Historic events this week from Paul McCartney, Alice in Chains, John Lennon, Jonny Lang, The Beatles, David Bowie, Roy Orbison and Billy Joel
JANUARY 25, 1991: PAUL McCARTNEY UNPLUGGED
Paul McCartney appeared on the 21st episode of MTV Unplugged, but he was the first to release his performance as an album. Among a few cover songs, Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) contains six Beatles songs and “I Lost My Little Girl”; the first song Paul ever wrote, when he was 14 years old.
JANUARY 25, 1994: ALICE IN CHAINS RELEASE JAR OF FLIES
After two albums of alternative metal, Alice In Chains switched gears with the largely acoustic Jar of Flies EP.
Featuring their first #1 single, “No Excuses”, the EP has sold over 3 million copies worldwide and is their second biggest release behind 1992’s Dirt.
Jar of Flies is the first EP in music history to debut at #1.
JANUARY 27, 1970: “INSTANT KARMA!” WRITTEN IN A DAY
“Instant Karma!,” John Lennon‘s third single outside The Beatles, was written, recorded and completed in one day.
“…wrote it for breakfast, recorded it for lunch, and we’re putting it out for dinner…” – John Lennon
Featuring George Harrison, it was Lennon’s 2nd “solo” single since privately leaving The Beatles four months earlier.
JANUARY 27, 2014: BILLY JOEL’S MADISON SQUARE GARDEN RESIDENCY
Billy Joel announced a once monthly residency at Madison Square Garden, for as long as there is demand.
From 2014-2024, Billy Joel performed 104 shows at the historic venue, bringing his lifetime total MSG shows to 150.
JANUARY 28, 1997: JONNY LANG’S LIE TO ME
Jonny Lang released his major-label debut, Lie to Me, the day before he turned 16.
On the strength of the album’s title track, the sophomore album went Gold four months later and was certified Platinum (1 million sold) a year after its release.
JANUARY 30, 1969: THE BEATLES’ ROOFTOP CONCERT
The Beatles: Get Back on Disney+ documented the making of The Beatles‘ Let It Be album. The 468 min documentary culminates with the band’s legendary rooftop performance. During the unannounced rooftop concert, they performed “Get Back” (thrice), “Don’t Let Me Down” (twice), “I’ve Got a Feeling” (twice), “One After 909” and “Dig a Pony”.
At the conclusion of the 42-minute set, John Lennon quipped:
“I’d like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we’ve passed the audition”
JANUARY 30, 2016: DAVID BOWIE’S BLACKSTAR IS #1
David Bowie never had a #1 album in the US until his final album, Blackstar, reached the top spot 3 weeks after his death.
His highest charting albums in the US are (position/album/year):
#1: Blackstar (2016)
#2: The Next Day (2013)
#3: Station to Station (1976)
#4: Let’s Dance (1983)
#5: Diamond Dogs (1974)
JANUARY 31, 1989: ROY ORBISON’S POSTHUMOUS MYSTERY GIRL
Roy Orbison completed his posthumous classic album one month before his death.
Featuring members of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers on 8 of Mystery Girl‘s 10 tracks, Roy Orbison‘s only Platinum album features the hit single “You Got It.”
Mystery Girl contains songs written by U2‘s Bono & The Edge and Elvis Costello, as well as originals co-written with Tom Petty & Jeff Lynne.
