This Day In Music History

1973, George Harrison knocked Paul McCartney from the top of the US singles chart with 'Give Me Love, Give Me Peace On Earth'. His second US No.1, a No.8 hit in the UK.

1973, Slade were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Skweeze Me Pleeze Me', the group's fifth UK No.1 and second single to enter the chart at No.1.

1976, Stuart Goddard, (Adam Ant), placed the following ad in the classified section of the Melody Maker, 'Beat on a bass, with the B-Sides.' Andy Warren answered the ad and the pair went on to form Adam and The Ants.

1977, Marvel Comics launched a comic book based on the rock group Kiss.

1978, United Artists released The Buzzcocks single 'Love You More', at 1 minute 29 seconds it was the second shortest single ever released. Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs 1960 hit 'Stay' was the shortest hit at one minute 28 seconds.

1979, One hit wonder Anita Ward started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Ring My Bell', also a UK No.1.

1984, Huey Lewis and the News went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Sports'.

1995, Garth Brooks was given a star on Hollywood's Walk Of Fame. The Country singer buried the master tapes of his 'Hits' album under the star.

2001, American guitarist and producer Chet Atkins died in Nashville aged 77. Recorded over 100 albums during his career, produced records for Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves and Waylon Jennings. Was a major influence on George Harrison and Mark Knopfler.

1943, Born on this day, Florence Ballard, vocals, The Supremes, (1964 US & UK No.1 single 'Baby Love' plus 11 other US No.1 singles). She died February 21st 1976.

1951, Born on this day, Stanley Clarke, jazz bass player, worked with Chick Corea, Santana, Keith Richards, Quincy Jones, Paul McCartney.

1956, Born on this day, Adrian Wright, The Human League, (1981 UK No.1 & 1982 US No.1 single 'Don't You Want Me' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles).

1957, Born on this day, Doug Sampson, drummer, Iron Maiden.

1962, Born on this day, Julianne Regan, vocals, All About Eve, (1988 UK No.10 single 'Martha's Harbour').

Grateful Dead - Dark Star

The Grateful Dead were an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock —and for live performances of long musical improvisation.

"Their music," writes Lenny Kaye, "touches on ground that most other groups don't even know exists." These various influences were distilled into a diverse and psychedelic whole that made the Grateful Dead "the pioneering Godfathers of the jam band world."They were ranked 57th in the issue The Greatest Artists of all Time by Rolling Stone magazine.

The fans of the Grateful Dead, some of whom followed the band from concert to concert for years, are known as "Deadheads" and are known for their dedication to the band's music. Many referred to the band simply as "the Dead."

"Dark Star" was written by lyricist Robert Hunter and composed by lead guitarist Jerry Garcia; however, compositional credit is sometimes extended to include Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, the late Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, and Bob Weir.

"Dark Star" was an early Grateful Dead classic and became one of their most loved and anticipated numbers, often with the group using it as a vehicle for musical improvisation sessions that extended beyond the original structure of the song. The song is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.

"Dark Star" was initially released as a two-minute single in 1968, backed with "Born Cross-Eyed", a track written by rhythm guitarist Bob Weir. The single, to quote Phil Lesh, "sank like a stone."

Due to the relentless touring of the Grateful Dead, and the fact that fans were allowed to tape the band's shows, many live versions of "Dark Star" exist. Interesting to note: the studio recording of Dark Star lasted only 2:40, yet the song was known for its lengthy live performances, many of which clocked in at 20–30 minutes.

Running over 23 minutes (13 minutes of it consisting of Jerry Garcia's guitar solo), the popular rendition as found on the Live/Dead live album was a captivating blend of psychedelia, jazz, and jam elements. "Dark Star" defines the Dead's early improvisational music.

Lynn Anderson - (I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden

Lynn Rene Anderson (born September 26, 1947 in Grand Forks, North Dakota) is an American country music singer and equestrian, best known for her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most popular and successful female country singers of the 1970s.

In addition to being named "Top Female Vocalist" by the Academy of Country Music (twice) and "Female Vocalist of the Year" by the Country Music Association, she has scored 11 #1, 18 Top 10, and over 50 Top 40 hits.

She was the first female country artist to win an American Music Award in 1974, as well as the first to headline and sell out Madison Square Garden that same year. Anderson was named Billboards "Artist of the Decade" (1970–1980).

Anderson debuted in 1966, at the age of 19, and had her first major hit with Ride, Ride, Ride. After a series of Top 10 hit singles on the country charts during the later half of the 1960s, Anderson went on to sign with Columbia Records in 1970. Under Columbia, she had her most successful string of hits.

Her signature song, "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden", was and remains one of the most successful country crossover hits of all time. The song even made it to #3 on the Billboard Pop Chart and was later ranked #83 on CMT's "100 Greatest Songs in Country Music History."

The song has been covered by several other artists; most notably k.d. lang and Martina McBride, who released their covers as singles in 1987 and 2005, respectively.

Al Green-Lets Stay Together

Albert Greene (born April 13, 1946), better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together".

In 2005, Rolling Stone named him #65 in their list of the '100 Greatest Artists of All Time'. The nomination, written by Justin Timberlake, stated that "people are born to do certain things, and Al was born to make us smile."

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Green in 1995, referring to him as "one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music." Green has sold more than 20 million records.

"Let's Stay Together" is a song by Al Green on his 1972 album of the same name. Released as a single in 1971, the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained on the chart for 16 weeks and also topped Billboard's R&B chart for nine weeks.

It was ranked the 60th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was selected by the Library of Congress as a 2010 addition to the National Recording Registry, which selects recordings annually that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

This Day In Music History

1961, Del Shannon was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Runaway.' His only UK No.1 and the first of 14 UK Top 40 hits.

1967, Rolling Stone Keith Richard was found guilty of allowing his house to be used for the illegal smoking of cannabis. He was sentenced to one year in jail and a £500 ($850) fine, (prison number 5855). Mick Jagger was also fined £100 ($170) and given three months in jail on drug charges. Jagger and Richards were both released and granted bail of £7,000 the following day.

1968, A free concert was held in London's Hyde Park with Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Roy Harper. This afternoon concert was the first free festival to be held in Hyde Park. The concert was held to coincide with the release of Pink Floyd's second album, A Saucerful of Secrets.

1973, Ian Gillan quit Deep Purple at the end of a tour in Japan.

1974, Charles Aznavour was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'She', the French singers only UK No.1. At the time it made Aznavour the oldest living male chart-topper in the UK charts (at fifty years old).

1975, American singer songwriter Tim Buckley died of an overdose of heroin and morphine aged 28. Released nine albums including the 1972 release ‘Greetings from L.A.’ Buckley is the father of singer songwriter Jeff Buckley.

1985, David Bowie and Mick Jagger recorded a version of the Martha Reeves and the Vandellas 1964 hit 'Dancing In The Street.'' for the forthcoming 'Live Aid' fundraising event. The single went on to become a No.1 UK hit.

1985, Marillion scored their only UK No.1 album with 'Misplaced Childhood'.

1991, Jason Donovan had his third UK No.1 single with 'Any Dream Will Do' a song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice for the 1968 musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Donovan was playing the lead role in a new London production of the musical.

1994, Oasis made their debut on BBC TV's 'Top Of The Pops' performing their new single 'Shakermaker'.

1996, It was reported that US record company bosses were considering random drug tests for pop stars similar to those carried out on athletes to try and reduce the drug death toll in the industry.

2002, American singer and actress Rosemary Clooney died of lung cancer. Had the 1954 UK No.1 single 'This Ole House' appeared in the 1954 movie White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Her nephew, George Clooney was a pallbearer at her funeral.

2003, Destiny’s Child singer Beyonce started a five week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Dangerously In Love’, also a US No.1.

1945, Born on this day, Little Eva, US singer. She was babysitting for Carole King and Gerry Goffin who asked her to record a song they had written. It gave her the 1962 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'The Loco-Motion'. She died on April 10th 2003.

1948, Born on this day, Ian Paice, drummer, Deep Purple, (1970 UK No.2 single 'Black Night'), 1973 US No. 4 single 'Smoke On The Water').

1953, Born on this day, Colin Hay, Men At Work, (1983 UK and US No.1 single 'Down Under').

1978, Born on this day, Nicole Scherzinger, singer, Eden's Crush, (2001 US No. 8 single 'Get Over Yourself'). The Pussycat Dolls, (2005, US No.2 & UK No.1 with their debut single ‘Don't Cha’ featuring Busta Rhymes). The Pussycat Dolls became only the fourth ever girl band to enter the UK charts at No.1 with their debut single. (The other’s being the Spice Girls, B*Witched and Girls Aloud).

1979, Born on this day, Tim McCord, bass, Evanescence, (joined in 2006),
2003 UK No.1 & US No.5 single ‘Bring Me To Life’, 2003 UK No.1 & US No.3 album ‘Fallen.’

The Beatles - From Me to You

"From Me to You" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles as a single in 1963. "From Me to You" would be the first of eleven consecutive British number one singles by the Beatles, but failed to make an impact in the United States at the time of its initial release.

However, a 1963 cover version released by Del Shannon resulted in the song becoming the first Lennon/McCartney tune to enter the American pop chart. It was one of the very last songs to be credited "McCartney/Lennon"; soon afterwards their songs began appearing credited to "Lennon/McCartney".

Lennon and McCartney began writing "From Me to You" while on a coach heading to Shrewsbury as part of the Beatles' tour with Helen Shapiro. The title was inspired by the name of the letters section of the New Musical Express, which they had been reading: "From You to Us". McCartney noted that their early songs tended to include the words I, me, or you in them, as a way of making them "very direct and personal".

This was one Lennon/McCartney song that the duo truly co-wrote; McCartney described it as "very much co-written".

The Beatles - Thank You Girl

"Thank You Girl" is a song by The Beatles and released as the B-side of "From Me to You", which was recorded on the same day (5 March 1963).

While not released on an LP in the United Kingdom until Rarities in 1978, the single was featured as the second track on The Beatles' Second Album in the United States. As the B-side to "Do You Want to Know a Secret?", it hit #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1964.

Originally titled "Thank You, Little Girl", John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the song as a tribute to the band's many female fans. McCartney said, "We knew that if we wrote a song called, 'Thank You Girl', that a lot of the girls who wrote us fan letters would take it as a genuine 'thank you'. So a lot of our songs were directly addressed to the fans."

Written “eyeball to eyeball", a phrase Lennon and McCartney would later use to describe their early formulaic writing sessions, "Thank You Girl" demonstrates how they were able to produce a song from scratch by working in total partnership. Lyrically, Ian MacDonald suggests that Lennon probably wrote the first line of each verse, allowing McCartney his flair for word play and inner-rhyming in completing it.

Lennon said the song was originally intended as a single: "'Thank You Girl' was one of our efforts at writing a single that didn't work. So it became a B-side or an album track." In April 1972, he told Hit Parader, "[The song was written by] Paul and me. This was just a silly song we knocked off." McCartney seemed to agree describing it as "a bit of a hack song, but all good practice."

Both "From Me to You" and "Thank You Girl" were credited to McCartney-Lennon, as were eight of the songs on the Please Please Me album. The songwriting credit would be permanently changed to the more familiar Lennon/McCartney for their next single release; "She Loves You".

The Beatles - She Loves You

"She Loves You" is a song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney based on an idea by McCartney, originally recorded by The Beatles for release as a single in 1963.

The single set and surpassed several records in the United Kingdom charts, and set a record in the United States by being one of the five Beatles songs which held the top five positions in the American charts simultaneously.

It is The Beatles' best-selling single in the United Kingdom, and was the best selling single in Britain in 1963.

"She Loves You" was credited to "Lennon/McCartney" as were all subsequent songs written by the pair and released during the remainder of the band's tenure. With the exception of the single version of "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You", all prior songs were credited as "McCartney/Lennon".

The sequence was a source of controversy when McCartney changed it to "McCartney/Lennon" for some live versions released later in his career.
This was the first song by The Beatles to be heard by a substantial number of Americans; the only United States release by The Beatles that had even charted before that was "From Me to You", which lasted three weeks in August 1963, never going higher than number 116.

In November 2004, Rolling Stone ranked "She Loves You" as the 64th Greatest Song of All Time. In October 2005, Uncut magazine named "She Loves You" as the third biggest song that changed the world, behind Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" and Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone".

In August 2009, at the end of its "Beatles Weekend", BBC Radio 2 announced that "She Loves You" was The Beatles' all-time best-selling single in the UK based on information compiled by The Official Charts Company.

The Beatles - I'll Get You

"I'll Get You" is a song by The Beatles, written by Lennon/McCartney, and released by The Beatles as the B-side of their 1963 single "She Loves You".

The song was initially titled "Get You in the End". Typical of the Beatles songwriting style of that period, John Lennon and Paul McCartney sing in unison for the majority of the track, allowing the few occasions when they do harmonise to stand out.
But unlike most Beatles songs of the time however, there is no lead break; the lead guitar is virtually reduced to a second rhythm guitar. The most prominent instruments in the track are McCartney's "plumply rounded bass",and Lennon's harmonica, which was overdubbed in a rush as session time ran out.

The song's opening line "Imagine I'm in love with you" was innovative, as it drew the listener immediately into the story. McCartney would cite this as an early example of Lewis Carroll influencing their lyrics.

The song was a B-side on two separate occasions. It was initially released as the B-side of "She Loves You" (on 28 August 1963 in the United Kingdom and 16 September in the United States) and was also later released in the United States only on 21 May 1964 as the B-side of "Sie Liebt Dich", a German language recording of the previous A-side. Both were released on the Swan Records label in the United States - the only Beatles releases on that label (the British release was on Parlophone).

The song was also released in the U.S. on 10 April 1964 on the Capitol Records album The Beatles' Second Album. It was not released on album in the United Kingdom until the Rarities release as part of the set The Beatles Collection. A live version of the song, recorded at the London Palladium on 13 October 1963 is included on Anthology 1.

This Day In Music History

1959, Bobby Darin was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Dream Lover'. It was the American singers first No.1 and the song featured Neil Sedaka on piano.

1968, Working at Abbey Road studios The Beatles recorded ‘Good Night’, John Lennon’s lullaby for his 5-year-old son Julian with Ringo singing the lead vocal. The track appeared on the White Album.

1969, Henry Mancini started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Love Theme from Romeo And Juliet'.

1975, The Eagles started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'One Of These Nights'.

1975, Wings went to No.1 on the UK chart with the album 'Venus And Mars', featuring the US No.1 single 'Listen What The Man Said'.

1975, American singer songwriter Tim Buckley completed the last show of a tour in Dallas, Texas, playing to a sold-out crowd of 1,800 people. This was Buckley’s last ever show, he died the following day of a heroin and morphine overdose aged 28.

1977, Elton John achieved a life long ambition when he became the Chairman of Watford Football Club.

1980, Roxy Music scored their second UK No.1 album with 'Flesh And Blood'.

1980, Paul McCartney's ‘Coming Up’ became one of the few 'live' recordings to reach the top of Billboard's Hot 100. American disc jockeys preferred it to the studio version on the flip side of the record.

1986, Wham! were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their fourth and final UK No.1 'The Edge Of Heaven'. Also on this day Wham! played their farewell concert in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, London.

1997, Puff Daddy and Faith Evans started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I'll Be Missing You'. Released in memory of fellow Bad Boy Records artist Notorious B.I.G. who was murdered on March 9, 1997. The song sampled the melody of The Police's 'Every Breath You Take' 1983 hit.

1997, Radiohead went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their third album 'OK Computer'.

1997, The classic Pink Floyd album ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ spent its 1056th week on the US album chart. It was rumoured at the time that if the album was played while watching The Wizard of Oz movie, and started exactly when the MGM lion roared the third time during the movie’s intro, very interesting connections could be made between the two.

2005, 2 Pac feat Elton John was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Ghetto Gospel. Written by Tupac Shakur and produced by Eminem. The song uses samples from the Elton John song 'Indian Sunset' from his 1971 album Madman Across the Water.

2009, Three days after his death Michael Jackson was at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Number Ones’. The Essential Michael Jackson went to No.1 the following week for seven weeks.

1943, Born on this day, Bobby Harrison, drums, Procol Harum, (1967 UK No.1 & US No.5 single 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale').

1945, Born on this day, David Knights, Procol Harum, (1967 UK No.1 & US No.5 single 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale').

1948, Born on this day, John Martyn, singer, songwriter, guitarist, (1973 album 'Solid Air'). Died in hospital on 30th Jan 2009 in Ireland at the age of 60. The folk, blues and funk artist was widely regarded as one of the most soulful and innovative singer-songwriters of his generation and had been cited as an influence by artists as varied as U2, Portishead and Eric Clapton.

1954, Born on this day, Steven J. Morse, guitarist, Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple since 1994.

1959, Born on this day, Clint Boon, keyboards, Inspiral Carpets, (1990 UK No.14 single 'This Is How It Feels'). The Clint Boon Experience.

1963, Born on this day, Andy Couson, bass, All About Eve, (1988 UK No.10 single 'Martha's Harbour'). The Mission, The Lucy Nation.

1965, Born on this day, Saul Davis, guitar, violin, James, (1991 UK No.2 single 'Sit Down').

1977, Born on this day, Mark Stoermer, bass guitarist, The Killers, (2005 UK No.1 with their debut album 'Hot Fuss').

Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel

"Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor.

His first number-one pop record, "Heartbreak Hotel" topped Billboard's Top 100 chart, became his first million-seller, and was the best-selling single of 1956. It was written by Tommy Durden and Mae Boren Axton.

The lyrics were based on a newspaper article about the suicide of a lonely man who jumped from a hotel window. Axton subsequently presented the song to Presley in November 1955 at a country music convention in Nashville.

Presley agreed to record it, and did so on January 10, 1956 in a session that featured his band, The Blue Moon Boys, as well as guitarist Chet Atkins and pianist Floyd Cramer.

The single topped Billboard's Top 100 chart for seven weeks, was number one on the Country and Western chart and reached number five on the R&B chart, becoming Presley's first million-seller, and the best-selling single of 1956.

It would eventually be certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Presley had first performed "Heartbreak Hotel" during a live show in December 1955 during a tour of the Louisiana Hayride, but the song gained strong popularity after his appearance on Stage Show in March 1956.

It became a staple of Presley's repertoire in live appearances, last performed by him on May 29, 1977 at the Civic Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1995 "Heartbreak Hotel" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2004 Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

That year it was also included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".

A rock and roll standard, since its original release "Heartbreak Hotel" has been covered by several rock and pop acts.



«I was one»was the B-side of the single.

Elvis Presley - Mystery Train

"Mystery Train" is a song written by Junior Parker and Sam Phillips. It was first recorded in 1953.

Elvis Presley's version of "Mystery Train" was first released on August 20, 1955 as the B-side of "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" .

Presley's version would be ranked #77 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2003. It was again produced by Sam Phillips at Sun Studios, and featured Presley on vocals and rhythm guitar, Scotty Moore on lead guitar, and Bill Black on bass. Moore used a country lead break, and toward the end of the record is an echo of the 1946 "Sixteen Tons" by Merle Travis.

This version of the song peaked at # 11 on the national Billboard Country Chart.

Presley's version of the song was also ranked the third most acclaimed song of 1955, by Acclaimed Music.

Both Bill Black and Scotty Moore left Elvis in 1957 because they were being paid only $200 per week while Elvis was earning millions. Still, Black, who had success with the Bill Black Combo, once said to a visitor to his house in Memphis, as he pointed to a framed 78rpm Sun Record of "Mystery Train" on the wall, "Now there was a record."

Elvis Presley - I Forgot to Remember to Forget

"I Forgot to Remember to Forget" is a country song written by Stan Kesler and Charlie Feathers. It was recorded at Sun Studio on July 11, 1955, by Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, and Johnny Bernero on drums, and released on August 20, 1955, along with Mystery Train (Sun 223).
It was rereleased by RCA Victor in December 1955.

Moore's guitar had a Nashville steel guitar sound, and Black played a clip-clop rhythm. Elvis sang a brooding vocal. This is the closest the trio came to a traditional country song while at Sun.

The song reached the Billboard national country music chart #1 position by February 1956, and remained there for 5 weeks and on the C&W Best Sellers chart for two weeks.It was the first recording to make Elvis Presley a national known country music star.The song remained on the country charts for 39 weeks.

The flip side of this release, Mystery Train, peaked at the #11 position on the national Billboard Country Chart.

Jerry Lee Lewis recorded the song in 1957 and the 1960s. Johnny Cash covered this song in The Survivors Live on 1981. Composer Charlie Feathers has also recorded it.

The Beatles covered this song once for a BBC radio show, From Us To You, on 1 May 1964. The recording was included on the Live at the BBC album in 1994.

This Day In Music History

1885, Chichester Bell and Charles Tainter applied for a patent on their invention the gramophone.

1954, David Whitfield featuring Mantovani were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Cara Mia'. The song spent ten weeks at No.1.

1960, Connie Francis started a two-week run at No.1 on the US chart with 'Everybody's Fool', a No.5 hit in the UK.

1968, Elvis Presley appeared on an NBC TV show that was billed as his "comeback special". The show featured the king performing on a small, square stage, surrounded by a mostly female audience. Presley was outfitted in black leather and performed many of his early hits.

1970, The Jackson Five started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Love You Save', the group's third No.1 of the year, it made No.7 in the UK.

1981, Michael Jackson had his first solo UK No.1 with 'One Day In Your Life' a song recorded by Jackson for his 1975 album, Forever, Michael.

1981, Motorhead scored their only UK No.1 album with 'No Sleep Til Hammersmith'.

1987, Whitney Houston became the first women in US history to enter the album chart at No.1 with 'Whitney' she also became the first woman to top the singles chart with four consecutive releases when 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' hit No.1.

1994, Aerosmith became the first major band to let fans download a full new track free from the internet.

1998, After spending 30 weeks on the UK album chart The Corrs went to No.1 with 'Talk On Corners'. It went on to be the best selling UK album of 1998 spending 142 weeks on the chart.

1999, The Chemical Brothers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Surrender', their second No.1 album.

2004, Beastie Boys were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘To The 5 Boroughs.’ the rappers fourth US No.1. Mike Skinner scored his first UK No.1 album when The Streets album ‘A Grand Don’t Come For Free’ went to the top of the charts.

2009, Black Eyed Peas went to No.1 on the US album charts with ‘The E.N.D.’ the group’s fifth studio album. The album's lead single, 'Boom Boom Pow' topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks, the second single, 'I Gotta Feeling' replaced 'Boom' and spent 14 weeks at No.1. giving the group 26 consecutive weeks at the top of the charts.

1935, Born on this day, Doc Pomus, US songwriter. Wrote many early 60's hits with Mort Shuman including, 'Sweets For My Sweet', 'Teenager In Love', 'Save The Last Dance For Me.' He died on March 14th 1991.

1944, Born on this day, Bruce Johnson, vocals, guitar, The Beach Boys, (1966 UK & US No.1 single 'Good Vibrations', plus over 25 other UK Top 40 singles).

1951, Born on this day, Gilson Lavis, drums, Chuck Berry, Squeeze, Jools Holland, (1979 UK No.2 single 'Up The Junction').

1961, Born on this day, Margo Timmins, vocals, Cowboy Junkies, (1989 album 'The Trinity Session').

Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. The film is often considered the greatest of all time and is particularly praised for its innovative cinematography, music and narrative structure.

Citizen Kane was Welles' first feature film. The film was nominated for Academy Awards in nine categories; it won an Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay) by Herman Mankiewicz and Welles.

The story is a film à clef that examines the life and legacy of Charles Foster Kane, played by Welles, a character based upon the American newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and Welles' own life.Upon its release, Hearst prohibited mention of the film in any of his newspapers. Kane's career in the publishing world is born of idealistic social service, but gradually evolves into a ruthless pursuit of power.

Narrated principally through flashbacks, the story is revealed through the research of a newsreel reporter seeking to solve the mystery of the newspaper magnate's dying word: "Rosebud."

A critical success, Citizen Kane failed to recoup its costs at the box-office. The film faded from view soon after but its reputation was restored, initially by French critics and more widely after its American revival in 1956.

There is a semi-official consensus among film critics that Citizen Kane is the greatest film ever made. It topped both the AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies list and the 10th Anniversary Update, as well as all of the Sight & Sound polls of the 10 greatest films for nearly half a century

Bernard Herrmann (June 29, 1911 – December 24, 1975) was an American composer noted for his work in motion pictures.

An Academy Award-winner (for The Devil and Daniel Webster, 1941), Herrmann is particularly known for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock, most famously Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo.

He also composed notable scores for many other movies, including Citizen Kane, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Cape Fear, and Taxi Driver. He worked extensively in radio drama (most notably for Orson Welles), composed the scores for several fantasy films by Ray Harryhausen, and many TV programs including most notably Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone and Have Gun–Will Travel.

Herrmann's score for Citizen Kane was a watershed in film soundtrack composition and proved as influential as any of the film's other innovations, establishing him as an important voice in film soundtrack composition. The score eschewed the typical Hollywood practice of scoring a film with virtually non-stop music.

Instead Herrmann used what he later described as '"radio scoring", musical cues which typically lasted between five and fifteen seconds to bridge the action or suggest a different emotional response.

One of the most effective musical cues was the "Breakfast Montage." The scene begins with a graceful waltz theme and gets darker with each variation on that theme as the passage of time leads to the hardening of Kane's personality and the breakup of his marriage to Emily.

In the final sequence of the film, which shows the destruction of Rosebud in the fireplace of Kane's castle, Welles choreographed the scene while he had Herrmann's cue playing on the set.

In 1972 Herrmann said "I was fortunate to start my career with a film like Citizen Kane, it's been a downhill run ever since!" Shortly before his death in 1985, Welles told director Henry Jaglom that the score was fifty per cent responsible for the film's artistic success.

1941 : Greta Garbo retires at age 36

Greta Lovisa Gustafsson (18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990), better known as Greta Garbo, was a noted Swedish actress and recluse. She was a major star in the United States during the silent film era and the Golden Age of Hollywood. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Garbo fifth on their list of greatest female stars of all time, after Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Audrey Hepburn, and Ingrid Bergman.

Garbo launched her career with a major role in the Swedish film The Saga of Gosta Berling. Her performance caught the attention of Louis B. Mayer, who brought her to Hollywood in 1925 to work at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). She became a star of silent films.

Her first talking film was Anna Christie (1930), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. MGM marketers enticed the public with the catchphrase "Garbo talks!" In 1932, her popularity allowed her to dictate the terms of her contract, and she became increasingly choosy about her roles.

She received the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress for Anna Karenina (1935), but she considered her performance as the courtesan Marguerite Gautier in Camille (1936) her best performance; the role gained her a second Academy Award nomination. After working exclusively in dramatic films, Garbo turned to comedy with Ninotchka (1939) and Two-Faced Woman (1941). For Ninotchka, Garbo was again nominated for an Academy Award; Two-Faced Woman did well at the box office, but was a critical failure.

After 1941, she retired after appearing in 27 films, and became increasingly reclusive. She has been indelibly linked to one of her lines from the film Grand Hotel: "I want to be alone". She later remarked, "I never said, 'I want to be alone.' I only said, 'I want to be let alone.' There is all the difference." To the end of her life, Garbo-watching became a sport among the paparazzi and the media, but she remained elusive up until her death in 1990 at the age of 84.

Two-Faced Woman (1941) is a romantic comedy made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film stars Greta Garbo, in her final film role, and Melvyn Douglas, with Constance Bennett, Roland Young and Ruth Gordon. The movie is about a fashion magazine editor who marries a ski instructor and what befalls the couple when they settle in New York City.

It was directed by George Cukor and produced by Gottfried Reinhardt from a screenplay by S. N. Behrman, Salka Viertel and George Oppenheimer, based on a play by Ludwig Fulda. The music score was by Bronislau Kaper.

This Day In Music History

1965, The Byrds went to No.1 on the US singles chart with their version of Bob Dylan's 'Mr Tambourine Man'. Only Roger McGuinn from the band played on the song, the drummer Hal Blaine played on the track also played on 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'.

1971, Emerson Lake and Palmer went to No.1 on the UK chart with their second album 'Tarkus'.

1974, Cher divorced Sonny Bono after 10 years of marriage. Four days later, Cher married guitarist Gregg Allman, the couple split 10 days after that, got back together and split again. They did stay married for three years, producing Elijah Blue Allman.

1976, TV talent show winners from Liverpool The Real Thing were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'You To Me Are Everything', the group's only No.1 hit. It was the first single by a Black British band to top the UK charts.

1977, Elvis Presley made his last ever live stage appearance when he appeared at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. Presley would die less than two months later. The last two songs he performed were ‘Hurt’ and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water.’ Before the show Elvis was presented with a plaque commemorating the 2 billionth record to come out of RCA’s pressing plant.

1988, Bros were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Owe You Nothing'. It was the only No.1 for the Boy band comprising of twins Luke & Matt Goss and Craig Logan.

1993, Gabrielle started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Dreams'. The single entered the British charts at No.2 which was the highest chart entry for a debut act. Jamiroquai started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Emergency On Planet Earth'.

2008, Total Guitar magazine voted Celine Dion’s rendition of the AC/DC track ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ as the world's worst cover version ever, the magazines editor Stephen Lawson said Dion's cover was "sacrilege". In the best cover versions list, Jimi Hendrix was voted into first place with his version of the Bob Dylan song ‘All Along the Watchtower,’ The Beatles' rendition of ‘Twist and Shout’, (first recorded by the Top Notes), was in second place, followed by the Guns N' Roses version of the Wings song ‘Live and Let Die’.

1910, Born on this day, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager. Before working in the music business Parker ran a troupe of dancing chickens. He died on January 21st 1997.

1942, Born on this day, Larry Taylor, bass, Canned Heat, (1970 UK No.2 & US No. 26 single 'Let's Work Together').

1955, Born on this day, Mick Jones, guitar, vocals, The Clash, (1979 UK No. 11 single 'London Calling', 1982 US No. 8 single 'Rock The Casbah, 1991 UK No.1 single 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go', first released 1982, plus 15 other UK Top 40 singles), Big Audio Dynamite, (1986 UK No.11 single 'e=mc2').

1956, Born on this day, Chris Isaak, US singer songwriter, actor, (1990 UK No.10 & 1991 US No.6 single 'Wicked Game').

1961, Born on this day, Terri Nunn, vocals, Berlin, (1986 UK & US No.1 single 'Take My Breath Away').

1963, Born on this day, Harriet Wheeler, vocals, The Sundays, (1997 UK No.15 single 'Summertime').

1969, Born on this day, Colin Greenwood, bass, Radiohead, (1993 UK No.7 single 'Creep', 1997 UK No.1 & US No.21 album 'OK Computer', 2000 UK & US No.1 album 'Kid A').

1979, Born on this day, Nathan Followill, drums, Kings Of Leon, (2007 UK No.1 album ‘Because Of The Times’, 2008 UK No.1 single ‘Sex on Fire’, 2008 UK No.1 album ‘Only By The Night’).

Rolling Stones - It's All Over Now

"It's All Over Now" was written by Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack. It was first released by The Valentinos featuring Bobby Womack.

The Valentinos version entered the Billboard Hot 100 on June 27, 1964, where it stayed on the chart for two weeks, peaking at No. 94.
The Rolling Stones had their first number-one hit with this song in July 1964.The Valentinos' original version of the song was played to the Rolling Stones during their first North American tour in June 1964 by New York radio DJ Murray the K.

Murray the K had an extended series of interviews with the Stones on his WINS Swinging Soiree hit radio show, following his similar success being the first DJ in US to have the Beatles with him on the air (February 1964). He played the Valentino's song to the Stones, who "raved on it" and said "it was their kind of song".

He also played the Stones "King Bee" (their Slim Harpo) cover the same night and remarked how they were able to achieve the real blues sound.
After the band heard "It's All Over Now" by the Womacks (aka the Valentinos) on the WINS show, they recorded it nine days later at Chess Studios in Chicago.

Years later Bobby Womack said in an interview that he told his manager that he did not want the Rolling Stones to record their version of the song, that he told Mick Jagger to get his own song. His manager convinced him to let the Rolling Stones record a version of the song.

Six months later when he received the royalty check for the song he told his manager that Mick Jagger can have any song he wants.

The Rolling Stones' version of "It's All Over Now" is the most famous version ever cut of the song.

It was the band's third single released in America, and stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks, peaking at #26. Months later it appeared on their second American album 12 X 5.

It was first released as a single in Great Britain, where it peaked at # 1 on the Disc Weekly charts, giving the Rolling Stones their first number one hit ever. At the time, the song was a big hit in Europe for the band and was a part of their live set in the 1960s.

In his 2010 autobiography, "Life", Keith Richards claims that John Lennon criticized Keith's guitar solo on this song and Keith agreed with him that it was not one of his best. This is surprising as Bruce Springsteen among many other guitar fans rank it as one of the most inspired guitar breaks ever recorded, and one that is still hard to mimic.

The music video, filmed in black and white and taken from The T.A.M.I. Show, features the band playing live in front of a crowd, while Mick Jagger dances around the stage and Keith Richards and Brian Jones sing backing vocals.

"Good Times, Bad Times", wtitten by Jagger and Richards was the B-side.

Rolling Stones - Time is on my side

"Time Is on My Side" is a song written by Jerry Ragovoy (under the pseudonym of Norman Meade). First recorded by jazz trombonist Kai Winding and his Orchestra in 1963, it was covered (with additional lyrics by Jimmy Norman) by both soul singer Irma Thomas and The Rolling Stones in 1964.

The Rolling Stones recorded two versions of "Time Is on My Side" in 1964.

The first with the organ intro was released in the U.S. in 1964 on single and on the 12 X 5 album. The rerecording (November 8, 1964) with the guitar intro released in the UK on January 15, 1965 on the The Rolling Stones No. 2 album. This is the version that appears on most "best of" compilations.

Both Rolling Stones' versions copy several distinctive elements of the Irma Thomas version, including the vocal interjections between the chorus lyrics, the monologue in the middle of the song, and the guitar solo which intertwines with this monologue.

The U.S. version was released on September 26, 1964 as a single (a month after Thomas' cover) and peaked at number six on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart to become the Rolling Stones' first top ten hit in the U.S. (their previous single, "It's All Over Now", had only peaked at number 26).

When they performed "Time Is on My Side" during their first guest spot on The Ed Sullivan Show, Sullivan was shocked by their appearance and declared that they would never be invited onto the show again, but he subsequently invited them back several times.

A live version of the song from the band's 1982 live album, "Still Life", reached number sixty-two on the UK singles chart.

Congratulations,written by Jagger and Richards was the B-side

Rolling Stones - Little Red Rooster

"Little Red Rooster" is a classic blues song that has been recorded countless times. Howlin' Wolf recorded "The Red Rooster" in 1961, a song credited to blues arranger and songwriter Willie Dixon, although earlier songs have been cited as inspiration.

A variety of performers have interpreted it, including Sam Cooke and The Rolling Stones, who had important record chart successes with the song. Howlin' Wolf's "The Red Rooster/Little Red Rooster" has been acknowledged by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Following Sam Cooke's success, the Rolling Stones recorded their version of "Little Red Rooster" in 1964. The recording session took place at the Chess Studios in Chicago, the same studios where Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, et al. recorded their blues classics (the Rolling Stones instrumental "2120 South Michigan Avenue" was named after the studio's address).

The song reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on December 5, 1964 where it stayed for one week.It remains to this day the only time a blues song has ever topped the British pop charts. The song generally follows the original with Brian Jones contributing the distinctive slide guitar part and an effective harmonica part on the outro (although Mick Jagger would mime to the latter instrument on television appearances).

It was the band's last cover song to be released as a single during the 1960s; subsequent singles would be self-penned efforts.

"Little Red Rooster" was not released as a single in the US, but was included on the 1965 album The Rolling Stones, Now!. The Rolling Stones performed the song on several American television shows in 1965, including The Ed Sullivan Show, Shindig!, and Shivaree (at their insistence, Howlin' Wolf also performed on Shindig!, where he was introduced by Brian Jones).

"Little Red Rooster" also appeared on their 1989 compilation, Singles Collection: The London Years. Flashpoint, a live album recorded during the Rolling Stones' 1989–1990 Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour, contains a live version of "Little Red Rooster" with Eric Clapton on slide guitar. It was taken from a 1989 show at Shea Stadium in New York.

"Off the Hook" was the B-side of the single.

This Day In Music History

1964, Roy Orbison was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'It's Over', his second UK No.1. Orbison was the first American artist to score a UK No.1 in the past 47 weeks.

1966, The Beatles started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Paperback Writer', the group's 12th US No.1. The track is marked by the boosted bass guitar sound throughout, partly in response to John Lennon demanding to know why the bass on a certain Wilson Pickett record far exceeded the bass on any Beatles records. It was also cut louder than any other Beatles record, due to a new piece of equipment used in the mastering process.

1966, Jackie Wilson was arrested for inciting a riot and refusing to obey a police order at a nightclub in Port Arthur, Texas. Wilson had a crowd of 400 whipped into a frenzy and refused to stop singing when requested to do so by police. He was later convicted of drunkenness and fined $30.

1967, 200 million people saw The Beatles perform 'All You Need Is Love', live via satellite as part of the TV global link- up, 'Our World', Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Graham Nash, Keith Moon and Gary Leeds provided backing vocals.

1977, Marvin Gaye went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Got To Give It Up', his third US No.1.

1977, 'The Muppet Show' album by The Muppets went to No.1 on the UK album chart.

1983, The film soundtrack to 'Flashdance' started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.

1983, The Police scored their fourth UK No.1 album with 'Synchronicity', also No.1 in the US and featuring the singles 'Every Breath You Take' and 'Wrapped Around Your Finger'.

1988, Debbie Gibson went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Foolish Beat', making Debbie (aged 17), the youngest female to write, produce and record a US No.1 single. A No.9 hit in the UK.
1988, Van Halen started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'OU812'.

1993, The first of the three day Glastonbury Festival in England featured Suede, Belly, Lemonheads, The Orb, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Crowes, Lenny Kravitz, Verve, Porno For Pyros and Teenage Fan Club. Tickets cost £58 ($98.60) for the three days.
1995, Pink Floyd were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Pulse’ the bands fifth US No.1.

2000, Eminem went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'The Marshall Mathers LP'. Enrique Iglesias was at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Be With You.'

2009, Michael Jackson died at the age of 50, after suffering heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills. Jackson is credited for transforming the music video into an art form and a promotional tool, four of his solo albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995), while his 1982 Thriller is the world's best-selling record of all time with sales of over 50 million. Guinness World Records list’s him as one of the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time", with 13 Grammy Awards and 13 number one singles. Prior to his death, Jackson had been scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people, at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010.

1935, Born on this day, Eddie Floyd, US soul singer, (1966 US No.28 & 1967 UK No.19 single 'Knock On Wood'). Wrote '634-5789 a 1966 hit for Wilson Pickett.

1939, Born on this day, Harold Melvin, US soul singer and pianist. (1972 US No.3 & 1974 UK No.9 single 'If You Don't Know Me By Know'). He died on March 24th 1997.

1940, Born on this day, Clint Warwick, bass, The Moody Blues, (1965 UK No.1 & US No.10 single 'Go Now', left in 1966). Died from liver disease on May 18th 2004.

1945, Born on this day, Carly Simon, US singer, songwriter, (1973 UK No.3 and US No.1 single 'Your So Vain', 1974 US No.5 single with James Taylor 'Mockingbird').

1946, Born on this day, Allen Lanier, guitar, keyboards, Blue Oyster Cult, (1976 US No.12 & 1978 UK No.16 single 'Don't Fear The Reaper').

1946, Born on this day, Ian McDonald, sax, King Crimson, Foreigner, (1985 UK & US No.1 single 'I Want To Know What Love Is').

1954, Born on this day, David Paich, vocals, keyboards, Toto, (1983 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Africa').

1963, Born on this day, Georgios Panayiotou (George Michael), UK singer, songwriter, Wham! (1984 UK & US No.1 single 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go', 1st solo No.1 single 1984 UK & US 'Careless Whisper', plus 7 other UK & US No.1 singles and over 10 other UK Top 40 hits').

50 Cent — In Da Club

Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005).

Get Rich or Die Tryin' has been certified eight times platinum by the RIAA and has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. His album The Massacre has been certified five times platinum by the RIAA and has sold 11 million copies worldwide.

Born in South Jamaica, Queens, Jackson began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s crack epidemic. After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot at and struck by nine bullets during an incident in 2000. After releasing his album Guess Who's Back? in 2002, Jackson was discovered by rapper Eminem and signed to Interscope Records.

With the help of Eminem and Dr. Dre, who produced his first major commercial successes, Jackson became one of the world's highest selling rappers. In 2003, he founded the record label G-Unit Records, which signed several successful rappers such as Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo.
Jackson has engaged in feuds with other rappers including Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Cam'ron, Rick Ross, and former G-Unit members The Game and Young Buck.

He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2005, the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in 2006, and Righteous Kill in 2008.

50 Cent was ranked as the sixth best artist of the 2000–2009 decade by Billboard magazine. The magazine also ranked him as the fourth top male artist and as the third top rapper behind Eminem and Nelly.

Billboard magazine also ranked him as the sixth best and most successful Hot 100 Artist of the 2000–2009 decade and as the number one rap artist of the 2000–2009 decade.

Billboard ranked his album Get Rich or Die Tryin' as the twelfth best album of the 2000–2009 decade and his album The Massacre as the 37th best album of the 2000–2009 decade.

He is currently working on his yet-to-be-titled fifth studio album, which is allegedly set to be released in November 2011.

"In Da Club" is a hip hop song from his commercial debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'. The song was produced by Dr. Dre with co-production from Mike Elizondo. 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Elizondo wrote the song. The track was released in January 2003 as the album's lead single and it was positively received by music critics.

"In Da Club" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming 50 Cent's first number one single. At the 46th Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song. The song's music video won Best Rap Video and Best New Artist at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. In 2009, the single was listed at number 24 in Billboard's Hot 100 Songs of the Decade.

It was listed at number 13 in Rolling Stone's "Best Songs of the Decade". In 2010, it was ranked 448th in the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.

MIA - Paper Planes

Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam better known by her stage name M.I.A., is an English singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer of Sri Lankan Tamil descent.

Her compositions combine elements of hip-hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music.

M.I.A. began her career in 2000 as a visual artist and designer in West London. Since rising to prominence in early 2004 for her singles "Galang" and "Sunshowers", she has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Grammy Awards and the Mercury Prize.

She released her debut album Arular in 2005 and second album Kala in 2007. Kala went gold in Canada and the United States and silver in the United Kingdom, and the singles "Boyz" and "Paper Planes" became North American top ten chart favourites in 2008.

M.I.A.'s third album Maya was released in 2010 soon after the song-film short "Born Free", and reached the top ten in numerous countries worldwide.
She has embarked on four global headlining tours and is the founder of her own multimedia label, N.E.E.T..

In 2008, M.I.A. was listed in Esquire magazine's list of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century and in 2009, Time magazine included M.I.A. in its annual Time 100 list of the world's most influential people.
A noted philanthropist and activist for many causes, her activism has been met with both appreciation and criticism. In 2002, she received an Alternative Turner Prize nomination for her art, and has been recognized for her work as a music video director, graphic and fashion designer.

"Paper Planes" is a song written and for her second studio album, Kala (2007). The song was co-produced by Diplo and Switch. Its backing track is a sample from the 1982 song "Straight to Hell" by The Clash.

It was released as the album's third single in early 2008, but achieved much commercial success in June 2008 after appearing in a high profile film trailer and TV spot for the film Pineapple Express. The song and a special remixed version of it featured in the film Slumdog Millionaire, as well as its soundtrack.

It peaked at #19 in the UK, making it M.I.A's first top 20 hit and highest charting single in the UK. The song charted in numerous other countries worldwide and is to date XL Recordings best selling single. "Paper Planes" also appeared in the trailer for Michael Moore's documentary Capitalism: A Love Story. It was sampled in rappers T.I. and Jay-Z's single "Swagga Like Us", which reached #4 on the Hot 100. On 3 December 2008, the song was nominated for the Record of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards.

Common - The Light

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common (previously Common Sense), is an American hip hop artist, and actor.

Common debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow a Dollar? and maintained a significant underground artist following into the late 90s, after which he gained notable mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians.

His first major label album, Like Water for Chocolate, received widespread critical acclaim and tremendous commercial success. His first Grammy award was in 2003 for Best R&B Song for "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" with Erykah Badu.

Its popularity was matched by May 2005's Be, which was nominated in the 2006 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album. Common was awarded his second Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, for "Southside" (featuring Kanye West), from his July 2007 album Finding Forever. His best-of album Thisisme Then: The Best of Common was released on November 27, 2007.

Common has also initiated a burgeoning acting career, starring significant roles in such films as Smokin' Aces, Street Kings, American Gangster, Wanted, Terminator Salvation, Date Night, and Just Wright.

"The Light" is the Grammy-nominated second single off Common's 2000 album Like Water for Chocolate. It is produced by Jay Dee and features keyboards performed by James Poyser. It samples "Open Your Eyes" as performed by Bobby Caldwell and the drums from "You're Getting a Little too Smart" by the The Detroit Emeralds. Framed as a love letter, it is a confession of Common's love for a woman whom many believe to have been his girlfriend at the time, Erykah Badu. Cythia Fuchs of PopMatters describes it as a "charming, tender, and undeniably soulful declaration of affection and respect." A music video directed by Nzingha Stewart features Common, Erykah Badu and "recognizable sensual delights" including "a homemade Minnie Ripperton cassette, a mango, a pink lava lamp and a deeply green water-beaded leaf
.
The song was listed at #268 on Pitchfork Media's "Top 500 songs of the 2000's".

This Day In Music History

1965, The Hollies were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I'm Alive', the group's first of two UK No.1's and over 25 other Top 40 singles.

1965, John Lennon's second book of poetry and drawings, 'A Spaniard In The Works', was published. The book consisted of nonsensical stories and drawings similar to the style of his 1964 book 'In His Own Write'.

1967, The Monkees went to No.1 on the US album charts with 'Headquarters' the group's third chart topper.

1969, The UK Top 5 singles this week: No.5, 'Living In The Past', Jethro Tull, No.4, 'Time Is Tight', Booker T and the MG's, No.3, 'Dizzy', Tommy Roe. No.2, 'Oh Happy Day', Edwin Hawkins Singers and at No.1, 'The Ballad Of John And Yoko' by The Beatles.

1977, The Jacksons were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Show You The Way To Go.' The Jacksons were four members of the Jackson Five, including Michael.

1988, UB40 bass player Earl Falconer was sent to prison for six months, with a further 12 suspended, after admitting to causing his brothers death in a car accident.

1989, Paul McCartney scored his seventh UK No.1 solo album with 'Flowers In The Dirt', featuring the single 'My Brave Face'.

1989, Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Back To Life'. Their only UK No.1 peaked at No.4 on the US chart.

1999, Eric Clapton put 100 of his guitars up for auction at Christie's in New York City to raise money for his drug rehab clinic, the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. His 1956 Fender Stratocaster named Brownie, which was used to record the electric version of ‘Layla’, sold for a record $497,500. The auction helped raise nearly $5 million for the clinic.

2007, The White Stripes went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Icky Thump' the duo's sixth studio album.

1944, Born on this day, Jeff Beck, guitarist, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Yardbirds, (1965 UK No.3 & US No.6 single 'For Your Love'). Rod Stewart, solo, 1967 UK No.14 single 'Hi- Ho Silver Lining', 1975 solo album 'Blow By Blow'). The Honeydrippers, (with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant & Nile Rodgers), 1984 US No.3 single 'Sea Of Love'.

1944, Born on this day, Mick Fleetwood, drums, Fleetwood Mac, (1987 UK No.5 single 'Little Lies', and 1977 US No.1 single 'Dreams' from worldwide No.1 album 'Rumours').

1945, Born on this day, Colin Blunstone, singer, Zombies, (1964 UK No.12 single 'She's Not There'), solo, (1981 UK No.13 single 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted').

1949, Born on this day, John Illsley, bass, Dire Straits, (1985 US No.1 single 'Money For Nothing', 1986 UK No.2 single 'Walk Of Life', 1985 world wide No.1 album 'Brothers In Arms').

1957, Born on this day, Jeff Cease, guitar, The Black Crowes, (1991 UK No.39 single 'Hard To Handle', 1992 US No.1 & UK No.2 album 'The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion').

1957, Born on this day, Terence Wilson, (Astro), vocals, UB40, (1983 UK No.1 & 1988 US No.1 single 'Red Red Wine' and over 30 other Top 40 singles).

1959, Born on this day, Andy McCluskey, vocals, guitar, keyboards, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, (1984 UK No.5 single Locomotion', plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles). Worked may pop acts in the late 90's and 00's including Atomic Kitten.

1961, Born on this day, Curt Smith, Vocals, bass, Tears For Fears, (1985 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' plus over 12 other UK Top 40 singles)

1967, Born on this day, Richard Zven Kruspe, lead guitarist of the German rock band Rammstein.

1970, Born on this day, Glenn Medeiros, singer, (1988 UK No.1 single 'Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You', 1990 US No.1 single 'She Ain't Worth It').

Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart

Bonnie Tyler (born Gaynor Hopkins on 8 June 1951) is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1976, Tyler was spotted in "The Townsman Club" in Swansea by the songwriting and producing team of Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, who became her managers, songwriters and producers.

Following the Top 10 success of her 1976 song "Lost in France", Tyler released her first album in 1977 entitled The World Starts Tonight. A further single from the album, "More Than a Lover", made the UK Top 30, and the follow-up single, "Heaven", reached the Top 30 in Germany.

In 1977, Tyler was diagnosed with nodules on her vocal cords that were so severe that she needed to undergo surgery to remove them. After the surgery, she was ordered not to speak for six weeks to aid the healing process, but she accidentally screamed out in frustration one day. This caused her voice to take on a raspy quality.

At first she believed that her singing career was ruined; but to her surprise her next single, "It's a Heartache," made her an international star. The song reached #4 in the UK, #3 in the US, #2 in Germany, and topped the charts in several countries (including France and Australia).

International breakthrough came with her album, Faster Than the Speed of Night, released in Spring 1983 and included the power-ballad "Total Eclipse of the Heart", which was written by Jim Steinman. The song was a worldwide hit, reaching No. 1 in the UK, France, Australia, and in the United States where it remained at the top for four weeks. At its peak, it sold 60,000 copies per day, and approximately 6 million copies in total. It won the Variety Club award in the UK for best single of 1983.

Her presence in the US chart was at a time when almost one third of the Billboard Hot 100 was filled by songs from UK based acts - a situation not seen since the 1960s British Invasion and Beatlemania.

Faster Than the Speed of Night entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1, and also became a Top Five bestseller in the US and Australia. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" also brought Tyler a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. In 1984, she performed the track at the Grammy Awards, and received another Grammy nomination as Best Rock Female Vocalist for "Here She Comes", a song that was part of the soundtrack for the 1984 restoration of the film Metropolis.

She also released the singles "A Rockin' Good Way", a duet with fellow Welsh artist Shakin' Stevens, which made #5 in the UK, and "Holding Out for a Hero", for the Footloose soundtrack, which made the U.S. Top 40 and later peaked at number 2 in UK in the summer of 1985. "Holding Out For A Hero" (written by Steinman and Dean Pitchford) was also used as the main theme for the 1984 US television series Cover Up, though the version heard on the TV series was not Tyler's original but performed by a Tyler sound-alike.

Pat Benatar - Love Is a Battlefield

Pat Benatar (born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski January 10, 1953) is an American singer and four time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success particularly in the United States. During the 1980s, Benatar had two RIAA-certified Multi-Platinum albums, five RIAA-certified Platinum albums, three RIAA-certified Gold albums and 19 Top 40 singles.

Benatar was one of the most heavily played artists in the early days of MTV.

Love Is a Battlefield" is a song written by Holly Knight and Mike Chapman, after Pat Benatar asked Chapman to write her a hit song. It was released as a single from Benatar's album Live from Earth, which was popular in 1983 and 1984.

The single has been certified gold and is her highest charting single in the United States, as it topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for four weeks and made number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It topped the Australian singles chart for five weeks in 1984. The song was finally released in the United Kingdom in March 1985 and reached #17.

The single was unlike most of Benatar's previous work, as it featured an electronic dance element, but guitars and drums were still present. The song won Benatar a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

The music video, which depicted Benatar as a teenage runaway trying to survive the mean streets of New York City, was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video and was viewable on the DVD for the movie 13 Going on 30.

Billy Joel - Uptown Girl

William Martin "Billy" Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to the RIAA.

Joel had Top 40 hits in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s; achieving 33 Top 40 hits in the United States, all of which he wrote himself. He is also a six-time Grammy Award winner, a 23-time Grammy nominee and has sold over 150 million records worldwide. He was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (1992), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1999), the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (2006) and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame (2009).

Joel discontinued recording new material after 1993's River of Dreams but continues to tour.

“Uptown Girl" is a song written by musician Billy Joel, first released in 1983 on his album An Innocent Man. The lyrics describe a working-class "downtown man" attempting to woo a wealthy "uptown girl." The style of music, including the doo-wop beat, the close harmonies and Joel's use of falsetto singing, is reminiscent of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
The single peaked at #3 on the Billboard charts in the US, and #1 in the UK, staying at that position for 5 weeks;

It was the second biggest selling single of 1983 in the United Kingdom behind only Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon", which Joel had knocked off the number one position on November 1, 1983;

In 1988, Rolling Stone ranked "Uptown Girl" #99 on their list of the 100 most important singles of the period 1963-1988. The song was the 19th biggest selling single of the 1980s in the United Kingdom.

The title character in the music video was played by Christie Brinkley. Joel and Brinkley married in 1985 and divorced in 1994.

This Day In Music History

1960, Eddie Cochran was at No.1 in the UK with the single 'Three Steps To Heaven'. The American singer had been killed 3 months earlier in a car crash while touring the UK.

1962, Ray Charles started a 14-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music'.

1962, The film soundtrack to 'West Side Story' went to No.1 on the UK charts for the first time. It spent a total of 13 weeks at No.1 on seven different occasions.

1966, The Beatles had their tenth consecutive UK No.1 single with 'Paperback Writer' / 'Rain'. The track is marked by the boosted bass guitar sound throughout, partly in response to John Lennon demanding to know why the bass on a certain Wilson Pickett record far exceeded the bass on any Beatles records. It was also cut louder than any other Beatles record, due to a new piece of equipment used in the mastering process.

1970, Cubby Checker was arrested in Niagara Falls after police discovered marijuana and other drugs in his car.

1973, 10cc were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rubber Bullets', the first of three UK No.1's for the band, (who also had a No.1 as Hotlegs).

1973, George Harrison started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Living In The Material World', his second US No.1.

1984, Duran Duran started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Reflex', the group's first US No.1, also a UK No.1.

1990, Elton John had his first UK solo No.1 single with 'Sacrifice / Healing Hands' after achieving over 50 previous UK hits and 6 chart toppers in the US.

1996, Bryan Adams went to No.1 on the UK album chart with '18-Till I Die'. Metallica went to No.1 on the US album chart with their sixth studio album 'Load'. The album has now sold over five million copies in America alone.

2002, The top pop earners from US sales during 2001 were listed by Rolling Stone magazine as: Madonna at No.5 with £29.1 million ($49.5 million); Dave Matthews Band at No.4 with £31 million ($52.7 million); The Beatles at No.3 with £34.2 million ($58 million); Dr. Dre at No.2 with £37.1 million ($63 million) and, top of the list, U2 with £44.2 million ($75 million).

1940, Born on this day, Adam Faith, singer and actor, (1959 UK No.1 single 'What Do You Want', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles), acting roles include the TV series 'Love Hurts.' Faith died on March 8th 2003.

1940, Born on this day, Stuart Sutcliffe, original bassist of The Beatles for eighteen months (January 1960 - June 1961). Sutcliffe was living in Hamburg, Germany at the time of his death, he died of a brain haemorrhage in an ambulance on the way to hospital on April 10th 1962, aged 22.

1957, Born on this day, Lee John, Imagination, (1982 UK No.2 single 'Just An Illusion').

1962, Born on this day, Richard Coles, Communards, (1986 UK No.1 single 'Don't Leave Me This Way').

1965, Born on this day, Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, guitar, Oasis, (first single 'Supersonic' 1994 UK No.31, 1996 UK No.1 single 'Don't Look Back In Anger', 1994 UK No.1 album 'Definitely Maybe' fastest selling UK debut album ever'). Quit the band in Aug 1999.

1984, Born on this day, Aimee Anne Duffy, (Duffy) Welsh singer-songwriter, (2008 UK No.1 single ‘Mercy’).