February 7, 1981 - KOOL & THE GANG scored their first #1 hit with Celebration 31 years ago today, as it topped their home country's charts, and stayed there for two weeks. It was the group's 8th top 40 hit. Kool & the Gang are an American jazz, R&B, soul, and funk group, originally formed as the Jazziacs in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964. Like most musical survivors, the group passed through several musical phases during the course of their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then becoming practitioners of R&B and funk, progressing to a smooth pop-funk ensemble. The group continues to be relevant today, 48 years after their formation, creating music with a modern, electro-pop sound. They have sold over 70 million albums worldwide, and will be touring with Van Halen during their 2012 tour. Following is Kool & the gang's Celebration, followed by their scream, Jungle Fever - first as it was with Pulp Fiction, then live from 2007.
1963 - PLEASE PLEASE ME was the Beatles song from the same titled album, which was released in the USA on the Vee Jay label 49 years ago today. Please Please Me was the debut album by the English rock band. The album and the single reached #1 on charts all over the world. Of the album's fourteen songs, eight were written by Lennon and McCartney, early evidence of what Rolling Stone magazine later called "their invention of the idea of the self-contained rock band, writing their own hits and playing their own instruments."
1964 - PAN AM FLIGHT 101 was greeted by over 5,000 Beatles fans as it arrived at New York's JFK airport, today, as The Beatles landed in the United States for the first time, and causing riotous scenes as they touched down.
1970 - SHOCKING BLUE hit #1 on world charts today, starting in the UK, with their song, Venus, making them the first Dutch act to top world charts. Mariska Veres was the striking lead singer of the rock group, her appearance featuring kohl cosmetic-lined eyes, high cheekbones, and a long jet black hair wig. Following is the hit video, then Mariska's final appearance, on January 1, 2006, just 11 months prior to her death from cancer in December of that year.
1976 - PAUL SIMON started a three week run at #1 on singles charts around the world today, when his song 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, topped American charts, making it the singer's first solo #1 after leaving the hit-making duo, Simon & Garfunkel. For more Paul Simon go the *MUSICBACKTRACK* archives, use the search engine.
1979 - STEPHEN STILLS became the first rock performer to record on digital equipment when he began recording his album at the Los Angeles' Record Plant Studio. Here's an interesting, honest and rare interview with Stills. For more Stills, Crosby, Nash or young, go the archives.
1986 - THE ROLLING STONES shot the video for Harlem Shuffle in New York City, today, the song becoming the first cover song the Stones had released as an opening single off a new studio album since 1964. Harlem Shuffle is an R&B song written and originally recorded by the duo Bob & Earl in 1963. The tune has been covered by Booker T and the MG's, The Boogie Kings, John Fred and his Playboy Band, The Righteous Brothers, and even the Who's Pete Townshend had a go. Bobby Womack appears on backing vocals on the Stones' version, which made top 10 around the world. then we have the original with audio from Bob & Earl, and some vintage 60s footage. I think this original is the better version.
1981 - JOHN LENNON appeared on the Dick Cavette talk show to promote his song Woman, which was topping world music charts today. An ode to his wife Yoko Ono, Woman was Lennon's third chart topper in the seven weeks following his death on December 8, 1980. It is interesting going back 31 years and seeing Lennon in an interview situation. All the Beatles, Lennon, Harrison, McCartney and Starr at the 8MUSICBACKTRACK* archives.
1987 - GEORGE MICHAEL always had ambitions to sing with one of his favourite artists, soul queen, Aretha Franklin. Not only did his wish come true, but the song they sang together became Ms. Franklin's first and only #1 hit in the UK. The song, I Knew You Were Waiting For Me, was a one-off project and it reached number one in both the UK Singles Chart and Billboard's Hot 100, then worldwide. The song was written by Ivor Novello Award winner, Simon Climie, who also wrote hits for Pat Benetar, Smokey Robinson, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. For more on Ms. Franklin and Georgie baby go to the archives.
1999 - BLONDIE'S career was recently revived in what has now become a rock music tradition, and one of the songs that figured greatly was Maria a song taken from their 1999 album No Exit. This song was Blondie's comeback single, their first since War Child in July 1982. It was the band's sixth #1 single, topping the charts exactly 20 years after their first #1, Heart of Glass in 1979. The song was written by the band's keyboardist Jimmy Destri, who had also penned some of their earlier hits such as Atomic. While we're at it, let's look back at their first hit, too…In The Flesh.
1963 - PLEASE PLEASE ME was the Beatles song from the same titled album, which was released in the USA on the Vee Jay label 49 years ago today. Please Please Me was the debut album by the English rock band. The album and the single reached #1 on charts all over the world. Of the album's fourteen songs, eight were written by Lennon and McCartney, early evidence of what Rolling Stone magazine later called "their invention of the idea of the self-contained rock band, writing their own hits and playing their own instruments."
1964 - PAN AM FLIGHT 101 was greeted by over 5,000 Beatles fans as it arrived at New York's JFK airport, today, as The Beatles landed in the United States for the first time, and causing riotous scenes as they touched down.
1970 - SHOCKING BLUE hit #1 on world charts today, starting in the UK, with their song, Venus, making them the first Dutch act to top world charts. Mariska Veres was the striking lead singer of the rock group, her appearance featuring kohl cosmetic-lined eyes, high cheekbones, and a long jet black hair wig. Following is the hit video, then Mariska's final appearance, on January 1, 2006, just 11 months prior to her death from cancer in December of that year.
1976 - PAUL SIMON started a three week run at #1 on singles charts around the world today, when his song 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, topped American charts, making it the singer's first solo #1 after leaving the hit-making duo, Simon & Garfunkel. For more Paul Simon go the *MUSICBACKTRACK* archives, use the search engine.
1979 - STEPHEN STILLS became the first rock performer to record on digital equipment when he began recording his album at the Los Angeles' Record Plant Studio. Here's an interesting, honest and rare interview with Stills. For more Stills, Crosby, Nash or young, go the archives.
1986 - THE ROLLING STONES shot the video for Harlem Shuffle in New York City, today, the song becoming the first cover song the Stones had released as an opening single off a new studio album since 1964. Harlem Shuffle is an R&B song written and originally recorded by the duo Bob & Earl in 1963. The tune has been covered by Booker T and the MG's, The Boogie Kings, John Fred and his Playboy Band, The Righteous Brothers, and even the Who's Pete Townshend had a go. Bobby Womack appears on backing vocals on the Stones' version, which made top 10 around the world. then we have the original with audio from Bob & Earl, and some vintage 60s footage. I think this original is the better version.
1981 - JOHN LENNON appeared on the Dick Cavette talk show to promote his song Woman, which was topping world music charts today. An ode to his wife Yoko Ono, Woman was Lennon's third chart topper in the seven weeks following his death on December 8, 1980. It is interesting going back 31 years and seeing Lennon in an interview situation. All the Beatles, Lennon, Harrison, McCartney and Starr at the 8MUSICBACKTRACK* archives.
1987 - GEORGE MICHAEL always had ambitions to sing with one of his favourite artists, soul queen, Aretha Franklin. Not only did his wish come true, but the song they sang together became Ms. Franklin's first and only #1 hit in the UK. The song, I Knew You Were Waiting For Me, was a one-off project and it reached number one in both the UK Singles Chart and Billboard's Hot 100, then worldwide. The song was written by Ivor Novello Award winner, Simon Climie, who also wrote hits for Pat Benetar, Smokey Robinson, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. For more on Ms. Franklin and Georgie baby go to the archives.
1999 - BLONDIE'S career was recently revived in what has now become a rock music tradition, and one of the songs that figured greatly was Maria a song taken from their 1999 album No Exit. This song was Blondie's comeback single, their first since War Child in July 1982. It was the band's sixth #1 single, topping the charts exactly 20 years after their first #1, Heart of Glass in 1979. The song was written by the band's keyboardist Jimmy Destri, who had also penned some of their earlier hits such as Atomic. While we're at it, let's look back at their first hit, too…In The Flesh.
