On July 24, 1965, The Byrds hit No. 1 in the U.K. with their cover of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.” This song helped popularize folk-rock in mainstream music. Let’s take a look at other significant music events that happened on this day.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
In 1976, Elton John scored his first U.K. No. 1 with “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” a duet with Kiki Dee that became a worldwide hit. The following year, Donna Summer topped the charts for the first and only time with her disco classic “I Feel Love,” which held the No. 1 spot in the U.K. for a month. In 2020, Taylor Swift surprised fans by dropping her indie pop album *folklore*, which debuted at No. 1 and spent eight weeks atop the Billboard 200.
Cultural Milestones
In 1965, Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” made its U.S. chart debut at No. 91 and eventually peaked at No. 2. In 1982, Survivor’s “Eye Of The Tiger” topped the charts for six weeks, thanks to its use in *Rocky III*. In 2000, *NSYNC reached No. 1 with “It’s Gonna Be Me,” their only song to achieve that milestone.
Notable Recordings and Performances
In 1964, Marvin Gaye recorded “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You),” which peaked at No. 6. In 2011, The Weeknd performed live for the first time. In 2022, Joni Mitchell surprised fans with a full concert set at the Newport Folk Festival, her first since 2000.
Industry Changes and Challenges
In 1977, Led Zeppelin played their final U.S. concert at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. In 1995, a three-night show in Los Angeles celebrated Frank Sinatra’s 80th birthday. In 1999, Woodstock ’99 turned chaotic, highlighting the risks of large music festivals.
