The Gushy Dude

Today in Music History: January 24

Eloquent reminiscences of the 40s, 50s and 60s will long be revered in the music collections of each decade. The stepping stones of music from year upon year past laid the path for the recording artists of the 21st century.
 
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Bruno Lands Fifth Hot 100

Bruno Mars has tallied his first five No. 1s faster than any male artist since Elvis Presley. The ascent also results in just the second No. 1 ever for a song featuring only piano and vocals.

Bruno Mars: American singer-songwriter from a behind-the-scenes composer into a pop performer

Bruno Mars began his success as a songwriter, writing songs for popular artists. He ranked as one of pop music's premier songwriters breaking out as a singer in his own right with the 2010 hit "Nothin' on You." Other popular songs by Mars include "Just the Way You Are" (2010) and "Locked Out of Heaven" (2012). Bruno Mars songs are very romantic. When asked if he worried about being characterized as too gushy he replied, "I have a romantic side, but if you come see a show, we're rocking out. But no, I don't mind being the gushy dude."

 2013 Bruno Mars - Locked Out Of Heaven

Just prior to hitting the charts at No.1 Bruno Mars performed 'Locked Out of Heaven' live at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show 2012

The song finds Mars singing of a relationship that is so good the narrator feels like he was "locked out of heaven" before he met his lover. It debuted digitally and on radio on October 1, 2012 and became available for purchase the following day. 'Locked Out of Heaven' has a 6-week run at the top of the charts, December 16, 2012 – January 26, 2013. The song was the fifth heavenly-titled track to reach No.1 on the Hot 100. It went on to win Best Song at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards. The song was nominated for Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year in 2013, but didn't win either ("Get Lucky" by Daft Punk and "Royals" by Lorde took those trophies). Mars didn't go home empty handed; he won Best Pop Vocal Album for Unorthodox Jukebox.

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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  1953 Eddie Fisher was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Outside Is Heaven'. American singer and entertainer divorced his first wife, Debbie Reynolds to marry his best friend's widow, Elizabeth Taylor, too much unwelcome publicity at the time. Eddie is father of actress Carrie Fisher.

  1958 Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Jailhouse Rock'. It became the first ever single to enter the chart at No.1 and was Presley's second UK No.1. It went on to sell over 4 million copies in the US.

  1968 Georgie Fame was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Ballad Of Bonnie and Clyde', the singers third and last UK No.1. The song reached No.7 in the United States later the same year.

  1976 Diana Ross went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Theme From Mahogany', the singers third US No.1, a No.5 hit in the UK.

  1979 The Clash released their first single in the US, 'I Fought The Law' (written by Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly's Crickets).

  1981 Adam And The Ants started a 10-week run at No.1 on the UK chart with their debut album 'Kings Of The Wild Frontier'.

  1987 Billy Vera and the Beaters started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'At This Moment' not a hit in the UK.

  1998 Oasis went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'All Around The World'. The longest running-time for a UK No.1 with a total duration of 9 minutes 38 seconds. It was one of the first songs to be written by Noel Gallagher, with the band rehearsing it as early as 1992.

  1999 The Offspring went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Pretty Fly, For A White Guy'. Taken from their fifth studio album Americana the single was a No.1 hit in ten other countries.

  2003 Girls Aloud were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Sound Of The Underground'. Canadian singer Avril Laviagne had the UK No.1 album with 'Let Go.'

No.1 Album on this Day...

 

1976 Bob Dylan started a five week run at No.1 on the US chart with his 17th studio album Desire. The album features 'Hurricane', which protests the conviction of former middleweight boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter for triple murder in 1966, arguing his innocence.

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