This Day in Top 40 History: August 17

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones 

• 1992: Take That released Take That & Party, their 15-track debut studio album. It spent over 80 weeks on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, stalling at No. 2. Besides, it delivered multiple Top 20 singles in the region, including “I Found Heaven,” “It Only Takes a Minute,” “Why Can't I Wake Up With You,” and “A Million Love Songs.” 
• 1999: Mary J. Blige launched her fourth studio effort, Mary. It featured “All That I Can Say,” “Give Me You,” and “Deep Inside,” which included guest vocals from Elton John. This record peaked at No. 2 and No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, respectively. 
• 2018: Ariana Grande issued her fourth studio LP, Sweetener, featuring guests such as Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Williams, and Missy Elliot. This GRAMMY-winning album topped charts in the U.S. and the U.K. It also spawned Top 40 singles such as “God is a woman,” “no tears left to cry,” and “breathin'.”

Cultural Milestones

• 1949: Sib Hashian was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was best known as a member of Boston, whose U.S. Top 10 singles include “More Than a Feeling,” “Don't Look Back,” and “Amanda.” Hashian passed away at 67 in 2017 following a heart attack. According to sources, he was battling kidney cancer at the time of his death. Notably, he was the second original member of Boston to die — their former lead singer Brad Delp died in 2007. 
• 1959: Miles Davis released Kind of Blue, a jazz album unlike any that came before it. It's the best-selling (and regarded as the best-ever) jazz album of all time.
• 1968: British group The Doors enjoyed four weeks at No. 1 in the United States with their album Waiting for the Sun. The single from this album, "Hello, I Love You," also reached No. 1.
• 1998: At 7080 Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles, California, Carlos Santana was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Carlos is the founder of Santana, whose most successful record was Supernatural. In addition to spending 12 weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200, the album won an impressive eight GRAMMYs in 2000. Additionally, it produced “Smooth,” which ruled Billboard's Hot 100 for more than 10 weeks. 
• 2002: Nelly replaced himself at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 when "Dilemma" superseded "Hot in Herre." He became the fifth artist to achieve this unlikely chart accomplishment.
• 2012: Sparkle, a film starring Whitney Houston and “One Step At A Time” singer Jordin Sparks, hit theaters in the U.S. Inspired by The Supremes, the movie zeroed in on the lives of Sparkle, a music prodigy who faces various challenges, and her family. Unfortunately, this was the “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” hitmaker's final film role, as she had died in February of the same year. 
• 2023: Travis Scott retained top spot on the Billboard 200 chart with Utopia. The album included guest features from Drake, Beyoncé, SZA, and many others.

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 1960: The Beatles played a rollicking concert in Hamburg. This appearance set the stage for the group's on-stage charisma and persona.
• 1984: After a world tour, Elton John announced his retirement. It didn't last.
• 1991: Nirvana shot the music video for their grunge rock single "Smells Like Teen Spirit." The video was successful at the MTV Video Music Awards, and the track peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Industry Changes and Challenges

• 1977: As the public was reeling from Elvis Presley's passing, President Jimmy Carter made a statement, saying, "Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself."
• 1986: At a Run-DMC concert in Long Beach, California, an estimated 40 people were injured when a violent riot broke out. This incident prompted the group, which is known for hits such as “Down With The King” and “Walk This Way,” to cancel their performance, as they had not taken the stage yet. According to sources, they also called off their next scheduled show at the Hollywood Palladium due to security concerns. 
• 1995: Dave Gahan was hospitalized following a suicide attempt. Paramedics and sheriff's deputies found Gahan and rushed him to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment. He is the co-founder and frontman of Depeche Mode, the band behind tracks such as “Enjoy The Silence,” “People Are People,” and “I Feel You.” 
• 2009: A man stole money from a record store in Christchurch, New Zealand. Bizarrely, he was a regular customer and had provided his name and number to reserve a Pink Floyd album before conducting the robbery.
• 2016: Paul McCartney brought his massive catalog of music to Capitol Records after signing a new recording agreement. The catalog included all his post-Beatles recordings.