40 Years Ago - 1986 Rolling Stones released their eighteenth album Dirty Work. The album was recorded during a time of turmoil for the band, as its two principal songwriters, Richards and Jagger, had been feuding over the band's direction during most of the 1980s. "Harlem Shuffle" is a cover of Bob & Earl's #44 hit from 1963. The Stones took it to #5, #4 Club, #2 Mainstream Rock. "One Hit (To the Body)" made #28.

40 Years Ago - 1986 Van Halen released their seventh album 5150. The first with Sammy Hagar as lead singer. The album was named after Eddie Van Halen's home studio, 5150, in turn named after a California law enforcement term for a mentally disturbed person (a reference to Section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code). This was also their first #1 album. The nickname for the band Van Hagar popped up and even Warner Brothers asked them to consider renaming the

40 Years Ago - 1986 Pet Shop Boys released their debut album Please. The album's title was chosen so that people could go into a record shop and say "Can I have the Pet Shop Boys album, please?" "West End Girls" peaked at #1 Hot 100 and Club, #26 AC, #36 R&B, #37 Mainstream Rock. "Love Comes Quickly" made #62 and #10 Club. "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" made #10 and #3 Club "Suburbia" made #70 and #46 Club.

45 Years Ago - 1981 Oak Ridge Boys released their seventh album Fancy Free. "Elvira" written in 1965 and a #72 hit for Dallas Frazier. The Boys took it to ##5, E8 AC, and #1 Country. The song won them a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. (It seems back in the day that every comedian at the Comedy Club would make an "Elmira" joke to this song. sigh) "(I'm Settin') Fancy Free" made #3 Country and #17 AC.

45 Years Ago - 1981 Gino Vannelli released his seventh album Nightwalker. "Living Inside Myself" peaked at #6, #5 AC, #45 R&B. The title track made #41.

35 Years Ago - 1986 Anita Baker released her second album Rapture. The album won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. "Watch Your Step" made #23 R&B. "Sweet Love" won a Grammy for Best R&B Song. This was her big breakthrough peaking at #8, #3 AC, #2 R&B. "Caught Up in the Rapture" made #37, #9 AC, #6 R&B. "Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)" peaked at #44, #8 R&B, #6 AC. "No One in the World" was a Dionne Warwick song from 1985. It peaked at #44, #9 AC, #5 R&B.

30 Years Ago - 1996 Barenaked Ladies released their thrid full-length album Born on a Pirate Ship. The title and front cover photo refers to a vulgar joke that was popular around the time the band members were children. One kid would instruct another to pull back the corners of their mouth with their fingers (but not stick their tongue out) and say, "I was born on a pirate ship." The result would sound like them saying, "I was born on a pile o' shit." Sometimes "with a bunch

35 Years Ago 1991 - Eurythmics released their greatest hits album. The US version had 14 tracks. I pick this song!!!!

40 Years Ago - 1986 Depeche Mode released their fifth album Black Celebration. It was pretty much ignored in the US. All chart positions are their UK charting. "Stripped" made #15 "A Question of Lust" made #28 "A Question of Time" peaked at #17 (it did make #34 US Dance Singles Sales) "But Not Tonight" made #15

30 Years Ago - 1996 Celine Dion released her fourth English-language album Falling Into You.  Her fourteenth overall! The album won the Grammy for Album of the Year and Best Pop Album. The title track is a cover of an Argentinian song by Marie-Clair D'Ubaldo who sings backup on Celine's version. It was released only in Europe with no US release. "Because You Loved Me" written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster and was the theme to the movie Up Close & Personal whic

45 Years Ago - 1981 Frankie and the Knockouts released their self-titled debut album. "Sweetheart" reached #10 and #27 Mainstream Rock. "Come Back" made #45 Mainstream Rock.

30 Years Ago - 1996 "Weird AL" Yankovic released his ninth album Bad Hair Day. Again, this album musically and with the videos show what a talent and genius Weird Al is. The album featured originals that were in the style of They Might Be Giants , Elvis costello, Soul Asylum, and a grunge and polka song. Direct parodies of U2 and TLC, "Amish Paradise" is a parody of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" and peaked at #53. Coolio was not pleased originally, but cooled (oh) later on.

35 Years Ago - 1991 R.E.M . released their seventh album Out of Time. The album won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album. "Losing My Religion" won Grammy's for Best pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best shor Form Music Video. it peaked at #4, #1 Alternative Airplay and Mainstream Rock, and #28 AC. "Shiny Happy People" is a duet with Kate Pierson from the B-52s. It peaked at #10, #48 AC, #3 Alternative Airplay, #8 Mainstream Rock.

35 Years Ago - 1991 Rick Astley released his third album Free . This was the first without Stock Aiken and Waterman producing. He worked with Rob Fisher part of the band Naked Eyes and Climie Fisher. "Cry for Help" was his last top ten peaking at #7 and #1 AC "Move Right Out" made #81 and #29 AC.

25 years Ago - 2001 Daft Punk released their second album Discovery. "One More Time" made #61, #1 Club #33 Pop Airplay, #27 Rhythmic "Digital Love" made #9 Club. "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" made #3 Club. "Face to Face" peaked at #1 Club.

20 Years Ago - 2006 Cascada released their debut album Everytime We Touch. German Euro Dance! "Miracle" peaked at #8 Dance Airplay. "Everytime We Touch" made #10, #28 AC, #1 Dance/Mix Show Airplay, #7 Pop Airplay. "Truly, Madly, Deeply" is a cover of the Savage Garden song and made #14 Dance/Mix Show Airplay. The album version was slow, I'm posting the Pop Version remix, and there was a dance mix.

30 Years Ago - 1996 the #1 Dance Song today was The New Anthem by N-Joi. After a chart run in 1991 resulting at a #4 peak, new remixes took it to #1.

45 Years Ago - 1981 Quincy Jones released his album The Dude. The album was nominated for twelve Grammys. It won three.  Best Instrumental Arrangement; Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal; and Best Instrumental Arrangement (Accompanying Vocalists). It also earned James Ingram three nominations with a win in Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "One Hundred Ways." which peaked at #14, #10 R&B, #5 AC. "Ai No Corrida" was the first single making #28, #10 R&B, #5 Cl

45 Years Ago - 1981 Stars on 45 released their Long Play Album (yea..kinda lame title) The single featured a cover medley of Beatles songs, with "Venus" "Sugar Sugar" added and peaked at #1. This also created the medley genre that ran for a couple of years. Think Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers, even "Hooked on Classics"

35 Years Ago - 1991 Music from the Motion Picture New Jack City was released. A glorious representation of New Jack Swing! "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme) featuring Ice-T made #67 "For the Love of Money / Living for the City" with Troop, LeVert, and Queen Latifah made #12 R&B/Hip Hop "I'm Dreamin'" from Christopher Williams made #1 R&B, #16 Club, #89 Hot 100. "I Wanna Sex You Up" by Color Me Badd peaked at #2 and #1 R&B "Keep It Comin'" by Keith Sweat made #17, #1 R&B/Hip Ho