On this day in music, May 15, 1994, Blur earned their first No.1 album in the UK with Parklife, a defining title in the Britpop canon. Featuring such hits as “Girls & Boys,” “End of a Century,” and the title track, the band’s third studio album marked their commercial breakthrough, remaining on the UK charts for 90 weeks. Elsewhere, Parklife helped the band find new audiences across Europe (where it landed in the Top Ten) as well as in the US. Today, it remains Blur’s best-selling studio album in the UK, while in 2010, Britain’s Royal Mail included Parklife in its set of ten “Classic Album Cover” stamps.
In 1965, Bob Dylan scored his first Top 40 hit in the US with “Subterranean Homesick Blues.” The song, which served as the lead single off his fifth studio album, Bringing It All Back Home, peaked at No.39 on the Billboard Hot 100 and landed in the UK Top 10. John Lennon reportedly found the tune so captivating that he wasn’t sure how he could write a song that could compete with it.
In 1976, The Rolling Stones topped the Billboard 200 with Black And Blue, their first studio album with guitarist Ronnie Wood. Although Wood had previously contributed to the Stones’ 1974 hit, “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It),” he was only a touring member of the band until 1976. The Stones’ second self-produced LP, Black And Blue blended the band’s traditional rock and blues stylings with reggae and funk influences.
In 2008, Neil Diamond topped the Billboard 200 for the first time in his career with his 27th studio album, Home Before Dark. The accomplishment made the 67-year-old singer-songwriter the oldest recording artist in chart history to hit No.1, a record previously held by Bob Dylan.
In 2003, singer, songwriter, and actress June Carter Cash died in Nashville at age 73. The five-time Grammy winner was a member of the legendary Carter family and the second wife of Johnny Cash, with whom she would frequently collaborate. Among her most notable works was “Ring of Fire,” which would become a country standard and a 1963 hit for her husband.
In 1968, George Harrison and Ringo Starr attended the world premiere of Wonderwall at the Cannes Film Festival. The directorial debut of Joe Massot featured a soundtrack composed by Harrison, while the film later inspired the title of Oasis’ 1995 hit single.
BORN ON MAY 15
1918: Eddy Arnold
1932: Baba Oje (Arrested Development)
1948: Brian Eno (Roxy Music)
1953: Mike Oldfield
1959: Andrew Eldritch (Sisters of Mercy)
1970: Prince Be (PM Dawn)
The South Central Minnesota Chapter of ABATE has a motorcycle rally this weekend at the Litchfield Civic Arena. It will be on Saturday from 10-to-6 and Sunday from 10-to-3.
John Dietel says there’s a $10 admission fee and they use those proceeds for their Buddy Bear program – in which first responders give teddy bears to children they are helping – and for other things such as motorcycle safety course scholarships and for lobbying efforts at the Legislature. He says the rally this weekend will include food trucks and all kinds of vendors.
Dietel says ABATE will also have a local fun run on June 20th which will end up at the Bill & Kristi LaPlante farm. He says May is Motorcycle Awareness Month which is a good reminder for motorists to be mindful of motorcycles on the roadways.
Dietel says there will be a trophy award ceremony on Sunday at the Litchfield Civic Arena as the rally starts coming to a close. He says it will be nice to be inside the Civic Arena in case of rain.
The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Peace Officer Memorial service this morning at 9 a.m. in front of the Meeker County Law Enforcement Center at 326 North Ramsey Avenue in Litchfield. The short prayer service will be officiated by Meeker County Sheriff’s Office Chaplin Jeff Garland.
Sheriff Brian Cruze says the service is a way to reflect on officers who gave their lives in the line of duty – including Meeker County Deputy Edward Eades who died after a gun fight with a suspect in Eden Valley in 1962. He says it’s also a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by officers each day as they are serving the community.
Sheriff Cruze says two Meeker County Jail volunteers – Andrea Tjaden and David Hofstad – received the David Grant Program of the Year award on April 29th at the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association Jail Programs and Services conference in Waite Park. He says they were recognized for their program, “Let’s Dig In,” which focuses on cognitive behavioral growth for inmates.
Sheriff Cruze says Andrea and David are longtime jail volunteers and launched the initiative two years ago. He says their dedication and compassion has brought a lasting, positive impact on many.
Sheriff Cruze says his office has had special weeks this spring to honor their dispatchers, administrative staff, corrections officers, and deputies, and next week is a time to honor Emergency Medical Services personnel. He says the Meeker County Sheriff’s office has the RAVE notification program and residents can sign up for it to receive emergency messages such as in the event of severe weather.
