Today’s Yesterday Knockout

PET SHOP BOYS Topped The UK Singles Chart 32 Years Ago With Their Cover Of ‘ALWAYS ON MY MIND’…

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

19 December 2019

Dance-pop duo PET SHOP BOYS topped the UK singles chart 32 years ago, on 19 December 1987 with ‘ALWAYS ON MIND‘. The song has a long history. It was written
by a trio of professional songwriters: Johnny Christopher, Mark James, and Wayne Carson.
and was first recorded by B.J. Thomas in 1970. Over the years countless artists covered
the song resulting in a total of 300 registered versions. The most famous interpretation was the one by The King, by Elvis Presley in 1972.

It was in 1987 that Pet Shop Boys picked ‘Always On My Mind‘ to perform on a TV special commemorating the tenth anniversary of Elvis‘s death. Their version had such an impact that the duo decided to record and issue it. And the rest is number one history.

Here’s the original clip…

PET SHOP BOYS: Facebook

THE CLASH Released Classic Single ‘LONDON CALLING’ 40 Years Ago Today…

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

7 December 2019

40 years ago today, on 7 December 1979, iconic punk rockers THE CLASH released
their classic single ‘LONDON CALLING‘, the title track from their double masterpiece
LP that appeared a week later. It was an electrical stomper about Doomsday, about the world melting down, with Joe Strummer spitting and sneering as never before. Sounds like The Clash were climate activists avant la lettre speaking out about our endangered environment with a hellish uppercut of a song, and an equally apocalyptic B-side, the
bass loaded dub reggae cracker Armagideon Time. The single peaked at #11 in the UK.

“The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growin’ thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear ’cause
London is drowning, and I, I live by the river”

Here’s the ominous power stroke…

THE CLASH: Facebook

The handwritten lyrics by the late great Joe Strummer…

LED ZEPPELIN Scored Their First US Hit Single With ‘A WHOLE LOTTA LOVE’ 50 Years Ago Today…

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

6 December 2019

The classic LED ZEPPELIN track ‘WHOLE LOTTA LOVE’ was released as
a single almost everywhere in the world, except in the UK where the band
refused to issue singles throughout their career thinking it would help to sell
more albums. ‘Whole Lotta Love’ was their first hit in the US where it entered
the chart 50 years ago today, on 6 December 1969. it peaked at #4 and six
months later the rousing riff loaded knockout had sold over 1 million copies.

.

LED ZEPPELIN: Facebook

ELECTRONIC Released Debut Single ‘GETTING AWAY WITH IT’ 30 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

4 December 2019

Band: Electronic
Who: New Order’s Bernard Sumner
and ex-The Smiths’ Johnny Marr
Song: Getting Away With It
Released: 4 December 1989 – 30 years ago
Note 1: It was their debut single and appeared on their self-titled debut LP.
The song featured guest vocals by Neil Tennant from Pet Shop Boys‘.
Note 2: The single reached #12 in the UK and peaked at #number 38 in the US.

ELECTRONIC: Bio & Discography

THE ROLLING STONES Topped The UK Singles Chart 55 Years Ago With ‘LITTLE RED ROOSTER’…

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

3 December 2019

Band: The Rolling Stones
Song: Little Red Rooster
B-side: Off The Hook
Note 1: The song was written by blues legend Willie Dixon and first
recorded in 1961 by another blues icon Howlin’ Wolf
Note 2: The single topped the UK Chart 55 years ago, on 3 December
1964. It was their second Number One in their home country

Here’s some historic footage from a TV show performance of the hit single…

THE ROLLING STONES: Facebook

DAVID BOWIE Released His ‘RUBBER BAND’ Single 53 Years Ago…

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

2 December 2019

Artist: David Bowie
Song: Rubber Band
Released: 2 December 1966, 53 years ago.
B-side: The London Boys. Re-released as a single in France in 1975.
Note 1: It was his first record for label Deram Records, a subsidiary label of
Decca Records. It was also Deram that released his 1967 self-titled debut LP.
Note 2: Despite the fact that it was a frisky, retro cabaret-like catchy tune
and despite some good reviews the single did not chart.

DAVID BOWIE: Facebook – Website

‘Perfect Day’ by LOU REED & Various Artists For Charity – 22 Years Ago…

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

29 November 2019

Today 22 years ago, LOU REED‘s 1972 song PERFECT DAY, from his ‘Transformer’ LP topped the UK Singles Chart. It was re-recorded by Lou Reed featuring various artists including David Bowie, Elton John, Suzanne Vega, Shane MacGowan, Dr. John and several more, as a fundraiser for the BBC Children In Need Charity.

Here’s the beauty…

LOU REED: Facebook

R.E.M. Scored Their First US Top 10 Hit With ‘THE ONE I LOVE’ 32 Years Ago…

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

28 November 2019

R.E.M. scored their first Top Ten Hit in the US with single ‘THE ONE I LOVE‘
on 28 November 1987, 32 years ago today. It peaked at #9. A track from their
fifth album ‘Document. Michael Stipe revealed in a 1987 interview that the song
was actually, despite the title “incredibly violent. It’s very clear that it’s about using
people over and over again.”

Oops, this is not a love song…

R.E.M.: Facebook

‘Dry Your Eyes’ By THE STREETS – 2004…

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

27 November 2019

THE STREETS‘ mastermind MIKE SKINNER, born on 27 November 1978, celebrates his
41st birthday today. Although it’s a sad love ballad let’s toast with ‘DRY YOUR EYES‘, as it was Skinner‘s greatest hit ever. NME called the track “a hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck ballad for jilted lovers. Rarely has Skinner sounded so vulnerable, poignant and, well, normal.”

Here we go…

THE STREETS: Facebook

‘RIVER MAN’ By NICK DRAKE (1969)

Posted on by JL

Knockouts from the past…

25 November 2019

Legendary British singer-songwriter NICK DRAKE died on 25 November 1974,
45 years ago today. He was only 26 and passed away after an overdose of
amitriptyline, an antidepressant. To remember the wayward, romantic and
mentally troubled artist here’s one of his rare singles called RIVER MAN from
his 1969 debut LP Five Leaves Left…

NICK DRAKE: Facebook – Discography