On this day in music, December 22, 1984, Madonna scored her first No.1 hit in the US with “Like A Virgin.” Produced by Nile Rogers (co-founder of the disco group, Chic), the song held the top spot for six weeks and became a global phenomenon, landing at No.1 in Canada and Australia and peaking in the Top Five across Europe. “Like a Virgin” also served as the title track and first single from Madonna’s sophomore album, though Rodgers (who produced nearly every song on the LP) pushed for “Material Girl” to lead the record. The song would become a signature hit for Madge and a cultural touchstone of the 80s.
In 1973, Elton John began a two-week run at the top of the UK album chart with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The LP became a sensation, thanks to such enduring hits as “Candle In The Wind,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and the title track.
In 2002, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and co-founder of The Clash, Joe Strummer, died at the age of 50. With the innovative political punk-rock band, Strummer released a variety of highly-influential titles, including 1979’s London Calling and 1982’s Combat Rock.
In 2014, Joe Cocker died at the age of 70. Ranked as one of the greatest singers of all time by the likes of MOJO and Rolling Stone, the British artist was beloved for his gritty vocals and expressive performances.
In 1967, Pink Floyd played their last major show with Syd Barrett at The Olympia in London. The star-studded event, dubbed Christmas on Earth Continued, also featured performances by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, Eric Burdon and The Animals, and Soft Machine, among others.
In 1972, nine-year-old Little Jimmy Osmond became the youngest person to have a No.1 hit in the UK with his single, “Long Haired Lover From Liverpool.”
In 2010, North London’s Abbey Road zebra crossing (made famous by its appearance on the Beatles’ Abbey Road LP cover) was officially recognized for its “cultural and historical importance” and given Grade II status by the UK government.
BORN ON DECEMBER 22
1944: Barry Jenkins (The Animals)
1948: Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick)
1949: Robin and Maurice Gibb (The Bee Gees)
1968: Richard James Edwards (Manic Street Preachers)
1972: Vanessa Paradis
1989: Jordin Sparks
1993: Meghan Trainor
The Light Up Litchfield Committee from the Litchfield Visitors Bureau has announced the winners in the annual holiday business lighting contest. It’s Not Hair/Radiant Glow Spa/Kristi Isaacson Accounting took first place.
Litchfield Visitors Bureau Board member and Light Up Litchfield Committee member Monica Schreiber says second place went to Ecumen of Litchfield and 3rd place went to the Chamber Serving Meeker County. She says other participants in the contest included St. Philip’s School, Threads of Hope and Meeker Energy/Vibrant Broadband.
Schreiber says the Committee had a lighting ceremony planned for November 29th, but it had to be cancelled due to the weather. She says the Christmas tree in the Central Park Bandstand blew over the Wednesday before Thanksgiving so they had to work to get it back in place.
Schreiber says they would like to thank all of the sponsors and donors who help make the holiday lights possible in Litchfield. She says they are trying to add to the decorations in Central Park each year and they need more people to volunteer to be part of the Light Up Litchfield Committee. Anyone willing to join the Committee, should contact the Chamber in downtown Litchfield – call 693-8184.
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.