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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 19h

Nancy Wilson, Cindy Birdsong & Diana Ross – as The Supremes – released the melancholic classic “Someday, We’ll be Together” on Motown on this date in 1969. The single would reach #1 on the American pop charts – & would be the final hit with Ross as a member of the trio.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 19h

Directed by Martin Scorsese, Mean Streets premiered today in 1973. Starring Robert De Niro & Harvey Keitel, life in New York City’s Little Italy neighborhood is examined from the perspective of two young men trying to navigate a chaotic world of mob violence & familial honor.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 19h

ABC television's Kung Fu premiered this evening in 1972. It made David Carradine (1936-2009) a star – and the show added to the martial arts craze which swept through the U.S. in the early 1970s. Despite the early hype, Kung Fu was a middling series, airing for just three seasons.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 1d

“Let’s Do It Again” – penned by the legendary Curtis Mayfield (1942-1999) & a colossal hit for the Staple Singers – was released as a single on this date in 1975. It soared to the top of the soul & pop charts in the U.S. “Let’s Do It Again” was the final big American pop hit for the Staple Singers.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 1d

Anita Kerr (born today in 1927) created a vocal sound which hundreds of record producers trusted over the decades. Kerr created the Anita Kerr Singers in the early 1950s & this ever-changing ensemble provided background vocals on dozens of country & pop hits. Kerr passed in 2022.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 1d

Cyndi Lauper’s dazzling debut lp – She’s So Unusual – was released on this date in 1983. Produced by Rick Chertoff, it’s anchored by the joyous “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (#2 pop, U.S.). The album reached #4 on the American lp charts – launching Lauper into the 1980s and beyond.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 1d

Paul Simon (born today in 1941) has carved out a magnificent solo career by creating landmark albums – such as the seminal Graceland (1986, Warner Bros.). Also, Simon had several massive singles in the 1970s, including “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” (#1 pop U.S. – for three weeks in 1976).

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 2d

Legendary soul vocalist Sam Moore was born today in 1935 in Miami. He partnered for two decades with Dave Prater – and, as Sam & Dave, they had two top 10 pop hits in the U.S., with “Soul Man” & “I Thank You.” Sam & Dave entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 – and Moore died in 2025.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 2d

Directed by Sidney J. Furie, Lady Sings the Blues premiered today in 1972. It was a tour de force for Diana Ross – she received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Billie Holiday, and the film’s soundtrack lp was a massive success for Ross. It’s her only #1 solo album.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 2d

Pat DiNizio –the front man of the power pop quartet The Smithereens – was born on this date in 1955. In the late 1980s, he penned the band’s signature tune – “A Girl Like You” DiNizio also wrote “Only a Memory” “Blues Before and After” “Blood and Roses” & “Top of the Pops” DiNizio died in 2017.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 3d

Even by the audacious standards of Santana in the early 1970s, Caravanserai (released today in 1972 on Columbia) is an adventurous album. Primarily made up of sprawling instrumentals – such as “Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation” – Caravanserai was Santana’s fourth consecutive top 10 album in the U.S.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 3d

“Well, I can't forget this evening; And your face when you were leaving; But I guess that's just the way the party goes” Released today in 1971, “Without You” helped define the career of Harry Nilsson. Written by Badfinger’s Pete Ham & Tony Evans, Nilsson’s version reached #1 on the U.S. pop charts.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 3d

Directed by Louis Malle, the sharp-witted My Dinner with Andre was released today in 1981. Written by André Gregory & Wallace Shawn – they are also the featured actors. Gregory & Shawn are on-screen virtually the entire movie – and both are extraordinary. It’s still a one-of-a-kind film.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 3d

For a half-century, Saturday Night Live has been a part of American popular culture. Premiering this evening in 1975 on NBC, SNL’s first guest host was George Carlin. Janis Ian and Billy Preston performed two songs each. The energetic yet enigmatic Andy Kaufman also made an appearance.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 4d

Ted McCarty – who long had an ear for music & an eye for business – was born today in 1909. During McCarty’s tenure as president, the Gibson Guitar Corporation became a world leader. McCarty played a critical role in launching Gibson’s famed Les Paul model. McCarty died in 2001.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 4d

"Blues at Sunrise" was Ivory Joe Hunter’s first R&B hit (#3, 1945) & it wouldn’t be his last. Hunter – born today in 1914 – fashioned a distinctive blues style at the piano – & the "Baron" had 17 top-ten R&B songs, including "Pretty Mama Blues" (Hunter’s initial #1 in 1947). Hunter passed in 1974.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 4d

Culture Club’s second studio album – Colour by Numbers – was released today in 1983 on Epic. It reached #2 on the American lp charts – & singles such as: “Karma Chameleon” “Church of the Poison Mind” “It’s a Miracle” & “Miss Me Blind” are undoubtedly Culture Club at its finest.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 4d

Renaissance’s Ashes are Burning – the prog-folk band’s 4th studio lp – was released today in 1973. The album features classics like “Carpet of the Sun” “Can You Understand” & the title track. Betty Thatcher (1944-2011), the Renaissance’s long-time lyricist, was at the top of her game here.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 5d

Three of Michael Jackson’s classics – “Rock with You” “Thriller” & “Off the Wall” – were penned by Rod Temperton (born today in 1949). Temperton first gained notice in the 1970s as a member of Heatwave. He also wrote hits for Heatwave, like “Always & Forever” & “Boogie Nights” Temperton died in 2016

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 5d

Actor Hank Patterson was born on this date in 1888. Starting in the 1930s, he played in dozens of westerns. Patterson’s big break came in 1963, when he was featured on Petticoat Junction as Fred Ziffel. He also played Ziffel on Green Acres – where he was Arnold’s proud father. Patterson died in 1975

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 5d

The Carpenters’ debut lp – Offering – was released today in 1969. Only their version of “Ticket to Ride” got any notice (#54 pop U.S.), but songs like “Eve” & “All of My Life” suggested bigger things were in store for the duo. Their label, A&M, quickly changed the album’s title to Ticket to Ride.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 6d

The innovative pedal steel guitarist Pete Drake was born today in 1932. A long-time standout sideman in country music (Drake entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2021), he also played on albums by: Bob Dylan; George Harrison; Ringo Starr; Al Kooper; and Simon & Garfunkel. Drake passed in 1988

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 6d

Directed by Motown’s Berry Gordy, Mahogany premiered today in 1975. Diana Ross stars as a struggling fashion designer trying to hit the big time in Europe. Billy Dee Williams co-stars. Gordy put a significant amount of Motown’s considerable heft behind the film, to make Ross a star in Hollywood.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 6d

Based on the backstage chaos which frequently accompanied live television shows in the 1950s, the charming film My Favorite Year premiered on this date in 1982. Director Richard Benjamin unleashes Peter O’Toole here – & the veteran actor’s manic performance garnered a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

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Steve and Dave's @steveanddaves1.bsky.social · 6d

Based on S.E. Hinton’s novel of the same name, Francis Ford Coppola’s unconventional film Rumble Fish premiered on this date in 1983. It stars Matt Dillon & Mickey Rourke. Hinton and Coppola collaborated on the screenplay – and percussionist Stewart Copeland crafted Rumble Fish’s unusual soundtrack.

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