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THIS WEEK IN ROCK

February 2, 2020

The Manics win big, Bruce Springsteen, Hall & Oates and Edison Lighthouse all hit the top spot and Jimi Hendrix has the promoters excited. It’s This Week In Rock!

#OnThisDay January 27, 2009
Bruce Springsteen releases ‘Working On A Dream’, his sixteenth studio album. His ninth No. 1 album in the US, it also tops the charts in a further 17 countries including the UK, New Zealand and Sweden.

#OnThisDay January 28, 1997
Manic Street Preachers win big at the NME Awards when they scoop the gongs for Best Album (‘Everything Must Go’), Best Single (‘A Design For Life’) and Best Live Act. Commenting on the band’s success, frontman James Dean Bradfield says, “It has been a good year for us, but obviously it’s hard for us to say that too enthusiastically.”

#OnThisDay January 29, 1978
ELO climb 23 places to enter the UK Top 20 singles at No. 16 with ‘Mr Blue Sky’, the second single from their seventh studio album, ‘Out Of The Blue’. It eventually peaks at No. 6.

#OnThisDay January 30, 1982
Hall & Oates seize the top spot for the fourth time on the US singles chart with ‘I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)’. The single reaches No. 8 in the UK singles chart.

#OnThisDay January 31, 1970
Edison Lighthouse top the UK charts with the smash-hit single, ‘Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)’, where it remains for five weeks. Selling 250,000 copies in the UK, it shifts over a million units in the US, where it reaches No. 5.

#OnThisDay February 1, 1992
George Michael tops the US charts with ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’, his celebrated duet with Elton John. Also topping the charts in Canada, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and of course the UK, all the proceeds are donated to AIDS charities.

#OnThisDay February 2, 1967
Barely containing their excitement, the promoters of the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s show at the Blue Pad Club in Darlington advertise the show saying: “Don’t miss this man who is Dylan, Clapton and James Brown all in one!” And who could disagree?

WHAM! Re-Release Their Iconic Albums ‘Fantastic’ and ‘Make It Big’

WHAM! Re-Release Their Iconic Albums ‘Fantastic’ and ‘Make It Big’

We’re delighted to announce that WHAM!’s ‘Fantastic’ and ‘Make It Big’ albums will be released on vinyl for the first time in over 30 years! Pressed on both limited edition colour and black vinyl. Available everywhere on 22nd March. Pre-order now

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Spotlight in Stereo – Valentine’s Day Duel!

Spotlight in Stereo – Valentine’s Day Duel!

It’s the most romantic day of the year if you’re happily in love. If you’re not, then it’s quite possibly the most tedious, lonely and depressing one on the calendar. Ever the diplomats, here in the Spotlight Office we want to include all our colleagues in the celebrations and commiserations, so we created two Valentine’s playlists; one for Everybody In Love and another for those who are Single.  

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WHAM! Make history as ‘Last Christmas’ claims its first ever UK Christmas No.1!

WHAM! Make history as ‘Last Christmas’ claims its first ever UK Christmas No.1!

Britain’s much-loved duo WHAM! have claimed the Official UK Christmas Number 1 with ‘Last Christmas’ for the first time since the song was released nearly 40 years ago!

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‘Last Christmas’ hits No1 for second week running!

‘Last Christmas’ hits No1 for second week running!

Britain’s best-loved duo WHAM! have claimed the Official UK Number 1 chart position with ‘Last Christmas’ for the second consecutive weeka chart first for ‘Last Christmas’. 

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Let Whamageddon Commence!

Let Whamageddon Commence!

Let Whamageddon commence! Are you playing?

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25 years of George Michael’s ‘Outside’

25 years of George Michael’s ‘Outside’

Let’s go outside! 25 years ago today George Michael released arguably one of the most important singles of his career “Outside”.

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Back in the Spotlight – 90s collaborations!

Back in the Spotlight – 90s collaborations!

We’re celebrating the 90s all month and what better way than by revisiting some classic collaborations!

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Spotlight in Stereo

Spotlight in Stereo

It may not have been the hottest of summers here in the UK, but we’re still holding out for a sizzling September and enough of a vitamin D boost to see us into Christmas smiling.

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Artist Spotlight: WHAM!

Artist Spotlight: WHAM!

Celebrating forty years of their debut album with a heartwarming Netflix documentary and new The Singles: Echoes from the Edge of Heaven release, this month’s Artist Spotlight lands on WHAM!

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Last Christmas

WHAM!