Classic Cracker

BLONDIE – 45 Years Ago Today DEBBIE Was Hanging On The Telephone

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

30 October 2023

Immortal pop legends BLONDIE released their UK hit single
HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE 45 years ago today, on
30 October 1978.

It was the opening track of Parallel Lines, their third and best LP to my ears.
The song was actually written by the not so famous songwriter Jack Lee in 1976
for his band The Nerves.

Blondie learned about the song when Gun Club frontman Jeffrey Lee Pierce
had given them a compilation cassette with that The Nerves song on it.

The single peaked at #5 in
the UK and flopped in the US.

Hello, Debbie?

Blondie: Instagram – Facebook

THE ROLLING STONES Topped The US Singles Chart 50 Years Ago Today With Bittersweet Ballad ‘ANGIE’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

25 October 2023

THE ROLLING STONES, who released their brand-new praised LP Hackney Diamonds
have been entertaining the world for more than sixty years now. Incredible achievement.

50 years ago today, on 24 October 1973 they were on top
of the US Singles Chart with bittersweet ballad ANGIE from
their Goats Head Soup album.

The song was as usual credited to Jagger/Richards, although it
was almost entirely written by Keef Richards It also reached #1
in Australia and Canada, and peaked at #5 in their home country.

ANGIE

.
THE STONES: Facebook – Instagram

AMY WINEHOUSE Released Her Most Famous Song ‘REHAB’ 17 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

23 October 2023

Artist: AMY WINEHOUSE
14 September 1983 – 23 juli 2011

Classic: REHAB
The song is about Amy’s refusal to follow
an alcohol rehab program, after her
management team insisted on doing so.

Released: 23 October 2006 – 17 years ago today
Score: #7 in the UK / #9 in the US

Album: Back To Black

R.I.P.

AMY WINEHOUSE: Facebook – Instagram

U2 Scored Their First Ever UK Number One Hit With ‘DESIRE’ 35 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

8 October 2023

Irish superstars U2 scored their first ever number one hit single
35 years ago today, on 8 October 1998, with DESIRE from their
Rattle And Hum album.

The band cited the Stooges‘ song 1969 as the primary influence
on the song, which is an interpolation of the Bo Diddley beat.

PLAY

U2: Instagram – Bio – Discography

TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS Topped UK Singles Chart 55 Years Ago With Gospel Rocker ‘MONY MONY’…

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

21 August 2023

This day 53 years ago, on 31 July 1966, American band TOMMY JAMES
AND THE SHONDELLS occupied the top seat of the UK Singles Chart with
their jangly yeah yeah yeah cracker MONY MONY sounding like rock gospel.

The band had two other massive hits, the sensual Crimson and Clover
and the tremendously frisky Hanky Panky.

Catch the Mony Mony beat here.

If there are some Billy Idol fans watching/listening
right now, here’s the punk’s 1981 ‘Mony Mony‘ cover.

C’mon, Billy.

TOMMY AND THE SHONDELLS: Biography

ELVIS PRESLEY – It Was NOW OR NEVER For The King This Day 63 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

15 August 2023

This day in 1960, on 15 August 1960, yes, 63 years ago THE KING scored
one of his multiple number 1 hits with IT’S NOW OR NEVER . It topped
both the US and UK Charts.

Hail hail Elvis.

The song that inspired Now Or Never, was titled O’ Sole Mio and was already written in 1898. It was a melodramatic Neapolitan song, composed by Giovanni Capurro, Eduardo di Capua and Alfredo Mazzucchi. The title translates literally as ‘my sun‘ or ‘my sunshine‘. It was recorded for the first time in 1908 by Emilio de Gogorza and sounded like this…

THE POLICE – 45 Years Ago Today The Trio Released Their 3rd Single ‘CAN’T STAND LOSING YOU’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

14 August 2023

Megastar trio THE POLICE had their 3rd single CAN’T STAND LOSING
YOU, more than 32 million streams on Spotify, out 45 years ago today,
on 14 August 1978.

It featured on their debut LP Outlandos D’Amour

Sting said the song was about a teenage suicide and that he wrote the lyrics in 5 minutes.
It was a big hit. Although it went no higher than #42 on first release, it topped the UK Charts when re-released the year after in June.

Original video

THE POLICE: Bio – Discography – Instagram

THE ROLLING STONES Topped The US Singles Chart With ‘MISS YOU’ 45 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

5 August 2023

Today 45 years ago, on 5 August 1978, THE ROLLING STONES scored
a No 1 in the US with MISS YOU (more than 175 million streams on Spotify).
They also conquered the #1 spot in Canada. In the UK they peaked at #3.

The hit featured in their Some Girls. It was written by Mick Jagger while
jamming with keyboardist Billy Preston during rehearsals for live shows.

Keef: “‘Miss You’ was a damn good disco record,
it was calculated to be one.”

Original video

THE ROLLING STONES: Bio – Discography – Instagram

Nothing Compares To Her – SINEAD O’CONNOR With Goosebumps Performance In 2007 Of Her Greatest Hit

Posted on by JL

Top tunes from the past

30 July 2023

It’s hard to say goodbye to such an unqiue artist, such an inspiring personality,
such an attractive human being, such a bedazzling voice. And if you go surfin’ on
the internet you’ll see a tsunami of love for her, even from some people who hated
her because of her controversial point of views, well, controversial in the opinion
of those critics.

Anyway, I’ll just focus on O’Connor‘s vocal
brilliance again (and again and again).

This 2007 live performance of her greatest – Prince written – hit
NOTHING COMPARES 2 U (almost 295 million streams on Spotify)
sends shivers down your spine.

Goosebumps.

SINEAD O’CONNOR: Bio – Discography – Instagram

THE SPECIALS Topped The UK Singles Chart This Day In 1981 With Their Doom Classic ‘GHOST TOWN’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

11 July 2023

British ska heroes THE SPECIALS scored their biggest hit with
the sublime doom anthem GHOST TOWN (more than 57 million
streams on Spotify).

This day in 1981, on 11 July, it conquered the top spot
of the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for 10 weeks.

The song’s content was appropriate again when COVID-19
locked us up for about 2 years and now again, as Brex-shit
roars its ugly head.

Official clip.

R.I.P. Terry Hall