OK, you can stop with the Justin Timberlake memes. May is already here and it's the birthday month for this Tim who just says "burr" by the lakes because it doesn't feel like May. Looking back, I see a lot of firsts and number ones happened during the first week of May so let me pull back the curtain and give you a look-see.
2005 - Bruce Springsteen's largely acoustic album "Devils & Dust" was the #1 album in the country. He went on to play at my 45th birthday party, (OK not really. His Cleveland show just happened to fall on the 15th).
1996 - Rage Against The Machine had the #1 album in the U.S. with "Evil Empire." The bulls had a big parade while we rallied 'round the family with a pocket full of shells.
1991 - Phil Collins received an Honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music. I guess that makes him Dr. Phil.
1986 - Cleveland was chosen to be the site of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
1986 - The Pet Shop Boys had the #1 single with "West End Girls."
1977 - The Eagles had the #1 single with "Hotel California."
1976 - KISS performed their first-ever concert in their hometown of New York City.
1974 - The #1 album in the U.S. was the movie soundtrack to "The Sting" by Marvin Hamlisch. We took Solace in Hooker's Hooker as she was quite The Entertainer.
1974 - Grand Funk Railroad began a two-week run at the top of the charts with their Todd Rundgren-produced cover version of Little Eva's "The Loco-Motion."
1964 - Louis Armstrong notched his only #1 hit with "Hello Dolly."
1962 - The soundtrack to "West Side Story" topped the charts and those crazy boys from the Sharks & Jets snapped their fingers and dance-fought in the streets.
And the award for other firsts and b'day remembrances go to: The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (1927); Grammy Award Ceremonies (1959); Carnegie Hall (1891); "Another World" on NBC (1964); First cloned horse, Idaho Gem (2003).
Thus concludes this week's first look back at this week in rock and other oddities for the first week of May, cloned from worldwide sources. You may begin posting those jars-of-mayonnaise-in-the-sink memes. Stay healthy & well and I'll catch you next time.