This Day in Top 40 History: February 17
Feb. 17 has had its share of hits and milestones. A military member earned a gold record for “The Battle of the Green Berets,” bands and stars appeared on television,…
Destiny’s Child performed live at ‘Women Rock!: Girls & Guitars’ at the Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles, Ca. 10/12/00. The concert was held to raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer and will air on the Lifetime channel sunday, october 22, 2000. Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect.
Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirectFeb. 17 has had its share of hits and milestones. A military member earned a gold record for "The Battle of the Green Berets," bands and stars appeared on television, and musician Herb Alpert opened his multimedia art show at a Palm Desert gallery.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Feb. 17 is associated with many songs and albums we still sing along to:
- 1965: The English band The Kinks' "Tired of Waiting for You" was released on this day. This catchy song is still heard on the radio.
- 1966: Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walking" hit number one on the U.K. charts. Many felt this sassy song portrayed unconventional feminism, especially for the era.
- 1998: Destiny's Child released their self-titled debut album on Colombia Records after a failed run with Elektra Records. The song "No, No, No" from the album reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Cultural Milestones
The date has seen songs and events leave a lasting impression on culture worldwide:
- 1966: Sgt. Barry Sadler's single "Battle of the Green Berets" won gold from the Recording Industry Association of America. This song is about the Special Forces unit fighting in Vietnam.
- 1976: The Eagles, with their harmonies and fun-to-sing-along songs, released the album "Their Greatest Hits." They were and remain a hugely influential band with songs such as "Peaceful Easy Feeling," "Take it Easy," and "Lying Eyes."
- 2010: Newcomers to the music scene, Mumford & Sons, appeared on "Late Show With David Letterman." This was their U.S. debut on a TV show, and songs such as "I Will Wait" and "Little Lion Man" became massive hits.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Many notable songs, performances, and movies garnered special attention on Feb. 17:
- 1962: Gene Chandler's "Duke of Earl" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song stayed in that position for three weeks.
- 1971: Soulful singer James Taylor debuted on "The Johnny Cash Show." He sang two of his biggest hits: "Fire and Rain" and "Carolina on My Mind."
- 1984: The movie "Footloose" debuted in theaters. It featured performances by Kenny Loggins, Bonnie Tyler, and Karla Bonoff.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Changes in the music industry often have lasting effects, with musicians enjoying a different type of artistic expression. Feb. 17 plays an important role:
- 1982: Thelonious Monk, a jazz pianist who influenced pop/fusion stars such as Steely Dan, died on this day. Music historians claim that Monk was one of the most inventive pianists across all genres and a genuine master of American music.
- 1997: The Monkees had a television reunion show on the ABC network. All four band members appeared on the hour-long show and proved that fun pop music was still alive.
- 2018: Legendary trumpet player Herb Alpert displayed his artwork at the Heather James Fine Art Gallery in Palm Desert, California. His show, Herb Alpert: A Visual Melody, highlighted his mixed-media artwork and demonstrated his talent as a visual artist.
The music industry constantly changes and evolves. Top 40 hits across musical styles, major musicians, and television appearances by popular bands have and continue to influence future generations.
