March 6, 1982 - THE GO-GOs started a six-week run at #1 on charts around the world today, with their album Beauty and the Beat. The debut album from Californian all-female band had been released in 1981 on the IRS Records label, and preceded by the single We Got the Beat, which became a massive club hit in Europe and, later, the United States. When the album was eventually released, it slowly climbed the Billboard 200 chart, ultimately peaking at number one, where it remained for six consecutive weeks. The album sold in excess of three million copies and reached double platinum status, making it one of the most successful debut albums of all time. It is now widely considered as one of the cornerstone albums of 1980s new wave music. It was the first, and is the only album entirely written and performed by an all-female band to top the charts. In 2003, the album was ranked number 413 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
1825 - BEETHOVEN'S Opus 127: String Quartet No. 12 in E flat major was performed for the first time, today. Ludwig van Beethoven remains one of the most crucial, most famous and most influential of all musical figures that created the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music. The German-born composer moved to Vienna in his early 20s, studying with Joseph Haydn and quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. His hearing began to deteriorate in his late twenties, yet he continued to compose, conduct, and perform, even after becoming completely deaf. This version of his famous piece is played here by the Jasper String Quartet.
1959 - THE DRIFTERS recorded There Goes My Baby and Saturday Night At The Movies today, the long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group having its peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's (of Billy Ward & the Dominoes) backing group in 1953. Rolling Stone magazine states that the Drifters were the least stable of the vocal groups in the day, mainly due to the musicians, hurried by the management, being low paid. There have been 60 vocalists in the history of the the Drifters.
1962 - FRANK SINATRA recorded his final session for Capitol Records in Hollywood, today. This was a big year for Sinatra, also the same year he took a starring role in the movie, the Manchurian Candidate, and 'old blue eyes' also went across to London and performed this song.
1961 - GEORGE FORMBY died today, aged 57. The British comedy actor, singer-songwriter, and comedian had been a major star of movies and concert halls right across the United Kingdom during the 1930s and 40s. He sang light, comical songs, accompanying himself on the banjo ukulele or banjolele, for which he became independently famous. The UK singing comedian and ukulele player made over 20 films, and his best-known song was Leaning On A Lamp Post. His banjolele playing became a huge influence on Beatle George Harrison.
1965 - THE TEMPTATIONS went to #1 on the charts all around the world today, with this Smokey Robinson-penned song My Girl, which has since become a pop classic. The song also made the group the first male act to have a chart topper for Motown Records.
1973 - SLADE scored their fourth UK #1 single today, with Cum On Feel The Noize' the first single to enter the charts at the top slot since the Beatles' Get Back in 1969. The group dominated British, Australian and some European countries during the early 1970s. At the the height of their success, Slade out-performed their chart rivals, such as Wizard, Sweet, T.Rex, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Smokie, Gary Glitter, Roxy Music and David Bowie. In the UK, they achieved 12 top five hits from 1971 to 1974, six of which topped the charts. In total, Slade had 17 top 20 hits between 1971 and 1976 including six #1s, three #2s and two #3s. No other UK act of the period enjoyed such consistency in the UK top 40 and Slade actually came the closest to emulating The Beatles' 22 top ten records in a single decade. Three of their singles entered the charts at #1 and they sold more singles in the UK than any other group of the 1970s. While Slade's attempts at cracking the United States market were largely unsuccessful, they left their mark on several US bands who cite Slade as an influence. Kiss bassist Gene Simmons readily admits that his band's early songwriting ethos and stage performances were heavily influenced by Slade.
1976 - FLEETWOOD MAC'S song, Rhiannon was released today, and Fleetwood Mac were storming the world's charts. The song was voted #488 in The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine, and its US chart peak was in June 1976, when it hit #11. Live performances of the song were sometimes prefaced with Nicks saying, "This is a song about an old Welsh witch. Fleetwood Mac's live performances of Rhiannon at this time took on a theatrical intensity not present on the FM-radio single. The song built to a climax in which Nicks' vocals were so impassioned that, as drummer and band co-founder Mick Fleetwood said, "her Rhiannon in those days was like an exorcism."
1989 - SMOKEY ROBINSON'S autobiography Inside My Life was released today. The American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy. Robinson's consistent commercial success and creative contributions to the label have earned him the title 'King of Motown.' As an original member of Motown Records' first vocal group The Miracles and as a solo artist, Robinson delivered many U.S. and U.K. Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987. He also served as the company's vice president from 1961 to 1988.
1999 - GEORGE JONES was severely injured in a car accident, today, setting back his career somewhat. The American country music singer is best known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette. Over the past 20 years, Jones has frequently been referred to as "the greatest living country singer." Jones immerses himself so completely in its lyrics, and in the mood it conveys, that the listener can scarcely avoid becoming similarly involved. Throughout his long career, Jones made headlines often as much for tales of his drinking, stormy relationships with women, and violent rages during his prolific career of making records and touring. His wild lifestyle led to Jones missing many performances, earning him the nickname 'No Show Jones.' With the help of his fourth wife, Nancy, he has been sober for over 10 years. George Jones has had more than 150 hits during his career, both as a solo artist and in duets with other artists.
1825 - BEETHOVEN'S Opus 127: String Quartet No. 12 in E flat major was performed for the first time, today. Ludwig van Beethoven remains one of the most crucial, most famous and most influential of all musical figures that created the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music. The German-born composer moved to Vienna in his early 20s, studying with Joseph Haydn and quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. His hearing began to deteriorate in his late twenties, yet he continued to compose, conduct, and perform, even after becoming completely deaf. This version of his famous piece is played here by the Jasper String Quartet.
1959 - THE DRIFTERS recorded There Goes My Baby and Saturday Night At The Movies today, the long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group having its peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's (of Billy Ward & the Dominoes) backing group in 1953. Rolling Stone magazine states that the Drifters were the least stable of the vocal groups in the day, mainly due to the musicians, hurried by the management, being low paid. There have been 60 vocalists in the history of the the Drifters.
1962 - FRANK SINATRA recorded his final session for Capitol Records in Hollywood, today. This was a big year for Sinatra, also the same year he took a starring role in the movie, the Manchurian Candidate, and 'old blue eyes' also went across to London and performed this song.
1961 - GEORGE FORMBY died today, aged 57. The British comedy actor, singer-songwriter, and comedian had been a major star of movies and concert halls right across the United Kingdom during the 1930s and 40s. He sang light, comical songs, accompanying himself on the banjo ukulele or banjolele, for which he became independently famous. The UK singing comedian and ukulele player made over 20 films, and his best-known song was Leaning On A Lamp Post. His banjolele playing became a huge influence on Beatle George Harrison.
1965 - THE TEMPTATIONS went to #1 on the charts all around the world today, with this Smokey Robinson-penned song My Girl, which has since become a pop classic. The song also made the group the first male act to have a chart topper for Motown Records.
1973 - SLADE scored their fourth UK #1 single today, with Cum On Feel The Noize' the first single to enter the charts at the top slot since the Beatles' Get Back in 1969. The group dominated British, Australian and some European countries during the early 1970s. At the the height of their success, Slade out-performed their chart rivals, such as Wizard, Sweet, T.Rex, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Smokie, Gary Glitter, Roxy Music and David Bowie. In the UK, they achieved 12 top five hits from 1971 to 1974, six of which topped the charts. In total, Slade had 17 top 20 hits between 1971 and 1976 including six #1s, three #2s and two #3s. No other UK act of the period enjoyed such consistency in the UK top 40 and Slade actually came the closest to emulating The Beatles' 22 top ten records in a single decade. Three of their singles entered the charts at #1 and they sold more singles in the UK than any other group of the 1970s. While Slade's attempts at cracking the United States market were largely unsuccessful, they left their mark on several US bands who cite Slade as an influence. Kiss bassist Gene Simmons readily admits that his band's early songwriting ethos and stage performances were heavily influenced by Slade.
1976 - FLEETWOOD MAC'S song, Rhiannon was released today, and Fleetwood Mac were storming the world's charts. The song was voted #488 in The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine, and its US chart peak was in June 1976, when it hit #11. Live performances of the song were sometimes prefaced with Nicks saying, "This is a song about an old Welsh witch. Fleetwood Mac's live performances of Rhiannon at this time took on a theatrical intensity not present on the FM-radio single. The song built to a climax in which Nicks' vocals were so impassioned that, as drummer and band co-founder Mick Fleetwood said, "her Rhiannon in those days was like an exorcism."
1989 - SMOKEY ROBINSON'S autobiography Inside My Life was released today. The American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy. Robinson's consistent commercial success and creative contributions to the label have earned him the title 'King of Motown.' As an original member of Motown Records' first vocal group The Miracles and as a solo artist, Robinson delivered many U.S. and U.K. Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987. He also served as the company's vice president from 1961 to 1988.
1999 - GEORGE JONES was severely injured in a car accident, today, setting back his career somewhat. The American country music singer is best known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette. Over the past 20 years, Jones has frequently been referred to as "the greatest living country singer." Jones immerses himself so completely in its lyrics, and in the mood it conveys, that the listener can scarcely avoid becoming similarly involved. Throughout his long career, Jones made headlines often as much for tales of his drinking, stormy relationships with women, and violent rages during his prolific career of making records and touring. His wild lifestyle led to Jones missing many performances, earning him the nickname 'No Show Jones.' With the help of his fourth wife, Nancy, he has been sober for over 10 years. George Jones has had more than 150 hits during his career, both as a solo artist and in duets with other artists.
