JAN 25-FEB 1: Historic events this week from John Lennon, David Bowie, Roy Orbison, Alice Cooper and more

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JANUARY 27, 1970: INSTANT KARMA! COMPLETED 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 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 their Let It Be album. The 468 min documentary culminated 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” – John Lennon

JANUARY 30, 2016: BOWIE’S FIRST US #1 ALBUM

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: MYSTERY GIRL
Roy Orbison completed his posthumous classic album, Mystery Girl, one month before his death.

Featuring members of The Heartbreakers on 8 of 10 tracks, Orbison’s only Platinum album features the hit single “You Got It.”

Mystery Girl contains songs written by Bono & The Edge and Elvis Costello, as well as Orbison originals co-written with Tom Petty & Jeff Lynne.

FEBRUARY 1, 1973: ALICE COOPER’S BILLION DOLLAR BABIES

Alice Cooper’s Welcome to My Nightmare may be Alice Cooper’s biggest album, but Billion Dollar Babies has the distinction of being his only US #1 album.

The Platinum selling album features the classic rock radio staple “No More Mr. Nice Guy.”