On this day today:
1969 - John Lennon decided to leave The Beatles but agreed not to make an official announcement at the time. The final instance where all four members were together in the same studio was during the recording of "I Want You (She's So Heavy)." This marked a significant moment as the band was nearing its end.
1969 - The Archies, a fictional band from the animated TV series The Archie Show, hit #1 in the US with "Sugar, Sugar." Released in 1969, the song became a massive success, spending four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim, "Sugar, Sugar" became one of the biggest bubblegum pop hits of the era, solidifying its place in pop culture history despite the band being entirely animated.
1975 - "Fame" gave David Bowie his first No.1 hit in the US in 1975. Co-written with John Lennon and guitarist Carlos Alomar, the song was a funk-infused critique of the music industry and celebrity culture. Featured on his Young Americans album, "Fame" marked Bowie's transition into a more soulful sound, often referred to as his "plastic soul" phase.
1976 - AC/DC released their third studio album, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, in 1976. The album features a mix of hard-hitting rock anthems and has become a fan favorite over the years.
1979 - During a performance at The Palladium in New York City, The Clash's bass player Paul Simonon, frustrated by the audience remaining seated, smashed his bass guitar on stage in an iconic act of rebellion. The moment was captured in a photograph, which would later become the cover of the band's legendary album London Calling.
1980 - Kate Bush achieved her first UK No.1 album with Never For Ever in 1980. This milestone marked a significant moment in music history, as it became the first album by a British female solo artist to top the UK album chart. Additionally, it was the first album by any female solo artist to debut at No.1 on the chart, solidifying Bush's trailblazing role in the music industry.
1986 - Huey Lewis & the News released Fore!, their fourth studio album, with the title serving as both a nod to golf and the fact that it was their fourth release, following Sports. The album produced two #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "Stuck with You" and "Jacob's Ladder," solidifying the band's status as one of the top rock acts of the '80s.
1994 - Liz Phair released her sophomore album Whip-Smart, which featured the Grammy-nominated hit single "Supernova." Following the critical acclaim of her debut album Exile in Guyville, Whip-Smart helped solidify Phair's reputation in the indie rock scene of the '90s with its sharp lyrics and edgy sound. "Supernova" became a radio hit, earning Phair her first Grammy nomination and expanding her audience beyond the underground music scene.
1997 - Elton John's double A-side single "Something About The Way You Look Tonight" and "Candle In The Wind 97" began a six-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart in 1997. The re-recording of "Candle In The Wind" was a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, following her tragic death in a car accident in Paris. This version of the song, originally written about Marilyn Monroe, raised funds for Diana's charities and went on to become the best-selling single of all time worldwide, with over 33 million copies sold.
2004 - Billy Joel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the most iconic singer-songwriters in music history.
2009 - Muse reached No.1 on the UK album chart with The Resistance, their fifth studio album, in 2009. The album was noted for its ambitious blend of rock, symphonic elements, and political themes. It featured hit singles like "Uprising" and "Undisclosed Desires" and received critical acclaim for its experimental sound.
2014 - Lauryn Hill arrived an hour-and-a-half late for her performance at Brixton Academy, much to the frustration of her fans. When she finally took the stage, she performed sped-up remixes of her songs, which further aggravated the audience. The crowd responded with boos, expressing their disappointment with both her tardiness and the altered versions of her tracks.
2014 - Meghan Trainor's body-positive anthem "All About That Bass" reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking the start of its eight-week reign at the top. The song, with its catchy message celebrating self-acceptance and rejecting unrealistic beauty standards, replaced Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" (which humorously references Swift's slim "Size 2" figure) as the chart leader.
