This Day in Music
On this day in music, June 17, 1971, singer-songwriter Carole King began a record-breaking 15-week run at the top of the US album charts with Tapestry. The hugely influential album, which remained on the Billboard 200 for nearly six years, marked a significant shift for King, who spent the first decade of her career behind the scenes as a songwriter for other artists. One of the best-selling albums of all time, Tapestry featured the chart-topping lead singles “It’s Too Late” and “I Feel the Earth Move,” plus such enduring favorites as “You’ve Got a Friend” (a No.1 hit for James Taylor) and “Where You Lead.” Long considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time, the multiple Grammy-winning LP was among the first 50 titles to be added to the National Recording Registry in 2003.
In 2022, thanks to an appearance in Netflix’s Stranger Things, Kate Bush’s 1985 single “Running Up That Hill” returned to the charts, hitting No.1 in the UK. The viral phenomenon, which peaked at No.3 in the US, also topped the charts in Australia, Switzerland, and New Zealand, among others, and was No.1 on Billboard’s Global Hits chart. The song’s success also broke several UK chart records – including the longest amount of time for a single to reach the top spot.
In 1978, “You’re the One That I Want,” a duet from the film Grease sung by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, began a nine-week run at the top of the UK pop chart, marking the longest stay at No.1 by any single that year. One of the best-selling singles of all time, worldwide, the song also hit No.1 in more than a dozen countries, including the US, Australia, and Israel.
In 1976, Blondie released their first single, “X Offender.” The song, which led the New York City band’s self-titled debut album, was originally titled “Sex Offender,” but was changed at their label’s insistence.
In 1978, with “Shadow Dancing,” Andy Gibb made US chart history as the first solo artist to have his first three singles all reach No.1. The song followed the success of 1977’s “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” and “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water.”
BORN ON JUNE 17
1946: Barry Manilow
1947: Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey)
1957: Philip Chevron (The Pogues)
1958: Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys)
1969: Kevin Thornton (Color Me Badd)
1987: Kendrick Lamar
