Tommy’s Coffee Break Calendar for December 22nd

Outer Space Rock! -- A song that makes you want to cut yourself! -- A Stiff One!

12/22/1962 (54 years ago today) - Hey, it was the first major hit from a British act on the U.S. chart: The Tornadoes start a three week run at No. 1 with the classic instrumental "Telstar", produced by legendary nutcase Joe Meek. The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which had gone into orbit earlier in the year, back in July. Fact: this was the best-selling British single of 1962 and the first No. 1 in America by an English band. That's something that would not happen again until "I Want To Hold Your Hand" hits the top in 1964!

12/22/1979 (37 years ago today) - When you hear it, you want to do something...mean: Rupert Holmes kicks off two weeks in a row at No. 1 with the mind-numbing/bile-inducing/burned-in-your-brain/pseudo-classic "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)". Thankfully, it is his only solo hit.

12/22/1980 (36 years ago today) - Sheer genius: Over in the U.K., the Stiff Records label release an album called "The Wit And Wisdom Of Ronald Reagan". The entire disc contained 40 minutes of silence.

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"I'm not much into health food...", xoxo!