Category Archives: 1980s

‘All Those Years Ago’: George Harrison’s tribute to John Lennon released 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 11 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'George Harrison - All Those Years Ago [High Quality]'

(Monday, May 11, 1981) — “All Those Years Ago,” a tribute to the late former Beatle, John Lennon, who murdered last year by a deranged fan, by fellow former Beatle George Harrison (also featuring fellow ex-Beatles Ringo Starr on drums and Paul McCartney on backing vocals, recorded separately) was released today in the U.S. as a single (May 15, 1981, in the UK). Continue reading ‘All Those Years Ago’: George Harrison’s tribute to John Lennon released 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 11 1981) →

Reggae icon Bob Marley, 36, succumbs to cancer at Miami hospital 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 11 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s


Video: 'Bob Marley Death News Announcement (May 11, 1981)'

(Monday, May 11, 1981, 11:45 a.m. EDT) — Bob Marley, international superstar and popularizer of the hard-driving Jamaican reggae music, died today at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital (later University of Miami Hospital) in Miami after a long battle with cancer. He was 36. Continue reading Reggae icon Bob Marley, 36, succumbs to cancer at Miami hospital 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 11 1981) →

‘You Better You Bet’ by The Who peaks at #18 n USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 9 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, May 9, 1981) — “You Better You Bet” by The Who peaked today at #18 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the first of three weeks.
Continue reading ‘You Better You Bet’ by The Who peaks at #18 n USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 9 1981) →

‘Morning Train (Nine to Five)’ by Sheena Easton peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 2 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, May 2, 1981) — “Morning Train (Nine to Five)” by Sheena Easton peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks (May 2/9, 1981).
Continue reading ‘Morning Train (Nine to Five)’ by Sheena Easton peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 2 1981) →

Surviving Beatles reunite for Ringo Starr’s wedding to Barbara Bach 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 27 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach's Wedding - BBC News - 27 April 1981'

(Monday, April 27, 1981) — Ringo Starr, 40, married actress Barbara Bach, 33, today in London with Paul McCartney and George Harrison (and their respective spouses) in attendance, reuniting all three surviving ex-members of The Beatles less than five months after the assassination of the fourth former member of the group, John Lennon. Continue reading Surviving Beatles reunite for Ringo Starr’s wedding to Barbara Bach 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 27 1981) →

‘Playing With Lightning’ by Shot In The Dark peaks at #71 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 25 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, April 25, 1981) — “Playing With Lightning” by Shot In The Dark peaked today at #71 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Playing With Lightning’ by Shot In The Dark peaks at #71 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 25 1981) →

‘Caveman’ comedy film starring ex-Beatle Ringo Starr opens in New York City 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1981)

1980s, Movies 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'Caveman' trailer

(Friday, April 17, 1981, scheduled to open at noon EST) — Caveman, an American slapstick comedy film about a prehistoric, social outcast (played by former Beatle Ringo Starr) who, along with other misfits, forms his own tribe and finds various comic adventures, opened today at Bay Cinema in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan, New York City.
Continue reading ‘Caveman’ comedy film starring ex-Beatle Ringo Starr opens in New York City 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1981) →

NASA’s first space shuttle rockets into orbit with two astronauts aboard 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1981)

1980s, space exploration


Video: 'NBC News Coverage of STS-1 The 1st Space Shuttle Mission' (25 videos; launch is on video #6 at 3:07)

(Sunday, April 12, 1981, 7:00:03 a.m. EST) — The world’s first reusable spacecraft, the space shuttle Columbia, with two crew members, astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen, lifted off this morning from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, at the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida.
Continue reading NASA’s first space shuttle rockets into orbit with two astronauts aboard 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1981) →

‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’ by The Police peaks at #10 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, April 11, 1981) — “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by The Police peaked today at #10 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks. Continue reading ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’ by The Police peaks at #10 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981) →

‘Kiss on My List’ by Hall & Oates peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, April 11, 1981) — “Kiss on My List” by Daryl Hall and John Oates was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the first of three consecutive weeks (April 11/18/25, 1981).
Continue reading ‘Kiss on My List’ by Hall & Oates peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981) →