This Day in Music
On this day in music, December 5, 2011, Adele’s sophomore LP, 21, was named Britain’s biggest-selling album of the 21st century, surpassing a title previously held by Amy Winehouse, for 2006’s Back To Black. The album, which spent 45 weeks at the top of the UK charts, was an instant sensation, and its legacy has proven it to be one of the most important releases of this century. Among other honors, 21 was shortlisted for the 2011 Mercury Prize, while in 2012, it won a Grammy for Album of the Year and British Album of the Year at BRITs. It has since been ranked on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
In 1992, Whitney Houston began a ten-week run at the top of the UK singles chart with“’I Will Always Love You.” The Dolly Parton-penned song, which Houston recorded for The Bodyguard soundtrack, also spent a record-breaking 14 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 (her longest run at No.1 in the US).
In 1964, the Beach Boys scored their first No.1 album in the US with Beach Boys Concert. The live release was recorded at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, CA.
In 1973, Paul McCartney and Wings released their third LP, Band On The Run. Recorded primarily at EMI’s studio in Lagos, Nigeria, the album featured a pared-down line-up (Paul and Linda McCartney, plus Denny Laine). It went on to become the top-selling album of 1974 in Australia and Canada and the second-best-selling album of the year in the UK.
In 1965, The Beatles played their final show in their hometown of Liverpool. 40,000 applications for tickets were received for the two shows at the Empire, which seated just 2,550 people. The 11-track setlist was identical for the two gigs.
In 1981, Julio Iglesias scored his sole No.1 on the UK singles chart with “Begin The Beguine,” a Spanish-language cover of the 1935 Cole Porter standard.
In 1970, Judy Collins’ rendition of “Amazing Grace” entered the UK singles chart for the first of eight times. It would eventually spend a total of 67 non-consecutive weeks on the chart. The Library of Congress has a collection of more than 3,000 versions of the traditional hymn, including Collins’ recording.
In 1987, The Go-Go’s frontwoman Belinda Carlisle scored her first solo chart-topper in the US with “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.”
In 1993, 32-year-old Doug Hopkins, who co-founded the Gin Blossoms, took his own life. Hopkins, who served as the alt-rock band’s principal songwriter and lead guitarist, was responsible for such hits as “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You.”
BORN ON DECEMBER 5
1912: Sonny Boy Williamson
1932: Little Richard
1938: JJ Cale
1947: Jim Messina (Loggins & Messina)
1960: Les Nemes (Haircut 100)
1965: Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls)
1982: Keri Hilson
