Entertainment

On this day in music, May 13, 1996, Oasis became the fastest-selling group in UK history after selling out all 330,000 tickets for their summer concerts in just nine hours. Although 2.5 million people applied for spots to attend their Knebworth House shows on August 10 and 11, only 250,000 tickets were sold, setting records for the largest demand for a concert in British history. Tickets were sold for £22.50, and the backstage guest list had over 7,000 people.

In 1970, Beatles documentary Let It Be made its world premiere in New York City. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the film followed the band’s rehearsal and recording for their 12th and final album, Let It Be, including a segment of their historic rooftop performance. The film later earned the band an Academy Award for Original Song Score and a Grammy for Best Original Score. Although UK premieres were held the following week, none of The Beatles attended the shows.

In 1967, The Supremes scored their tenth No.1 single in the US with “The Happening,” the theme song to the 1967 film of the same name. It was the final single under the name “The Supremes,” as the group changed their name to “Diana Ross & The Supremes” before their next release.

In 1969, Led Zeppelin appeared at The Civic Auditorium in Honolulu, becoming one of the first major British rock groups to appear in Hawaii. The Honolulu Advertiser published a review about the performance, noting that “the showmanship exceeded any rock performance (with possible exception of Jimi Hendrix) here to date.”

In 1967, The Monkees’ second album, More of The Monkees, hit No.1 on the UK chart. Interestingly, there were only four albums that reached the top spot that year: The Sound of Music soundtrack, which spent 17 weeks at No.1, The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band for 25 weeks, and The Monkees’ first and second albums.

In 1971, on his 21st birthday, Stevie Wonder received his childhood earnings. Due to Wonder being signed at age 11, Motown’s Tamla label created a rolling five-year contract to hold his royalties until he turned 21. However, he and his mother were paid a weekly stipend to cover their expenses.

BORN ON MAY 13

1941: Ritchie Valens
1943: Mary Wells
1947: Pete Watts (Mott the Hoople)
1950: Stevie Wonder
1950: Danny Kirwan (Fleetwood Mac)
1966: Darius Rucker
1966: Alison Goldfrapp (Goldfrapp)
1969: Buckethead

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On this day in music, May 12, 2017, Kendrick Lamar topped the Billboard 200 with his fourth studio album, DAMN, less than a month after its release. The Compton-raised rapper enlisted the help of numerous artists and producers to collaborate on the album, including executive producer and Top Dawg Entertainment label head Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, Sounwave, Rihanna, and U2. Widely considered to be among the best releases of the year, DAMN won Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammys and became the first non-jazz or classical work to earn a Pulitzer Prize for Music.

In 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience released their debut album, Are You Experienced, in the UK. Broadly regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, the record showcased Hendrix’s revolutionary songwriting and guitar playing and was an immediate critical and commercial success, spending an impressive 33 weeks on the British charts. Across the Atlantic, the album was released several months later with revised album art that reflected the psychedelic nature of the music. Decades later, the LP was inducted into the National Recording Registry in recognition of its cultural significance.

In 1972, The Rolling Stones released Exile on Main St. on their self-titled label. Writing and recording began during the London sessions for their previous LP, Sticky Fingers, and continued through mid-1971 in the South of France. Featuring the hit singles “Happy” (with rare lead vocals from Keith Richards), “Sweet Virginia,” and “Tumbling Dice,” the band’s 10th album topped the charts in six countries, including the UK and US. According to Mick Jagger, the band felt the cover artwork reflected “runaway outlaws using the blues as its weapon against the world.”

In 1984, Lionel Richie’s “Hello” began a two-week run atop the Billboard Hot 100. The single, which marked the former Commodore’s second solo US No.1, also found massive success around the globe, including the UK, where it held the top spot for six weeks.

In 1965, Wilson Pickett recorded “In the Midnight Hour” at Stax Studios. Co-written with guitarist and producer Steve Cropper at Memphis’ Lorraine Motel (the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination three years later) the single reached No.1 on the R&B charts, marking the soul star’s first chart-topper and his first hit for Atlantic Records.

In 1958, The Everly Brothers began a four-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “All I Have to Do is Dream.” Written by Boudleaux Bryant (of the husband-and-wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant), the song was recorded in two takes and featured Chet Atkins on guitar.

BORN ON MAY 12

1928: Burt Bacharach
1940: Norman Whitfield (Songwriter, Producer)
1942: Ian Dury
1946: Ian McLagan (Small Faces)
1948: Steve Winwood
1950: Billy Squier
1976: Matt Mangano (Zac Brown Band)

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On this day in music, May 8, 1970, The Beatles released their 12th and final album, Let It Be, nearly a month after their disbandment. Recorded before Abbey Road and initially titled Get Back, Paul McCartney devised the record in an attempt to restore the band’s chemistry after friction within the quartet. Lead single “Get Back” was issued in April 1969, while “Let It Be” and “I Me Mine” were recorded in January 1970 without John Lennon. Despite the controversy surrounding the album, it went on to be a best-seller, topping charts around the globe.

In 2016, a recently-departed Prince held the top two spots on the Billboard albums chart with The Very Best of Prince and Purple Rain. Born Prince Rogers Nelson, the legendary singer, songwriter, and guitarist died on April 21, 2016, at the age of 57. Today, he is recognized as one of the biggest recording artists of all time, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

In 1993, Aerosmith’s 11th studio album, Get A Grip, topped the Billboard 200, marking the long-running band’s first to hit the No.1 position. Selling over 20 million copies worldwide, it re-introduced Aerosmith to a new generation of fans, thanks to hits like “Cryin’” and the Grammy-winning “Livin’ on the Edge” and “Crazy.”

In 1982, Vangelis’ “Chariots of Fire – Titles,” the theme to the film Chariots of Fire, topped the US singles chart. The now-classic instrumental track marked the Greek composer’s first and only No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2008, country artist Eddy Arnold died a week before his 90th birthday. A Nashville sound innovator of the 1950s, Arnold sold over 85 million records and placed nearly 150 songs on the Billboard country charts. Also known as “The Tennessee Plowboy,” he was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.

In 2014, rock‘n’roll pioneer Chuck Berry was named one of the 2014 Polar Music Prize laureates. The Swedish international award recognizes “significant achievements in music and/or musical activity, or for achievements which are found to be of great potential importance for music or musical activity” and has been called the Sweden “Nobel Prize of Music.”

BORN ON MAY 8

1911: Robert Johnson
1940: Ricky Nelson
1943: Toni Tennille (Captain & Tennille)
1944: Bill Legend (T. Rex)
1951: Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire)
1953: Alex Van Halen (Van Halen)
1975: Enrique Iglesias
1977: Joe Bonamassa

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On this day in music, May 7, 1977, the Eagles topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “Hotel California,” their fourth No.1 hit in the US. At six-and-a-half minutes long, the record company hesitated to release it, but the band refused to shorten the song to accommodate for radio airplay. Described by the band as an “interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles,” it became their signature hit, receiving a Gold certification from the RIAA three months after its release. The title track of their 1976 album was awarded the 1977 Grammy for Record of the Year, while its guitar solo remains one of the greatest of all time.

In 1968, while flying back to the UK after his final show with Bluesology, Elton John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight) devised his stage name. In the cabin, the singer-songwriter asked Bluesology’s horn player, Elton Dean, and lead singer Long John Baldry if he could combine their names for his solo act. After several years of performing under the pseudonym, the artist legally changed his name to Elton Hercules John on January 7, 1972. He has since sold over 300 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling musicians of all time.

In 1966, The Mamas & the Papas topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “Monday, Monday.” The first hit with a day of the week in its title, “Monday, Monday” was also the first single by a mixed-gender group to reach No.1 in the US. Written in 20 minutes by “Papa” John Philips, the group reportedly all hated the song aside from its songwriter. But Philips had the last laugh: in addition to its chart success, “Monday, Monday” also won the 1967 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

In 1974, Led Zeppelin held a launch party at New York City’s Four Seasons Hotel to celebrate their new label, Swan Song Records. Overseen by manager Peter Grant, Swan Song released several Led Zeppelin records and was home to Bad Company, Maggie Bell, Pretty Things, and Dave Edmunds, among many others.

In 1971, Arnold Corns, a band formed by David Bowie, released “Moonage Daydream.” Bowie later rerecorded the single for his 1972 record, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The song shares its title with a 2022 documentary on Bowie, which was the first posthumous film about his life to be approved by his estate.

In 1998, singer-songwriter Eddie Rabbitt died at age 56 of lung cancer. During his career, he composed numerous hits, including Elvis Presley’s “Kentucky Rain” and “Patch It Up,” as well as Ronnie Milsap’s “Pure Love.” His last studio album was released in 1998.

BORN ON MAY 7

1931: Teresa Brewer
1946: Thelma Houston
1946: Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead)
1955: Steve Diggle (Buzzcocks)
1969: Eagle Eye Cherry
1974: Lynden David Hall
1986: Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys)

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On this day in music, May 6, 1978, the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever began an astonishing 18-week straight run at the top of the UK album chart. Across the Atlantic, it spent an unbroken 24-week run atop the Billboard 200 and was well on its way to being certified 16x Platinum by the RIAA. Primarily featuring music by the Bee Gees, the soundtrack spawned a multitude of hit singles, including “Stayin’ Alive,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” and “Night Fever” (all US No.1s). The film and album (which became one of the highest-selling soundtracks of all time) both played a major role in the disco phenomenon, while in 2014, the Library of Congress added Saturday Night Fever to its National Recording Registry.

In 2020, Kraftwerk co-founder and electronic music pioneer, Florian Schneider, died at age 73. The German band rose to fame with their 1974 album, Autobahn, and would go on to have a major influence on musicians in the 1970s and 1980s, including David Bowie. Schneider left the group in 2008.

In 1965, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards began working on the opening guitar riffs to “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” – now considered to be one of the greatest hooks of all time. Primarily composed in a hotel room in Clearwater, Florida, hours after Richards purchased a Gibson fuzz box, the song was recorded days later at Chicago’s storied Chess Studios. Released in June 1965, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” gave the Rolling Stones their first No.1 hit in the US.

In 1995, Oasis scored their first UK No.1 with “Some Might Say.” The lead single off their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, it was the Manchester band’s last song to feature all five original members of the band, as drummer Tony McCarroll left shortly after its release. Oasis’ first performance of the song, on Top of the Pops, was also their final with McCarroll (drummer Alan White would soon step in). Inspired by Grant Lee Buffalo’s “Fuzzy,” it also reached the Top Ten in several countries across Europe.

In 1973, Paul Simon embarked on his first solo tour, following the disbandment of Simon & Garfunkel and the release of his third album, There Goes Rhymin’ Simon. Featuring support by Urubamba and the Jessy Dixon Singers, the tour was captured on the live album, Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin’.

BORN ON MAY 6

1927: Ronnie Hilton (Radio Host)
1945: Bob Seger
1951: Davey Johnstone
1960: John Flansburgh (They Might Be Giants)
1967: Mark Bryan (Hootie & the Blowfish)
1971: Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters)
1987: Meek Mill

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On this day in music, May 5, 1956, Elvis Presley concurrently scored his first US No.1 single and album with “Heartbreak Hotel” and his self-titled debut, respectively. Released as Presley’s first single with label RCA Victor, “Heartbreak Hotel” was recorded in Nashville with his band The Blue Moon Boys, guitarist Chet Atkins, and pianist Floyd Cramer. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, later becoming the rock’n’roll pioneer’s first million-selling single, and reached the Top 5 of the Country and R&B charts simultaneously. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1995.

In 1963, Dick Rowe, then the head of A&R at Decca Records, watched The Rolling Stones perform at London’s Crawdaddy Club on the recommendation of George Harrison. Within a week, the band was signed to the label. Rowe was also known as being the man who turned away The Beatles, reportedly telling manager Brain Epstein that “guitar groups are on their way out.”

In 1996, Rage Against the Machine topped the Billboard 200 for the first time with Evil Empire. Their sophomore album, which landed in the Top 10 in territories across the globe, featured the Grammy-nominated singles “People of the Sun” and “Bulls on Parade.” Interestingly, the track “Tire Me,” which had no music video or radio airplay, won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance.

In 1973, David Bowie scored his first chart-topping album in the UK with Aladdin Sane. His sixth LP and follow-up to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, the record marked his final with the full Spiders lineup and featured such singles as “The Jean Genie” and “Drive-In Saturday.” The album’s title was a pun on “A Lad Insane,” which Bowie described as “Ziggy Stardust goes to America.” Aladdin Sane would soon become Bowie’s most commercially successful record.

In 1992, Radiohead made their debut in UK record stores with The Drill. The four-song EP, which broke into the album chart, was recorded at Courtyard Studios in Oxon, England and produced by their manager, Chris Hufford. Their single, “Prove Yourself,” saw airplay on BBC Radio 1, giving them their first national radio airplay, while three songs off the EP would be re-recorded for their debut album, Pablo Honey, released the following year.

BORN ON MAY 5

1937: Johnnie Taylor
1942: Tammy Wynette
1948: Bill Ward (Black Sabbath)
1955: Roddy Radiation (The Specials)
1959: Steve Stevens
1959: Ian McCulloch (Echo & the Bunnymen)
1981: Craig David
1988: Adele

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