Singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Richard Carpenter was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on this day in 1946 (October 15)
Along with sister Karen, Richard was one half of one of the most successful duos in music history.
The Carpenters became leading sellers in the soft rock, easy listening and adult contemporary music genres.
They had three #1 singles and five #2 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and fifteen #1 hits on the Adult Contemporary chart, in addition to 12 top-10 singles.
Richard wrote many of their hits, including “Top of the World”. In fact, he had numerous roles in The Carpenters, including record producer, arranger, pianist, keyboardist, lyricist, and composer, as well as joining with Karen on harmony vocals.
Rolling Stone ranked the Carpenters #10 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.
Click on the link below to watch “Top of the World”:
On this day in 2000, the U2 single “Beautiful Day” went to #1 on the UK charts (October 15)
Somewhat of a return to the old U2 sound, Bono explained that the upbeat track is about losing everything but still finding joy in what one has.
The song from the “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” LP also topped the charts in Ireland, Australia, Canada, Finland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Scotland and Spain, and reached the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland, also peaking at #21 on the US Billboard chart.
In 2001, the song won three Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony…
Click on the link below to watch:
On this day in 1977, the Paul Simon single “Slip Slidin’ Away” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at #81 (October 15)
It was one of two new songs on his 1977 compilation album “Greatest Hits, Etc.”, after being rejected for his 1975 album “Still Crazy After All These Years”.
The song went to #5 in the US and Canada, #15 in France, #35 in Australia, and #36 in the UK.
Fun fact: the backing vocals on the song are sung by legendary American country and gospel vocal quartet The Oak Ridge Boys.
Click on the link below to watch him do it live at the Concert at Central Park:
On this day in 1977, the Carole Bayer Sager single “You’re Moving Out Today” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at #95 (October 15)
The quirky song co-written by Carole Bayer Sager, Bette Midler and Bruce Roberts, did best in Australia, peaking at #1, and staying in the top spot for four weeks.
It also rose to #6 in the UK.
Bayer Sager had already written her first pop hit, "A Groovy Kind of Love" while still a student at New York City's High School of Music and Art.
She wrote or co-wrote many songs for other people, and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1982 for "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", which was the theme song of the movie “Arthur”.
Bayer Sager also received the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1987 for the song "That's What Friends Are For", which she co-wrote with Burt Bacharach.
Her classic song written with David Foster, "The Prayer", originally recorded by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, won a Golden Globe.
She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987.
Although she was a prolific songwriter, “You’re Moving Out Today” was the first one Bayer Sager recorded for herself.
Click on the link below to watch:
On this day in 1977, the Fleetwood Mac single “You Make Loving Fun” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at #73 (October 15)
The song was written and sung by Christine McVie, and inspired by an affair she had with the band's lighting director, Curry Grant.
“To avoid flare-ups", she told her then-husband and fellow band member, John McVie that the song was about her dog.
It was a Top 10 song in the US (#9) and Canada (#7).
"You Make Loving Fun" was a concert staple for Fleetwood Mac and was played during every tour that included Christine McVie.
Click the link below to watch the clip of the song from Fleetwood Mac’s “The Dance” DVD:
Spandau Ballet lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and principal songwriter Gary Kemp was born in London, England, on this day in 1959 (October 16)
Spandau Ballet became one of the biggest British bands of the 1980s, generating over 25 million record sales worldwide.
And Kemp wrote the lyrics and music for all 23 of Spandau Ballet's hit singles, including "To Cut a Long Story Short", "True", "Gold", "Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", and "Only When You Leave".
Kemp is also an actor, famously teaming with his brother Martin to play the Krays, and was also in “The Bodyguard”.
He has also released solo albums and collaborated with other artists, including Nick Mason from Pink Floyd.
Click on the link below to watch “To Cut a Long Story Short”:
On this day in 1981, the Human League released the LP “Dare” (October 16)
“Dare” was a critically acclaimed and ultimately genre-defining album, whose influence can be felt in many areas of pop music, with international hits like “Love Action (I Believe In Love)” and “Don’t You Want Me”, anchored by Phil Oakey’s rich, smooth vocal delivery, and a myriad of synth hooks.
The album eventually peaked at #1 in the UK, Canada, Sweden and New Zealand, #2 in Finland, #3 in the US and Australia, and #6 in Norway.
Rolling Stone rated Dare four out of five stars, and ranked it as the 78th best album of the previous decade.
Sounds magazine ranked it the 81st best album of all time in 1986, and the 44th best album of the 1980s three years later.
NME ranked the record 111th on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2013.
Click on the link below to watch “Love Action” on Countdown:
Singer, songwriter, musician, model, and actress Nico was born Christa Päffgen in Cologne, Germany, on this day in 1938 (October 16)
After moving from Germany to pursue her modeling and acting career, in 1965, Nico met the Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones and recorded her first single, "I'm Not Sayin'", with the B-side "The Last Mile", produced by Jimmy Page.
At the insistence of Andy Warhol, who had begun managing the Velvet Underground, Nico began working with the band, and sang lead vocals on three songs ("Femme Fatale", "All Tomorrow's Parties", "I'll Be Your Mirror"), and backing vocal on "Sunday Morning", on the band's critically acclaimed debut album, “The Velvet Underground & Nico” (1967).
The album became a classic, ranked 13th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, but her involvement with the band was fraught with issues, so Nico continued with her solo career.
For her debut album, 1967's “Chelsea Girl”, she recorded songs by Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, and Jackson Browne, among others.
Velvet Underground members Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison contributed to the album, with Nico, Reed and Cale co-writing one song, "It Was a Pleasure Then."
In California, Nico spent time with Jim Morrison of the Doors who encouraged her to write her own songs, so for her album “The Marble Index”, released in 1968, Nico wrote the lyrics and music.
Nico's harmonium anchored the accompaniment, while John Cale added an array of folk and classical instruments, and arranged the album. The harmonium became her signature instrument for the rest of her career.
She continued with her music and acting career in the subsequent decades…
Nico passed away in Spain from a cerebral hemorrhage after falling off her bicycle, aged 49.
Click on the link below to watch the Velvet Underground & Nico “I’ll Be Your Mirror”:
On this day in 1984, Pat Benatar released the single “We Belong” (October 16)
The lead single from her sixth studio album “Tropico” was written by songwriting duo Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro (the cousin of guitarist Dave Navarro from Jane’s Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers).
“We Belong” matched the success of "Love Is a Battlefield" on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States, peaking at #5.
It also went to #5 in Switzerland, #7 in Australia and New Zealand, #8 in Canada and Ireland, #9 in Germany, and #10 in the Netherlands.
It was also relatively successful in the UK, where it peaked at #22 in the charts, almost matching the popularity of "Love Is a Battlefield" which is Pat Benatar’s most recognized song there, peaking at #17.
The song earned Benatar a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Click on the link below to watch the clip:
Along with sister Karen, Richard was one half of one of the most successful duos in music history.
The Carpenters became leading sellers in the soft rock, easy listening and adult contemporary music genres.
They had three #1 singles and five #2 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and fifteen #1 hits on the Adult Contemporary chart, in addition to 12 top-10 singles.
Richard wrote many of their hits, including “Top of the World”. In fact, he had numerous roles in The Carpenters, including record producer, arranger, pianist, keyboardist, lyricist, and composer, as well as joining with Karen on harmony vocals.
Rolling Stone ranked the Carpenters #10 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.
Click on the link below to watch “Top of the World”:
On this day in 2000, the U2 single “Beautiful Day” went to #1 on the UK charts (October 15)
Somewhat of a return to the old U2 sound, Bono explained that the upbeat track is about losing everything but still finding joy in what one has.
The song from the “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” LP also topped the charts in Ireland, Australia, Canada, Finland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Scotland and Spain, and reached the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland, also peaking at #21 on the US Billboard chart.
In 2001, the song won three Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony…
Click on the link below to watch:
On this day in 1977, the Paul Simon single “Slip Slidin’ Away” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at #81 (October 15)
It was one of two new songs on his 1977 compilation album “Greatest Hits, Etc.”, after being rejected for his 1975 album “Still Crazy After All These Years”.
The song went to #5 in the US and Canada, #15 in France, #35 in Australia, and #36 in the UK.
Fun fact: the backing vocals on the song are sung by legendary American country and gospel vocal quartet The Oak Ridge Boys.
Click on the link below to watch him do it live at the Concert at Central Park:
On this day in 1977, the Carole Bayer Sager single “You’re Moving Out Today” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at #95 (October 15)
The quirky song co-written by Carole Bayer Sager, Bette Midler and Bruce Roberts, did best in Australia, peaking at #1, and staying in the top spot for four weeks.
It also rose to #6 in the UK.
Bayer Sager had already written her first pop hit, "A Groovy Kind of Love" while still a student at New York City's High School of Music and Art.
She wrote or co-wrote many songs for other people, and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1982 for "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", which was the theme song of the movie “Arthur”.
Bayer Sager also received the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1987 for the song "That's What Friends Are For", which she co-wrote with Burt Bacharach.
Her classic song written with David Foster, "The Prayer", originally recorded by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, won a Golden Globe.
She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987.
Although she was a prolific songwriter, “You’re Moving Out Today” was the first one Bayer Sager recorded for herself.
Click on the link below to watch:
On this day in 1977, the Fleetwood Mac single “You Make Loving Fun” debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at #73 (October 15)
The song was written and sung by Christine McVie, and inspired by an affair she had with the band's lighting director, Curry Grant.
“To avoid flare-ups", she told her then-husband and fellow band member, John McVie that the song was about her dog.
It was a Top 10 song in the US (#9) and Canada (#7).
"You Make Loving Fun" was a concert staple for Fleetwood Mac and was played during every tour that included Christine McVie.
Click the link below to watch the clip of the song from Fleetwood Mac’s “The Dance” DVD:
Spandau Ballet lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and principal songwriter Gary Kemp was born in London, England, on this day in 1959 (October 16)
Spandau Ballet became one of the biggest British bands of the 1980s, generating over 25 million record sales worldwide.
And Kemp wrote the lyrics and music for all 23 of Spandau Ballet's hit singles, including "To Cut a Long Story Short", "True", "Gold", "Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", and "Only When You Leave".
Kemp is also an actor, famously teaming with his brother Martin to play the Krays, and was also in “The Bodyguard”.
He has also released solo albums and collaborated with other artists, including Nick Mason from Pink Floyd.
Click on the link below to watch “To Cut a Long Story Short”:
On this day in 1981, the Human League released the LP “Dare” (October 16)
“Dare” was a critically acclaimed and ultimately genre-defining album, whose influence can be felt in many areas of pop music, with international hits like “Love Action (I Believe In Love)” and “Don’t You Want Me”, anchored by Phil Oakey’s rich, smooth vocal delivery, and a myriad of synth hooks.
The album eventually peaked at #1 in the UK, Canada, Sweden and New Zealand, #2 in Finland, #3 in the US and Australia, and #6 in Norway.
Rolling Stone rated Dare four out of five stars, and ranked it as the 78th best album of the previous decade.
Sounds magazine ranked it the 81st best album of all time in 1986, and the 44th best album of the 1980s three years later.
NME ranked the record 111th on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2013.
Click on the link below to watch “Love Action” on Countdown:
Singer, songwriter, musician, model, and actress Nico was born Christa Päffgen in Cologne, Germany, on this day in 1938 (October 16)
After moving from Germany to pursue her modeling and acting career, in 1965, Nico met the Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones and recorded her first single, "I'm Not Sayin'", with the B-side "The Last Mile", produced by Jimmy Page.
At the insistence of Andy Warhol, who had begun managing the Velvet Underground, Nico began working with the band, and sang lead vocals on three songs ("Femme Fatale", "All Tomorrow's Parties", "I'll Be Your Mirror"), and backing vocal on "Sunday Morning", on the band's critically acclaimed debut album, “The Velvet Underground & Nico” (1967).
The album became a classic, ranked 13th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, but her involvement with the band was fraught with issues, so Nico continued with her solo career.
For her debut album, 1967's “Chelsea Girl”, she recorded songs by Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, and Jackson Browne, among others.
Velvet Underground members Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison contributed to the album, with Nico, Reed and Cale co-writing one song, "It Was a Pleasure Then."
In California, Nico spent time with Jim Morrison of the Doors who encouraged her to write her own songs, so for her album “The Marble Index”, released in 1968, Nico wrote the lyrics and music.
Nico's harmonium anchored the accompaniment, while John Cale added an array of folk and classical instruments, and arranged the album. The harmonium became her signature instrument for the rest of her career.
She continued with her music and acting career in the subsequent decades…
Nico passed away in Spain from a cerebral hemorrhage after falling off her bicycle, aged 49.
Click on the link below to watch the Velvet Underground & Nico “I’ll Be Your Mirror”:
On this day in 1984, Pat Benatar released the single “We Belong” (October 16)
The lead single from her sixth studio album “Tropico” was written by songwriting duo Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro (the cousin of guitarist Dave Navarro from Jane’s Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers).
“We Belong” matched the success of "Love Is a Battlefield" on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States, peaking at #5.
It also went to #5 in Switzerland, #7 in Australia and New Zealand, #8 in Canada and Ireland, #9 in Germany, and #10 in the Netherlands.
It was also relatively successful in the UK, where it peaked at #22 in the charts, almost matching the popularity of "Love Is a Battlefield" which is Pat Benatar’s most recognized song there, peaking at #17.
The song earned Benatar a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Click on the link below to watch the clip:
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