May 25 is an important date in Top 40 music history, filled with memorable chart successes and cultural events. Here are some highlights from this day.
In 1974, Bill Haley & His Comets’ song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100, thanks to its feature in the film American Graffiti and the TV show Happy Days. Five years later, in 1979, David Bowie released his 13th studio album, Lodger, which was part of his Berlin Trilogy. The album reached No. 4 in the U.K. and No. 20 in the U.S., producing a couple of Top 40 singles.
In 1985, Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms hit No. 1 on the U.K. Albums Chart and made history as the first album to sell over a million copies on CD. Fast forward to 1991, Mariah Carey scored her fourth consecutive No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first artist since The Jackson 5 to achieve this feat. In 1998, Coldplay released their first EP, Safety, which included tracks that would later appear on their next EP.
In 2009, Phoenix launched their fourth studio album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard 200 and produced several hits. Finally, in 2018, Snow Patrol released their seventh album, Wildness, which reached No. 2 on the U.K. Albums Chart.
May 25 has also seen significant cultural moments. In 1948, Klaus Meine, the lead singer of Scorpions, was born in Germany. He has been a key figure in the band, which has over 15 Top 40 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart. In 1978, The Who performed a concert in London for their documentary, The Kids Are Alright, marking a memorable moment in music history.
