Daily Archives: October 31, 2021

John Lennon, Yoko Ono complete recording ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1971)

1970s, Christmas, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s, Vietnam War


Video: 'HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER). (Ultimate Mix, 2020) John & Yoko Plastic Ono Band + Harlem Community Choir'

(Sunday, October 31, 1971, afternoon/evening EST; during the Vietnam War) — Former Beatle John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, completed recording “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” tonight at Record Plant East in New York City, with overdubs by the Harlem Community Choir – featuring thirty children, most of them four to twelve years of age – in the afternoon and strings in the evening. Continue reading John Lennon, Yoko Ono complete recording ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1971) →

‘Start Me Up’ by The Rolling Stones peaks at #2 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, October 31, 1981) — “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three consecutive weeks. Continue reading ‘Start Me Up’ by The Rolling Stones peaks at #2 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1981) →

‘Promises in the Dark’ by Pat Benatar peaks at #38 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, October 31, 1981) — “Promises in the Dark” by Pat Benatar peaked at #38 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Promises in the Dark’ by Pat Benatar peaks at #38 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1981) →

Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota completed 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1941)

1940s


Video: 'The Making of Mount Rushmore'

(Friday, October 31, 1941) — Work was completed today on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a colossal sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills near Keystone, South Dakota. Continue reading Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota completed 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1941) →

100 Americans killed as Germans torpedo USS Reuben James in North Atlantic 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1941)

1940s, World War II

Video: 'The World at War: On Our Way: U.S.A. - 1939-1942 (7 of 26)' (Oct. 31, 1941, at 15:00)'

(Friday, October 31, 1941, about 5:34 a.m. local time; 37 days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) — While escorting Allied convoy HX 156 in the North Atlantic, the American destroyer USS Reuben James was sunk by the German submarine U-552 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Erich Topp this morning in the North Atlantic near Iceland, with the loss of 100 of 144 crew. Continue reading 100 Americans killed as Germans torpedo USS Reuben James in North Atlantic 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1941) →