Historic events this week from U2, David Bowie, Styx, The Police and CCR
JULY 5, 1993: U2’s ZOOROPA
Zooropa was an experimental departure that continued U2‘s exploration of alternative rock and electronic music, highlighted by singles like the Edge-led “Numb,” the sprawling “Lemon,” and the emotive ballad “Stay (Faraway, So Close!).”
The album notably featured a guest vocal performance from country music legend Johnny Cash on the closing track, “The Wanderer,” as well as significant creative input from longtime collaborator Brian Eno, who contributed synthesizers, piano, backing vocals, and loops.
JULY 6, 1972: DAVID BOWIE DEBUTS ‘ZIGGY’ ON TOP OF THE POPS
Three weeks after the release of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, the titular character made his TV debut on UK’s Top of the Pops.
David Bowie’s performance of “Starman” propelled sales of the single and the album, which peaked at #10 and #5, respectively.
JULY 7, 1977: STYX RELEASE THE GRAND ILLUSION
Styx released their 7th album on 7-7-77.
Featuring “Come Sail Away”, “The Grand Illusion” and “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)”, The Grand Illusion was Styx’s first of 4 consecutive triple Platinum albums.
JULY 9, 1983: “EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE” BY THE POLICE IS #1
The Police had their only #1 single in the US with the release of “Every Breath You Take”.
The best-selling single of 1983 would spend 8 straight weeks at #1.
The single helped their final album, Synchronicity, sell over 8 million copies in the US.
JULY 10, 2021: CCR’s ONLY #1 BILLBOARD HIT
Fifty years after its release as a single, Creedence Clearwater Revival have their first US #1 hit.
In July 2021, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” topped Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart, giving CCR their first ever Billboard #1.
The song’s resurgence is credited to John Fogerty‘s presence on social media platform TikTok.
