #1 hits for Phil Collins in the United States. “Against All Odds” won the Grammy Award for Best Pop […]