This Day in Top 40 History: July 31

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1965: The Beach Boys' "California Girls" entered the Billboard Hot 100. With its shimmering harmonies and West Coast energy, it quickly became one of their most enduring summer tracks.
• 1982: "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor climbed to No. 1 on the Hot 100. The song, fueled by its feature in Rocky III, would stay on top for six weeks and become one of the most recognizable tracks of the decade.
• 1999: Christina Aguilera hit No. 1 in the U.S. with "Genie in a Bottle." The song held its spot for five weeks and led to her GRAMMY win for Best New Artist, launching her career with major momentum.
• 2007: Common issued his seventh studio effort, Finding Forever, with Kanye West, D'Angelo, Lily Allen, and Bilal as guests. Peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, it is the Chicago native's highest-charting record in the U.S. as of this writing. Well-received tracks from this project include “The People,” “Southside,” and “I Want You.”
• 2008: Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" continued its grip on the Hot 100, holding the top position for a fifth week. It marked a bold, headline-making debut that would shape the next chapter of pop radio.
• 2020: The Psychedelic Furs launched their eighth studio LP, Made of Rain. Delivering “Wrong Train,” “Don't Believe,” and “Evergreen,” this was the band's first record since 1991's World Outside. Made of Rain stalled at No. 13 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart and No. 35 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums Chart. 

Cultural Milestones

• 1923: Ahmet Ertegun was born in Istanbul, Turkey. He co-founded Atlantic Records and served as its president for decades. During his tenure, Ertegun shaped the careers of a long list of Top 40 artists, including Led Zeppelin, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin. Atlantic Records' current roster features big names such as Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Janelle Monáe, and Kelly Clarkson. 
• 1968: At London's Trident Studios, The Beatles began working on "Hey Jude," a seven-minute-long song with 4 minutes of "na-na-na-na." This was done using new 8-track recording technology that allowed for richer sound compared to EMI's older setup.
• 1969: Elvis Presley returned to the stage with a four-week residency at the Las Vegas International Hotel. This was his first live performance in nearly a decade, and the fans were more than ready. The comeback was a huge success, and he earned $1.5 million restarting his career with a new chapter.
• 1979: Debra Glenn and Donny Osmond's first son, Donald Clark Osmond Jr., was born. The “Go Away Little Girl” hitmaker and his wife share four more sons, Brandon, Jeremy, Josh, and Chris. Instead of music, Donald Jr. decided to pursue marketing. According to sources, he runs a business marketing firm as of 2026. 
• 1992: George Michael launched a legal battle against Sony, claiming his contract restricted artistic freedom. The lawsuit would eventually change how major pop artists negotiated label agreements.
• 1994: Aaliyah and R. Kelly were secretly married at a hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. At just 15, the marriage was eventually annulled; however, the controversy sparked ongoing discussions about industry ethics and artist protection.
• 2010: Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz tied the knot. At the time, the “Fallin'” singer was pregnant with their first child, Egypt Daoud Dean, who was born in October of the same year. In December 2014, the couple welcomed their second son, Genesis Ali Dean. Additionally, they co-parent three other children from the One Man Band Man artist's previous relationships, including Nicole Dean, Prince Nasir Dean, and Kasseem Dean Jr.

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 1987: George Michael's "I Want Your Sex" was still holding on strong on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, climbing to #5. Controversial at the time but commercially successful, it soon reached No. 2 on the charts and helped transition him from teen idol to solo powerhouse.
• 2002: Avril Lavigne performed at Irving Plaza in New York City. This concert was part of her career, showcasing her new album Let Go, featuring songs like "Sk8er Boi" and "Complicated."
• 2008: Björk performed “Pleasure Is All Mine,” “army of me,” and “wanderlust,” at the OAKA Sports Hall in Athens, Greece. This concert was part of her Volta Tour, a trek that featured over 70 shows across America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania to support her Top 10 2007 record of the same name. 
• 2015: A few months after Zayn's departure, One Direction brought the house down at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The foursome played a 26-track setlist that included “Best Song Ever,” “Story of My Life,” “Drag Me Down,” and “Night Changes.” Notably, they were on their On the Road Again Tour promoting their chart-topping fourth studio LP, FOUR.

Industry Changes and Challenges 

• 1964: Jim Reeves died at 40 following a private plane crash in Tennessee. His body was not found until nearly two days later. While alive, Reeves was known for his courteous and polite demeanour. That, plus his smooth baritone voice, had seen him build a large fanbase that enjoyed his music. Speaking of which, Reeves had many Top 40 singles, including “He'll Have to Go” and “Welcome to My World.” 
• 2021: Paul Cotton died in his Oregon home at 78. He was a member of Poco, whose 1978 hit "Heart of the Night,” landed at No. 20 on Billboard's Hot 100. The band's “Crazy Love” also broke into the Top 20 in the U.S.