♫Twin Souls♫

Twin souls are two souls coming together to be of benefit and service to humanity, usually by inspiring and leading others with the creative work they do together. This may be accomplished through books they co-write, ideas that are sparked by both souls as a team, healing they bring together to others in need, the artistic and creative works they complete or perform together, etc. That which the two accomplish as one usually lives on, long after one or both have gone. Most often the twin souls are a male and female but this is not set in stone. The premise may manifest itself as brother and sister, such as in the twin souls in today’s spotlight.

Today in Music History: January 25

Welcome into the Spotlight...

Richard & Karen Carpenter: a unique and inimitable sound brought a new dimension to the sound of popular music

The Carpenters' sound. This brother and sister team produced a definitely unique sound with beautifully crafted, highly successful hit records. Richard & Karen Carpenter were the biggest-selling group of the 70s. The Carpenters were literally On Top of the World before and after the hit recording by the same name. They were invited by President Richard Nixon to perform at the White House, at a dinner in honor of West German Chancellor Willy Brandt.

Even after the death of Karen Carpenter, the sound continued as the popularity of The Carpenters grew. Into the 21st century, another generation responded to the truly timeless appeal of two people who had quietly changed the world of popular music forever. By 2005, combined worldwide sales of albums and singles well exceeded 100 million units.

1975 The Carpenters went to No.1 on the US singles chart with their version of The Marvelettes 1961 hit 'Please Mr. Postman'. The Carpenters covered it on their 1975 album Horizon. Featuring Karen Carpenter on drums and a guitar solo by Tony Peluso, it was their biggest hit ever worldwide, reaching No.1 in the US, Australia, Germany, Japan and several other countries, as well as reaching No.2 in the UK and Canada. Richard Carpenter later said that he wished they never did the song, as by that stage of their career, they should not have been covering oldies.

No.1 singles on this day...
[Click on the year for the songs that hit number one on the charts in the US during that year.]

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  1964 The Beatles scored their first number one best seller in the US when "I Want To Hold Your Hand" reached the top of the Cash Box Magazine music chart. The Fab Four would eventually rack up 25 number ones in America.

• 1986 Norwegian group A-Ha were at No.1 in the UK with 'The Sun Always Shines On TV.' Becoming the first ever-Norwegian act to score a UK No.1.

• 1997 White Town went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Your Woman'. White Town was Jyoti Mishra, who created the hit in his bedroom. His only No.1.

It really happened...

2004 Bob Dylan was paid by ladies underwear company Victoria’s Secret to fly to Venice in Northern Italy, to film a TV advertisement in an ancient palazzo with a scantily dressed model. Some fans were upset while others empathized with Dylan. 

2011 A former Miss Canada finalist became the first person in the world to graduate with a Masters degree in The Beatles. Canadian singer Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy, 53, was one of the first students to sign up for the course on the Fab Four when it launched at Liverpool Hope University in March 2009. The ground-breaking course looked at the studio sound and composition of The Beatles and how Liverpool helped to shape their music as well as examining the significance of the music of The Beatles and their impact on Western culture.

2014 Susan Boyle applied for a minimum wage, £6-an-hour cashier's job after spotting a job advert in the window of her local bookmakers, Ladbrokes, in Blackburn, west Lothian. Upon reading the advert the singer who is said to worth over £20m entered the premises and spent around five minutes talking to the shop's deputy manager David Corr about the role.     

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