This Day in Music

January 29th

Hit me up when you get a chance, but be sure not to misconstrue my meaning, and give me a double dose of the King, on this day in music.

Releases

1980: American post punk/new wave band Blondie release their 16th single, "Call Me." It was the theme song to the movie American Gigolo starring Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton, and appeared on the soundtrack to the album.

The movie's music producer, Italian film composer Giorgio Moroder, wrote the music while Debbie Harry provided the lyrics. The song was the only good thing about the movie, and a huge hit for Blondie. It became their second No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, following 1978's "Heart of Glass. It remained at the top for six consecutive weeks, and was also No. 1 in Canada and the UK.

1965: British sensation The Animals release their version of the single, “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” a song first recorded by Nina Simone in 1964. Peaking at No. 3 in the UK, it was the track that broke The Animals into North America, where it placed No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the Canada RPM Top Singles chart. The recording was ranked No. 322 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s first list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.

1970: “Kentucky Rain” by Elvis Presley is released as a single. Written by Eddie Rabbit and Dick Heard, it was recorded at American Sound in Memphis. The song would peak at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 10 on the Canada RPM Top Singles chart, and go all the way to No. 1 on the Canada RPM Country Tracks chart. It was the 36th time Elvis hit No. 1 on a music chart somewhere in the US, Canada, UK, or Europe.

The Daily Elvis

1975: Dr. George Nichopoulos admits Elvis to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, ostensibly for a liver problem. In truth, the hospital stay was to help Elvis kick his addiction to prescription medicines.

Pictured: Blondie in 1980.