BOY GEORGE and hisCULTURE CLUB had their most productive period between 1981 and 1986 with 4 albums and several hits of which DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME
was their biggest one. It topped the UK Charts this day 42 years ago, on 23 October 1982.
It peaked at number 2 in the US.
It was on their platinum-selling
debut LP, Kissing to Be Clever.
Almost 170 million streams on Spotify.
More than 140 million views on YouTube.
ROY ORBISON (23 April 1936 – 6 December 1988), one of the greatest voices ever,
also known as The Big O scored with OH, PRETTY WOMAN, one of the greatest hits
of his career. It topped the US Charts 60 years ago today, on 27 September 1964.
Along with that other diamond ‘Running Scared‘ it was his 2nd and final No. 1 in his home country. It also peaked at the top of the Charts in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and some European countries.
“Pretty woman walkin’ down the street
Pretty woman, the kind I’d like to meet
Pretty woman, I don’t believe you, you’re not the truth
No one could look as good as you
Mercy”
THE KING (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) released his second single,
titled GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT on 25 September 1954, 70 years ago
through Sun Records.
It was a song already recorded/released 6 years
earlier by American blues shouter Wynonie Harris.
45 years ago today, on 16 September 1979, THE SUGARHILL GANG (1979–1985, 1994–present)
introduced the world to hip-hop with their single hit
single RAPPERS DELIGHT (almost 200 million streams
on Spotify).
The song wasn’t the first rap song, but it was the one that popularized
the genre on a global level, landing in the US Top 40, and in the Top Ten
in the UK, Canada, and across Europe.
“I said a hip hop the hippie to the hippie
To the hip hip hop and you don’t stop.”
The song was written, by the late reggae icon Bob Marley (1945-1981)
in 1973 for his Burnin’ album.
Marley: “I wanted to say ‘I shot the police’ but the government would have
made a fuss so I said ‘I shot the sheriff’ instead… but it’s the same idea: justice.
It was a traditional folk song (also recorded by Bob Dylan) which The Animals turned
into an electrifying gem. It started artists/bands going more electric than before.
American one hit pop wonders ZAGER AND EVANS scored a huge international
hit with their catchy single IN THE YEAR 2525. Today 55 years ago the topped
the UK Singles Chart. They also got to number one in the US.
Only 501 years to go.
In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find
In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lie
Everything you think, do and say
Is in the pill you took today
In the year 4545
You ain’t gonna need your teeth,
won’t need your eyes
You won’t find a thing to chew
Nobody’s gonna look at you
In the year 5555
Your arms hangin’ limp at your sides
Your legs got nothin’ to do
Some machine’s doin’ that for you
In the year 6565
You won’t need no husband, won’t need no wife
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long glass tube
In the year 7510
If God’s a coming, He oughta make it by then
Maybe He’ll look around Himself and say
Guess it’s time for the judgment day
In the year 8510
God is gonna shake His mighty head
He’ll either say I’m pleased where man has been
Or tear it down, and start again
In the year 9595
I’m kinda wonderin’ if man is gonna be alive
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing
Now it’s been ten thousand years
Man has cried a billion tears
For what, he never knew, now man’s reign is through
But through eternal night, the twinkling of starlight
So very far away, maybe it’s only yesterday
In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find
New electro wave celeb GARY NUMAN released his hit single CARS 40 years ago today, on 24 August 1984. It appeared on his first solo LP
(after 2 albums with Tubeway Army) The Pleasure Principle. It went to
the top of the UK Singles Chart.
Today 55 years ago, on 23 July 1969, rock giants THE ROLLING STONES
occupied the top spot of the US Singles Chart with piquant jackhammer Honky Tonk Woman.
A single-only release, although a honky-tonk version entitled ‘Country Honk‘,
with some different lyrics, appeared later in the year on their Let It Bleed LP,
which also went to number one in the States.
Here’s the boiling live rendition at the legendary Hyde Park Concert in London, that same year.
Motown stars THE SUPREMES (1959–1977) withDiana Ross scored
multiple hits. One of their biggest one was WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO?
(almost 130 million streams on Spotify) which topped the US charts on
22 August 1964, today 60 years ago.
“Baby, baby, baby don’t leave me
Ooh, please don’t leave me all by myself
I’ve got this burning, burning, yearning feelin’ inside me
Ooh, deep inside me and it hurts so bad”
