Today in Music History

Sony launched the first commercially available compact disc player, the CDP-101, in Tokyo. The device cost 168,000 yen, equivalent according to different source variants to approximately $650–$730.

ABBA was honored in Sweden with the issuance of a postage stamp.

Bonnie Tyler became the first Welsh woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. The song began a four-week run at No. 1 and also topped the charts in seven other countries. It was later nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

A David Bowie convention, or according to the source variants a worldwide gathering of his fans, was held at the Cunard Hotel in London. According to the source variants, the event presented the largest collection of Bowie memorabilia assembled up to that time, or was the first fan gathering dedicated to Bowie. Among those attending were his former dance teacher, manager, guitarist, archivist, and photographer.

Paul Young reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with his debut studio album, “No Parlez”, where it remained for two weeks.

The album “Apollonia 6” was released.

U2 released the album “The Unforgettable Fire”, on which they began working extensively with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The album included, among other songs, the hit “Pride”.

British rapper and MC Dylan Kwabena Mills, known as Dizzee Rascal, was born. He later became one of the pioneers of British hip hop and grime.

Andy McVann, the 21-year-old drummer of Liverpool band The Farm, died in a car accident during a police pursuit. The band’s 1991 album “Spartacus” was dedicated to him.

Def Leppard began the North American leg of their world tour for the album “Hysteria” with a concert at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, New York.

Soundgarden released their debut EP, “Screaming Life”, on Sub Pop Records.

Bon Jovi reached No. 1 on the UK album chart for the first time with “New Jersey”. The band’s fourth album also topped the charts in the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, and Switzerland. It produced five Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest number of Top 10 hits at the time for a hard rock album; “Bad Medicine” and “I’ll Be There for You” reached No. 1.

Iron Maiden released the album “No Prayer for the Dying”, which foreshadowed guitarist Adrian Smith’s departure from the band.

Forbes magazine ranked New Kids On The Block among the five highest-earning American artists, with the group reportedly earning $78 million during the previous year.

Michael Jackson’s crystal-encrusted white glove was stolen from the Motown Museum in Detroit. According to one source variant, the glove was found two days later; M.C. Hammer offered a $50,000 reward for its return.

A revived production of the musical “Oba Oba '93” was staged.

Wilson Pickett was sentenced to one year in prison after driving under the influence of alcohol and hitting an 86-year-old pedestrian with his car. During his sentence, he suffered an eye injury in a confrontation with another inmate that required several operations.

Eric Clapton entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 with his twelfth solo studio album, “From the Cradle”. The album also reached No. 1 in the UK, Austria, and Switzerland. The blues recording followed the success of “Unplugged” and won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album; it was also nominated for Album of the Year.

Luther Vandross reached No. 1 on the UK album chart with his ninth studio album, “Songs”, which consisted mainly of cover versions of well-known songs.

Megadeth became the first musical act to launch its own official website on the then newly accessible World Wide Web. The site included a chat, photo gallery, and song samples.

The British Daily Mirror published a photograph of Michael Jackson wearing a scout leader’s uniform with five young scouts. It was later clarified that the photograph came from a ceremony in Los Angeles in September 1990, where Jackson received the Good Scout Humanitarian Award. A representative of the scouting organization subsequently stated that Jackson had no connection with the organization and had never served as a scout leader.

The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center opened in California at California State University, Long Beach.

Farm Aid 8 took place in Louisville, Kentucky. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Hootie and the Blowfish, and The Dave Matthews Band performed; according to the source variants, the concert raised nearly one million dollars, or more than one million dollars, to support American farmers.

Nirvana released the live album “From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah”, featuring concert recordings from 1989–1994. The album reached No. 1 in six countries, including the United States.

English singer, songwriter, and musician Jade Bird was born.

John Fogerty received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard; according to the source, it was star number 1356.

INXS, Men at Work, and John Paul Young performed at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games.

Madonna topped the US album chart with “Music”, her fourth album to reach No. 1 in the United States.

Midnight Oil performed “Beds Are Burning” at the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Sydney. The members of the band wore the word “sorry” on their black clothing as a symbolic gesture toward Australia’s Indigenous people.

The Recording Industry Association of America introduced rules for labeling recordings containing material considered unsuitable for children in the United States.

Barry White’s record label announced that the 58-year-old singer was suffering from kidney failure caused by long-term high blood pressure and was undergoing maintenance dialysis. A planned transplant could not be carried out; White died nine months later.

Good Charlotte released their second album, “The Young and the Hopeless”, which became an important recording in the pop-punk scene. It included songs such as “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and “The Anthem”.

James Blunt left the British Army after six years of service with a cavalry regiment. Several years later, he established himself as a singer with the album “Back to Bedlam” and the hits “You're Beautiful” and “Goodbye My Lover”.

The White Stripes played a free concert in New York’s Union Square Park for a large lunchtime audience. They performed a mixture of cover versions and songs from their first three albums.

AC/DC Lane, a street named after the Australian rock band, was officially opened in Melbourne. During the ceremony, the band’s song “Long Way to the Top” was played on bagpipes.

Former Buffalo Springfield bassist Bruce Palmer died at the age of 58 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, of a heart attack. He was also a member of The Mynah Birds and worked with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Neil Young. In 1967, Buffalo Springfield had their only single to reach the US Top 40 with “For What It’s Worth”, which peaked at No. 7.

John Fogerty, Bruce Springsteen, and R.E.M. launched the Vote for Change tour in Philadelphia. Dave Matthews Band performed in State College and Dixie Chicks in Pittsburgh.

Ms Dynamite was arrested on suspicion of assault following an incident at a restaurant in central London. She voluntarily went to the police station and was later released on bail.

Paul Wall reached No. 1 on the US album chart with his second studio album, “The Peoples Champ”.

Pete Doherty was arrested during a police drug operation in Shrewsbury, where his band Babyshambles was performing. Police said that a man and a woman were arrested for possession of Class A drugs, while another 17 people were searched. A subsequent Babyshambles concert in Norwich was canceled.

George Michael was arrested in London for possession of drugs.

A court awarded Kevin Federline custody of his two children with Britney Spears. The judge cited, among other concerns, issues related to her use of controlled substances and alcohol.

Laura Marling and her band performed outside the Soho Revue Bar in London because the 17-year-old singer was not allowed inside under a rule permitting entry only to people over 18. The concert was therefore performed directly on the street in front of surprised and enthusiastic fans.

Radiohead’s official website crashed after the band announced that their album “In Rainbows” could be ordered through their own website. Fans could pre-order the digital version for any price they chose, while a special physical package costing £40 contained two CDs, two vinyl records, artwork, and booklets.

The Spice Girls reunion concert at London’s O2 Arena sold out in 38 seconds after fans were informed that tickets had gone on sale. More than one million people applied for tickets, and three additional London dates were added because of the enormous demand.

Justin Timberlake portrayed Napster co-founder Sean Parker in the film “The Social Network”, which tells the story of the creation of Facebook and was nominated for an Academy Award.

Burton Cummings, keyboardist and singer of The Guess Who, was inducted into the Canada Walk of Fame in Toronto.

Dappy reached No. 1 on both the Scottish and UK singles charts with “No Regrets”.

Gene Simmons of KISS and actress Shannon Tweed married after 28 years together and two children in an evening outdoor ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Their wedding song, “At Last”, was sung by their daughter Sophie.