On this day in music, May 19, 1984, Legend, a compilation of hits from Bob Marley and the Wailers, began a 12-week run at the top of the British album chart. Released to mark the third anniversary of Marley’s death, the collection featured the reggae pioneer’s ten Top 40 UK singles, plus additional favorites, including “Get Up, Stand Up,” “One Love/People Get Ready,” and “I Shot the Sheriff.” The LP quickly became one of the highest-selling albums ever in the UK, while it remains the world’s best-selling reggae record.
In 1978, British rockers Dire Straits released their debut single, “Sultans of Swing.” Initially recorded as a demo in the summer of 1977, the song gained traction on London radio stations and soon led to a record deal. Re-recorded for the band’s self-titled album, “Sultans of Swing” became one of Dire Straits’ signature hits, landing in the Top 5 in the US, South Africa, and Canada and the Top Ten in the UK and Australia.
In 1990, Madonna scored her eighth No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Vogue.” Inspired by New York’s underground “vogueing” dance scene, the song became an instant favorite with fans around the globe, as it topped the charts in more than 30 countries.
In 1973, Stevie Wonder topped the Billboard Hot 100 for the third time with “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.” The now-classic ballad, which appeared on Wonder’s 15th album, Talking Book, earned the soul star a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
In 1979, Supertramp’s Breakfast In America began a six-week run at the top of the Billboard 200. The British band’s sixth album, which marked their sole chart-topper in the US, spawned several jaunty and enduring hits, including the Ivor Novello-winning “The Logical Song,” “Take the Long Road Home,” and “Goodbye Stranger.”
BORN ON MAY 19
1932: Alma Cogan
1945: Pete Townshend (The Who)
1948: Grace Jones
1949: Dusty Hill (ZZ Top)
1952: Joey Ramone (The Ramones)
1968: Paul Hartnoll (Orbital)
1972: Jenny Berggren (Ace of Base)
1992: Sam Smith
EMS Week is being observed this week. Members of the Litchfield Rescue Squad are visiting school children this week, showing them what they do, and perhaps encouraging them to someday become first responders.
Captain Mike Massingham has been on the Litchfield Rescue Squad for 30 years and his daughter, Elizabeth, is now a 3rd generation of the Massingham family to be a Rescue Squad member, having joined the Squad just two weeks ago. Mike says they are now fully staffed with 30 members, but people are welcome to fill out applications at Litchfield City Hall.
Massingham says there are special themes for each day of this week and one of them is “Save a Life” and “Stop the Bleed” day on Thursday. He says they are trying to get the word out to by-standers about the important role they can play in saving someone’s life by stopping uncontrolled bleeding until EMS personnel arrive on the scene.
Massingham says the Litchfield Rescue Squad responds to lift assists, car accidents and everything in between. Assistant Chief Jess Jensrud, who’s been on the Squad for 27 years, says there are usually a minimum of 4 members who respond to medical calls and at least 6 who will go out to car accidents, and everyone responds for things like storm watching. She says they try to promote 1st aid, CPR and AED classes to get the public educated about life-saving efforts.
Jensrud says your efforts could help prevent someone from dying until first responders arrive and when you call 911, the dispatchers can tell you what to do. She says the Rescue Squad does some type of open house every other year – so that will happen next year, as this year, they are visiting with children at schools and daycare centers.
The Litchfield City Council covered several items of business last night and it was the last item that generated the most discussion. The Council chambers were packed with visitors apparently waiting to see the outcome on a decision regarding the Minnesota flag.
Councilman Bob Powers brought up the issue of keeping the traditional Minnesota flag rather than adopting the new flag. Several Council members said that they would like more public input on the issue before making any decision and when it came up for a vote to keep the old Minnesota flag, it failed on a 4-to-2 vote with Powers and Darlene Kotelnicki voting in favor.
Powers also brought up the issue of amending the parking ordinance – having more specific information regarding winter parking dates and times. No action was taken on the matter as the Council members will gather input from the public over the next couple of weeks.
The Council authorized plans for improvements to the “Campground Road” from Highway 22 to the end of the campground on the southeast side of Lake Ripley and the solicitation of bids for the project. The project is estimated to cost $275,000 and construction will likely occur in August and September.
The Council approved of a quote of $28,934.96 from Matrix NDI of Plymouth for network switch replacements at several city facilities. A request was approved from Hoeg Holdings for two parcels – 201 and 205 North Sibley Avenue to be considered one property for the state façade grant improvement program.
The Litchfield City Council approved of a future land use map amendment and approved the first reading of an ordinance to rezone property to R1 at 905 West 5th Street – the 4Bz Event Center – to make it a single family dwelling. The Council also approved of hiring Jack Jones as a public works equipment operator, contingent on a legal opinion from the City Attorney regarding the hiring procedure.
On this day in music, May 18, 2017, 52-year-old singer, songwriter, and grunge icon Chris Cornell took his own life while on tour. Known best as the frontman for Soundgarden, the Seattle-born artist was a force in the local rock scene, beginning in the mid-80s. In 1994, Soundgarden rose to international fame with their fourth album, Superunknown, which featured their signature hit, “Black Hole Sun.” Beyond Soundgarden, the three-time Grammy winner enjoyed a successful solo career, while he was also the frontman and founder of Temple of the Dog (with members of Pearl Jam) and served as the lead vocalist in the supergroup Audioslave.
In 1980, 23-year-old Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis took his own life, just one day before the Manchester band was set to embark on their first North American tour. While the group only released two albums, 1979’s Unknown Pleasures and Closer, which arrived two months after Curtis’ death, Joy Division’s brand of danceable, gothic-tinged post-punk would influence several generations of musicians.
In 1993, Janet Jackson set new first-week sales records with her fifth studio album, janet. Her first LP to debut at the top of the Billboard 200, janet. sold 350,000 copies in its first week – more than any other title by a solo female artist at that time. The album, which produced a historic six Top 10 hits (including “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “Again,” and “If”) also topped the charts in Canada, Australia, and the UK, cementing Jackson’s status as a global superstar.
In 1985, Simple Minds had the No.1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” The song – now a new wave classic – was featured prominently in John Hughes’ blockbuster teen drama, The Breakfast Club.
In 1975, country star Tammy Wynette topped the UK pop chart with “Stand by Your Man.” The enduring hit was originally recorded and released in the US in 1968, where it spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country chart and peaked in Hot 100’s Top 20. The song, which has since become a country standard, would go on to earn Wynette a Grammy Award.
In 2008 Manchester pop duo The Ting Tings scored their first UK No.1 single with “That’s Not My Name.” The breakout hit, which appeared on their debut album, was a global sensation, selling more than one million digital copies, landing in the Top 10 across Europe and Australia, and peaking in the US Top 40.
BORN ON MAY 18
1911: Big Joe Turner
1912: Perry Como
1942: Albert Hammond
1950: Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo)
1952: George Strait
1953: Butch Tavares (Tavares)
1954: Wreckless Eric
1957: Enigma
1969: Martika
1975: Jack Johnson
