1944: Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra was performed for the first time. The work has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and ranks as one of the top 25 concertos and top 100 classical works of all time according to the DMDB.
2007: Alicia Keys topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “No One.” She’d previously reached the pinnacle with 2001’s “Fallin’” and 2004’s “My Boo” with Usher. “No One” also spent 10 weeks atop the R&B chart and won the Grammy for R&B Song of the Year. The song is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Digital Era (2000-2019).
2012: Rihanna topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “Diamonds,” her 12th trip to the throne. She has ascended to the top two more times since, making her third on the all-time list for most #1 songs behind The Beatles (20) and Mariah Carey (19). “Diamonds” was Billboard’s R&B song of the year
1911: The Peerless Quartet hit #1 for the first time with “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” The group and its individual members topped the charts more than 50 times. “Sweetheart” has been inducted into the National Recording Registry and given the Songwriters Hall of Fame Towering Song Award. It ranks in the DMDB top 100 lists of standards and Tin Pan Alley songs and is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era, 1890-1953.
1983: Michael Jackson’s video for “Thriller” premiered. The song gave MJ his seventh top-10 hit from the album of the same name. The 14-minute zombie-themed video became a phenomenon. It tops the DMDB’s list of the top 100 videos of all time.
1995: Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “One Sweet Day.” The song logged 16 weeks on top, making it the longest-running chart-topper of the rock era up to that point. The song is featured on DMDB top 100 lists for adult contemporary songs, adult top 40, and R&B.
1949: Gene Autry charted with “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” It has become a seasonal favorite classic, ranking only behind Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” on the DMDB’s list of Christmas songs. The Grammy Hall of Fame song grew out of a Montgomery Wards marketing campaign in which children received a book when they visited Santa. The song is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era, 1890-1953.
1960: Camelot opened on Broadway. The DMDB ranks it as one of the top 50 musicals of all time. The cast album was Billboard magazine’s album of the year and is in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
1968: NBC aired Elvis Presley’s comeback special. The show consisted of a mix of choreographed numbers mixed with intimate live performances. 42% of viewing audiences tuned in that night. Read more here.
1969: Jay-Z was born. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee was the world’s first billionaire rapper, making money not just on his music but as an entrepreneur. He has more #1 Billboard albums (14) than any other solo artist and has sold 140 million records. Here’s the DMDB list of his top 50 songs.
1791: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died, leaving behind his Requiem Mass in D minor which has since been surrounded with myth. His widow claimed he was commissioned by a mysterious source to write what Mozart came to believe was the requiem for his own funeral. It ranks as one of the the top 100 classical works of all time.
1932: Little Richard was born. An argument could be made that he belongs on the Mount Rushmore of rock-and-roll’s originators. The man known for classics such as “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally” has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, the R&B Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He’s also received the American Music Award of Merit and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
2015: Justin Bieber debuted at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Love Yourself.” His previous hits, “What Do You Mean?” and “Sorry” were still in the top 5 making him only the third artist in history (after The Beatles and 50 Cent) to have three hits in the top 5 simultaneously. All three songs reached #1. “Love Yourself” and “Sorry” are featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Digital Era (2000-2019).
1896: Songwriter Ira Gershwin was born. The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee frequently collaborated with his brother George Gershwin. Some of his best-known songs include “I Got Rhythm” and “Someone to Watch Over Me,” both of which are featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era, 1890-1953. Here are his top 50 songs.
1949: Tom Waits was born. The gravelly-voiced singer/songwriter has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has two albums in the top 1000 of all time – Swordfishtrombones (1983) and Rain Dogs (1985). His songs have been covered by Tori Amos, Johnny Cash, the Eagles, Sarah McLachlan, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, and many others.
1969: The Rolling Stonesorganized and headlined the Altamont Festival, a free concert in San Francisco attended by roughly 300,000 people. Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and the Flying Burrito Brothers were also on the bill. A local Hell’s Angels motorcycle club was hired for security and became increasingly intoxicated and violent as the show wore on, getting into numerous fights with the crowd. While the Stones performed, a concert-goer was stabbed to death by a Hell’s Angel trying to prevent him from getting on stage. Read more here.
1993: Nirvana released “All Apologies,” the second single from their In Utero album. The song ranks in the DMDB’s top 100 lists of grunge songs and alternative rock songs. The song is also on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “Songs That Shaped Rock”.
1991: U2 topped the album chart in the U.S. with Achtung Baby. Six songs from the album hit various charts, including "The Fly" (#1 in the UK) and "Mysterious Ways" and "One" (both top 10 hits in the United States). The album was considered a reinvention for the band and with more than 20 million in sales worldwide ranks as one of the top 100 best-selling albums of all time. It is also featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Albums of All Time’ (available on Amazon).
1996: Toni Braxton topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "Un-Break My Heart" for the first of 11 weeks. The song also topped the R&B chart for 14 weeks and has sold more than 10 million copies to become one of the top 100 best-selling songs of all time. It also ranks as the most successful song of songwriter Diane Warren’s career (which has included other #1 songs by Aerosmith, Chicago, Celine Dion, Starship, and more).
1943: Jim Morrison was born. He was the lead singer of the Doors who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Sadly, Morrison died in 1971 at the age of 27, but his band’s six studio albums in five years left a huge impact on rock and roll. Here are the top 20 songs by the Doors, according to the DMDB:
1979: Styx topped the charts with "Babe." The band was one of the most successful of the ‘70s but this was their only #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. On a personal note, I did my own personal weekly charts in my teen years and this was the first #1 on my chart. The DMDB ranks the song in its top 100 lists for love songs and power ballads.
1980: John Lennon was murdered. He was returning home to his New York City apartment after recording in the studio and was approached by Mark David Chapman, who shot him four times. Chapman was a Beatles’ fan who approached Lennon earlier that day for an autograph on Lennon’s latest album, Double Fantasy.
1964: John Coltrane recorded his album, A Love Supreme. It has become one of the most celebrated jazz works of all time, ranking at #3 on the DMDB list of jazz albums. It has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry and is featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Albums of All Time,’ available at Amazon.
1978: Chic topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "Le Freak." It spent six non-consecutive weeks on top, becoming a disco classic (it ranks #4 on the DMDB’s list of disco songs). It was named song of the year by Cash Box magazine and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry. It is also in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999,’ available on Amazon.
2023: Brenda Lee makes history with "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree." She tops the Billboard Hot 100, making her the oldest artist to ever do so - with a song that was released 65 years earlier (another record). It had become an annual classic, returning to the charts multiple times, peaking at #2 behind Mariah Carey’s "All I Want for Christmas Is You" for the previous four years.
1966: The Beach Boys hit #1 with "Good Vibrations." While the rest of the band toured, Brian Wilson stayed home and poured all his creativity into the song, making it the most expensive single ever made at the time. It paid off, though. The Grammy Hall of Fame inductee was named song of the year by NME, Rolling Stone, and Q magazines and has made multiple best of lists, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of songs that changed rock. The song also appears in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999’ (available at Amazon).
1973: CBGB’s opened. The Manhattan club became famous as the launching pad for American punk and new wave, launching the careers of the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Patti Smith, Television, and others.
1983: "Say, Say, Say," a collaboration between Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, hit #1. It was Jackson’s seventh top-ten hit for the year, making for the best run since 1964 when Paul McCartney had eleven top-ten hits with The Beatles. The pair previously reached #2 a year earlier with "The Girl Is Mine," the lead single from Jackson’s mega-blockbuster album ‘Thriller.’ The next year Jackson bought the rights to The Beatles’ songs out from under McCartney and the two never worked together again.
1961: Motown achieved its first #1 with the Marvelettes’ "Please Mr. Postman." The song naturally makes the DMDB’s list of top Motown songs, but is also on the lists for best R&B songs and best girl-group songs. The Grammy Hall of Fame inductee also ranks as one of Cash Box magazine’s top 100 songs of all time.
1964: Justin Currie was born. While not a name most would know, the singer/songwriter fronted Del Amitri, who had a top-10 hit in the ‘90s with "Roll to Me" and a top-40 hit with "Kiss This Thing Goodbye," one of my top 100 favorites of all time. Here’s a list of Currie’s top 40 songs as a solo act and with Del Amitri.
1970: John Lennon released his first official solo album, Plastic Ono Band. Songs like "Mother" and "God" make for what music author Paul Roland called a "soul-baring musical therapy session." It was named album of the year by both Mojo and NME magazines and is featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Albums of All Time’ (available at Amazon).
1915: Frank Sinatra was born. He ranks as one of the top 5 acts of all time according to the DMDB. He has received the American Music Award of Merit, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and is a Kennedy Center honoree. He’s had 40 songs top various charts. Here are his top 100 songs:
1981: The Human League topped the UK chart with "Don’t You Want Me?" It became quintessential new wave song (it ranks at #2 on the DMDB list of new wave songs). It is featured in the DMDB books ‘Music of the 1980s’ and ‘The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999,’ both available at Amazon.
2012: The benefit concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief was held in New York at Madison Square Garden. The disaster destroyed more than 300,000 homes and left over a million people in New York and New Jersey without power. The nearly-six-hour concert raised $30 million in ticket sales, featuring performances from the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, the Who, Eric Clapton, Roger Waters, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, and more.
1895: Composer Gustav Mahler premiered his second symphony, known as "Resurrection." The work contemplated the big questions of life, inspired by various sources throughout its composition from 1888 to 1894, including a collection of German folk poetry and the death of fellow conductor Hans von Bülow. Two different performances of the work have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It ranks as one of the the top 100 classical works of all time and one of the top 25 symphonies.
1989: Taylor Swift was born. Recently named Time’s Person of the Year, this newly-annointed billionaire has charted 232 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 (2nd only to Drake), reaching the pinnacle 11 times. She also has 12 #1 albums, more than any other female artist. Here’s a list of her top 100 songs as ranked by the DMDB:
2008: Beyonce topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." The song won Grammys for Song of the Year and R&B Song of the Year. ASCAP and Soul Train also named it Song of the Year. MTV named it Video of the Year. It also ranks as one of the top 100 videos of all time.
1968: Marvin Gaye hit #1 with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." Marvin didn’t want to record it, Motown didn’t want to release it, and Berry Gordy, the company head honcho, thought it was horrible. Naturally it became Gaye’s first pop #1 and biggest hit, as well as Motown’s longest running #1 to date. It was recorded by the Temptations, the Isley Brothers, and Gladys Knight & the Pips before Gaye did it. It ranks in the DMDB lists of top R&B songs, covers, and Motown songs. It is also featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999’ (available at Amazon).
1979: The Clash released ‘London Calling.’ VH1 called the punk-rock group a "thinking man’s Sex Pistols." The album ranks as one of the top 10 punk albums of all time and is featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Albums of All Time’ (available on Amazon).
2006: Amy Winehouse topped the UK album chart with ‘Back to Black.’ Ted Cord of Amazon called it, "One of the finest soul albums, British or otherwise, to come out for years." It was the best-selling album of the year and won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. It will be featured in the upcoming DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Albums of the 21st Century.’
1921: Alan Freed was born. The DJ is credited with coining the term "rock and roll." He began his career at a series of Ohio radio stations, making his name in Cleveland for hosting a late-night rock-and-roll themed show. In 1952, he presented the Moondog Coronation Ball which is considered the first rock concert. Freed has been inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame, Radio Hall of Fame, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1944: Glenn Miller (who had enlisted in the Army Air Force two years earlier) went down in his plane in the English channel. He left behind an amazing legacy as a bandleader and trombonist. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient topped the charts 23 times and ranks as one of the top 100 music makers of all time. Here is a list of his top 100 songs:
1980: The Eagles released "Seven Bridges Road." The song, written by musician Steve Young in 1969, was featured on the group’s 1980 live album. They broke up that year and reunited 14 years later. The song is a personal favorite, ranking in my top 100 songs of all time.
1950: Patti Page topped the charts for the first of 13 weeks with "Tennessee Waltz." The remake of Pee Wee King’s 1948 country hit made history by topping the pop, R&B, and country charts. The Grammy Hall of Fame song is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era, 1890-1953.
1977: ‘Saturday Night Fever’ had its U.S. premiere. The movie made a star out of John Travolta and is credited with kicking the disco craze into overdrive. It ranks as one of the top 50 music movies of all time and its soundtrack ranks #2 all time and is also one of the best-selling albums ever.
2000: Eminem & Dido hit #1 in the UK with "Stan." The song about a deranged fan only reached #51 in the U.S. but ranks as one of the top 100 rap songs of all time and is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Digital Era (2000-2019).
1770: Ludwig van Beethoven was born. He ranks as the #1 classical composer of all time and one of the top 10 pianists of all time as well as one of the top 100 music makers across all genres. He has 14 works ranked amongst the DMDB’s list of top 1000 albums/works of all time.
1971: David Bowie released ‘Hunky Dory.’ The album, which featured "Changes" and "Life on Mars?" was what Rolling Stone magazine called "a visionary blend of gay camp, flashy rock guitar and saloon-piano balladry." It is featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Albums of All Time’ (available on Amazon).
1983: Cyndi Lauper hit the charts with "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," eventually peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was first written and recorded in 1979 by Robert Hazard. His version came across as misogynistic but Lauper turned it into what was simultaneously a women’s empowerment anthem and party classic. It ranks in the DMDB’s lists of top covers, party songs, and videos.
1909: "Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet" reached #1. It was the 11th chart-topper for the Haydn Quartet and, with an 11-week run, became their biggest hit. The barbershop favorite was the biggest hit of the year, ranks as one of the top 100 vaudeville songs of all time, and is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era, 1890-1953.
1943: Keith Richards was born. The legendary Rolling Stones’ guitarist has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. He ranks as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time and one of the top 100 music makers of all time. Check out a ranking of the Rolling Stones’ studio albums here:
1954: The Penguins charted with "Earth Angel," eventually reaching #8. As was common then, it was also recorded by a big-label white group which tended to have more commercial appeal. Indeed, the version by the Crew-Cuts did get higher (#3), but the version by the black doo-wop group the Penguins ended up outselling its competitor and has the greater legacy. The Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry inductee ranks as the #1 doo-wop song of all time and is on the top 100 lists for R&B songs and rock-n-origin songs.
1925: Robert Sherman was born. Along with his brother Richard, the songwriter penned some of Disney’s greatest classics working on ‘Mary Poppins,’ ‘Winnie-the-Pooh,’ ‘Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang,’ and ‘The Jungle Book.’ Their composition "It’s a Small World After All" is considered to be the most publicly performed song of all time (50 million), thanks to a continuous loop of the song at Disney theme parks (an estimated 1200 times a day).
1957: ‘The Music Man’ opened on Broadway. With music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, the Tony Award winner for Best Musical ranks as one of the top 10 musicals of all time. The cast album was #1 in the U.S. for 12 weeks and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The soundtrack ranks as one of the top 100 of all time.
1965: The Beatles topped the UK album chart with Rubber Soul. The UK version of the album featured "Nowhere Man," "Drive My Car," "Norwegian Wood," and "Michelle," a Grammy winner for Song of the Year. The album is in the Grammy Hall of Fame and featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Albums of All Time’ (available on Amazon).
1948: Alan Parsons was born. He worked as an engineer on classic albums ‘Abbey Road’ by The Beatles and ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ by Pink Floyd before forming the Alan Parsons Project and landing hits which included "Eye in the Sky," "Games People Play," and "Damned if I Do." He has been nominated for 13 Grammys and ranks as one of my personal top 100 favorite acts.
1975: Styx released their fifth album, ‘Equinox’. Their major label debut featured "Light Up," "Lorelei," and "Suite Madame Blue." The latter ranks as one of my top 100 songs of all time while the album is one of my top 100 favorites. The album only reached #58 and stalled at gold status, but bigger things were to come. They would become the first act in history to have four consecutive triple-platinum albums.
1986: The Beastie Boys charted with "You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party.” The song was meant as a parody of party songs but ended up embraced by the very people they were mocking. It became a top-ten hit, propelled its parent album to #1 (the first rap album to accomplish the feat), and ranks as one of the top 100 rap songs of all time. It is featured in the DMDB book ‘Music of the 1980s,’ available at Amazon.
1940: Frank Zappa was born. The experimental singer/songwriter and guitarist is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He also ranks in the DMDB’s lists of top 100 songwriters and top 100 guitarists. His albums ‘Freak Out’ (1966), ‘We’re Only in It for the Money’ (1968) - both with the Mothers of Invention - and ‘Hot Rats’ (1969) rank in the top 1000 albums of all time.
2012: Psy’s "Gangnam Style" passed one billion views on YouTube, the first video to do so. The song peaked at #2 in the U.S. but reached #1 in 30 countries around the world. It ranks in the DMDB’s list of top videos all time (naturally), top party songs, and top earworms. It is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Digital Era (2000-2019).
2019: Mariah Carey topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "All I Want for Christmas Is You" – 25 years after its initial release. Thanks to changes on how Billboard tracked songs, Christmas favorites have become annual features in the upper rungs of the chart during the holiday season. It has gone on to reach #1 in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, racking up a total of 12 weeks on top.
1808: Ludwig van Beethoven premiered his 5th and 6th symphonies, among other works, at a four-hour concert in Vienna. It has been called "the greatest concert of all time."
1949: Twins Robin and Maurice Gibb were born. As members of the Bee Gees along with big brother Barry, they racked up nine #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and were a big part in the success of the ‘Saturday Night Fever’ soundtrack and its impact on escalating disco to new heights. The group have been inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and rank as one of the top 100 acts of all time. Here is the DMDB ranking of the Gibb brothers’ top 100 songs:
2001: The much maligned Nickelback hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "How You Remind Me." Billboard named it the Song of the Year and it won the Juno (Canadian Grammys) Award for Song of the Year. The DMDB ranks it in the top 100 of its list of Canadian songs, post-grunge songs, and power ballads. It is also featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Digital Era (2000-2019).
1957: Bobby Helms’ recording of "Jingle Bell Rock" reached the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. The song has since recharted multiple years, finally reaching the top 10 in 2018, setting a record for sixty years between the song’s first appearance and it finally reaching the top 10. For the last five years, the song has recharted, peaking at #3.
1964: Eddie Vedder was born on this day in 1964. He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pearl Jam and ranks as one of the top 100 singers of all time. Pearl Jam ranks as one of the top 100 acts of all time. Their songs "Jeremy" and "Alive" rank in the top 1% of all time and their albums ‘Ten,’ ‘Vs.,’ and ‘Vitalogy’ rank in the top 1000 of all time. Here’s a list of the top 50 songs by Pearl Jam and other related acts.
1989: Phil Collins topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "Another Day in Paradise." It won a Grammy for Record of the Year and ranks as one of Billboard’s top 100 songs of the Hot 100 era. The song is featured in the DMDB book ‘Music of the 1980s’ (available at Amazon).
1818: "Silent Night" was performed for the first time by the song’s original songwriter Joseph Mohr and composer Franz Gruber. It has since been translated into 44 languages. Bing Crosby’s 1935 recording of the song has become one of the most successful of all time, selling 30 million copies to rank as one of the top 10 bestsellers ever.
1918: Dave Bartholomew was born. The songwriter has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is best remembered for his work with Fats Domino, writing memorable songs like "Ain’t That a Shame," "I’m Walkin’," "I’m in Love Again," "Walking to New Orleans," and "Blue Monday." Here are his top 50 songs:
1932: Fred Astaire hit #1 with the Cole Porter-penned song "Night and Day." The song spent 10 weeks on top and has been inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame. It ranks in the DMDB top 100 lists of big band songs, standards, and Tin Pan Alley songs. It is also included in the DMB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era, 1890-1953.
2005: Eminem topped the charts with Curtain Call, a compilation covering his material from 1998 to 2005, including hits "Lose Yourself," "Stan," and "Without Me." It has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide and ranks as one of the top 10 longest-charting albums in the United States with more than 600 weeks and counting. The DMDB ranks it as one of the top 100 rap albums of all time and top 100 compilations of all time.
Merry Christmas! Check out the DMDB podcast counting down the top 25 Christmas songs of all time:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4xjnqzRnpe7rjWaqVyOq6N
1847: The song "O Holy Night" premiered at a Christmas eve mass. Opera singer Emily Laurey introduced the song, which started as the poem "Minuit, Chrétiens" written four years earlier by Placide Cappeau. The song now ranks as one of the top 20 Christmas songs of all time and is in the top 1% of all songs.
1954: Annie Lennox was born. She and Dave Stewart formed the Eurythmics in the 1980s after working together in the Tourists. The pair have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Eurythmics’ song "Sweet Dreams Are Made of This" is a Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry inductee. Check out the DMDB podcast on the best of the Eurythmics: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2El3gSNn2ySqijkVGiN4wk
1993: Beck charted with "Loser." While he has had a successful and impactful career, this is surprisingly his only entry on the Billboard Hot 100. I consider it the quintessential ‘90s song. It ranks as one of the top 100 alternative rock songs of all time and as the song of the year by Acclaimed Music, Digital Dream Door, Mojo, and Rolling Stone.
1831: Vincenzo Bellini’s ‘Norma’ had its premiere. The two-act tragedy is generally considered his best opera. He reportedly said, "If I were shipwrecked at sea, I would leave all the rest of my operas and try to save ‘Norma.’" It ranks as one of the top 50 operas of all time as well as one of the top 100 classical works of all time.
1939: Phil Spector was born. The famed producer was known for the "Wall of Sound," which was his approach to dense production on such well known songs as Ike & Tina Turner’s "River Deep Mountain High," the Ronettes’ "Be My Baby," The Beatles’ "Let It Be," and John Lennon’s "Imagine." See his top 50 songs here:
1970: George Harrison reached #1 with "My Sweet Lord," making him the first of The Beatles to top the charts as a solo artist. He was sued for the song’s similarities to the Chiffons’ "He’s So Fine," but in 1976 he was ruled innocent of stealing but guilty of unconscious plagiarism. The song won an Ivor Novello award and is featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999’ (available on Amazon).
1927: ‘Show Boat’ opened on Broadway. The musical, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, ranks as one of the top 50 musicals of all time. The cast album has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry while the soundtrack ranks as one of the top 50 soundtracks of all time. The show includes "Ol’ Man River," which is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era, 1890-1953.
1969: Led Zeppelin topped the Billboard album chart with their second album, Led Zeppelin II. It ranks as one of the top classic rock albums and top heavy metal albums of all time. The album is also featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Albums of All Time’ (available at Amazon). "Whole Lotta Love" is the album’s highlight. It ranks as one of the top 100 classic rock songs and one of the top 1% of all songs.
2003: Michael Andrews and Gary Jules topped the UK chart with "Mad World." The original version, recorded by Tears for Fears in 1982, got to #3. The cover version was recorded for the film ‘Donnie Darko.’ It won an Ivor Novello award and ranks as one of my top 100 personal favorite songs of all time.
1968: The Beatles topped the Billboard album chart for the first of nine weeks with their self-titled album commonly referred to as ‘The White Album.’ The double album featured "Back in the U.S.S.R.," "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "Helter Skelter," "Birthday," and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." The Grammy Hall of Fame inductee is one of the best-selling albums of all time and was named Album of the Year by Acclaimed Music, Mojo, NME, Q magazine, and Rolling Stone. It is featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Albums of All Time’ (available on Amazon).
1978: John Legend was born as John Stephens in Springfield, Ohio. The singer/songwriter is best known for his #1 hit "All of Me," an entry in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Digital Era (2000-2019) but also won an Oscar for Best Song ("Glory" with Common). He also won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2005 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award in 2007.
1998: BBC Radio 1 broadcast its ranking of the best songs ever as voted by listeners. It was the first of a dozen lists from the BBC that were gathered and aggregated by Dave’s Music Database to create the ultimate top 200 list. The top 10 includes classics from The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, and U2. See the full list here:
1868: Singer and banjo player Frank Stanley was born William Stanley Grinstead in Orange, New Jersey. He was a member of the Peerless Quartet and sang the first charted version of "Auld Lang Syne" (#2, 1907). He ranks as one of the top 1000 music makers of all time.
1928: Clarence "Pine Top" Smith recorded "Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie." This Blues Hall of Fame and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee is credited with initiating the boogie woogie craze. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also recognizes it as one of the songs that changed rock.
2001: Alan Jackson topped the country charts with "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning," his poignant look at the feelings Americans experienced in the wake of 9/11. He managed to capture the sense of loss without being political. The song won multiple awards including Song and Record of the Year from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. It also won the Grammy for Best Country Song. Oh, and it’s one of my top 100 favorites of all time.
1928: Bo Diddley was born as Ellas Otha Bates in McComb, Mississippi. The singer and guitarist has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, the R&B Hall of Fame, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The DMDB ranks him as one of the top 1000 music makers of all time.
1944: Judy Garland charted with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The song was featured in the movie ‘Meet Me in St. Louis.’ Although it only reached #27 on the charts, it has become a classic ranking in the DMDB’s top 100 lists of Christmas songs and movie songs.
1948: ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ opened on Broadway. The Cole Porter-penned musical ranks as one of the top 50 musicals and won the Tony for Best Musical. The cast album has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry. The 1954 soundtrack ranks as one of the top 100 of all time.
1948: Donna Summer was born. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the R&B Hall of Fame. She became known as the Queen of Disco for her dance-oriented hits in the ‘70s and ‘80s that included "Love to Love You Baby," "Last Dance," "MacArthur Park," "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls," "On the Radio," "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)," and "She Works Hard for the Money." Here are her top 20 hits as rated by the DMDB:
1966: The Monkees topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "I’m a Believer." The Neil Diamond-penned tune spent seven weeks on top and was named Song of the Year by Cash Box. The song is on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “Songs That Shaped Rock” and is featured in the DMDB book ‘The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999’ (available on Amazon).
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First posted 1/24/2024.
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