This Day in Music

January 16th

A paradise of proto-metal, a very poor decision by Macca, and the King is honoured, on this day in music.

Releases

1981: Chicago rockers Styx issue their tenth studio release, the concept album “Paradise Theatre.” It was the fourth consecutive record by the band to be certified multi-Platinum, and also became their most commercially-successful.

A fictionalized account of the real Paradise Theatre, which operated in Chicago from 1928 to 1956, when it was demolished, the concept used the eras of the theatre as a metaphor to the changes in America as a whole during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Dennis DeYoung of the band described the concept as “…one of hope and renewal in the spirit of the American people to understand the problems that confront the world and this country and find solutions themselves to those problems.”

Including three Top-10 singles, “The Best of Times,” “Too Much Time on My Hands,” and “Rockin’ the Paradise,” the album went all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It was No. 3 in Canada, and No. 8 in the UK. In addition to 3x Platinum in the US, the LP was Platinum in Canada, and Silver in the UK.

1968: Blue Cheer, the heavy-rocking blues band from San Francisco, release their debut studio album, "Vincebus Eruptum." The pseudo-Latin title can be translated as “controlled chaos.”

One of the precursor bands to Heavy Metal, Blue Cheer's debut was a critical and commercial success. AllMusic writer Mark Deming described the album as "...a glorious celebration of Rock and Roll primitivism run through enough Marshall amps to deafen an army."

Including a heavy rock cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues,” which peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, the LP made it to No. 11 on the Billboard 200. It placed No. 22 on Spin magazine’s list of 40 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.

Canadian power trio Rush covered Blue Cheer's version of "Summertime Blues" on their 2004 EP, "Feedback."

1984: The single "Radio Gaga” is released by Queen. Written by drummer and vocalist, Roger Taylor, it's a song about nostalgia for the glory days of radio, before television took over, and somewhat of a lament on MTV and videos being a necessary medium for musical success.

An international hit, it went to No. 1 across Europe, No. 2 in Australia and New Zealand, and No. 2 in the UK. It was less successful, but still a hit, in Canada at No. 11, and the US at No. 16. The track was certified Platinum in the US and the UK.

Events

1980: When traveling to Japan as part of an 11-date Wings tour, Paul McCartney is arrested at Tokyo's Narita International Airport for having 219 grams (!) of marijuana in his possession.

Though hard-core fans of McCartney knew of his penchant for grass, owing to previous legal troubles as a solo artist and with The Beatles, much of the world was aghast. Adding to the surprise of the arrest, McCartney had just spent time and money earning his Japanese work visa since he was previously denied one in 1975 precisely for a cannabis arrest. Adding shock to surprise, Sir Paul had made no effort to conceal the pot—it was in a plastic freezer bag amongst all of his clothes!

Facing up to seven years in prison, the Japanese legal system showed compassion, and McCartney spent nine days in jail. Commenting years later on why he tried to bring “the devil's lettuce” into a foreign country with strict drug laws, he said, "This stuff was too good to flush down the toilet, so I thought I’d take it with me."

The Daily Elvis

1971: The Jaycees (nickname for Junior Chamber International), named Elvis one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation” at a ceremony in Memphis. The chamber is a civic organization for men aged 18 to 40. Elvis was 36 at the time.

Pictured: Styx in 1981. From L to R: Chuck Panozzo (bg), Tommy Shaw (g; v), Dennis DeYoung (key; v), James Young (g; v), and Jahn Panozzo (d).