January 16 has seen many exciting moments in rock history. It’s the day George Harrison hit the top of the charts with one of his biggest solo hits, Tina Turner set a concert attendance record, and ZZ Top released their first album. Here’s a look at some key events from this day.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones:
1988: George Harrison’s cover of James Ray’s 1962 hit “I’ve Got My Mind Set on You” reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for one week. This was Harrison’s third No. 1 single and the last Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 by a former Beatle.
1988: While Harrison was topping the singles chart, fellow Brit George Michael claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart with his debut solo album, Faith. It spent 12 weeks at the top and sold over 25 million copies worldwide, thanks to hits like the title track, “Father Figure,” and “One More Try.”
2005: The Killers topped the U.K. albums chart with their debut, Hot Fuss. The album featured hits like “Somebody Told Me” and “Mr. Brightside,” selling over 7 million copies globally.
Notable Recordings and Performances:
1971: ZZ Top released their first album, ZZ Top’s First Album. It was a moderate success but helped establish their Texas blues style.
1988: Tina Turner performed in front of about 188,000 fans at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This concert set a record for solo artist attendance.
1992: Eric Clapton recorded his famous MTV Unplugged show, which included acoustic versions of his biggest hits. It became the best-selling live album ever, selling over 26 million copies.
From major hits to unforgettable concerts, January 16 has it all. Check back tomorrow for more rock history highlights!
