Metallica Went To #1 On The Us Album Charts With The Self Titled Metallica On August 31, 1991

Metallica's self titled Metallica hit #1 on the US album charts on August 31st of 1991, 16 years ago today. The album is better known as The Black Album due to it's almost entirely black cover. This is also a play on The Beatles' White Album from 1968 which was also officially self titled.

The Black Album stayed at #1 for 4 weeks in the US and it featured some of Metallica's most well known songs like "Enter Sandman" & "Nothing Else Matters."

The Black Album is commonly seen a division album in Metallica's career where they ventured from their thrash metal roots into more commercial hard rock territory.

(unlimited heavy metal mp3 downloads for your iPod - including Metallica)

Music Videos from the album:

"Enter Sandman"


"Sad But True"


"The Unforgiven"


"Wherever I May Roam"


"Nothing Else Matters"


Click on the CD image below to buy The Black Album from Shop.com

Steve Winwood went to #1 on the US singles charts with "Higher Love" on August 30, 1986

On August 30th of 1986, Steve Winwood hit #1 on the US singles charts with "Higher Love." It was Winwood's first #1 single.

The song reached #13 in the UK.

"Higher Love" was featured on Winwood's 4rd solo album Back in the High life which has sold over 5 million copies in the United States. Other hit singles from the album include "Freedom Overspill," "Back in the High Life Again," & "The Finer Things." Each of which hit the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Previous to his solo career Winwood was a member of the 60s bands Traffic & Blind Faith.

Winwood performing "Higher Love" in 1988:



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Oasis Released Definitely Maybe On August 29, 1994

British rock band Oasis released their debut album Definitely Maybe on August 29th of 1994.

Definitely Maybe is one of the most commercially successful & critically acclaimed debut albums released in rock history.

It was the fastest selling debut album in UK history upon it's release. It went directly to #1 on the UK charts. Although it never reached higher than #58 in the US charts it has sold over 1 million copies in the United States. It has sold over 7.5 million copies worldwide.

Definitely Maybe is regularly named to all time best of lists in the UK. The songs "Live Forever," "Supersonic," "Cigarettes & Alcohol," "Rock 'n' Roll Star," & "Slide Away" have been particularly popular.

"Live Forever" was selected by readers of Q magazine as the greatest song of all time in 2006. It was #1 in a poll by NME and XFM to find the 50 greatest indie anthems ever.

Definitely Maybe (includes live performances & promo videos - you'll have to do some volume adjustments as some are very loud and some quiet)

1. "Rock 'n' Roll Star"

promo video:


live:


2. "Shakermaker"

promo video:


live:


3. "Live Forever"

promo video:


live:


4. "Up In The Sky"

live:


5. "Columbia"

live:


6. "Supersonic"

promo video:


live:


7. "Bring It On Down"

live:


8. "Cigarettes & Alcohol"

promo video:


live:


9. "Digsy's Dinner"

live:


10. "Slide Away"

live:


11. "Married With Children"

live:


BUY OASIS - DEFINITELY MAYBE CD

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The Beatles & Bob Dylan Meet For The First Time On August 28, 1964

The Beatles & Bob Dylan met each other for the first time on August 28th of 1964. It was during this meeting at a hotel in New York that Bob Dylan introduced the Beatles to marijuana.

Ringo was the first to try it and he started laughing quite a bit, this made the others want to get in on it. They soon did and there were laughs all around. The Beatles manager Brian Epstein was also taking part and kept saying "I'm so high I'm on the ceiling, I'm up on the ceiling."

Paul McCartney was particularly thrilled by marijuana. He said "I'm thinking for the first time, really thinking." He had Mal Evans (the Beatles friend & roadie) follow him around writing down everything he was saying for posterity. Evans kept these notes until his death in 1976. Unfortunately they were confiscated and lost by the police.

Although the this was the first time the Beatles smoked marijuana they were already no strangers to drugs. They had been taking "prellies" (Preludin) for years. Prellies are a stimulent which the Beatles would use to keep a high energy level for their long shows during their early career. Prellies are now an illegal Schedule II drug in the United States, the same class that Cocaine & Meth are in.

Below are John Lennon & Bob Dylan on something. The videos are out takes from the Dylan documentary Eat The Document which documents Dylan's 1966 tour of Europe.

Part 1:



Part 2:



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Boyz II Men went to #1 with "I'll Make Love To You" on August 27, 1994

Boyz II Men went to #1 on August 27th of 1994 with "I'll Make Love To You." The song also went to #5 in the UK.

The song stayed at #1 in the US for 14 weeks which tied the record at the time of Whitney Houston's version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You." The record of 14 weeks was later broken by a collaboration by Boyz II Men & Mariah Carey called "One Sweet Day" which stayed at #1 for 16 weeks in 1995 & '96.

The song that knocked "I'll Make Love To You" off the top of the charts was "On Bended Knee" which was also by Boyz II Men.

"I'll Make Love To You" was written by R&B songwriter Babyface.

The Video:



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Blur goes to #1 on the UK charts with "Country House" on August 26, 1995

Blur had their first UK #1 with "Country House" on August 26th of 1995. It was featured on Blur's 4th album The Great Escape.

The song is probably best remembered as being a part of Blur's rivalry with fellow British band Oasis.

The song's release date was moved to coincide with that of Oasis' single "Roll With It" which was seen as a confrontation for #1 that week. Although "Roll With It" came in at #2 the album it came from (What's the Story) Morning Glory? far surpassed The Great Escape in sales, particularly in America where The Great Escape never reached higher than #150 (although this was seen as a minor victory at the time for Blur because it was their first time reaching America's top 200 album charts. But in comparison (What's the Story) Morning Glory? reached #4 in the US and is 4X platinum in sales there all time. It's also 14X platinum in the UK (the 3rd biggest selling album in UK history.) So it's commonly believed that while Blur won this battle for #1 single, they lost the war of becoming the most popular band in the UK.

Compare the songs for yourself (with videos)

"Country House"



"Roll With It"



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The Knack's "My Sharona" hits #1 in the US on August 25, 1979

28 years ago today, on August 25th of 1979, the Knack's "My Sharona" hit the top of the US singles charts. It would stay at #1 for 5 weeks. The song reached #6 in the UK.

The video:



"My Sharona" was featured in the 90s movie Reality Bites:



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Oasis records MTV Unplugged on August 24, 1996

Oasis recorded their MTV Unplugged show on August 24th of 1996 sans lead singer Liam Gallagher.

The show was recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall in front of 400 fans including Liam Gallagher. Liam had failed to show up for the recording and had said he had a sore throat. He was seen in the audience drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. His songwriting/lead guitarist brother Noel Gallagher took over lead vocals on all of the songs for the show.

Here's "Listen Up" from this show. "Listen Up" was a b-side and on the original recording it was sung by Liam.



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Lou Reed Performed With The Velvet Underground For The Last Time On August 23, 1970

Lou Reed played his last gig with the Velvet Underground on August 23rd of 1970 in New York City.

The Velvet Underground released the following albums with Lou Reed:

The Velvet Underground and Nico in 1967.

White Light/White Heat in 1968.

The Velvet Underground in 1969.

Loaded in 1970.

Check out this video featuring "Sunday Morning" from their first album:



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Claude Debussy Was Born On August 22, 1862

French classical music composer Claude Debussy was born on August 22nd of 1862. He died in 1918 at 56 years old.

Debussy was a prominent composer within a classical style commonly referred to as "Impressionist Music." Although Debussy was and is still tied to this term he did not like his music to be described in this way.

Debussy was fond of using the whole tone scale particularly later in his career.

A whole tone scale is where there is a full step between each note in the scale, for example in C: C, D, E, F#, G#, A#, C.

Some of Claude Debussey's works:

L'Isle Joyeuse (performed by Nanae Green)



Cortege (performed by Sean Kennard & Adam Jackson)



Reverie (performed on guitars by Fred Benedetti and Dan Grant)



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Oasis' Be Here Now Was Released On August 21, 1997

Oasis' 3rd album Be Here Now was released in the UK 10 years ago today on August 21st of 1997.

There was considerable hype leading up to the release of Be Here Now with the huge success both commercially and critically of their first two albums 1994's Definitely Maybe and 1995's (What's The Story?) Morning Glory.

The album was recorded from October 1996 to April 1997. The recording sessions were were by all accounts completely out of control. The album's producer Owen Morris said in 2007 "in the first week, someone tried to score an ounce of weed, but instead got an ounce of cocaine. Which kind of summed it up." Creation Records owner Alan McGee said of his visits to the studio "I used to go down to the studio, and there was so much cocaine getting done at that point . . . Owen was out of control, and he was the one in charge of it. The music was just fucking loud."

Many of the songs contained many layers of guitar tracks. "My Big Mouth" for example had an estimated 30 guitar tracks overdubbed onto the song. In most cases the guitars recorded are the same part over and over again to create a wall of sound effect.

The album went on to set the UK record for first day (350,000) and first week (696,000) sales easily entering the UK charts at #1. It also sold 152,000 copies in the first week in the US but this was considered a relative disappointment. It opened at #2 on the US charts. It went to #1 in Canada.

Live performances of Be Here Now songs:

"D'You Know What I Mean?" (sound is a little quiet)



"My Big Mouth"



"Magic Pie"



"Stand By Me" (Acoustic)



"Fade In-Out"



"Don't Go Away" (on SNL, sound is quiet)



"Be Here Now"



"All Around The World"



Music videos for Be Here Now songs:

"D'You Know What I Mean?"



"Stand By Me"



"Don't Go Away"



"All Around The World"



Unlimited MP3 & iPod Downloads - Download Oasis Albums Like Be Here Now



Buy Be Here Now

The 4 Beatles Were In Abby Road Studios For The Last Time On August 20, 1969

The four Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, & Ringo Starr) were together in Abbey Road studios for the very last time on August 20th of 1969. 38 years ago today.

On this day they completed the final mix for "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" and worked on the running order for Abbey Road. "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" would be placed as the 6th & final song on Side A of the LP.

The song was never performed live by The Beatles.

You can hear it below (the "video" is just a photo of the Abbey Road cover.)



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The Beatles "All You Need Is Love" reaches #1 in the US on August 19, 1967

The Beatles "All You Need Is Love" became their 14th song to hit #1 in the US on August 19th of 1967. 40 years ago today.

The b-side to the single was "Baby You're A Rich Man." Both songs were later included on the Magical Mystery Tour album.

The song was performed by The Beatles on June 25, 1967 on Our World which was the first live global television broadcast. It was broadcast into 26 countries and watched by 350 million people. "All You Need Is Love" was the UK's contribution as The Beatles had been asked to contribute a song for the show.

The song was released as a single shortly thereafter and became a #1 hit in the US, UK, and Canada. It hit #1 on the world charts as well.

The song has many elements of other songs within it including the French anthem "La Marseillaise" and snatches of other songs such as Bach's "2-part invention #8 in F" and the standard "Greensleeves."

John and Paul also sing the Beatles own "She Loves You" over the outro. It's been said this was spontaneous but it's also possible it was planned.

The song has an unusual rhythmic structure with the verses being 2 measures of 7/4 then 1 measure of 8/4 and back with 1 more measure of 7/4. The chorus is 6 measures of 4/4 and ends with 1 6/4 measure. The song is the only one to use the 7/4 structure and hit #1 in the US. "Money" by Pink Floyd is another famous song to use the 7/4 structure.

The Our World performance:



Among those in attendance (and singing backing vocals) were Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Keith Moon, Graham Nash, Marianne Faithful, and Eric Clapton.

The version on the single release (and later on the Magical Mystery Tour album) was mostly from the live recording on June 25th but Lennon was unhappy with his verse vocals so those were re-recorded in the studio.

Download Beatles Classics Like All You Need Is Love In Mp3 Form For Your iPOD

Aphex Twin was born on August 18, 1971

Richard David James was born on August 18th of 1971 in Ireland. James has released a number of electronic albums under the name Aphex Twin. He has also used other names for his music such as AFX.

Aphex Twin Albums:

1992: Analogue Bubblebath III
1993: Selected Ambient Works 85-92
1994: Selected Ambient Works, Vol. 2
1995: I Care Because You Do
1996: Richard D. James Album
2001: Drukqs

As you can see above after releasing an album once a year for 5 years from '92 to '96. Aphex Twin has released just 1 album in the last 10 years but he has released EPs and a series of singles (Analord 1 through 11 in 2005) during this period.

Some of the most creative (and disturbing) videos ever made have been for Aphex Twin songs:

"Come To Daddy"



"Windowlicker"



"Rubber Johnny"



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The music video for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was shot on August 17, 1991

The video for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" turns 16 years old today as it was shot on August 17th of 1991.

The video, like the song itself, was extremely popular and critically acclaimed. In 2001 it ranked #4 on VH1's list of 100 greatest videos.

The video was directed by Samuel Bayer. It Bayer's first video. He would later go on to direct videos for Green Day, Metallica, and the Smashing Pumpkins.

Watch the video below:



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Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977

Elvis Presley died on August 16th of 1977 at age 42. 30 years ago today. Presley, of course, would be 72 years old if he were alive today.

Presley is arguably the most successful solo rock n roll artist of all time. He had 18 #1 US singles. Only the Beatles (20) have had more US #1 hits.

His first #1 was "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1956 and his last was "Suspicious Minds" in 1969.

His death is believed to be caused by his indulgence in pharmaceutical drugs such as Codeine pills. He was found to have 14 different drugs in his system at his death.

"Heartbreak Hotel" live in 1956:



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Paul Simon performs live at Central Park on August 15, 1991

16 years ago today on August 15th of 1991, Paul Simon performed live to approximately 750,000 people in New York City's Central Park.

The show was free to all attended and was also broadcast on television. It featured many South African musicians much like his 1986 album Graceland (many of the songs performed were from this album.)

This show was almost 10 years after Simon & Garfunkel's Central Park show in 1981.

Some performances from this show:

"The Obvious Child" (The first song of the set with an intro by NYC mayor at the time, David Dinkins)



"I Know What I Know"



"You Can Call Me Al"



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David Crosby was born on August 14, 1941

David Crosby was born on August 14th of 1941.

Crosby was a founding member of both The Byrds in 1964 and Crosby, Stills, & Nash in 1968.

Among the songs that Crosby wrote with Crosby, Stills, & Nash are "Guinnevere" and "Delta." He also co-wrote "Wooden Ships" with Stephen Stills and Jim Kantner (of the Jefferson Airplane.)

Crosby is known for being a fantastic harmony singer and the soaring harmonies of both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, & Nash (and sometimes Young) are in great part the work of Crosby.

David Crosby and Graham Nash performing "Guinnevere" on September 11, 1970:



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Don Ho was born on August 13, 1930

Don Ho was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 13th of 1930. He died earlier this year on April 14, 2007.

Below is a slide show featuring pictures of Don Ho with the song "I'll Remember You" written by Kui Lee and sung by Ho.



Download Easy Listening Hawaiian Music For Your iPods

Paul Simon released Graceland on August 12, 1986

Paul Simon released his most critically acclaimed solo album, Graceland, on August 12th of 1986.

The album is heavily influenced by "world music" and much of the album was recorded in South Africa. The album features many South African musicians and singers.

American artists also appear on the album. The Everly Brothers sang harmonies "Graceland." Linda Ronstadt sang on the track "Under African Skies." Los Lobos appear on the on "All Around The World or the Myth of Fingerprints."

The album has been featured on many best of/greatest albums of all time lists. It's #81 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time from 2003. It ranked #56 all time on a Q magazine readers poll in 1998. VH1 ranked it #84 in 2003.

"You Can Call Me Al" was the biggest hit single from the album and the video (see below) featured actor/comedian Chevy Chase.



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Richie Ramone was born on August 11, 1957

Richie Ramone was born as Richard Reinhardt on August 11th of 1957.

He joined the Ramones on February 13th of 1983 for a show in Utica, New York. He played his last show with the Ramones on August 12th of 1987 after over 500 shows with them.

Below is a clip from a show on July 7th of 1985 with Richie Ramone on drums:



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Michael Bivens was born on August 10, 1968

Michael Bivens was born on August 10th of 1968 in Boston, Massachusetts.

He was a founding member of New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe. (He was the "Biv" in the later group.)

Bell Biv Devoe had some big hits in the early 90s including "Poison" and "Do Me!"

"Poison"



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Kurtis Blow was born on August 9, 1959

Early rap star Kurtis Blow was born on August 9th of 1959 in Harlem, New York.

He was the first rapper to sign to a major label.

His most well known track is his 1980 hit single "The Breaks"

Kurtis Blow performing "Breaks" in Munich, Germany in 2006:



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Scott Stapp was born on August 8, 1973

Scott Stapp was born 34 years ago on August 8th of 1973. Stapp became famous in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the lead singer for the band Creed.

Although Creed was a huge commercial success during this period, they were and are despised by music critics and all people with any semblance of taste.

Among the stupid things closely associated with Creed were WWE and Christian Rock.

Stapp has become more well known for his acts of public stupidity than his mind numbing music in recent years. An example of this is his drunken appearance on a celebrity poker TV show in 2006.

Enjoy:



I recommend not downloading Creed onto your iPod.

Garth Brooks Plays To 750,000 People In Central Park On August 7, 1997

10 years ago on August 7th of 1997, country music star Garth Brooks held a free concert in Central Park in NYC. Approximately 750,000 people attended the show.

The concert was also shown on television.

The following video is a performance of a song taken from that television special: "Friends in Low Places"

Lisa Loeb hits #1 on the US singles chart with "Stay" on August 6, 1994

"Stay (I Missed You)" by Lisa Loeb began a 3 week stay at #1 in the US on August 6th of 1994. The song went to #6 in the UK.

The song was featured in the 1994 film Reality Bites starring Ethan Hawke and directed by Ben Stiller. It was included in the soundtrack album for Reality Bites and later on Loeb's debut 1995 album Tails.

Hawke "discovered" Loeb and the song "Stay" when he was living in an apartment across the street from her in NYC. He brought the song to Ben Stiller who agreed to feature it in the movie.

The video for the song was very simple featuring Loeb walking around a mostly empty apartment while singing the song. It was directed by Ethan Hawke and the cat in the video is his. See the video below:

The Rolling Stones went to #1 on the US singles charts with "Miss You" on August 5, 1978

The Rolling Stones had their 8th US #1 single with "Miss You" on August 5th of 1978. "Miss You" was the Stones last #1 hit in the US to date and it seems highly unlikely they would be able to have another #1 single at this late stage in their career. The song also went to #3 in the UK.

The song is featured on the Rolling Stones 1978 album Some Girls which also contained "Beast Of Burdern" and "Shattered."

"Miss You" was the first Stones single to be heavily influenced by disco as heard in the pulsating funky bass and the four to the floor drums.

"Miss You" was selected as the 496th best song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004.

"Miss You" was used in the opening scene of the pilot episode of the TV show Miami Vice in 1984.

The video for "Miss You" is below: