Many significant events took place in the rock world on December 9. The Rolling Stones topped the charts, and Billy Joel scored his third U.S. No. 1 hit. This day also marks the anniversary of two influential albums. Here are the highlights from this day in rock history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones:
1972: The Moody Blues released their eighth album, Seventh Sojourn, which climbed to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard charts and stayed there for five weeks. It went Gold in the U.S. and also reached Platinum status in Canada.
1989: Billy Joel’s hit “We Didn’t Start the Fire” hit the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, where it remained for two weeks. The song featured quick mentions of various social and political events and sold over six million copies in the U.S.
2016: The Rolling Stones achieved their first No. 1 album on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart with Blue & Lonesome, their first studio album in 11 years, featuring blues covers.
Notable Recordings and Performances:
1966: Cream, the British supergroup with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce, released their debut album, Fresh Cream. This album blended blues covers with original songs and is seen as a bridge between traditional blues and modern blues-rock.
1966: The Who released their second studio album, A Quick One. This album showcased the band’s creative growth and was well-received by critics, marking a shift from their R&B-influenced debut, My Generation.
2000: U2 made their first appearance on Saturday Night Live, performing “Beautiful Day” and “Elevation” with Val Kilmer as the host.
These are the key events from December 9 in rock history, featuring legends like The Rolling Stones and The Who. Join us tomorrow for more important moments in rock history!
