On September 17, 1978, Queen took over Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium to film the video for their hit single “Bicycle Race.” Directed by Denis de Vallance (who also directed visuals for The Pointer Sisters, The Clash, Kool & The Gang, and more) the video famously featured 65 naked women, all of whom happened to be professional models. The concept involved them racing at the Wimbledon greyhound racing track (not to be confused with the home of the famous tennis tournament). While the band rented a number of bikes for the models to use, the company leasing the bikes insisted that Queen purchase each of the bicycle seats used during the shoot, once they learned of the concept.
In 2011, Adele went to No.1 on the US singles chart with “Someone Like You.” The song, which has since gone five times Platinum, was a hit across the world, reaching No.1 in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, and more. It also did monumental numbers in Adele’s home country of England. Later, during the Official Charts Company’s 60th anniversary, UK citizens chose “Someone like You” as one of the top three most beloved singles of the past 60 years. The song trailed only Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
In 1983, Paul Young scored his first UK No.1 album with No Parlez. Young’s debut was initially thought to be a dud, as early singles “Iron Out the Rough Spots” and “Love of the Common People” didn’t register commercially, but a cover of the Marvin Gaye hit “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)” propelled the album to dominance.
In 1976, The Sex Pistols played a concert for the inmates at Chelmsford Prison in Essex. Controversially, the performance was released as an album in 1990, featuring a significant amount of overdubs from the band’s soundman, Dave Goodman.
In 1931, the first long-playing record, a 33 1/3 rpm recording, was demonstrated at the Savoy Plaza Hotel in New York by RCA-Victor.
In 1964, The Beatles appeared at the Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. The band was paid $150,000 for the show, which was more than any act had ever been paid for a concert.
BORN ON SEPTEMBER 17
1923: Hank Williams
1939: Lamonte McLemore (The 5th Dimension)
1962: Baz Lurhmann
1969: Keith Flint (The Prodigy)
1985: Jonathan Jacob Walker (Panic! At The Disco)
The Litchfield City Council heard a year-in-review presentation Monday evening from City Administrator David Czoik. He went over many of the projects that have taken place in the past year including the completion of the Litchfield Area Recreation Center and the extension of Johnson Drive to 260th Street on the west side of Walmart.
Czoik also mentioned the Midtown Lofts project, which is not a city project, but will help address the need for housing in the community. He also spoke about the wastewater agreement with First District Association, the many ordinances that were approved in the past year, and some of the challenges and opportunities facing each city department.
Mayor Ron Dingmann says Czoik’s presentation was followed with a closed session in which the Council did Czoik’s performance evaluation. He says the results will be presented at the next meeting.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council had a visit from State Representative Scott Van Binsbergen on Monday evening as he gave them some information on his background and spoke about the 2025 Legislative Session. He says the Council approved of increasing the precondition amounts for grants in the Downtown Historic District as part of the State Historic Grant process as they received more applications than anticipated.
Mayor Dingmann says the State Historic Grant process will be on the Council agenda every two weeks for updates. He says the Council split 3-to-3 (as Councilman Eric Mathwig was absent) on a decision of whether to purchase an autonomous floor sweeper for $80,000 or a manual one for $16,000, so the item will come up again at the next meeting. Those in favor of the more expensive option argued that the manual one did not account for the labor costs to run it over the year, and the issue of trying to find someone to operate it, along with the fact that an autonomous machine could operate when the facility is not occupied.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has approved of a resolution establishing the preliminary property tax levy for 2026 at $19,010,390. The final levy will be set following the truth-in-taxation hearing which is scheduled for 6 p.m. on December 2nd.
Meeker County Administrator Andrew Letson says the preliminary levy represents a 9.16% increase over 2025. He says the increase is largely attributed to increasing operating expenses including planned wage adjustments, as well as legislative changes at the state and federal level that are resulting in increased costs and revenue cuts in various areas.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has moved to approve of a resolution authorizing Public Works Director Phil Schmalz to execute the necessary documents to apply for a grant from the MN Transportation Economic Development Program. The grant funds would be used towards the Highway 12 and County-State-Aid-Highway 34 intersection improvement project.
The Commissioners approved of a conditional use permit for the expansion of dairy animal units at Ru-Be Dairy at 54738 210th Street – south of Grove City in Section 2 of Danielson Township. The Board approved of a rezoning application and a preliminary plat application for Laughlin Acres for the property located in Section 11 of Dassel Township. A final plat application for Lundin Hills Addition in Section 3 of Dassel Township was also approved.
Also – the Meeker County Board of Commissioners approved of Met Life as the County’s dental insurance carrier for 2026-to-2028; approved of the 2026 Prime Health insurance rates for non-contract employees; reappointed Louise Brooks and Susan Steuck to 3-year terms on the Public Health Advisory Board; heard an annual report from Parks Superintendent Braden Piram; and set a public hearing for 4:30 p.m. on December 2nd on the proposed 2026 fee schedule.
On September 16, 1979, The Sugarhill Gang introduced the world to hip-hop with their single “Rapper’s Delight.” Opening with the now-classic lyric “I said a hip hop the hippie to the hippie/ To the hip hip hop and you don’t stop,” the track riffs off the upbeat bassline of Chic’s “Good Times,” and features the dextrous wordplay of Michael “Wonder Mike” Wright, Henry “Big Bank Hank” Jackson, and Guy “Master Gee” O’Brien. While the track wasn’t the first instance of rap on record, it was the first single to popularize the genre on a global level, landing in the US Top 40, and in the Top Ten in the UK, Canada, and across Europe. It has since been added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry.
In 1977, 29-year-old singer, songwriter, and guitarist Marc Bolan was tragically killed when a car driven by his girlfriend, Gloria Jones, left the road and hit a tree in London. Known for pairing glitter make-up and feather boas with searing guitar riffs, Bolan was a pioneering figure in the British glam rock movement, whose band T.Rex rose to fame with such hits as “Get It On,” “20th Century Boy,” and “Children of the Revolution.” His work, meanwhile, would inspire artists across multiple genres for decades to come – from the punk and new wave movements to Britpop.
In 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s debut album, Are You Experienced? entered the Billboard 200, where it would remain for 106 weeks, including 77 weeks in the Top 40. While the album was embraced by critics upon its release, its legacy would only grow. Ranked among the greatest albums of all time by multiple outlets, including Rolling Stone, the title has also been added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry.
In 1985, Kate Bush released her fifth studio album, Hounds of Love, featuring such UK hits as “Cloudbusting,” “Hounds of Love,” and “The Big Sky,” plus the enduring smash, “Running Up That Hill.”
In 1970, Jimi Hendrix made his final public appearance, playing alongside Eric Burdon at Ronnie Scott’s in London.
BORN ON SEPTEMBER 16
1925: B.B. King
1942: Bernie Calvert (The Hollies)
1944: Betty Kelly (Martha & The Vandellas)
1963: Richard Marx
1969: Justine Frischmann (Elastica)
1979: Flo-Rida
1992: Nick Jonas