Entertainment

On September 17, 1978, Queen took over Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium to film the video for their hit single “Bicycle Race.” Directed by Denis de Vallance (who also directed visuals for The Pointer Sisters, The Clash, Kool & The Gang, and more) the video famously featured 65 naked women, all of whom happened to be professional models. The concept involved them racing at the Wimbledon greyhound racing track (not to be confused with the home of the famous tennis tournament). While the band rented a number of bikes for the models to use, the company leasing the bikes insisted that Queen purchase each of the bicycle seats used during the shoot, once they learned of the concept.

In 2011, Adele went to No.1 on the US singles chart with “Someone Like You.” The song, which has since gone five times Platinum, was a hit across the world, reaching No.1 in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, and more. It also did monumental numbers in Adele’s home country of England. Later, during the Official Charts Company’s 60th anniversary, UK citizens chose “Someone like You” as one of the top three most beloved singles of the past 60 years. The song trailed only Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

In 1983, Paul Young scored his first UK No.1 album with No Parlez. Young’s debut was initially thought to be a dud, as early singles “Iron Out the Rough Spots” and “Love of the Common People” didn’t register commercially, but a cover of the Marvin Gaye hit “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)” propelled the album to dominance.

In 1976, The Sex Pistols played a concert for the inmates at Chelmsford Prison in Essex. Controversially, the performance was released as an album in 1990, featuring a significant amount of overdubs from the band’s soundman, Dave Goodman.

In 1931, the first long-playing record, a 33 1/3 rpm recording, was demonstrated at the Savoy Plaza Hotel in New York by RCA-Victor.

In 1964, The Beatles appeared at the Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. The band was paid $150,000 for the show, which was more than any act had ever been paid for a concert.

BORN ON SEPTEMBER 17

1923: Hank Williams
1939: Lamonte McLemore (The 5th Dimension)
1962: Baz Lurhmann
1969: Keith Flint (The Prodigy)
1985: Jonathan Jacob Walker (Panic! At The Disco)

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On September 16, 1979, The Sugarhill Gang introduced the world to hip-hop with their single “Rapper’s Delight.” Opening with the now-classic lyric “I said a hip hop the hippie to the hippie/ To the hip hip hop and you don’t stop,” the track riffs off the upbeat bassline of Chic’s “Good Times,” and features the dextrous wordplay of Michael “Wonder Mike” Wright, Henry “Big Bank Hank” Jackson, and Guy “Master Gee” O’Brien. While the track wasn’t the first instance of rap on record, it was the first single to popularize the genre on a global level, landing in the US Top 40, and in the Top Ten in the UK, Canada, and across Europe. It has since been added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry.

In 1977, 29-year-old singer, songwriter, and guitarist Marc Bolan was tragically killed when a car driven by his girlfriend, Gloria Jones, left the road and hit a tree in London. Known for pairing glitter make-up and feather boas with searing guitar riffs, Bolan was a pioneering figure in the British glam rock movement, whose band T.Rex rose to fame with such hits as “Get It On,” “20th Century Boy,” and “Children of the Revolution.” His work, meanwhile, would inspire artists across multiple genres for decades to come – from the punk and new wave movements to Britpop.

In 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s debut album, Are You Experienced? entered the Billboard 200, where it would remain for 106 weeks, including 77 weeks in the Top 40. While the album was embraced by critics upon its release, its legacy would only grow. Ranked among the greatest albums of all time by multiple outlets, including Rolling Stone, the title has also been added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry.

In 1985, Kate Bush released her fifth studio album, Hounds of Love, featuring such UK hits as “Cloudbusting,” “Hounds of Love,” and “The Big Sky,” plus the enduring smash, “Running Up That Hill.”

In 1970, Jimi Hendrix made his final public appearance, playing alongside Eric Burdon at Ronnie Scott’s in London.

BORN ON SEPTEMBER 16

1925: B.B. King
1942: Bernie Calvert (The Hollies)
1944: Betty Kelly (Martha & The Vandellas)
1963: Richard Marx
1969: Justine Frischmann (Elastica)
1979: Flo-Rida
1992: Nick Jonas

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In 1965, Otis Redding released his best-selling crossover hit, Otis Blue, on Stax Records. For his third studio LP, the soul star recorded both original material and a variety of popular songs from the day. In addition to topping the R&B Albums chart and landing at No.6 in the UK, the album produced three Top 40 hits, including “Respect” (later popularized by Aretha Franklin), “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” and a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Today, Otis Blue is considered to be a definitive title in the soul canon and has been ranked as one of the greatest albums of all time by a variety of outlets, including Rolling Stone.

In 1961, a young band called The Pendletones entered Hite Morgan’s Los Angeles studio to record a demo called “Surfin’.” The Southern California group would re-record the song in October and, by the end of the year, they would sign their first record deal and be re-christened The Beach Boys. “Surfin’,” meanwhile, became their first single. It not only became a popular regional hit, but also broke the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No.75.

In 1956, Elvis Presley topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “Don’t Be Cruel.” Released as a double-sided single (with “Hound Dog”), the two songs would occupy the top spots on the pop chart for a total of 11 weeks (and remain on the Hot 100 for a total of 55 weeks). “Don’t Be Cruel” also became The King’s biggest selling single, with sales reaching more than six million by 1961.

In 2019, 75-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer Ric Ocasek was found dead in his New York City apartment. Best-known as the co-founder and frontman of The Cars, Ocasek rose to fame in the late 70s with songs like “Just What I Needed,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” and “Let the Good Times Roll.” The band continued to soar in the early 80s, landing in the Billboard Top Ten with such hits as “Shake It Up” and “Drive.” After The Cars broke up, Ocasek found success as a solo artist and a producer, working with the likes of No Doubt, Weezer, and Bad Religion.1

In 1990, The Steve Miller Band topped the UK charts with “The Joker,” 16 years after its original release. The song, which hit No.1 in the US in 1974, found a new generation of fans after appearing in a Levi’s TV ad, and earned the record for the longest gap between transatlantic chart-toppers.

In 1965, The Ford Motor Company became the first automaker to offer an 8-track tape player as an option for their entire line of vehicles in the US. The latest audio technology was only offered in auto stores at the time, and was still a year away from being sold to consumers for home use.

In 1978, Bob Dylan embarked on the longest US tour of his career, which consisted of 65 shows in 62 cities. The tour kicked off in in Augusta, ME.

BORN ON SEPTEMBER 15

1941: Signe Toly Anderson (Jefferson Airplane)
1946: Ola Brunkert (ABBA)
1960: Michel Dorge (Crash Test Dummies)
1972: Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand)

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On September 12, 2003, Johnny Cash died at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy of foundational music, with a catalog that spanned country, folk, blues, rockabilly, and rock hits. Rising to fame in the mid-50s, the “Man in Black” would go on to release nearly 100 albums and more than 150 singles, including “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring of Fire,” and “Walk The Line.” As popular as his originals were, though, Cash experienced a late career renaissance, thanks to his minimal and moving covers of songs like Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” and Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage.” One of the best-selling artists in the history of popular music, Cash was an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Hall of Fame, and Gospel Hall of Fame.

In 1989, Aerosmith released their tenth studio album, Pump, via Geffen Records. The album, which featured the Grammy-winning hit “Janie’s Got a Gun” and the chart-topping “Love in an Elevator,” peaked at No. 5 on the US charts and was certified septuple platinum by the RIAA in 1995.

In 1954, Frank Sinatra reached No.1 on the UK singles chart with “Three Coins In The Fountain.” The song was the first of three eventual UK chart-toppers for the icon.

In 1975, Pink Floyd released their ninth studio album, Wish You Were Here. Hailed among the greatest rock albums of all time, the record reached number one in both the US and UK and has since sold over 20 million copies worldwide.

In 1963, The Beatles scored their second No.1 on the UK singles chart with “She Loves You.” The song was not only the UK’s highest-selling single of the decade, but remains the Fab Four’s best-selling single in their home country.

In 1966, N.B.C. aired the first episode of The Monkees TV show in the US. The series ran for a total of 58 episodes.

In 1970 Creedence Clearwater Revival scored their first UK No.1 album with Cosmo’s Factory. In the US, it occupied the top slot for nine weeks, selling over three million copies.

In 1970, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles scored their first UK No.1 with “The Tears Of A Clown.”

BORN ON SEPTEMBER 12

1931: George Jones
1944: Barry White
1952: Neil Peart (Rush)
1952: Gerry Beckley (America)
1966: Ben Folds
1978: Michael Paget (My Bloody Valentine)
1981: Jennifer Hudson
1994: RM (BTS)

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On September 10, 1991, Nirvana’s breakthrough single, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” was released in the US. But the song, which appeared on their sophomore album, Nevermind, was not an immediate hit. It wasn’t until its accompanying music video – in which a high school pep rally breaks out into a riot – began to pick up traction on MTV that the song rose up the charts. By the end of the year, it had become an international sensation, landing in the Top Ten on the singles charts in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and across Europe. Dubbed an “anthem for apathetic” Gen X kids by TIME Magazine, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” also propelled Nevermind to the top of the charts, marking the moment when alternative rock (and particularly grunge) entered the mainstream.

In 1988, Guns N’ Roses scored their first US No.1 with “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” The song came together in a surprising way, according to 2005 article in Q Magazine. During a jam session, drummer Steven Adler and Slash were noodling around, when the guitarist began to play a circus-style melody, trying to get Adler to crack a smile. Rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, however, saw the potential in the guitar line. Stradlin came up with some chords, Duff McKagan added a bassline, and Adler began playing a beat…The rest is history.

In 1974, The New York Dolls announced their split. While the group was only together for two years (during which they released two studio albums, 1973’s New York Dolls and 1974’s Too Much Too Soon) their influence would endure for far longer.

In 1964, Rod Stewart recorded his first single, a cover of Willie Dixon’s “Good Morning Little School Girl.” Future Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones played on the session.

BORN ON SEPTEMBER 10

1898: Waldo Semon (Inventor of vinyl)
1942: Danny Hutton (Three Dog Night)
1945: Jose Feliciano
1949: Barrie Barlow (Jethro Tull)
1950: Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
1957: Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
1980: Mikey Way (My Chemical Romance)
1984: Matthew Followill (Kings of Leon)

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On September 9, 1956, Elvis Presley made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Love Me Tender,” and “Ready Teddy” from the CBS TV Studios in Los Angeles. On the show, Presley, who was only 21 years old, was introduced by British actor Charles Laughton, who was playing host for Sullivan, as he was recovering from a car accident. With the performance of “Love Me Tender,” Variety reported that, “For the first time in the history of the record business, a single record has achieved one million sales before being released to the public.” With 60 million viewers – or 82.6 percent of TV viewers at the time – tuning in, the performance earned the show’s best ratings in two years and became the most-watched TV broadcast of the 1950s.

In 2007, Taylor Swift released “Our Song,” the third single from her self-titled debut. It became Swift’s first No.1 single on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, where it maintained the position for six consecutive weeks. The accomplishment also broke new records, making Swift the youngest person to single-handedly write and perform a No.1 song on the chart. Additionally, “Our Song” crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100 – peaking at number 16 and becoming the third consecutive Top 40 single off Swift’s debut.

In 1995, Coolio scored his first US No.1 single with “Gangsta’s Paradise (Feat. L.V.).” The song, which earned a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, sampled the chorus of the 1976 Stevie Wonder song, “Pastime Paradise,” and was featured in the 1995 movie Dangerous Minds.

In 2004, guitar maker and entrepreneur Ernie Ball died at the age of 74. In the late 50s, Ball opened America’s first guitar store in Tarzana, CA. He also developed guitar strings called Slinkys, specifically designed for the electric guitar. Eventually, he would grow his business into a global, multimillion-dollar enterprise.

In 1975, Paul McCartney and Wings kicked off their historic 13-month world tour – captured in the triple live album, Wings Over America. The run of dates also found McCartney playing his first US shows since The Beatles’ final tour in 1966.

In 1963, The Beatles scored their second No.1 hit in the UK with “She Loves You.” Concurrently, their debut album, Please Please Me, was also atop the UK album chart. “She Loves You” became The Beatles’ best-selling single in the UK, and was also named Britain’s best-selling single of 1963.

BORN ON SEPTEMBER 9

1941: Otis Redding
1946: Bruce Palmer (Buffalo Springfield)
1950: John McFee (The Doobie Brothers)
1952: Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)
1975: Michael Bublé

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