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Today in rock history: On this date in 1986, California-based glam-metal band Poison released its debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In. Initially released on small independent record label Enigma Records, it wasn't an instant hit. As the band and the record continued to gain momentum and popularity, the album was re-released by the larger Capitol Records and started a steady climb towards the top of Billboard’s pop albums chart. Fueled by the major hit singles like “I Want Action,” power balled “I Won’t Forget You” and the infectious party song, “Talk Dirty To Me,” the album became a huge seller. After relentless touring around the country supporting the record, Look What the Cat Dragged In wound up selling in excess of 3 million copies in America and peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s album chart, making Poison one of the most popular and exciting hair-metal bands of the era. The band recently played St. Petersburg's Al Lang Stadium, click here to see the photos.
P-P-PICTURES
Poison, Pop Evil and Pitbull Toddler rocked for St. Petersburg's Al Lang Live
Today in rock history: On this date in 1980, singer and actress Olivia Newton-John was at the top of Billboard’s pop singles chart with her hit “Magic.” The song originated from the popular soundtrack for the film Xanadu which was a box office flop in comparison to the success the soundtrack would achieve. “Magic” held on to the No. 1 spot for four straight weeks and, at the time, was Olivia’s most successful single. It would be eclipsed the following year with her dance hit “Physical,” which would occupy the No. 1 slot on Billboard’s chart for 10 straight weeks. The Xanadu soundtrack also spawned other hit singles like Newton-John’s duet with British crooner Cliff Richard “Suddenly," “I’m Alive” and “All Over the World,” which were performed by Electric Light Orchestra (a band whose music dominated the second side of the soundtrack album). The album peaked at No. 4 on sales charts and sold more than 4 million copies in the United States alone, but “Magic” was by far the best-selling single from the record. Click here to read a review of her 2017 Clearwater show.
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Today in rock history: On this date in 1988, country music superstar and actor Dwight Yoakam released his third album, Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room. Following in the footsteps of his first two albums, which appealed to both fans of country music and rock and roll, Yoakam’s third release featured two hits which went straight to No. 1 on Billboard’s country music singles chart. “Streets of Bakersfield,” a duet with country-music legend Buck Owens, was one of the chart-toppers. Owens had released his own version of the song in 1973, but his collaboration with Yoakam resulted in a much more substantial hit. “I Sang Dixie” was the album’s other No. 1 hit, and both songs received heavy airplay on country music radio. Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room was critically lauded upon its release and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s country albums chart as well. Click here to read a review of Yoakam's 2017 St. Petersburg show.
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Today in rock history: On this date in 1960, theatrical and visually captivating British rock and roll band Johnny Kidd & the Pirates was at the top of the English singles chart with its biggest worldwide hit, the rockabilly-tinged “Shakin’ All Over.” The band’s lead singer normally donned an eyepatch and wielded a sword in true pirate fashion, and it’s been often stated that the band’s look and approach was a major influence on glam rock, a genre that would take England by storm in the early 1970s. Although the band released several singles throughout its tenure, “Shakin’ All Over” was by far the biggest and best-known single of their catalog. “Shakin’ All Over” has been covered several times throughout the years by popular bands like The Who, The Guess Who and Generation X among many others.
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