♫An Anniversary, Trivia & #1 Hits♫

This day in music history offers celebration of an anniversary, a bit of music trivia and reflection on numerous No.1 hits. BUT, that is not all! One of America's greatest jazz musicians is remembered with reflection on his No. 1 hits of the 60s and a touch of fun trivia that will definitely bring on a smile. Just think...something you probably never knew will soon be added to your trivia bank.

Today in Music History: July 6

An anniversary...

Before a step back into music of the past, let's begin with the anniversary of the Beatles' film 'A Hard Day's Night', which premiered at The Pavilion in London on this day in 1964. Filmed during the height of Beatlemania, and written by Alun Owen, the film was made in the style of a mockumentary, describing a couple of days in the lives of the group. The British black-and-white comedy film was directed by Richard Lester and starred the Beatles—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. It was successful both financially and critically; it was rated by Time magazine as one of the all-time great 100 films. 

July 6, 2014 marked the 50th anniversay of The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night. After an exhausting evening filled with concertizing and partying, Ringo would often say "It's been a hard day's night." Walter Shenson (movie producer) suggested to Ringo and Paul McCartney that they should write a song with that title. 

The next morning they delivered a catchy 12-bar blues riff with a soaring bridge, about a working stiff whose girlfriend makes all his toil worthwhile. Plaaaang!

VIDEO: Exclusive Footage of the Beatles’ Reaction to A Hard Day’s Night

 A Bit of ...

1957 John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time at The Woolton Church Parish Fete where The Quarry Men were appearing. As The Quarry Men were setting up for their evening performance, McCartney eager to impress Lennon picked up a guitar and played ‘Twenty Flight Rock’ (Eddie Cochran) and ‘Be-Bop-A-Lula’ (Gene Vincent). Lennon was impressed, and even more so when McCartney showed Lennon and Eric Griffiths how to tune their guitars, something they'd been paying someone else to do for them. 

 & #1 Hits...

1963 James Brown went to No.2 on the US album chart with 'Live At The Apollo'. Recorded on the night of October 24, 1962 at Brown's own expense, it spent 66 weeks on the Billboard Albums chart. In 2003, the album was ranked No.24 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

1968 The Rolling Stones scored their fifth US No.1 single when 'Jumpin Jack Flash' hit the top of the charts. Keith Richards has stated that he and Jagger wrote the lyrics while staying at Richards' country house, where they were awoken one morning by the sound of gardener Jack Dyer walking past the window. When Jagger asked what the noise was, Richards responded: "Oh, that's Jack – that's jumpin' Jack."

1985 Phil Collins went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Sussudio', his third US No.1, it made No.12 in the UK.

2003 Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Crazy In Love'. The track features a sample from The Chi-Lites' 1970 'Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)'. Also 8 weeks at No.1 on the US chart.

 That was then...

This is now.
Britney Spears and Sin City are a match made in heaven ...

2007 Britney Spears apologized for attacking a photographer's car with an umbrella earlier this year. Pictures of the 25-year-old lashing out appeared in several newspapers shortly after photos emerged of her shaving her head in a hair salon. In a message on her website, she said: "I apologise to the pap for a stunt that was done four months ago." She said she got "carried away" preparing for a film part but added that she did not get the role.

 Remembering "Satchmo"...

Louis Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971)

1971 American jazz trumpeter, singer and bandleader, Louis Armstrong died. He had many hits including the 1964 US No.1 'Hello Dolly!', 1968 UK No.1 'What A Wonderful World’ plus ‘When The Saints Go Marching In’, ‘Ain't Misbehavin’, and ‘We Have All the Time in the World.’

 

Louis Armstrong made frequent use of laxatives as a means of controlling his weight, resulting in Armstrong appearing in humorous advertisements for the  laxative product Swiss Kriss; the ads bore a picture of him sitting on a toilet, as viewed through a keyhole, with the slogan "Satch says, 'Leave it all behind ya!"

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