1957, Harry Belafonte was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Mary’s Boy Child,’ the first single to sell over 1 million copies in the UK. It stayed at No.1 for seven weeks making it this years Christmas No.1. The first Christmas song to hit No.1 in two different versions – the other was Boney M’s version in 1978.
1961, The Beatles played a lunchtime show at The Cavern Club in Liverpool. That night they played at the Village Hall, Knotty Ash, Liverpool.
1962, The Four Seasons started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, the group’s second No.1 of the year. It made No.13 in the UK.
1963, John Weightman the Headmaster of a Surrey Grammar School, banned all pupils from having Beatle haircuts saying, “this ridiculous style brings out the worst in boys physically. It makes them look like morons.”
1966, The Beach Boys were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Good Vibrations.’ As a child, Brian Wilsons mother told him that dogs could pick up “vibrations” from people, so that the dog would bark at “bad vibrations” Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song.
1967, A 16 date UK package tour with Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Move, The Nice and Amen Corner played at the City Hall, Sheffield. A review in the Sheffield Star noted: ‘Like an electrified golliwog, Jimi Hendrix threw himself into a live-wire act that featured his intricate guitar interpretation. Quite an Experience’. Pink Floyd also released their third single Apples And Oranges today in the UK.
1971, Slade were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Coz I Luv You’, the group’s first of six No.1’s. The misspelt song titles became a trademark for Slade, causing a great furore among teachers up and down the country.
1973, The Who’s double album ‘Quadrophenia’ entered the UK album chart peaking at No.2. One of two two full-scale rock operas from The Who (the other being the 1969 ‘Tommy’). The 1979 film based on the story stars Phil Daniels, Toyah Willcox, Ray Winstone, Michael Elphick and Sting.
1979, Jethro Tull bass player John Glascock died at the age of 28, as a result of a congenital heart defect. Had also been a member of Chicken Shack.
1979, The Commodores went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Still’, the group’s second US No.1 single, it made No.4 in the UK.
1985, Wham! Were at No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Make It Big’ and No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’. Michael’s inspiration for the song was a scribbled note left by his Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley for Andrew’s parents, originally intended to read “wake me up before you go” but with “up” accidentally written twice, so Ridgeley wrote “go” twice on purpose.
1990, David Crosby from Crosby Stills Nash & Young was admitted to hospital after breaking a leg, shoulder and ankle after crashing his Harley Davidson motorbike.
1991, Stone Roses drummer Reni appeared in court on a charge of obstruction and was fined £50. He alleged that police beat him up after his arrest.
1992, At the end of a long battle to claim royalties Jimmy Merchant and Herman Santiago ex of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, received an estimated $4 million in back payments from the song ‘Why Do Fools Fall In Love’.
1995, English singer-songwriter and founding member of folk rock band, Lindisfarne Alan Hull died of a heart attack aged 50. Lindisfarne scored the
1972 UK No.3 single ‘Lady Eleanor’, ‘Fog on the Tyne’ and ‘Run for Home’.
1996, The Spice Girls were at No.1 on the UK album chart with their debut release ‘Spice Girls.’ Five singles were released from the album: ‘Wannabe’, ‘Say You’ll Be There’, ‘2 Become 1’, ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ and ‘Mama’. The first single, ‘Wannabe’, went to No.1 in 31 countries, and the next two singles, ‘Say You’ll Be There’ and ‘2 Become 1’, the top of the charts in 53 countries.
2000, It was reported that Andy White who played drums on The Beatles track ‘Love Me Do’ which was featured on the new Beatles Greatest Hits album would not earn enough from it to buy his own copy. White would get no more than his original session fee of £7.
2003, American soul singer Arthur Conley died of intestinal cancer in Ruurlo, The Netherlands at the age of 57. Had the 1967 US No.2 & UK No.7 single ‘Sweet Soul Music’. He first recorded in 1959 as the lead singer of Arthur & the Corvets.
2003, 21 year-old Britney Spears became the youngest singer to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The only other performer to get a Hollywood star at her age was Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Gilbert.
2003, George Michael signed a new contract with the record company he took to court in 1993. The singer re-signed to Sony in a deal that included his extensive back catalogue. Michael had failed in his court wrangle with Sony after accusing it of “professional slavery”; his contract was bought out by Virgin Records.
2003, American country music legend Don Gibson died of natural causes aged 75. Scored the 1958 US No.7 single ‘Oh Lonesome Me’, (covered by Neil Young on his After The Gold Rush album), 1961 UK No.14 single ‘Sea Of Heartbreak’. His song ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’, has been recorded by over 700 artists, most notably by Ray Charles in 1962.
2007, The Eagles were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Long Road Out Of Eden’ the bands seventh studio album and first since 1979.
2010, Patti Smith won the National Book Award for her memoir ‘Just Kids’.
2011, Sheriff’s deputies in South Los Angeles charged 61-year-old Bonnie Pointer of The Pointer Sisters for possessing rock cocaine after the car she was driving in was pulled over for a mechanical malfunction.
