Classic Cracker

MICHAEL JACKSON Topped The US Singles Chart 41 Years Ago Today With Timeless Masterstroke ‘BILLIE JEAN’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

5 March 2024

The late astronomic superstar MICHAEL JACKSON (1958-2009)
scored his biggest hit with timeless masterstroke BILLIE JEAN.

Pop at its perfection It conquered the US Singles Chart‘s top seat
41 years ago today, on 5 March 1983. It also topped the UK Chart.
More than 1,6 billion streams on Spotify, so far.

It was the lead single from his zillion copies selling LP Thriller.

Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son

MJ: Instagram – Bio – Discography

Happy 73 To Cockney Rebel STEVE HARLEY

Posted on by JL

27 February 2024

STEVE HARLEY, the former frontman of 70s glam rock legends Cockney Rebel
was born Stephen Malcolm Ronald Nice on 27 February 1951 in Deptford, London.

Happy 73 to the supreme songwriter who had to tell people all the time that he
wrote more than one song, hinting at Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me).

I agree 200%. Their 1973 debut single SEBASTIAN (on their excellent first
album The Human Menagerie) is their 24 Carat gold masterstroke.

Bombastic rock opera at its sublime best.

Steve Harley: Instagram – Bio – Discography

Blockbuster Hit ‘JUMP’ By VAN HALEN Conquered The Top Seat Of The US Charts On This Day 40 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

25 February 2024

Robust rock giants VAN HALEN (1974–2020) nailed
their biggest hit with blockbuster JUMP.

It conquered the top seat of the US Singles Charts 40 years ago today, on
25 February 1984 and stayed there for 5 weeks. The classic peaked at #7
in the UK.

R.I.P. Eddie Van Halen.
26 January 1955 – 6 October 2020

Here’s the iconic video clip.

VAN HALEN: Instagram – Bio – Discography

SUZI QUATRO Topped The UK Singles Chart With Glam Bam Rocker ‘DEVIL GATE DRIVE’ 50 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

23 February 2024

Leather rock chick SUZI QUATRO (now aged 74) topped the UK Singles Chart
with DEVIL GATE DRIVE 50 years ago today, on 23 February 2024. Her 2nd
number one.

A glam bam rocker written by hit-machine duo Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman
who wrote a ton of hits for bands such as The Sweet, Mud, Smokie and Racey .

DEVIL SUZI

SUZI: Bio – Discography

MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND Topped US Singles Chart 47 Years Ago Today With SPRINGSTEEN Song ‘BLINDED BY THE LIGHT’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

19 February 2024

Band: MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND

Who: Rock group formed by South African
musician Manfred Mann (now 83) after his
previous band named after himself broke up.

Active: 1971–1987, 1991–present / 15 LPs

Hit single: BLINDED BY THE LIGHT
A song written by Bruce ‘The Boss’ Springsteen

Score: Numero Uno on the US Singles Chart
on 19 February 1977, 47 years ago

“Blinded by the light, revved up like
a deuce / Another runner in the night”

MME BAND: Story – Facebook

LENNY KRAVITZ Scored His First No 1 Hit In The UK With ‘FLY AWAY’ This Day 25 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

14 February 2024

Flamboyant rock star LENNY KRAVITZ (aged 59 now) bagged his first #1 hit single
in the UK with FLY AWAY (almost 250 million streams on Spotify) this day 25 years ago,
on Feb 14, 1999.

The track featured on his 5 album, was used in a Peugeot TV commercial
and won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Performance that year.

Fly here.

LK: Instagram

AMEN CORNER – Welsh Beat Band Topped The UK Singles Chart This Day 55 Years Ago With (IF PARADISE IS) HALF AS NICE’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

12 February 2024

Band: AMEN CORNER
Who: Welsh beat-pop band (1966–1969)

Single: (IF PARADISE IS) HALF AS NICE
Typical feel-good 60s earworm.
Score: No. 1 in the UK on 12  Feb 1969,
55 years ago today.

Amen to that.

AMEN CORNER: Bio – Discography

THE STONES Had Their 19th Nervous Breakdown This Day In 1966

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

4 February 2024

58 years ago today, on 4 February 1966, THE ROLLING STONES
released 19TH NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. One of their best-ever
masterstrokes in my book. It peaked at #2 in the UK and in the US

Mick Jagger: “It’s a song about things that are happening around
me,everyday life as I see it. People say I’m always singing about pills
and breakdowns, therefore I must be an addict – this is ridiculous.
Some people are so narrow-minded they won’t admit to themselves
that this really does happen to other people besides pop stars.”

“You better stop, look around
Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes
Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown”

THE STONES: Bio – Discography

STEVE MILLER BAND Topped The US Singles Charts 50 Years Ago Today With ‘THE JOKER’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

12 January 2024

Milwaukee-born singer/songwriter STEVE MILLER hit the top spot of the US singles
chart 50 years ago today, on 12 January 1974 with THE JOKER. The title track of his
eighth, eponymous album.

“Cause I’m a picker / I’m a grinner / I’m a lover / And I’m a sinner /
I play my music in the sun / I’m a joker / I’m a smoker / I’m a midnight toker /
I sure don’t want to hurt no one”

Superb live version.

Still flying like an eagle.

SMB: Instagram – Bio – Discography