Category: Milestones

Milestones: Jobim and Carpenters

The Wonderful World Of Antonio Carlos JobimJanuary 25 marks the birthday of the legendary Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist Antonio Carlos Jobim.  Born in 1927, Jobim was instrumental in bringing Brazilian music and Bossa Nova to the ears of listeners around the world, and penned many tunes that defined the era. Jobim appeared on A&M via Creed Taylor’s CTi label by way of two albums, Wave and Tide, and appeared uncredited on the Brasil ’66 album Equinox.

Carpenters also made the news today in 1975 when their single “Please, Mr. Postman” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.  The original version by The Marvelettes was the first #1 single for the fledgling Motown Records label, and this song, along with a handful of others, holds the distinction of reaching #1 performed by two different artists.  “Venus” by Shocking Blue hit #1 in 1970, while Bananarama’s version reached the top in 1986.  Grand Funk and Little Eva both took the Goffin-King tune “The Loco-Motion” to #1, and another composition of theirs, “Go Away Little Girl,” would reach #1 two times at the hands of Steve Lawrence and Donny Osmond.

Today’s Milestones: Styx and Janet Jackson

Paradise TheatreJanuary 19, 1981: The tenth studio album by Styx, Paradise Theater, is released, and would feature two singles: “The Best of Times” and “Too Much Time on my Hands.”  The album was recorded at Pumpkin Studios by its owner, engineer/producer Gary Loizzo (formerly of American Breed) who unfortunately passed away within the past week.

January 19, 1991: Janet Jackson’s single “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” hits #1 on the Billboard chart, the fourth of her singles to do so.  Like the others, this one was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Bonus: Herb Alpert makes a guest appearance on trumpet.  This appears on the album Rhythm Nation 1814.

Milestone: Frampton Comes Alive!

Released on this date in 1976, Peter Frampton’s landmark live album, Frampton Comes Alive, is released in the US.  The album would eventually produce three hit singles, including “Show Me The Way” (#6 Pop), “Do You Feel Like We Do” (#10 Pop), and “Baby I Love Your Way” (#12 Pop). “Frampton Comes Alive” becomes one of the biggest selling live albums of all time, and of course was one of A&M’s top sellers as well, topping the Billboard album chart for ten weeks (non-consecutively).

The album has many reissues.  The original double album was released as a single CD, but a two-disc deluxe edition adds four unreleased tracks, and resequences the songs into the concert running order.  The deluxe edition was also released as an SACD.

January 5 Milestones: Carpenters and Joe Jackson

Two A&M Milestones today, January 5.  In 1974, Carpenters hit #1 on the Billboard album chart with their anthology The Singles: 1969 – 1973.  This album compiled their hit singles to date, including their chart topping tunes “(They Long To Be) Close To You” and “Top of the World,” and would become a perennial bestseller.

Also on January 5, 1979, the ever-eclectic Joe Jackson’s debut album Look Sharp! debuts in the UK. The album would be released in April in the US.  This was the first of three A&M albums featuring Jackson’s original quartet with Graham Maby (bass), Dave Houghton (drums) and Gary Sanford (guitar).  “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” is the breakthrough single from the album that brought Jackson into the limelight.

Thanks to our pal Jeff Harris (Behind the Grooves) for the timely daily updates.  Follow his blog over at Tumblr.