On this day in music, March 11, 1978, Meat Loaf‘s debut album Bat Out Of Hell began its record-breaking 416-week run on the UK chart. Despite spending almost nine years on the best-sellers list, it never reached the top spot, peaking at No. 9. In America, the album (which began Meatloaf’s long association with noted songwriter and producer Jim Steinman) plateaued at No.13 during an 83-week chart reign. To date, it has sold in excess of 43 million copies worldwide and has been certified 14x Platinum by the RIAA.
In 2016, 71-year-old prog-rock pioneer Keith Emerson took his own life. The virtuosic, classically trained keyboardist, songwriter, and producer initially rose to fame leading The Nice and in 1970, co-founded Emerson, Lake & Palmer, a supergroup with Greg Lake and Carl Palmer. Together, they made eight albums between 1970 and 1978 and reached No. 2 in the UK charts with their version of Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare For The Common Man.”
In 2015, a Los Angeles jury ruled in the favor of Marvin Gaye’s family, who claimed that Robin Thicke’s 2013 US chart-topper, “Blurred Lines,” copied elements from the soul icon’s 1977 hit, “Got To Give It Up.” Thicke, along with co-writers Pharrell Williams and T. I., strenuously denied copying the Motown song but jurors decided that “Blurred Lines” infringed Gaye’s copyright and awarded his family $7.3m in damages.
In 1967, Lennon and McCartney’s publisher, Dick James, announced that 446 different versions of The Beatles’ “Yesterday” had been recorded since it was first released in 1965. In 1986, the Guinness Book Of Records estimated that 1,600 cover versions existed.
In 1965, Welsh singer Tom Jones reached No.1 on the UK singles chart with “It’s Not Unusual,” the first of sixteen British chart-toppers. The song, co-written by Jones’ manager Gordon Mills, was originally earmarked for Sandi Shaw but when she heard Jones’ demo version, she recommended he cut it instead.
In 1993, Oasis recorded their first demos at The Real People’s studio in Liverpool, which led them to sign with Creation Records. The demo was officially released in 2014 as a limited edition cassette called Live Demonstration, coinciding with the 20th Anniversary of their debut album, Definitely Maybe.
BORN ON MARCH 11
1947: Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge)
1950: Bobby McFerrin
1961: Bruce Watson (Big Country)
1964: Vinnie Paul (Pantera)
1968: Lisa Loeb
1979: Joel and Benji Madden (Good Charlotte)
1981: LeToya Nicole Luckett (Destiny’s Child)
The students at the School of St. Philip in Litchfield have had a busy winter, and the flurry of activities is continuing this spring. The school had a visit from the Hempker Zoo on February 27th.
5th grader Maci says they also had guest readers in February including Mayor Ron Dingmann, the Litchfield Watercade royalty, School Resource Officer Nelson, Children’s Librarian Jennifer Barnes and Minnesota Senator Andrew Lang. She says they have their spring showcase open house on March 20th from 6-to-7 p.m. and everyone’s welcome.
Maci says the students are learning about some saints during the Lenten season who extended help to people who were suffering. She says they will have a special mass to honor our area farmers on April 4th at 8:30 a.m.
5th grader Zacharias says there are fish fries coming up in the local churches including St. Philip’s in Litchfield on March 21st, St. John’s in Darwin on April 4th and St. Anthony’s in Watkins on April 11th. He says Kindergarten round up at St. Philip’s School will be held on April 3rd.
Zacharias says the 2nd annual rummage sale will be held at the Church of St. Philip in Litchfield on April 4th and 5th – starting at 8 a.m. each day. Principal Andrea Dietrich says items for the rummage sale may be dropped off at the church the week before the sale.
Mrs. Dietrich says the students are also selling garbage bags. She says you may place your order through March 21st at either the school or church office or from your favorite St. Philip’s student.
The Litchfield School Board has approved of a resolution to discontinue and reduce certain educational programs and positions. Resolutions were also approved last night relating to the nonrenewal of the teacher contract of a probationary teacher; and proposing an unrequested leave-of-absence.
Last month, Business Manager Jesse Johnson suggested that a specific number of cuts be made to the next budget amounting to $514,399. No specific programs or positions were mentioned publicly during last night’s meeting; however, the staff and programs affected have now been notified and the list includes:
Program reductions: Total: $80,012
LEAPS Summer Program at Lake Ripley
Summer School at LMS
Summer School/Night School at LHS
Band Overloads at LMS
Overtime – reduction of total numbers approved for the year
Staff Development – reduction of outside speakers and more efficiency in approvals
Summer Hours for Staff reduced by 20%
Personnel reductions: Total: $256,287
2 Lunchroom Supervisors at Lake Ripley
1 Paraprofessional at Lake Ripley
1 Classroom Teacher at Lake Ripley
1 Student Success Coordinator at LMS
.6 Reduction in Foreign Language at both LMS and LHS
1 Student Success Assistant at the LHS
2 Assistant FCCLA Advisors
1 Assistant VB Coach
3 Summer Custodians (Student Workers)
Additional Anticipated Cost savings for the 2025-26 SY: Total: $178,100
FACS Retirement and replacement
Summer hours for Construction House
Marching Band Transportation
Reducing Curriculum Purchases
Also last night, the Litchfield School Board approved of authorizing the administration to seek bids for a sun room project at Lake Ripley Elementary School. The sun room would help students with unique needs.