On May 28 1966, Percy Sledge started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘When A Man Loves A Woman’. A No.4 hit on the UK chart and No.2 when re-issued in 1987. Before the recording session, the song had no title or lyrics. The session proceeded with the expectation that Sledge would produce them for the vocal takes. When it came time to record the vocals, Sledge improvised the lyrics with minimal pre-planning, using the melody as a guide for rhythm and phrasing. The performance was so convincing that others working on the session assumed Sledge had the lyrics written down.
-
Today in Music’s History
On April 17th 1991, Nirvana appeared at the OK Hotel in Seattle, where they played a new song, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit‘, live for the first time. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is the opening track and lead single from the band’s second album, Nevermind (1991), released on DGC Records. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame‘s list of The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.
-
Today Music’s History
On June 13th 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus started a 17-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Some Gave All’. His debut album featured the world-wide breakthrough song ‘Achy Breaky Heart’, which was originally recorded as ‘Don’t Tell My Heart’ by The Marcy Brothers on their 1991 self-titled album.
-
Today in Music’s History
On August 26th 1978, Frankie Valli went to No.1 on the US singles chart with the Barry Gibb song ‘Grease’. It went on to sell over 2 million in the States (a No. 3 hit in the UK).
