What's 'hip' for music in the 21st century? Before stepping back in time and revisiting music of yesterdays, begin with the No.1 song for the week September 3 - 10, 2016. May or may not be YOUR kind of music...
Today in Music History: September 4
1965 The Beatles started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Help', the title of their second film and the group's ninth US No.1.
1969 The film 'Easy Rider' starring Jack Nicholson Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper opened at The Classic in London England. The movie's soundtrack featured The Band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Steppenwolf.
1976 Fleetwood Mac went to No.1 on the US album chart with their self-titled album after being on the charts for over a year. The album went on to sell over 5 million copies in the US and was the first of three No.1 albums for the group.
1976 The Bee Gees went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Should Be Dancing', the group's third US No.1, a No.5 hit n the UK. It was this song that launched the trio into Disco stardom and is the first chart-topper in which Barry Gibb used his now-trademark falsetto.
1982 Survivor were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the theme from the film Rocky III 'Eye Of The Tiger', their only chart topper. Survivor won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance for the song.
1982 The Steve Miller Band started a two week run at No.2 on the US singles chart with 'Abracadabra' the group's third US No.1, a No.2 hit in the UK. The song is said to have been inspired by Diana Ross with whom Miller had met while performing together on Hullabaloo in the 1960s.
Some recording artists have made the crossover from one genre of music to another with no problem. Others...well, that is another story!
1954 To coincide with the release of his second Sun single, 'Good Rockin' Tonight', Elvis Presley along with Bill Black and Scotty Moore made their first appearance at The Grand Old Opry. The audience reaction was so poor, the Opry's manager, Jim Denny, told Elvis that he should go back to driving a truck. Learn MORE... whose greatness was turned away!
1954 The seminal That's Alright Mama was released. It was the moment that many regard as the true beginnings of Rock & Roll. Within a few short years he was a worldwide superstar. At the height of his glorious career, he was drafted into the U.S. Army for two years. Listen to how the world's most popular recording artist adapted to military life and kept his career on track.
1964 The Who formed in London and would go on to sell over 150 million records. Now into their fifth decade we look at the 'beginning of the long goodbye' with Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey.
1965 The Who had their van stolen containing over £5000 worth of equipment outside the Battersea Dogs Home. The band were inside the home at the time buying a guard dog. The van was later recovered.
1969 The film 'Easy Rider' starring Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper opened at The Classic in London England. The movie's soundtrack featured The Band, and Steppenwolf.
1971 Taken from the album 'Ram', Paul and Linda McCartney went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the US only released 'Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey'. McCartney's first US solo No.1. Paul would later explain that "Uncle Albert" was based on his real-life uncle. "He's someone I recall fondly and when the song was coming, it was like a nostalgia thing... As for Admiral Halsey, he's one of yours, an American admiral", referring to Admiral William "Bull" Halsey.
2008 The first guitar torched on stage by Jimi Hendrix sold for £280,000 at an auction of rock memorabilia. The Fender Stratocaster was burned at the end of a show at the Astoria in Finsbury Park, north London, in 1967. The sale held in London also included The Beatles first management contract, signed in 1962 by all four members of the group and manager Brian Epstein, sold for £240,000.
Before leaving this music scene, test your knowledge of music quotes trivia. See if you can identify the artist or song that is relevant to the lyrics. Something for entertainment on a lazy, Sunday afternoon!
And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...
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