The Current

Great Music Lives Here
Listener-Supported Music
Donate Now

Today in Music History: Bowie Hits Number One On Both Sides of the Atlantic

April 09, 2014

David Bowie's Let's Dance
David Bowie was no.1 in the US and the UK Today in Music History.
album cover art

History Highlight:

Today in 1983, David Bowie was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with the title track from his latest album Let's Dance, his fourth UK No.1 and featuring blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. A US No.1 hit as well, it was actually Bowie's first single to reach number one on both sides of the Atlantic.

Also, Today In:

1966 - A pair of soon-to-become soul classics were released on this day: Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman" and Jr. Walker And The All Stars' "(I'm A) Road Runner."

1973 - Paul McCartney released "My Love," a slightly syrupy ballad which would become his biggest U.S. solo hit to date, staying at #1 for four weeks.

1989 - 52-year-old Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman announced that he would marry 19-year-old Mandy Smith. He also revealed that the two had been dating for six years. Do the math.

2006 - Former Smiths singer Morrissey went to No.1 on the UK album chart with his 8th solo album Ringleader Of The Tormentors.

Birthdays:

Albert Hammond, Jr. of The Strokes is 34 today.

One of the most underrated country/rockabilly stars, Carl Perkins was born today in 1932.