This Day in Top 40 History: August 1
On Aug. 1, 1987, “Shakedown” by Bob Seger hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The energetic single was Seger’s only No. 1 hit, and it was featured…
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On Aug. 1, 1987, "Shakedown" by Bob Seger hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The energetic single was Seger's only No. 1 hit, and it was featured in Eddie Murphy's movie, Beverly Hills Cop II. Keep reading for more important events that took place on Aug. 1 in Top 40 history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Aug. 1 is associated with several chart-topping songs and albums, such as:
- 1964: Beatlemania was in full swing — "A Hard Day's Night" by The Beatles hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album of the same name held the top spot on the Billboard 200.
- 1981: Rick Springfield's single "Jessie's Girl" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This powerful pop ballad clearly resonated with the masses because it spent 32 weeks on the chart.
- 1989: Madonna released "Cherish" as a single from her fourth album, Like a Prayer. The doo-wop pop song was inspired by William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- 2020: Taylor Swift hit No. 1 on the U.K.'s Official Albums Chart with Folklore, an album she wrote earlier in the year at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swift surprised fans with the album, and it skyrocketed to the top of the charts.
Cultural Milestones
Here are some cultural milestones that took place on Aug. 1 that left a mark on the music world:
- 1942: The American Federation of Musicians went on strike against major record companies due to disagreements over royalty payments. Union musicians weren't allowed to make commercial recordings for major record companies.
- 1981: Music Television aired for the first time and played the music video for "Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles. MTV changed the way artists promoted music, pushing music videos as a key facet of a successful hit song.
- 1987: Six years after MTV's debut, MTV Europe aired for the first time. The first video shown on the European network was "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits.
- 2014: Directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy premiered in the U.S. with a soundtrack full of 1970s hits. The movie made songs such as "Hooked On A Feeling" popular again with younger generations.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Live performances on Aug. 1 became unforgettable moments, including:
- 1971: George Harrison from The Beatles hosted a charity concert called The Concert for Bangladesh. This show was the first of its kind, setting the stage for other charity gigs such as the iconic 1985 Live Aid concert.
- 2007: Prince started a 21-night concert residency at London's O2 Arena. He sold tickets to the shows for just 31.21 British pounds each.
Aug. 1 has been an eventful day in Top 40 history, marked by the premiere of MTV in the U.S. and Europe, as well as several breakthrough hits and memorable performances.
Megan ZahndWriter
