This Day in Top 40 History: August 7
On Aug. 7, we have seen the release of many albums and No. 1 songs. Elvis Presley’s white jumpsuit was also sold at auction. Keep reading for more exciting facts…
On Aug. 7, we have seen the release of many albums and No. 1 songs. Elvis Presley's white jumpsuit was also sold at auction. Keep reading for more exciting facts in Top 40 history that occurred on Aug. 7.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Over the years, contributions from countless artists have helped shape pop music, including the following that occurred on Aug. 7:
- 1970: Stevie Wonder released his 12th album, Signed, Sealed, Delivered. It included four hit singles that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," which peaked at No. 3.
- 1976: "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John and Kiki Dee hit No. 1 in the U.S. The song held the top spot for four weeks.
- 1982: Dexys Midnight Runners' hit song "Come On Eileen" reached No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart. It topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 the following year.
- 2001: Usher released 8701, his third studio album, in the U.S. It included "U Remind Me" and "U Got It Bad," which both reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- 2015: Frank Turner dropped his sixth studio LP, Positive Songs for Positive People. This record, which produced “The Next Storm,” “The Opening Act of Spring,” and “Get Better,” reached the Top 40 in several countries, including the U.K., where it landed at No. 2.
- 2015: Dr. Dre released his third studio LP, Compton, featuring contributions from a string of Top 40 musicians, including Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg. This album stalled at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, but climbed to No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.
- 2020: Glass Animals issued their third studio LP, Dreamland. It reached No. 7 and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and the U.K Official Albums Chart, respectively. Additionally, this project spawned the No. 1 hit “Heat Waves,” which is arguably the band's most successful single, as of this writing.
Cultural Milestones
When music is released, it can often take on a life of its own — as can memorabilia. The following Aug. 7 events exemplify this:
- 1950: Rodney Crowell was born in Texas. His most notable record is Diamonds & Dirt, which peaked at No. 8 on Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart. Even more impressive, the set delivered five No. 1 hits on the Hot Country Songs Chart, including “I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried,” “She's Crazy for Leaving,” and “It's Such A Small World,” featuring Rosanne Cash.
- 1954: The Crew Cuts' version of "Sh-Boom" hit No. 1 on the U.S. charts. The song got a second life 52 years later when it featured in the Pixar movie Cars.
- 1965: Raúl Francisco Martínez-Malo Jr., better known as Raul Malo, was born in Miami, Florida. He was the co-founder and the lead vocalist of The Mavericks. As such, he contributed to hits such as “O What A Thrill,” “What A Crying Shame,” and “Here Comes the Rain,” all of which cracked the Top 40 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart. Malo died of colon cancer in 2025.
- 1995: LL Cool J and Simone Smith tied the knot. The couple shares four children, Najee, Italia, Samaria, and Nina. As of this writing, “Hey Lover” hitmaker and Smith are still together, and they continue to support each other's careers, which include the former's acting journey and the latter's jewelry design business.
- 2008: A lucky bidder spent $300,000 on Elvis Presley's iconic white bedazzled jumpsuit, making it the most expensive piece of The King's memorabilia ever sold at auction.
Notable Recordings and Performances
It looks like New York City was the place to be for live music on Aug. 7:
- 1997: Nearly 1 million people crowded into Central Park's North Meadow for a free Garth Brooks concert. It's considered one of the largest concerts ever held in the park.
- 2008: After 151 shows, The Police concluded their reunion tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was the band's first tour since 1986.
- 2024: Green Day played hits such as “Wake Me Up When September Ends," “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” and “Holiday” at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. They were on The Saviors Tour, which supported their No. 4 album of the same name.
- 2025: The Weeknd's After Hours Til Dawn Tour stopped at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Canada. This visit saw the four-time GRAMMY winner perform a 42-song setlist that included “Blinding Lights,” “I Feel It Coming,” “Can't Feel My Face,” and “Baptized in Fear.”
Industry Changes and Challenges
Artists, fans, and labels have to adjust as the industry grows and changes:
- 1987: Lindsey Buckingham abruptly left Fleetwood Mac after a disagreement with band members. He rejoined the group 10 years later.
- 1999: Following a Dave Matthews Band concert in Hartford, Connecticut, 55 people were arrested due to violent behavior. The violence was largely attributed to people who were congregating outside the venue but not attending the show.
- 2011: Marshall Grant passed away in Jonesboro, Arkansas, after suffering a stroke and a brain aneurysm. He was the only surviving member of The Tennessee Two, the backing band of the “A Boy Named Sue” singer Johnny Cash. According to sources, Grant's health declined after he started preparing for a show to raise funds for rebuilding Cash's childhood home.
- 2021: Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas died in his sleep at 70. He was a founding member of Kool & the Gang, who have 12 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, as of this writing. That list features “Jungle Boogie,” “Cherish,” and “Celebration,” which made it to the top of the chart. The GRAMMY-winning group accomplished more notable feats, including earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and being welcomed into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
- 2024: Three Taylor Swift concerts scheduled in Vienna were cancelled due to a security threat.
Aug. 7 was a landmark day for Top 40 music, with numerous significant events and milestones.
Dawn Palmer-QuaifeWriter
