On July 23, 1964, The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night began a remarkable run: 21 weeks at No. 1 in the U.K. and later 14 weeks at No. 1 in the U.S. Here are more music moments from July 23 through the years.
Breakthrough hits and milestones
1983: The Police released Synchronicity. It hit No. 1 on the U.S. album charts and became the band’s final studio album.
1988: Paula Abdul’s Forever Your Girl finally reached No. 1 after more than a year on the charts. The record launched her pop career after years as a choreographer.
1991: Color Me Badd dropped their debut, C.M.B., which climbed to No. 3 in the U.K. The album mixed pop, R&B, and new jack swing and produced several Top 40 singles.
1996: Fiona Apple released her debut, Tidal, in the U.S. It peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200. The single “Criminal” won the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
2021: Leon Bridges released Gold-Diggers Sound. Featuring guests like Terrace Martin and Robert Glasper, the album peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200.
Cultural moments
1965: Saul Hudson—better known as Slash—was born in London. He rose to fame with Guns N’ Roses and later played with Velvet Revolver.
1966: Frank Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night topped the U.S. album charts. The title song won Record of the Year and Best Male Vocal Performance at the Grammys.
1968: The Jackson 5 auditioned for Motown, performing a James Brown song. They were signed almost immediately.
1979: Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child was born in Rockford, Illinois. Destiny’s Child went on to score multiple Top 40 hits and No. 1 singles before the members pursued solo careers.
