Music to Lift & Move Us

Today in Music History: September 10

This day in music history would have been 10 on the 10th, except the hits exceeded that number! Looks like the number 10 has lived up to its expectations as being at the top of the list. As usual, the 60s produced hit after hit but it didn't stop there as the songs move well into the new millennium. The lyrics and music tell the tales of the times and there are always stories behind the music.

1964 The Kinks third single 'You Really Got Me', was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. Future Led Zeppelin founder and guitarist Jimmy Page played tambourine on the track. 

1964 Rod Stewart recorded his first single, a version of Willie Dixon's 'Good Morning Little School Girl'. Future Led Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones played on the session.

1965 The Byrds begin recording ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’. Unlike their first hit, ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’, members of the group itself were permitted to play instead of session musicians. 

1966 The Beatles started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Revolver', the group's ninth US chart topper. The title 'Revolver', like 'Rubber Soul' before it, is a pun, referring both to a kind of handgun as well as the "revolving" motion of the record as it is played on a turntable.  

1967 Elvis Presley recorded 'Guitar Man' at RCA studio, Nashville, Tennessee. The Jerry Reed song became the last of eleven number one country hits for Presley

1968 The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Hey Jude', the group's 15th UK No.1 and the longest chart topper ever at seven minutes and ten seconds. The single was the first release on the group's Apple records label.

1983 Former Stevie Wonder guitarist Michael Sembello, started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Maniac'. The track was featured in the film 'Flashdance'. A No.43 hit in the UK. 

1988 Guns N' Roses started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Sweet Child O' Mine', the group's first US No.1, a No.24 hit in the UK.

1988 Phil Collins was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'A Groovy Kind Of Love'. Taken from his film 'Buster' the song had been a No.2 hit for The Mindbenders in 1966. 

1991 Nirvana's single 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was released in the US. The unexpected success of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' in late 1991 propelled Nevermind to the top of the charts at the start of 1992, an event often marked as the point where alternative rock entered the mainstream.

 

2000 French duo Modjo started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lady'. The song features a guitar sample of 'Soup For One' performed by Chic. 

2006 Scissor Sisters were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Don't Feel Like Dancing', the American's band first UK No.1. The song was co-written with Elton John, who also played piano on the song.

2007 Girls Aloud broke the record for most consecutive top 10 hits in the U.K. singles chart by a female act. Their latest single 'Sexy! No No No' entered the chart at number five giving them a run of 16 top 10 hits.

A Bit of Music Trivia...

1962 The BBC banned Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Crypt Kickers single 'The Monster Mash' saying it was offensive. The single went on to be a UK No.3 hit in 1973.

2005 The 1967 Beatles track 'A Day In The Life' from Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was voted the best British song of all time by music experts. The survey by Q magazine called the track "the ultimate sonic rendition of what it means to be British". The Kinks' song 'Waterloo Sunset' came second in the poll and 'Wonderwall' by Oasis was voted in third place.

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...