On July 16, music history served up a few memorable moments. One odd highlight: in 2007 The White Stripes played what’s often called the shortest gig ever in Newfoundland — one C# note and a single cymbal crash during their Canadian tour.
Breakthrough hits and milestones from July 16:
– 1977: Barry Manilow’s Barry Manilow/Live knocked Fleetwood Mac off No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a week before Fleetwood Mac returned to the top.
– 1984: Sade released Diamond Life in the U.K. The debut sold over 10 million copies worldwide, hit No. 2 in the U.K., stayed on the chart for almost 100 weeks, and produced several Top 40 singles.
– 2000: Coldplay’s debut Parachutes reached No. 1 in the U.K. It introduced the moody sound that made the band huge.
– 2011: LMFAO’s party anthem hit No. 1 and dominated the charts for six weeks, fueled by a viral music video and a dance craze.
– 2013: Mayer Hawthorne dropped Where Does This Door Go, featuring guests like Kendrick Lamar and Jessie Ware. It reached No. 30 on the Billboard 200 and spawned a few notable tracks.
Cultural milestones on July 16:
– 1955: A young Elvis Presley made his first appearance on the U.S. charts.
– 1966: Eric Clapton teamed with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce to form Cream. They went on to big albums like Wheels of Fire and several Top 10 hits.
– 1983: For the first time since 1965, half of the U.S. Top 40 were British acts. The Police held the No. 1 spot.
– 1990: Nigerian singer Wizkid was born in Lagos. He later featured on global hits with Drake and collaborated with Justin Bieber and Tems.
– 2022: After Stranger Things season four, classic tracks by Metallica and Kate Bush re-entered the Top 40, proving how TV can revive old hits.
Notable moment:
– 1962: The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records, a key step in launching their long-lasting career.
