Historic events this week from Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Rush and more
• • •
JUNE 8, 1974: “BAND ON THE RUN” IS #1
“Band on the Run” was McCartney’s third US #1 non-Beatles single after “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” (’71) and “My Love” (’73).
Though the classic single only spent one week at #1, it helped Band on the Run sell 4 million copies in the US and remains McCartney’s bestselling solo/Wings album.
JUNE 8 2004: VELVET REVOLVER RELEASE CONTRABAND
Guns N’ Roses/Stone Temple Pilots supergroup, Velvet Revolver, quickly went Platinum after debuting at #1.
Contraband featured the #1 hit singles “Slither” and “Fall to Pieces”.
Velvet Revolver would take home the 2005 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for “Slither.”
JUNE 9, 1978: THE ROLLING STONES’ SOME GIRLS
When The Rolling Stones’ Some Girls went to #1 in the US, it was their sixth of eight straight albums to top the charts.
Some Girls remains the band’s biggest album thanks to hit singles “Shattered”, “Beast of Burden” and the US #1 single, “Miss You.”
JUNE 11, 1966:”PAINT IT BLACK” IS #1
“Paint It Black” was The Rolling Stones’ third US #1 hit.
The song details the intense grief that accompanies unexpectedly losing your lover.
With Brian Jones on sitar, it was the first ever #1 song to feature the instrument.
JUNE 12, 2012: RUSH’S CLOCKWORK ANGELS
Rush’s concept album, Clockwork Angels, was their 19th and final studio album.
They brought back producer Nick Raskulinecz (2007’s Snakes & Arrows), who is perhaps best known for producing two Foo Fighters albums.
Peaking at #2, Clockwork Angels and 1993’s Counterparts are as the band’s highest charting albums in the US.
JUNE 14, 1966: THE BEATLES’ BUTCHER COVER
The Yesterday and Today compilation was controversial due to the Beatles being draped in meat and doll parts on the cover.
The album was recalled when stores refused to sell it due to the offensive cover art.
The cover was replaced with a photo of the Beatles and a steamer trunk.
JUNE 14, 1980: BILLY JOEL’S GLASS HOUSES IS #1
Glass Houses was Billy Joel’s second US #1 album in a row, after 52nd Street.
Thanks to hit singles “You May Be Right” and “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”, the album was #1 in the US for 6 consecutive weeks.
Glass Houses earned Joel a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance in 1981.
