This Day in Top 40 History: January 22
On Jan. 22, 1959, Buddy Holly recorded his last songs at his New York City apartment, performing them with just his guitar and a tape recorder. The songs included the popular “Peggy Sue Got Married” and “That Makes It Tough.” The following day, the singer would depart on his The Winter Dance Party Tour and, two weeks later, get killed in a tragic plane crash.
While this is a sad part of music history, it had a profound effect on the industry. Here’s more Top 40 history from the archives of Jan. 22, including breakthrough hits, cultural milestones, notable performances, and industry changes and challenges.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
The Top 40 chart saw many breakthrough hits on Jan. 22 throughout history, and there were some big milestones, too:
- 1966: Making it to the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 was “We Can Work It Out” by the Beatles.
- 1972: The American Pie album by Don McLean made it to No. 1 on the American album chart and stayed there for seven weeks.
Cultural Milestones
Cultural milestones in the top 40 history from Jan. 22 have had a big impact on the music industry, including:
- 1940: Addie Harris, singer for the all-female group The Shirelles, was born. The band was the first all-female black group to have a No. 1 hit album.
- 2015: Rihanna wins her years-long legal battle with Topshop, a British fashion retailer, over a T-shirt featuring her image without her consent.
Notable Recordings and Performances
These notable recordings and performances from Jan. 22 made history and left an impression on fans and the industry:
- 1966: The Beach Boys made their way to Gold Star Studios to record “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” which was the band’s most streamed song on Spotify in 2021.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Some major industry changes and challenges that happened on Jan. 22 in Top 40 history are:
- 1998: Billboard introduced the Top 40 Tracks chart to reflect airplay from mainstream, rhythmic, and adult top 40 radio stations, encompassing a broader range of pop music airplay.
What happened in the past sets the tone for the future, and these Jan. 22 events are still influencing top 40 history to this day. From breakthrough hits and cultural shifts to memorable recordings and industry challenges, these are the moments kept alive through their continued influence.
