Tommy’s Coffee Break Calendar for November 13th

Stones nail a blues classic -- Rod Stewart's questionable singles choices start here -- How a band can spend four months at No. 1 and then become passé...

11/13/1964 (51 years ago today) - They did it like only they could: The Rolling Stones release Willie Dixon's "Little Red Rooster" as their next single. For an extra notch of bona-fide authenticity, they recorded the track at Chess Studios in Chicago (where previous versions had been done by no less than Howlin' Wolf and Sam Cooke). In a few weeks, it hits No. 1 in the U.K. -- the only time a blues song has ever topped the pop chart.

11/13/1976 (39 years ago today) - It's about seducing a virgin, so what did you expect: Rod Stewart begins eight weeks in a row at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Tonight's The Night". It was Rod's second U.S. chart-topper (and nowhere near as musically interesting as his other No. 1, "Maggie May", let's get real). The song only went to No. 5 in England -- it was banned by many stations due to its subject matter and the female moaning and whispers provided by then-girlfriend Britt Ekland. A rather yucky production all around...

11/13/1982 (33 years ago today) - These days it fills up the bargain bins: From seemingly out-of-nowhere, the Australian band Men At Work start a 15 week run(!!!) at No. 1 with their debut album "Business As Usual". It sells over 5 million in America (over 15 million worldwide) and boasts three Top Ten singles, "Who Can It Be Now?", "Be Good Johnny", and "Down Under" which hit the Numero Uno spot for six consecutive weeks. This success could never really be replicated -- less than four years later main songwriter/guitarist and lead singer Colin Hay disbanded the group.

Thoughts and comments on the Calendar? Get down to it here on our web site and on the WBLM Facebook and Twitter pages with the hashtag #TommysCoffeeBreak.

"I met a strange lady/She made me nervous/She took me in and gave me breakfast...", xoxo!