How Close To You Became Magic
Here’s what made Close to You such a radio treasure: a patiently waiting Bacharach-David song, Karen Carpenter’s unforgettable voice, and…
YOUR HOME FOR THE MUSIC AND MEMORIES THAT NEVER GET OLD
Latest From Classic Gold
Detroit, a Wedding Ring, and Three Minutes of Heartbreak
As the single climbed the charts in 1970, listeners were singing along to a bright, elegant chorus before fully realising…
A Vancouver Studio, a Lonely Question, and a Surprise No. 1
Why does this gentle, questioning ballad still stop classic hits listeners in their tracks? “Which Way You Goin’ Billy?” turned…
How A-ha Turned Synth-Pop into Something Timeless
A-ha arrived in the 1980s with one of pop’s most unforgettable breakthroughs, but their story reaches far beyond a single…
Top 10 Yacht Rock Essentials — Agree or Rewrite the Playlist?
What keeps these yacht rock favourites spinning on classic hits radio? Beneath the breezy polish are elite musicians, sharp songwriting,…
A Soft Piano, a Summer Chart Climb, and Bread’s Breakthrough
A soft piano, a close-miked voice, and a melody that seemed to float out of the radio — Bread’s Make…
How Henry Lee Summer Lit Up Heartland Rock
Before the big-chart moment arrived, Henry Lee Summer had already done the club miles that gave his records their easy…
Take a Letter, Maria
A broken heart has rarely sounded this brisk, clever and radio-ready. “Take a Letter Maria” captured the late-1960s moment when…
Turn It Up: Van Halen
Van Halen burst out of Southern California with a fearless mix of dazzling musicianship, huge hooks, and pure good-time energy.…
Top 10 Classic Songs This Week
- 1. Everything She Wants – Wham!
- 2. Crazy for You – Madonna
- 3. One More Night – Phil Collins
- 4. Don't You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
- 5. Rhythm of the Night – DeBarge
- 6. We Are the World – USA for Africa
- 7. Lovergirl – Teena Marie
- 8. Obsession – Animotion
- 9. A View to a Kill – Duran Duran
- 10. Suddenly – Billy Ocean
Today in Music History
May 18
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1967
Release The Jimi Hendrix Experience LP arrives
The Jimi Hendrix Experience released Are You Experienced in the US, a landmark debut that helped redefine rock guitar.
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1968
#1 Hit Louis Armstrong tops US chart
Louis Armstrong reached No. 1 in the US with 'What a Wonderful World,' becoming the oldest artist to top the chart at that time.
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1970
Birthday Tina Fey born
Tina Fey was born on May 18, 1970; she later became known for comedy, not as a recording artist.
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1974
#1 Hit Stevie Wonder leads US singles chart
Stevie Wonder was No. 1 in the US with 'You Haven't Done Nothin',' featuring the Jackson 5 on backing vocals.
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1975
Birthday Jack Johnson born
Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson was born in Hawaii, later earning global success with relaxed acoustic-pop hits.
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1980
In Memoriam Ian Curtis dies at 23
Joy Division singer Ian Curtis died in Macclesfield, England, just before the band's first planned US tour.
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1988
Milestone Prince opens Lovesexy Tour
Prince launched his Lovesexy Tour in Paris, beginning an ambitious stage production that toured Europe.
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1997
Milestone Jeff Buckley dies in Memphis
Singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley drowned in the Wolf River Harbor in Memphis at age 30.
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2000
Birthday Popeye Doyle born
This entry is inaccurate because Popeye Doyle is a fictional character, not a music artist born on May 18.
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2005
Milestone Eurovision semifinal debuts
The Eurovision Song Contest held its first-ever semifinal in Kyiv, expanding the modern competition format.
Retro Living
Ten 80s Radio Giants That Never Get Old
These 80s radio staples still sound like pure electricity.
Prairie Lights, Sunday Nights
The living room lamp is on, the theme music rises, and a little frontier town appears on the screen. Little…
By the Power of Grayskull
Loud, colourful, and unexpectedly heartfelt, He-Man still swings like a champion of 1980s television.
Why Sunday Nights Felt Different
Sunday nights used to feel softer, quieter, and somehow more meaningful.
1978 called early on Saturday morning
Remember when one morning of television could feel like the best part of the week? The 1978 Saturday line-up on…
A Saturday Morning Lightning Bolt in Philadelphia
What keeps Shazam! alive for classic TV fans is not just the cape and the magic word. It is the…
Classic Gold Trivia
Today's spotlight year: 1988
Which song won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1988?
"Somewhere Out There" by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram won Record of the Year at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988.
Which animated TV series created by Matt Groening premiered in 1988 as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show?
The Simpsons debuted in 1988 as a series of animated shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. It later became its own half-hour series.
Which film won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 1988 Oscars?
The Last Emperor won Best Picture at the Academy Awards ceremony held in 1988. The film also won several other major Oscars, including Best Director for Bernardo Bertolucci.
Which athlete lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul?
South Korean runner Sohn Kee-chung lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He had won the marathon at the 1936 Olympics.
Which handheld gaming device was first released by Nintendo in Japan in 1988?
Nintendo released the Game Boy in Japan in 1988. The handheld became one of the most successful video game systems ever.
