On this day in 1989: Former actress Martika started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Toy Soldiers’, a #5 hit in the U.K. Martika wrote the song about a friend who was battling a cocaine addiction. “I was a little hesitant because I had only written two songs before […]
This Day In 80s Music, July 21st
On this day in 1987: Guns N’ Roses released their debut album on Geffen Records: ‘Appetite For Destruction’ which featured the singles ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’, and ‘Paradise City’. The album now has worldwide sales in excess of 30 million, 18 million of which are in the US, making it the […]
This Day in 80s Music, July 20th
On this day in 1985: Duran Duran were starting their second and final week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “A View To A Kill.” To date, it is the only James Bond theme song to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite spending two weeks at #1, it would only be […]
This Day In 80s Music, July 19th
On this day in 1980: Billy Joel started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me.” It was released as a single off his 7x Platinum ‘Glass Houses’ album. It is one of four Top 40 hits off the album. The song spent 11 […]
This Day In 80s Music, July 18th
On this day in 1981: Kim Carnes was beginning her NINTH and final week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Bette Davis Eyes.’ “Bette Davis Eyes” was written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. It was originally recorded by DeShannon in that year for her album ‘New arrangement’, but […]
This Day In 80s Music, July 17th
On this day in 1982: Irene Cara was at #1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Fame’, which was based on the hit TV series about a New York drama school. Cara (who played the role of Coco Hernandez in the original movie) won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe […]
This Day In 80s Music, July 16th
On this day in 1981: U.S. singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, who had success in the 70s with ‘Taxi’, ‘W-O-L-D’ and the #1 hit ‘Cats In The Cradle’, was killed at age 38, suffering a cardiac arrest while driving on the Long Island Expressway in New York. His car was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer, causing […]
This Day In 80s Music, July 15th
On this day in 1989: Simply Red scored their second U.S. #1 single with ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’, a 1973 hit for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. It would spend one week in the top spot. “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon […]
This Day In 80s Music, July 14th
On this day in 1982: The movie premier for Pink Floyd’s The Wall was held at The Empire, Leicester Square, London, England. The film which centers around a confined rocker named Floyd “Pink” Pinkerton earned $22 million in its first year and won two British Academy Awards. On this day in 1986: Madonna was at #1 […]
This Day In 80s Music, July 13th
On this day in 1985: At 12:01, Status Quo started the Live Aid extravaganza, held between Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia. The cream of the world’s biggest rock stars crop took part in the worldwide event, The TV broadcast was transmitted to 1.5 billion people in 160 countries which made it the biggest live […]