On this day in 1983: The Irish group The Undertones split up. Lead singer Feargal Sharkey went on to have a #1 U.K. single as a solo artist with ‘A Good Heart’ and later worked in A&R for various record labels, and later became the head of U.K. Music, an umbrella organization representing the collective […]
Category: Charlie’s 80s Blog
This Day In 80s Music, November 23rd
On this day in 1987: Billy Idol was enjoying his first and only week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Mony Mony.’ Billy Idol knocked Tiffany from the #1 spot on the U.S. singles chart with his version of the Tommy James song. Tiffany had been at #1 for two weeks with another […]
This Day In 80s Music, November 22nd
On this day in 1986: The Human League went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Human.” It would spend one week in the top spot. “Human” was released as the first single from their 1986 album ‘Crash’. The track, which deals with the subject of infidelity, was written and produced by Jimmy Jam […]
This Day In 80s Music, November 21st
On this day in 1980: Don Henley was arrested after a naked 16-year old girl was found at his home in Los Angeles suffering from a drug over-dose. He was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possession of marijuana, cocaine, and Quaaludes. He received a $2,000 fine with two years probation. […]
This Day In 80s Music, November 20th
On this day in 1984: A large crowd of fans watched the unveiling of a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star for Michael Jackson in front of Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Jackson became star number 1,793 on the famed walk. Let’s take a look at all the #1 hits on the U.S. singles chart on November […]
This Day In 80s Music, November 19th
On this day in 1988: Bon Jovi started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with lead single from the band’s album New Jersey, ‘Bad Medicine’, which became the group’s third U.S. #1. The song is highlighted by a near constant keyboard playing by David Bryan that is well defined in the […]
This Day In 80s Music, November 18th
On this day in 1983: R.E.M. made their first appearance outside the U.S. when they appeared on Channel 4 UK TV show The Tube. The following night they made their live UK debut when the played at Dingwall’s, London. On this day in 1989: Bad English started their second week at #1 on the U.S. singles […]
This Day In 80s Music, November 17th
On this day in 1984: Wham! went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” It was first released as a single in the U.K. on May 14, 1984. It became their first U.K. and U.S. #1 hit. It was written and produced by George Michael. The single was certified […]
This Day In 80s Music, November 16th
On this day in 1985: Starship started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘We Built This City.’ The song was written by Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, and Peter Wolf and recorded by U.S. rock group Starship. It was released as the lead single off their album ‘Knee Deep […]
This Day In 80s Music, November 15th
On this day in 1980: Kenny Rogers went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Lady.” The song was written and produced by Lionel Richie, recorded in 1980, and ranks among Kenny Rogers’ biggest hits. Rogers once told an interviewer, “The idea was that Lionel would come from R&B and I’d come from country, and […]