On this day in 1986: Dionne & Friends were enjoying their first of four weeks at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “That’s What Friends Are For.” “That’s What Friends Are For” is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. It was first recorded in 1982 by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack […]
This Day In 80s Music, January 21st
On this day in 1984: Yes went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Owner of A Lonely Heart.’ It would spend two weeks in the top spot. It is the first track and single from their eleventh studio album 90125, which was released in November 1983. Written primarily by guitarist and singer Trevor […]
This Day In 80s Music, January 20th
On this day in 1982: During an Ozzy Osbourne concert in Des Moines, Iowa, a member of the audience threw a bat onto the stage. Thinking it was a fake rubber bat, the singer picked it up and attempted to bite its head off. As he did this, Ozzy soon realized it wasn’t fake but in […]
This Day In 80s Music, January 19th
On this day in 1980: The Pretenders scored their first U.K. #1 hit with their third single ‘Brass In Pocket’. Singer Chrissie Hynde got the idea for the song’s title when, during an after-show dinner, she overheard someone enquiring if anyone had, “Picked up dry cleaning? Any brass in pocket?” Also on this day in […]
This Day In 80s Music, January 18th
On this day in 1987: Gregory Abbott was at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Shake You Down.’ It would spend only one week in the top spot. ‘Shake You Down’ was released in August 1986 as the lead single and title track from his debut album ‘Shake You Down.’ It became Abbott’s biggest […]
This Day In 80s Music, January 17th
On this day in 1981: The band Motley Crue formed when bass guitarist Nikki Sixx left a band called ‘London’ and began rehearsing with drummer Tommy Lee and vocalist/guitarist Greg Leon, (who later left). Sixx and Lee then added guitarist Bob “Mick Mars” Deal. Vince Neil accepted an offer to join the band (after turning […]
This Day In 80s Music, January 16th
On this day in 1980: Paul McCartney was jailed for nine days in Tokyo for marijuana possession after being found with 219g on his arrival at Narita Airport in Japan. McCartney said in 2004. “This stuff was too good to flush down the toilet, so I thought I’d take it with me.” On this day […]
This Day In 80s Music, January 15th
On this day in 1983: Men At Work started a four week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Down Under’ which was the Australian group’s second U.S. #1 hit. ‘Down Under’ was originally released in 1980 as the B-Side to their first local single titled “Keypunch Operator”, released before the band signed with […]
This Day In 80s Music, January 14th
On this day in 1989: Bobby Brown went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘My Prerogative.” It would spend one week in the top spot. It was released on October 11, 1988, as the second single from his second solo album ‘Don’t Be Cruel.’ After recording sessions for the album were completed, Brown […]
This Day In 80s Music, January 13th
On this day in 1984: BBC Radio 1 announced a ban on ‘Relax’ by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, after DJ Mike Read called it ‘obscene’, a BBC TV ban also followed. The song went on to become a U.K. #1 and spent a total of 48 weeks on the U.K chart. “Relax” is the debut single […]