This Day in Music
On this day in music, December 18, 1971, T. Rex scored their first No.1 album in the UK with Electric Warrior. Marking the group’s sixth LP overall, and their second since frontman Marc Bolan changed the band’s name from Tyrannosaurus Rex to T. Rex, Electric Warrior is widely cited as a turning point in the evolution of glam-rock. Driven up the charts by its massively popular hit single, “Bang a Gong (Get It On),” the album was later named the UK’s best-selling record of 1971. Across the pond, “Bang a Gong” was the band’s sole Top Ten US hit.
In 1982, Hall and Oates began a four-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “Maneater.” The song, which marked the duo’s fifth US No.1, was also the group’s biggest hit in the UK, reaching No.6 on the pop chart.
In 2005, The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” was voted the top Christmas song ever in a VH1 poll. The 1987 track was written by the Celtic-punk band’s members Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan and featured guest vocals by Kirsty MacColl.
In 2000, tragedy struck when 41-year-old singer-songwriter Kristy MacColl was killed while saving her sons from an oncoming powerboat in Mexico. The British artist penned a number of pop hits in the 80s and 90s, including “There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis,” and the Ivor Novello-winning songs “Walking Down Madison” and “Dear John.”
In 1962, The Beatles kicked off their fifth visit to West Germany with a two-week engagement at Hamburg’s new Star-Club. During the 13-night run, the band performed for three hours each night, while several evenings were captured on tape by Ted “Kingsize” Taylor of the Liverpool band Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes. Despite repeated push-back from The Beatles, Taylor released those recordings in 1977.
In 1983, American guitarist Jimmy Nolen died. A longtime player in James Brown’s band, Nolen was celebrated for his unique, and highly influential, “chicken scratch” style of playing his instrument.
BORN ON DECEMBER 18
1943: Keith Richards
1946: Alex Ligertwood (Santana)
1953: Elliot Easton (The Cars)
1970: DMX
1975: Sia
1980: Christina Aguilera
2001: Billie Eilish
