On this day in 1980: John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s ‘Double Fantasy’ album was released. Though initially poorly received, the album is notable for its association with Lennon’s murder three weeks after its release, whereupon it became a worldwide commercial success, and went on to win the 1981 Album of the Year Grammy at the […]
Tag: John Lennon
This Day In 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 […]
This Day In Music, October 27th
On this day in 1980: Mark David Chapman bought a five-shot .38 special for $169. A little over six weeks later, he would use the gun to kill John Lennon outside of his New York City apartment. On this day in 1988: U2’s film ‘Rattle And Hum’, received its world wide premiere in the group’s […]
This Day In Music, October 9th
On this day in 1981: During a North American tour, The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The opening act was Prince, who dressed in his controversial bikini briefs and trench coat ran off stage after 15 minutes due to the crowd booing and […]
This Day In Music, August 24th
On this day in 1981: Mark Chapman was given a 20 year jail sentence for the murder of John Lennon. The 25 year old had shot Lennon five times at close range on December 8th, 1980 in front of The Dakota apartment building in New York City. Over the next few months, Chapman would claim […]
This Day In Music, August 17th
On this day back in 1980: Olivia Newton John was enjoying her 3rd consecutive week at #1 on the U.S. singles charts with ‘Magic’. ‘Magic’ was recorded for the soundtrack to the 1980 film Xanadu. Written and produced by John Farrar, it was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on May 23, 1980. The […]
This Day In Music, August 14th
On this day in 1985: Michael Jackson won a bid over Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney to secure the ATV Music Publishing catalog. At $47.5 million, he gained the rights to more than 250 songs written by Lennon and McCartney. McCartney had been negotiating with Yoko Ono, who had decided to withdraw her side of […]
This Day In Music, August 7th
On this day in 1980: John Lennon began recording his final album, ‘Double Fantasy’ at The Hit Factory in New York City. It would be released on November 17th by the newly-formed Geffen Records and would win the 1982 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. On this day in 1982: Dexy’s Midnight Runners were […]
This Day In Music, July 10th
On this day in 1980: Paul McCartney & Wings were enjoying their second week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Coming Up.’ The song would spend a total of three weeks in the top spot. In a Rolling Stone interview, McCartney explained how the song came about: “I originally cut it on my farm […]
This Day In Music, June 22nd
On this day in 1981: Mark David Chapman pleaded guilty to the charge of murdering John Lennon in December of 1980. He was later sentenced to 20 years to life. On this day in 1985: Bryan Adams started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Heaven’, his first #1 single, it […]