If you’re like myself, you enjoy various types of music. And in today’s world, older music doesn’t get enough attention.
So, to bring the old in with the new, and make one fun mash-up, let’s have a Throwback Thursday: Music Edition.
1955
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgdufzXvjqw]
The song that kicked off Rock ‘n’ Roll as a U.S. phenomenon came out on this day — “Rock Around the Clock.” Thank you Bill Haley & His Comets for giving the world Rock ‘n’ Roll. This song is considered one of the most important songs in this genre, and bands from the Beatles to The Rolling Stones have considered Haley to be one of their biggest influences for their own bands.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Gz3qDGUOA]
In this same year, Elvis Presley’s contract from Sun Records was sold to RCA for $35,000, which in today’s money would be over $300,000. Elvis would go on to be the only performer to ever earn over a billion dollars from his concerts, films, promotions, music, etc. Some have said this mirrors the Babe Ruth trade in baseball. But Phillips took that money and invested it into Holiday Inn, so he still made money.
1961
Bob Dylan began recording his first self-titled album over a two-day recording session at Columbia Records in New York City.
1962
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seRxDwByI2w]
The Four Seasons’ hit “Big Girls Don’t Cry” came out on this day, back in ’62. It stayed as the No. 1 hit song for five weeks on the charts.
1971
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2cHkMwzOiM&w=420&h=315]
Isaac Hayes released the “Theme From Shaft,” which was No. 1 on the charts in the U.S. for a couple of weeks. Hayes won a Grammy for Best Original Film Score with this song.