Historic events this week from Joan Jett, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, The Beach Boys and Van Halen
FEBRUARY 6, 1987: LIGHT OF DAY STARRING JOAN JETT
Joan Jett made her acting debut in 1987’s Light of Day, starring alongside Michael J. Fox.
The title song was written by Bruce Springsteen and performed by Jett & Fox’s The Barbusters band.
The song peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April ’87.
“Light of Day” remains a staple of Joan Jett’s live set.
Jett & Fox reunited at a Parkinson’s benefit in November 2018.
• • •
FEBRUARY 7, 1976: BOB DYLAN’s DESIRE IS #1
Dylan’s 17th studio album was his third to go to #1 in the US, after Planet Waves and Blood on the Tracks.
The album contained the protest song, “Hurricane”, about the wrongful conviction of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.
At 5-straight weeks, Desire spent more time at #1 than any other Bob Dylan album.
• • •
FEBRUARY 8, 2009: RAISING SAND WINS FIVE GRAMMYS
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand is the highest charting album for Plant outside of his work with Led Zeppelin.
The album won 5 Grammys; sweeping all categories in which it was nominated:
Record of the Year, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album, and Album of the Year.
• • •
FEBRUARY 10, 1966: PET SOUNDS PHOTOSHOOT
None of the Beach Boys clearly recall whose idea it was to shoot the Pet Sounds cover at the San Diego Zoo.
The group’s unruly behavior resulted in them being banned from the San Diego Zoo for life.
The Beach Boys are not welcome back and never will be.
John Muth, San Diego zoo superintendent
• • •
FEBRUARY 10, 1978: VAN HALEN’S DEBUT ALBUM
Van Halen’s self-titled debut was recorded in 3 weeks for $40,000. Containing “Jamie’s Cryin’”, “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love”, “Runnin’ with the Devil” and a cover of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”, it has sold well over 10 million copies in the US alone.
