December 19, 1980 - THIRTY ONE years have passed since queen Dolly Parton appeared in the sensational movie, 9 to 5, which opened this very day. The American comedy film starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Dabney Coleman, and concerns three working women living out their fantasy of getting even with, and their successful overthrow of, the company's autocratic, sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot boss. As a star vehicle for singer Parton, it launched her permanently into mainstream popular culture. The movie's theme song, 9 to 5, became one of Parton's biggest hits of the decade. It went to number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and won two 1982 Grammy Awards: for Country Song of the Year and Female Country Vocal of the Year.
1960 - NEIL Sedaka’s hit single, Calendar Girl, was released today, taking the young American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer to the edge of world fame. His career has since spanned around 56 years. During that time he has sold millions of records as an artist, and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard Greenfield and Phil Cody. Sedaka and Greenfield wrote songs together throughout much of their young lives, when they were songwriters at the famous Brill Building - the song and hit factory. Sedaka went on to being a major teen pop star.
1967 - BUFFALO Springfield appeared at the Community Concourse, San Diego, California, today, and this is also the year in which the seminal country rock band released their seminal breakthrough song, For What It's Worth, the song since becoming a pop standard.
1970 - ELTON John's first US hit, Your Song entered the Billboard Hot 100 today, where it went on to reach top ten charts around the world. The Hollies had been offered the song and Three Dog Night had already recorded a version which was included on their It Ain't Easy album. But it was Elton's own version of the song that has stood the test of time. This is his first video version of the song.
1981 - ABBA scored their seventh UK #1 album, today, with The Visitors, the eighth and final studio album by the Swedish pop group. ABBA took several steps away from the lighter pop music they had recorded previously, and this final album has often been regarded as more complex and mature. The opening title track, with its ominous synthesizer sounds and distinctive lead vocal by Frida, announced a change in musical style. With Benny and Frida going their separate ways, the pain of splitting up was explored yet again in When All is Said and Done. The major hit single on the album, One of Us also depicted the end of a love story. Elsewhere there were controversial current cold war themes, and songs of isolation and regret.
1987 - PET Shop Boys had their third UK #1 single, today, with their version of the Elvis Presley song, Always On My Mind. The duo had performed a version of Always on My Mind on Love Me Tender, a TV special commemorating the tenth anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. Their performance was so well-received that the group decided to record the song and release it as a single. This is it.
1994 - MANIC Street Preachers played the first of three nights at The Astoria, London, Tonight, the final shows Richie James made with the band before disappearing. James was recently declared dead, after being missing for 17 years. This is the preachers performing at Glastonbury in the same year.
2000 - KIRSTY MacColl, the beautiful young singer songwriter, was killed today while vacationing in Mexico at the age of 41. She was scuba diving with her two sons when she was hit by a speedboat. MacColl scored several pop hits from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. During this era, she often sang on recordings produced by her husband Steve Lillywhite, notably those of The Smiths and the song Fairytale of New York by The Pogues. Loved her music, loved her spirit.
2000 - 10,000 MANIACS' guitarist Robert Buck, died of liver failure today, aged 42. The group was best known for songs such as Hey Jack Kerouac, What's The Matter Here and Candy Everybody Wants. Natalie Merchant went on to a successful solo career.
1960 - NEIL Sedaka’s hit single, Calendar Girl, was released today, taking the young American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer to the edge of world fame. His career has since spanned around 56 years. During that time he has sold millions of records as an artist, and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard Greenfield and Phil Cody. Sedaka and Greenfield wrote songs together throughout much of their young lives, when they were songwriters at the famous Brill Building - the song and hit factory. Sedaka went on to being a major teen pop star.
1967 - BUFFALO Springfield appeared at the Community Concourse, San Diego, California, today, and this is also the year in which the seminal country rock band released their seminal breakthrough song, For What It's Worth, the song since becoming a pop standard.
1970 - ELTON John's first US hit, Your Song entered the Billboard Hot 100 today, where it went on to reach top ten charts around the world. The Hollies had been offered the song and Three Dog Night had already recorded a version which was included on their It Ain't Easy album. But it was Elton's own version of the song that has stood the test of time. This is his first video version of the song.
1981 - ABBA scored their seventh UK #1 album, today, with The Visitors, the eighth and final studio album by the Swedish pop group. ABBA took several steps away from the lighter pop music they had recorded previously, and this final album has often been regarded as more complex and mature. The opening title track, with its ominous synthesizer sounds and distinctive lead vocal by Frida, announced a change in musical style. With Benny and Frida going their separate ways, the pain of splitting up was explored yet again in When All is Said and Done. The major hit single on the album, One of Us also depicted the end of a love story. Elsewhere there were controversial current cold war themes, and songs of isolation and regret.
1987 - PET Shop Boys had their third UK #1 single, today, with their version of the Elvis Presley song, Always On My Mind. The duo had performed a version of Always on My Mind on Love Me Tender, a TV special commemorating the tenth anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. Their performance was so well-received that the group decided to record the song and release it as a single. This is it.
1994 - MANIC Street Preachers played the first of three nights at The Astoria, London, Tonight, the final shows Richie James made with the band before disappearing. James was recently declared dead, after being missing for 17 years. This is the preachers performing at Glastonbury in the same year.
2000 - KIRSTY MacColl, the beautiful young singer songwriter, was killed today while vacationing in Mexico at the age of 41. She was scuba diving with her two sons when she was hit by a speedboat. MacColl scored several pop hits from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. During this era, she often sang on recordings produced by her husband Steve Lillywhite, notably those of The Smiths and the song Fairytale of New York by The Pogues. Loved her music, loved her spirit.
2000 - 10,000 MANIACS' guitarist Robert Buck, died of liver failure today, aged 42. The group was best known for songs such as Hey Jack Kerouac, What's The Matter Here and Candy Everybody Wants. Natalie Merchant went on to a successful solo career.
