On this day in music, December 19, 1981, ABBA scored their seventh chart-topping album in the UK with The Visitors, while also showcasing a brand-new technology. The Visitors marked one of the first records to be digitally recorded and mixed, as well as one of the earliest titles to be released on CD the following year. For almost 40 years, The Visitors also remained ABBA’s final album, before the group reunited in 2021 with the release of Voyage.
In 2015, more than 30 years after its original release, Michael Jackson’s Thriller became the first album to sell more than 30 million copies in the US. Produced by Quincy Jones,Thriller became Jackson’s first No.1 album on the Billboard 200, where it spent a record 37 non-consecutive weeks atop the chart.
In 1970, Elton John scored his first US hit when “Your Song” entered the Billboard Hot 100. The song was first released by Three Dog Night in March 1970, when Elton, who served as an opening act for the band, allowed them to record a version of it.
In 1955, Carl Perkins recorded the now seminal rock‘n’roll standard, “Blue Suede Shoes.” The song was made famous one year later by Elvis Presley, while Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, and many others also recorded their own versions.
In 1964, The Beatles’ fourth album, Beatles For Sale, began a seven-week run at the top of the UK charts. The LP was eventually dethroned by The Rolling Stones No. 2.
In 1957, the US Army served Elvis Presley his draft notice. At the time, the King of Rock’n’Roll was celebrating Christmas at his newly-purchased Memphis mansion, Graceland.
In 2016, the UK’s Official Chart Company announced that it was changing the way it calculated its Top 40 hits, to reflect the rise in streaming services as the dominant form of music consumption.
In 1964, The Supremes scored their third No.1 hit of the year when “Come See About Me” topped the Billboard Hot 100. The track was remarkable at the time as it opened with a fade-in, marking one of the first times that the technique was utilized on a recording.
In 1994, The Manic Street Preachers played the first of three nights at The Astoria in London, marking the last shows that rhythm guitarist and co-lyricist, Richey Edwards, made with the band before disappearing.
BORN ON DECEMBER 19
1958: Chris Hamill (Limahl, Kajagoogoo)
1952: Walter Murphy
1944: Alvin Lee (Ten Years After)
1941: Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire)
1918: Professor Longhair
1915: Édith Piaf
The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign is getting into its final days as the last day of the collection will be Christmas Eve – and donations are down this year. The kettles are located at Family Fare, Runnings and Walmart in Litchfield and the money collected helps local people.
Heather Jeseritz says the Salvation Army is a great organization and if you make donations to them through the mail or on-line, it goes to help with their statewide, national and international mission efforts, which is great, but when you put money in the local red kettles, it helps people in Meeker County who are facing some type of emergency situation. She says you can drop coins, cash or checks in the red kettles, and this year, for the 9th time, they received a gold coin.
Jeseritz says if you do not have cash, they no longer have a QR code on the kettles, but you can contact her to get information about how to donate at 320-699-0461, and donations may be dropped off at the UCAP office at 409 North Sibley Avenue in Litchfield and mention that it’s for the Red Kettle campaign. She says if anyone is willing to take a shift to ring the bell at a red kettle, go to registertoring.com or call her as donations are more likely to be made when people are ringing the bell.
Jeseritz says they have a goal of collecting $20,000, and they aren’t even half-way to that point yet. She’s asking people to open their hearts and their pocket books during the final days of the campaign and make donations in the red kettles.
The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a 4-vehicle crash yesterday afternoon on Highway 23 near Willmar. It occurred at mile post 143 in Willmar Township. A Freightliner semi was eastbound on Highway 23 while two Dodge Grand Caravans and a Chevrolet Equinox were westbound on Highway 23 and they all collided.
The 2013 Freightliner was driven by 66-year-old Carl Nolan Rains of Little Falls. He was not injured. A 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan was driven by 47-year-old Christopher Peter Padin of Clara City. He received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Rice Hospital. A passenger in his vehicle – 47-year-old Roxanne Lozano of Clara City – received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Rice Hospital in Willmar.
A 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan was driven by 63-year-old Sherri Renae Olson of Raymond. She received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Rice Hospital. A 2020 Chevy Equinox was driven by 77-year-old Hal Fredrick Miller of Raymond. He received non-life-threatening injuries and was also taken to Rice Hospital in Willmar. Also responding to the scene were Raymond Ambulance, CentraCare Ambulance, and Willmar Fire Dept.
