Classic Cracker

THE KINGSMEN Scored No 1 Hit In The US 50 Years Ago Today With Garage Rock Single ‘LOUIE LOUIE’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

11 January 2024

50 years ago today, in 11 January 1964 Portland act THE KINGSMEN topped
the US Charts with their classic garage rock firecracker LOUIE LOUIE.

The song was written and performed by
musician Richard Berry in 1955.

When The Kingsmen‘s version was released the record was banned
by some American radio stations because of its lyrics, which were
rumored to contain naughty words. Even the F.B.I. investigated the
song, but finally concluded that they could find nothing wrong.

THE KINGSMEN

RICHARD BERRY

THE KINGSMEN: Bio – Discography

DAVID BOWIE – 52 Years Ago The Late Musical Genius Released Stellar Single ‘CHANGES’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

7 January 2024

DAVID BOWIE (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016) released
the stellar single CHANGES. It was part of his 1971 album
Hunky Dory

Bowie: “It started out as a parody of a
nightclub song, a kind of throwaway”.

Solid gold classic.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don’t want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
There’s gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can’t trace time

DAVID BOWIE: Facebook

Probably The Most Loved And Most Hated Xmas Song Ever Was Released 50 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

Hit singles from the past

17 December 2023

50 years ago, on 17 December 1973, the Wolverhampton glam rockers SLADE
released super catchy sing-along single MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY.

It became a blockbuster hit with more than 1 million copies worldwide. It’s probably
both the most loved and the most hated Xmas song ever as every single year since 1973
you just can’t escape it. It’s on the radio, in stores, in cafés and restaurants, on Christmas markets, it’s everywhere. Even on Turn Up The Volume.

All together now.

SLADE: Biography – Discography

MARVIN GAYE Had His First Number One Hit In The US With ‘I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE’ 55 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

14 December 2023

The late great soul giant MARVIN GAYE scored I Heard It Through The Grapevine
(more than 287 million streams on Spotify) his first Number One in the US on this
day 55 years ago, on 14 December 1968.

The song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. It was first recorded by soul group The Miracles without success. It was Gaye who made it world-famous, as we know it.

MARVIN GAYE: Bio – Discography

THE SCAFFOLD (Featuring Paul McCartney’s Brother) Scored Number One UK Hit With ‘LILY THE PINK’ 55 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

11 December 2023

Liverpool‘s pop-folk group/comedy-poetry act THE SCAFFOLD (1964-1977)
featuring Peter Michael McCartney (performing with his alias Mike McGear),
Beatle Paul‘s brother scored their one and only UK number-one hit with
LILY THE PINK 55 years ago today, on 11 December 1968.

Here we go.

The Scaffold: Story

BRENDA LEE – 65 Years After Its First Release ‘ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE’ Is No 1 Again In The US

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

10 December 2023

60s pop star BRENDA LEE, born in Atlanta, Georgia, US celebrates her
79th birthday tomorrow, December 11. And she’s already celebrating
another event.

65 years ago she had a huge hit with ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
and a week ago the re-release of the song hit the top spot of the Billboard’s
top-100. The tune was written by American songwriter Johnny Marks.

It’s the longest gap between release and reaching #1. Lee is now also the oldest
person to have a number-one hit in the US, surpassing Louis Armstrong who was
62 when Hello Dolly! topped the charts in 1964.

It has almost reached 650 million streams on Spotify.

65 years ago

65 years later

BRENDA LEE: Bio – Discography – Instagram

ROD STEWART Gave All Royalties From His No 1 Hit ‘DO YA THINK I’M SEXY?’ To Charity 45 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

3 December 2023

Rod The Mod scored hit after hit in the 70s, as happened also
with DO YA THINK I’M SEXY? that topped the UK Charts 45 years
ago today.

A successful lawsuit for plagiarism by Brazilian musician Jorge Ben
was filed because the chorus of Stewart‘s song had been derived
from Ben‘s composition Taj Mahal.

Stewart agreed to donate all his royalties from
the song to United Nations Children’s Fund.

DO YA THINK I’M SEXY

TAJ MAHAL


.
Rod Stewart: Bio – Discography

THE BEATLES – Their Million Seller Hit ‘I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND’ Came Out 60 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

29 November 2023

I suppose I don’t have to introduce
this band nor this mega hit.

For the first time ever in the UK advanced orders
passed the million mark before it was released.

Once upon a time The Strangles‘ Hugh Cornwell said
that The Beatles actually wanted to sing ‘I want to fuck you’,
but couldn’t of course back in those prudish days.

THE BEATLES: Bio – Discography

EDDIE COCHRAN Scored His First UK Hit This Day 65 Years Ago With ‘SUMMERTIME BLUES’

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

7 November 2023

EDDIE COCHRAN one of the genuine rock pioneers was born named
Ray Edward Cochran in 1938 in Minnesota. At the time – in the 50s – he was
one of the rare artists who wrote his own songs and overdubbed tracks.

Unfortunately, on 17 April, he didn’t survive a car incident when on the
road with Gene Vincent and friends on tour in the UK. He was only 21. R.I.P.

Cochran made his UK chart debut with SUMMERTIME BLUES
65 years ago, on 7 November 1958. It reached #18 in the UK
and #8 in the US.

Many covered it later and scored a hit with it
for themselves, like The Who and Blue Cheer.

Hail hail.
Let’s roll.

EDDIE COCHRAN: Bio – Discography

MEAT LOAF Topped The US Charts With “I’DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)” 30 Years Ago Today

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

6 November 2023

The late imposing rock star MEAT LOAF (born Michael Lee Aday in Dallas, Texas)
will always be remembered for his 1977 mega-hit Paradise By The Dashboard Light
from his hit LP Bat Out Of Hell fully written by the late Jim Steinman.

But the champ of bombastic rock scored big time more than once.

With the 1993 high-powered ballad I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T
DO THAT’, also written by Steinman, he even surpassed the success of Paradise
By The Dashboard Lights. The melodramatic belter topped the US Charts 30 years ago today, on 6 November 1993. And was also numero uno in more than 25 other countries.
It featured on his 6th album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, with co-vocals by English songstress Lorraine Crosby.

Spectacular video.

MEATLOAF: Bio – Discography