Supernatural

Today in Music History: January 23

The '70s & '80s. If you are one who is Stuck in the 70s or feel you are a product of 80s Music Mania, then the spotlight for this day will bring on the memories! Of course, the trip down Memory Lane does not end with the 80s. This band had a terrific comeback at the turn of the century!

Welcome into the Spotlight...

Santana Band 1977

Santana: a band whose music uniquely blends Latin-infused rock, jazz, blues, salsa and African rhythms

Santana (Band) is based around the compositions and playing of lead guitarist Carlos Santana, who founded the band. In 1966, the band formed in San Francisco as the Santana Blues Band. It was at Woodstock (1969) where their performance of 'Soul Sacrifice' struck 'gold' with Latin Rock which contrasted anything on the bill at the event. Throughout the '70s and the '80s this band released a string of albums but success did not end, the comeback in 2000 was phenomenal.

Santana's phenomenal comeback on the pop charts began in 1997, when he re-signed the band with his first producer and mentor, Davis, then the president of Arista Records. Davis enlisted a roster of prominent musicians among them Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, Dave Matthews, and Wyclef Jean to perform on the legendary guitarist's 35th album, Supernatural, released in 1999. By early 2000, the album had sold 10 million copies worldwide and spawned a No. 1 hit single, "Smooth," featuring catchy pop lyrics sung by Rob Thomas and Santana's Latin-spiced, electrically-charged guitar licks. [Source: Biography.com]

That was the '60s. Today the spotlight shines on Santana still going strong at the turn of the century...

2000 Santana started a three week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Supernatural. The album, which went on to win eight Grammy awards, spent a total of nine weeks at No.1 during this year.

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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  1965 'Downtown' made Petula Clark the first UK female singer to have a No.1 on the US singles chart since Vera Lynn in 1952. The song was also a No.2 hit in the UK.

• 1971 George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a No.1 when 'My Sweet Lord' went to the top of the UK single charts. The song from his 'All Things Must Pass' album stayed at No.1 for five weeks. The track returned to the top of the UK charts in 2002, following his death.

• 1971 Dawn started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Knock Three Times', the group's first No.1, which was also an UK No.1.

• 1988 Michael Jackson went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Way You Make Me Feel' which was also a No.3 hit in the UK.

• 2000 Britney Spears went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Born To Make You Happy', the singers second UK No.1 and fourth single from her debut album Baby One More Time.

Yes, it really happened...

1956 Rock 'n' Roll fans in Cleveland aged under 18 were banned from dancing in public (unless accompanied by an adult), after Ohio Police introduced a law dating back to 1931.

1991 John Sebastian, owner and general manager of KLSK FM in Albuquerque, New Mexico, played Led Zeppelins 'Stairway To Heaven' for twenty-four solid hours to inaugurate a format change to Classic Rock. Police showed up with guns drawn: once after a listener reported that the DJ had apparently suffered a heart attack, and later because of suspicion that, this being eight days into the Gulf War, the radio station had been taken hostage by terrorists dispatched by Zeppelin freak Saddam Hussein.

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