This Day in Top 40 History: October 22

On Oct. 22, 2012, Taylor Swift released her fourth album, Red. The album is now seen as a milestone in Swift’s transformation from country singer to pop star, as she effortlessly blended the genres across multiple songs on the album. Red included Swift’s first ever No. 1 single titled “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and the enduring ballad “All Too Well.” It was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 56th GRAMMY Awards. Keep reading for more Top 40 history from Oct. 22.

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

An artist can never predict how their music will be received by an audience, but these milestones showcase how there is room to grow and change as a musician along the way:

• 1965: The British Invasion was in full force with “Yesterday” by The Beatles at the top of the U.S. charts. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones sat at No. 10.
• 1966: The Supremes became the first all-female group to score a No. 1 album in the United States. The album titled The Supremes A’ Go-Go included the hit songs “Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart” and “You Can’t Hurry Love.”
• 2002: The Foo Fighters released their fourth album titled One by One. The album topped charts around the world and won the Foo Fighters their second GRAMMY for Best Rock Album a year later.
• 2002: Christina Aguilera released her fourth album titled Stripped. The album marked the debut of Aguilera’s alter ego, Xtina, and served to distance the artist from her teen popstar image.

Cultural Milestones 

Cultural moments from October 22 include:

• 1969: Spike Jonze was born Adam Spiegel in Rockville, Maryland. He founded Dirt, a magazine that covered music, movies, and other lifestyle topics. Besides, Jonze has directed music videos for many Top 40 acts, such as Weezer, Björk, The Chemical Brothers, and R.E.M.  
• 1992: Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, better known as 21 Savage, was born in Plaistow, England. He has several No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, including American Dream and I Am > I Was. Besides, he contributed to Post Malone’s chart-topping hit, “rockstar.”
• 1998: Roddy Ricch, whose real name is Rodrick Wayne Moore Jr., was born in California. The Compton native’s most notable solo hit is “The Box,” which ruled Billboard’s Hot 100 for 11 weeks.

Notable Recordings and Performances

From debuts to anniversaries, live performances are something special:

• 1990: Pearl Jam made their live debut as a band in Seattle, Washington, when the group performed at the Off Ramp Cafe.
• 2000: Pearl Jam performed at the MGM Grand Arena to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band’s live debut. The performance was recorded and released as the album 10/22/00 – Las Vegas, Nevada.
• 2016: After One Direction announced a hiatus, Niall Horan gave the first televised performance of his solo debut single titled “This Town.” He performed the song on The Graham Norton Show.
• 2017: Halsey’s Hopeless Fountain Kingdom World Tour stopped at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, where she performed hits such as “Closer” and “Hurricane.” This trek included more than 50 shows across North America, Oceania, Asia, Latin America, and Europe.
• 2022: While on The Big Steppers Tour, a trek that supported the No. 1 record Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar stole the show at the Accor Arena in Paris, France. Among the titles on his 28-track setlist were “DNA.” “King Kunta,” and “m.A.A.d city.”
• 2023: Guns N’ Roses played a 31-song set including “Welcome to the Jungle,” “There Was a Time,” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” at Nampa’s Ford Idaho Center in Idaho. This show was part of their 2023 World Tour. 
• 2023: Don Toliver owned the stage at Amager Bio in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was on the Love Sick Tour, which was launched in support of his No. 8 third studio LP. The 16-track album of the same name featured guests such as Future, Charlie Wilson, Wizkid, Justin Bieber, and GloRilla.

Industry Changes and Challenges 

October 22 has been associated with many industry changes and challenges, such as: 

• 1989: Ewan MacColl died in England at 74. MacColl penned hundreds of songs, including “Dirty Old Town,” which the Pogues covered, and Roberta Flack’s chart-topping single, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
• 2001: Rev. Howard Finster passed away in Rome, Georgia. He was 84. Finster was known for collaborating with Talking Heads and R.E.M. to design the covers of their Top 30 albums Little Creatures and Reckoning, respectively. 
• 2003: Despite the success of their Top Five debut album, Fallen, Evanescence co-founder Ben Moody left the band, citing a toxic environment and creative differences. At the time, they were right in the middle of the European leg of their first concert tour.
• 2008: Best Buy and Geffen Records announced the launch of Guns N’ Roses’ No. 3 record, Chinese Democracy. The band also released its title track on that day, marking their first new material in almost a decade. 
• 2017: Scott Putesky, best known as Daisy Berkowitz, died at 49 following a battle with colon cancer. Daisy was a founding member of the five-time GRAMMY-nominated band Marilyn Manson. He contributed to Top 40 albums such as Smells Like Children.

While “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was Swift’s first No. 1, another song from Red that has also become a fan favorite is “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” from Swift’s re-recorded album. These moments from Oct. 22 will live on in Top 40 history.