40 Years Ago - 1986 Oran "Juice" Jones released his debut album Juice. This was the first R&B album released by Def Jam Recordings. "The Rain" peaked at #9, #7 club, #1 R&B. (Tricks are made for kids, don't you know that? You without me: like cornflake without the milk.)

35 Years Ago - 1991 Another Bad Creation released their debut album Coolin' at the Playground Ya Know! "Iesha" peaked at #9 and #6 R&B. "Playground" made #10 and #4 R&B. "Jealous Girl" made #25 R&B. "My World" made #77 R&B.

40 Years Ago - 1986 the #1 Dance Song today was "No Frills Love" by Jennifer Holiday. It only peaked at #86 on the Hot 100 and #29 on the R&B chart.

45 Years Ago - 1981 Stray Cats released their self-titled debut album in the UK. Dave Edmunds produced it. It would be 1982 when America would get it's first Stray Cats album with a mix of songs from their first two UK albums. "Rock This Town" would make #9 and #4 Mainstream Rock "Stray Cat Strut" peaked at #3, #41 Mainstream Rock, and #78 Club.

30 Years Ago - 1996 Gin Blossoms released their third album Congratulations...I'm Sorry. "Follow You Down" and "As Long as It Matters" were a double A-sided single. The made #9, #1 Adult Alternative Airplay, #3 Adult Pop Airplay, #8 Alternative Airplay, #6 Mainstream Rock, #5 Pop Airplay.

30 Years Ago - 1996 2Pac released his fourth and final album All Eyez on Me. "California Love"/"How Do U Want It"  A double A side, "..Love" featured Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman, How Do U.." featured Snoop Dogg. The song(s) peaked at #1 on most charts, #34 Pop Airplay, #2 Rhythmic. "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" made #46 R&B/Hip Hop. "I Ain't Mad at Cha" made #58 and #18 R&B/Hip Hop.

The #1 Dance song today in 1996 was “I Found It” by Daphne. I think it's safe to say, I've never heard this song before. Daphne Rubin-Vega is best known for originating the roles of Mimi Marquez in the 1996 premiere of the Broadway musical Rent. (she was pregnant when the movie was being filmed, so did not participate.) She also appeared as publicist Agnes in the second season of the TV series Smash (2012), and as Luisa Lopez in the TV series Katy Keene (2020). In 2021, Rubin

45 Years Ago - 1981 Emmylou Harris released her eight album Evangeline. The album was a catch all for previously recorded but unreleased songs through the years. "Mr. Sandman" was from 1978 from a scrapped trio album with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. This version is all her though. It made #37, #8 AC, #10 Country. "I Don't Have to Crawl" made #44 Country.

40 Years Ago - 1986 Janet Jackson released her third album, the breakthrough Control. Hang on to something...it was massive!!!!!! The album has been praised by critics as both an artistic feat and as a personal testament of self-actualization. Janet became the first female artist to have five top five hits from one album on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis won the Grammy for Producer(s) of the Year, Non-Classical. "What Have You Done for Me Lately" peake

35 Years Ago - 1991 the #1 Dance Song today was " I Don't Know Anybody Else" by Black Box. It was the second single from their debut album Dreamland. No fooling, an uncredited Martha Wash kills the vocal. Besides #1 Club (their first), it made #23 Hot 100 and #10 R&B/Hip Hop.

45 Years Ago - 1981 "Weird Al" Yankovic released his first EP Another One Rides the Bus. The title track bubbled under the Hot 100 at #4, but was a big hit on The Doctor Demento Show, where it was recorded live! Brian May of Queen expressed his amusement with it. All of these songs would appear on the first official "Weird Al" album.

45 Years Ago - 1981 Rick Springfield released his fifth album Working Class Dog. The dog on the cover is Rick's pet named Ronnie. The album also features Neil Giraldo who worked/married Pat Benatar. "Jessie's Girl" was one of the slowest climbs to #1 at the time. Taking 19 weeks and won the Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. It also made #10 Mainstream Rock. "I've Done Everything for You" was written by Sammy Hagar and made #8. "Love is Alright Tonite" made #20 and

25 Years Ago - 2001 O-Town released it's self-titled debut album. They were formed for the first season of Making the Band. "Liquid Dreams" made #10 and #25 Pop Airplay. "All or Nothing" peaked at #3, #4 AC, #1 Pop Airplay, #29 Rhythmic. "We Fit Together" made #25 Pop Airplay.

25 Years Ago - 2001 Dream released their debut album It Was All a Dream. "He Loves U Not" peaked at #2, #15 R&B, #3 Pop Airplay, #9 Rhythmic Airplay "This Is Me" made #39, #80 R&B, #13 Pop Airplay, #17 Top 40 Tracks

35 Years Ago - 1991 Jesus Jones released their second album Doubt. "Real, Real, Real" made #4, #5 Club, #26 Mainstream Rock "Right Here, Right Now" made #2, #7 Mainstream Rock, #29 Club, #1 Modern Rock Tracks. "International Bright Young Thing" made #6 Modern Rock Tracks.

35 Years Ago - 1991 Divinyls released their self-titled fourth album. "I Touch Myself" was the only US single made #4, #35 Mainstream Rock, #2 Modern Rock Tracks.

35 Years Ago - 1991 Alexander O'Neal released his fourth album All True Man. "All True Man" made #43 and #5 R&B "What Is This Thing Called Love?" made #21 R&B, #10 Club "Shame on Me" made #30 R&B "The Yoke (G.U.O.T.R.)" made #73 R&B "Every Time I Get Up" made #56 R&B "Sentimental" made #31 R&B

35 Years Ago - 1991 Gerardo released his first album Mo'Ritmo. "Rico Suave" was the sole hit produced by Michael Sembello. It peaked at #7 and #2 Rap.

30 Years Ago - 1996 Tori Amos released her third album Boys for Pele. The biggest album of her career and self-produced.  "Caught a Lite Sneeze" made #60, #3 Adult Alternative Airplay, #13 Alternative Airplay. "Talula" bubbled under at #19, and #49 Dance Singles Sales (with a BT remix) "Professional Widow" bubbled under the Hot 100 at #8, but a remix from Armand van Helden (a completely reworked song) went #1 Club. "In the Springtime of His Voodoo" made #6 Club. Here's the da

25 Years Ago - 2001 Jennifer Lopez released her second album J.Lo "Love Don't Cost a Thing" made #3, #9 Club, #40 R&B/Hip Hop, #1 Pop Airplay, #3 Rhythmic Airplay. "Play" made #18, #2 Club, #6 Pop Airplay, #14 Rhythmic. "Ain't It Funny" "I'm Real" peaked at #1 Hot 100, Pop Airplay, & Rhythmic Airplay, #6 Club, #2 R&B/Hip Hop