On This Day, October 1 in Music History
EVENTS ON OCTOBER 1 IN MUSIC HISTORY
On this day October 1 in 1962 – The Beach Boys released their debut album ‘Surfin’ Safari’ through Capitol Records which peaked at No.32 in the US.
1966 – The soundtrack album ‘The Sound of Music’ to the film of the same name started an incredible 18-week run at number one in the United Kingdom.
1969 – The Beatles released their eleventh studio album ‘Abbey Road’ in the US. The album became a worldwide hit and it features the famous zebra crossing album cover.
1970 – Janis Joplin recorded the a cappella song ‘Mercedes Benz’. Sadly, this was her last studio recording as she died three days later on October 4, aged 27.
1971 – Singer-songwriter Cat Stevens released his fifth studio album ‘Treaser and the Firecat’. The album sold over 4 million copies, became a chart-topper in Australia and it peaked at No.2 in the US and UK.
1975 – Drummer and founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Al Jackson Jr. was murdered by home intruders at the age of 39.
1977 – With ‘Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band’, Meco started a two-week run at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song featured in the popular 1977 Star Wars movie.
1982 – The first compact disc (CD) was released for commercial use on this day October 1 in music history by Sony in Tokyo, Japan.
1983 – Bonnie Taylor started a four-week run at number one on the US Singles chart with ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’. The single was a worldwide hit and it topped the charts in seven more countries, including the UK and Canada.
1983 – With his debut solo studio album ‘No Parlez’, Paul Young hit number one in the UK for the first of two consecutive weeks.
1987 – Rock band Soundgarden released their debut extended play (EP) ‘Screaming Life’ through Sub Pop Records.
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1988 – Rock band Bon Jovi topped the UK Albums chart with ‘New Jersey’. The album also reached number one in the US, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
1994 – Eric Clapton topped the US Billboard 200 chart with his twelfth solo studio album ‘From the Cradle’. The album also reached No.1 in the UK, Austria, and Switzerland.
1994 – Singer-songwriter Luther Vandross went to number one in the UK with his ninth studio album ‘Songs’. The album features a collection of cover versions of popular songs such as ‘Endless Love’, ‘Evergreen’, and ‘Killing Me Softly’.
1996 – Nirvana released the live album ‘From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah’ through DGC Records which features performances recorded between 1989 and 1994. The album sold over 2 million copies and was a chart-topper in six countries, including the US.
2004 – Canadian musician Bruce Palmer died at the age of 58 of a heart attack. Best remembered for playing bass with the folk rock band Buffalo Springfield.
2005 – American rapper Paul wall went to number one in the US with his second studio album ‘The Peoples Champ’.
2008 – Founding member of the folk pop group The Kingston Trio, Nicholas “Nick” Reynolds died at the age of 75.
2011 – Country music trio Lady Antebellum took the top spot on the US Albums chart with ‘Own the Night’.
2011 – With their fourth studio album ‘Velociraptor!’, rock band Kasabian went to number one in the United Kingdom.
2011 – British rapper and singer Dappy topped the Scottish and UK Singles charts with ‘No Regrets’.
2015 – Singer and guitarist David Gilmour reached number one in the UK with his fourth solo studio album ‘Rattle That Lock’. The album was a hit internationally and it topped the national charts in ten other countries.
2016 – With his seventh studio album ‘They Don’t Know’, country music singer-songwriter Jason Aldean reached No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
2018 – French singer, lyricist and actor Charles Aznavour died at the age of 94.
2019 – American blues guitarist Beverly Watkins died at the age of 80. Best remembered for her work with the likes of Dr. Feelgood, BB King, Ray Charles, James Brown, and others.
2020 – American rappers 24kGoldn and Iann Dior started a four-week run at number one on the UK Singles chart with ‘Mood’.
2020 – With the posthumously released debut album ‘Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon’, American rapper Pop Smoke topped the UK Albums chart.
2021 – The collaborative album by Tony Bennet and Lady Gaga titled ‘Love for Sale’ was released.
BORN ON OCTOBER 1 IN MUSIC HISTORY
1926 – American pianist, composer, and actor Max Morath nicknamed ‘Mr. Ragtime’ was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
1932 – American electric blues guitarist and singer Albert Collins also known as the Ice Man was in Leona, Texas.
1934 – English songwriter and record producer Geoffrey Stephens was born in London. Best known for writing numerous hit records and for founding The New Vaudeville Band.
1942 – One half of the Peaches & Herb vocal duo, Herb Fame was born in Anacostia, Washington.
1943 – American saxophonist Gerald “Jerry” Martini was born in Denver, Colorado. He came to prominence as a member of Sly and the Family Stone.
1944 – Singer and founding member of the pop girl group The Toys, Barbara Parritt was born in Wilmington, North Carolina.
1945 – American soul music singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Donny Hathaway was born in Chicago, Illinois. Best known for songs such as ‘The Ghetto’, ‘Where Is the Love’, ‘This Christmas’, ‘Someday We’ll All Be Free’, etc.
1947 – Singer-songwriter, bassist, and founding member of Wishbone Ash, Martin Turner was born in Torquay, England.
1947 – Dutch singer Mariska Veres was born in The Hague, Netherlands. She rose to fame as the lead singer of the rock band Shocking Blue.
1947 – Guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of the glam rock band Mud, Robert “Rob” Davis was born in Carshalton, England.
1948 – American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and DJ Michael “Cub” Koda was born in Detroit, Michigan. Best known for writing ‘Smoking’ in the Boys Room’, a hit single for Brownsville Station.
1955 – American singer-songwriter Howard Hewett was born in Akron, Ohio. Best known as the lead singer of the vocal group Shalamar.
1958 – Painter and multi-instrumentalist Martin Cooper was born in Liverpool, England. Best known for his work with the band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.
1968 – Lead vocalist, guitarist, and co-founder of the rock band Better Than Ezra, Kevin Griffin was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
1974 – Irish singer and actor Keith Duffy was born in Dublin, Ireland. Best known as a member of the boy band Boyzone.