This Day in Top 40 History: August 31

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1963: The Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back" hit No. 1 in the U.S.
• 1963: The Ronettes made their debut on the Hot 100 with "Be My Baby." The song was produced by Phil Spector and became a top 10 smash, marking a turning point in the "Wall of Sound" era.
• 1973: The Rolling Stones released their eleventh album, Goats Head Soup, which spawned the US No. 1 single “Angie.” It debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and reached No. 19 on the US Billboard 200. It has since been certified triple platinum in the United States, with sales exceeding 3 million copies. 
• 1999: The Dixie Chicks released Fly, their fifth overall album and second major label album. It produced eight singles, including “Ready to Run,” “Cowboy Take Me Away,” and “Goodbye Earl,” which peaked at No. 39, No. 27, and No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. The album itself debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, selling 341,000 copies in its first week.

Cultural Milestones

• 1945: Van Morrison was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has posted eighteen top 40 albums on the US Billboard 200 and scored forty top 40 albums in the UK. Morrison is an inductee of both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He was also knighted in 2016 for his services to music and promoting touring in Northern Ireland. 
• 1948: Rudolf Schenker was born in Hildesheim, Germany. He is the founder, leader, and guitarist for the German rock band Scorpions, known for rock anthems such as “Wind of Change,” “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” and “Still Loving You.” The band has amassed over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands in music history. 
• 1957: Gina Schock was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She is the drummer for the all-female rock band the Go-Go's, known for the top 40 hits “Turn to You” and “Head Over Heels,” which went to No. 32 and No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Schock was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the band in 2021. 
• 1971: John Lennon left Britain for New York City to begin a new life with Yoko Ono. Lennon never again returned to live in England.
• 1984: Purple Rain premiered in the U.K. Prince's film grossed over $80 million worldwide.
• 1991: Metallica's self-titled fifth album, also known as The Black Album, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, a position it would hold for four consecutive weeks. It was the band's first US No. 1 album and remains their best-selling record, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide. The album featured some of the band's biggest hits, including “Nothing Else Matters,” “Enter Sandman,” “Sad but True,” and “Wherever I May Roam.”

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 1970: The Isle of Wight Festival concluded after a landmark weekend. The massive festival featured Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and Bob Dylan, drawing approximately 600,000 fans.
• 1987: Michael Jackson's "Bad" premiered on CBS. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the music video debuted during the prime-time TV special Michael Jackson: The Magic Returns.
• 2003: Elton John's 1979 track "Are You Ready for Love" hit No. 1 in the United Kingdom. Boosted by a Sky Sports commercial, the disco-inspired song found new life decades after its original release.
• 2009: Lil Wayne signed Nicki Minaj to Young Money Entertainment. Sharing a roster with Drake, Minaj became a breakout star in 2010, releasing collaborations and her No. 1 debut album, Pink Friday.
• 2018: A Star Is Born, starring Lady Gaga and director Bradley Cooper, premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Industry Changes and Challenges

• 1994: R. Kelly married 15-year-old Aaliyah at a private ceremony at a Rosemont, Illinois, hotel. Although the marriage was annulled later, the incident remained shrouded in silence for years.
• 2001: Aaliyah's funeral was held in New York City. Hundreds of mourning fans lined the streets as her casket, carried by a horse-drawn carriage, made its way to a private service.
• 2004: Carl Wayne passed away at the age of 61, merely weeks after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He was the lead singer for the English rock band The Move and sang lead on some of their biggest hits, such as “I Can Hear the Grass Grow” and “Flowers in the Rain.” 
• 2014: Jimi Jamison died from a hemorrhagic stroke at the age of 63. He achieved mainstream success as the frontman of the rock band Survivor, which he joined in the mid-80s. His first album with the band, Vital Signs (1984), peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. It spawned the hits “High on You” and “I Can't Hold Back,” which made it to No. 13 and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.