Hits, Debuts & Trivia

Today in Music History: December 31

Here we are at the end of yet another year! New Year's Eve of decades past leaves a couple of hits in its wake, a few live debuts and definitely its share of tidbits of music trivia. Happy New Year!

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  No.1 Hits
  

  

  
  
  

  1955 Based on sales from stores, radio and jukebox plays Billboard named 'Unchained Melody' by Les Baxter the No.1 US song of 1955.

  1966 The Monkees started a 7-week run at No.1 on the US singles charts with the Neil Diamond song 'I'm A Believer'. Also No.1 in the UK in 1967.

   
  
  Live Debuts

  

  
  

  1961 The Beach Boys made their live debut using their new name when they appeared at Long Beach Civic Auditorium, California.

  1963 The Kinks made their live debut when they played at the Lotus House Restaurant, London. Now recognized as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era, brothers Ray Davies and Dave Davies remained members throughout the group's 32-year run.

  1973 Australian band AC/DC made their live debut when they appeared at Chequers Bar in Sydney.

  

  
  

  

  1991 Ted Nugent donated 200 pounds of venison to a Salvation Army soup kitchen in Detroit with the message 'I kill it, you grill it'.

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  An X-rated D12 shirt has become the highest-selling t-shirt of the year in the UK, according to retailer HMV. The shirt, which features singers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, was HMV's best selling t-shirt, outselling shirts for Limp Bizkit, Blink 182 and Slipknot. D12 collaborator Eminem has referred to both singers in his lyrics. Meanwhile the biggest-selling poster and calendar for 2001 went to our very own pop princess Kylie Minogue.

  2001 UK record chain HMV listed the best selling music products over Christmas: 'No Angel' by Dido was the best selling album, Kylie Minogue sold the most calendars, Kurt Cobain: 'Heavier Than Heaven' was the best selling book and D-12 T-Shirt was listed as the No.1 seller.

  2003 Ringtones.co.uk announced that Beyoncé's No. 1 hit 'Crazy In Love' was the best selling mobile ringtone of the year. 'Fly On The Wings Of Love' by XTM was the second biggest ringtone and R. Kelly's 'Ignition' was third.

  
  

  2005 The John Lennon song Imagine was voted the nation's favorite song a quarter of a century after his death. A UK radio station conducted the poll of 7,000 listeners. The Beatles were voted into second and third place with 'Hey Jude' and 'Let It Be.'

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