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
The Litchfield Area Writers Group members will read selections from their new book “Let Your Light Shine” on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the G.A.R. Hall in Litchfield. Refreshments will be served after the program and everyone’s welcome.
The authors included in this year’s book include Amy Page Wilde, Carole Wendt, Ed Maas, Cathy Osdoba, Gary Oberg, Mike McNeil, Tim Bergstrom, Joe Paddock, Dave Hickler and Duane Hickler. The group got organized back in 1990 and this is the 30th year in a row that the group has published a book.
Duane Hickler says he’s been in the group for about 12 years. He says the members usually meet once a month and Litchfield author and poet Joe Paddock gives them suggestions about what to write about each month.
Hickler says each group member reads something at their meetings and then Joe and the other members give them ideas about how they could improvise their piece of writing. He says it’s fun to run into people around town who’ve read the books and comment about a story he’s written.
“Let Your Light Shine” is available at KLFD, the Natural Food Co-op, and Meeker Memorial Hospital gift shop – all in Litchfield and at Grove Bank in Grove City.
The Meeker County Museum’s annual meeting was held last evening in the G.A.R. Hall in Litchfield. The meeting each year is a way to wrap up the year and recap the year’s events.
Museum Executive Director Danelle Erickson says part of their mission is to preserve history, but in order to do that, they need to look to the future. She says donations are much appreciated to assure that the museum can function for years to come.
Erickson says there will not be a Civil War Roundtable this month, but it will continue next month – on January 8th at 1:30 p.m., and the museum will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s. She says the Meeker County Museum is usually open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10-to-4 and Saturdays from noon-to-4 and you can find more details at meekercomuseum.org.
She didn’t know where the suspect initially went after the shooting but the victim was able to give a vehicle description. Deputies responding to the call located the suspect vehicle on MN Highway 4 – just north of Grove City. At about the same time, the suspect called Meeker County 911 and admitted to the shooting. Deputies conducted a felony stop and arrested the suspect at the intersection of MN Highway 4 and U.S. Highway 12 in Grove City.
Deputies also responded to the scene of the shooting. The victim told deputies that the suspect arrived at her home and was enticing her to come outside. The victim started to come outside at which point she saw the suspect had a gun. The victim retreated back into the home and the moment she closed the door, the suspect shot at her. The victim received superficial wounds and was treated at the scene.
The victim and suspect are known to each other. The victim’s name is being withheld due to the domestic assault. The suspect was arrested and brought to the Meeker County Jail. The suspect is identified as 21-year-old Tyler Wagstaff of Willmar. Wagstaff is being held, pending a formal court appearance, on three felony level offenses: 2nd Degree Assault, 2nd Degree Attempted Homicide, and Domestic Assault. Grove City Rescue, Mayo Ambulance, CEE-VI Drug Task Force, MN BCA, MN DNR, and the MN State Patrol all assisted with the call.
The Pioneerland libraries in Meeker County will be closed on December 24th and December 25th for Christmas, and on January 1st for New Year’s Day. The libraries will close at 5 p.m. on December 31st for New Year’s Eve.
The activities for each of the four libraries in Meeker County is as follows:
Litchfield
Fridays 12/5 and 12/12, 10:15-11:15 am: Storyhour. No storyhour the rest of December.
Tues 12/9, 12 pm: Adult Book Club: Skipping Christmas
Tues 12/9, 6:30-7:30 pm: LEGO Night. For age 14 and under.
Wed 12/10, 10:15-10:45 am: Baby/Toddler Story Time. No storytime the rest of December.
Wed 12/10, 2-2:45 pm: Homeschool Connection. Sign-up required.
Wed 12/10, 6-7:30 pm: Crafter Guild bring-your-own craft program. For adults and teens 16+.
Thurs 12/11, 10:30 am: Diamond art Christmas cards. Sign-up required. For adults and teens.
Sat 12/13, 1:30-3:30 pm: Teen Program: Dungeons & Dragons board games. For ages 11-18.
Tues 12/16, 6:30-7:30 pm: Board games. All ages.
Wed 12/17, 6:30 pm: Mystery Book Club: The Frozen River
Thurs 12/18, 12:30-1:30 pm: Knitting Club. All ages.
Tues 12/30, 2-4 pm: Kids’ Crafting. Drop-in program. For grades K-4.
Dassel
Fridays 12/5, 12/12, and 12/19, 10 am: Story Hour. No Story Hour 12/26.
Sat 12/6, 2 pm: Hand-stitched corded bowls. Sign-up required. For adults and teens age 15+.
Wed 12/10, 3:30 pm at the Dassel History Center: Backyard Photography: A “Cure” for Cabin Fever with Jay Grammond. For all ages.
Thurs 12/11, 4-5:30 pm: Crafternoon. Bring-your-own craft program for adults and teens.
Tues 12/16, 1 pm: Adult Book Club: The Christmas Spirit
Grove City
Thursdays 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18, 3-5 pm: Crafternoon. Bring-your-own craft program for adults.
Tues 12/9, 2 pm: Storytime
Thurs 12/11, 4 pm: Corded bowl class. Sign-up required. For adults and teens age 15+.
Wed 12/17, 4-5 pm: Board games. All ages.
Thurs 12/18, 4-5 pm: Knitting Club. All ages.
Cosmos
Thursdays, 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18, 4-5:30 pm: Pokémon Trading Card Game. For ages 7-18.
Sat 12/6, 10:30 am: Stamped metal bracelets class. Sign-up required. For adults and teens age 15+.
Mon 12/8 through Sat 11/13: Stocking stuffer button-making. Drop in anytime during library hours.
Sat 12/13, 10:30 am-12:30 pm: Craft Circle. Bring-your-own craft program for adults and teens.
