“Dark Side” Makes History Today, Plus What’s Wrong With Your Brain

The answer to who was "?" -- Johnny Mathis vs. Pink Floyd? -- You wanna know why you can't get that tune outta yer head? -- Have all your questions answered with today's Rocktober 29th Coffee Break Calendar...

10/29/1966 (54 years ago today) - ? & The Mysterians went to No. 1 on the singles chart with the super-cheesy-organ-driven classic "96 Tears" -- Although he closely guarded his true identity back in the day, the front-man known as Question Mark was, in "real life", a one-time professional dancer from Saginaw Valley, Michigan, by the name of Rudy Martinez -- The influence of a one-hit wonder like this might be hard to measure, but a look at other artists who have taken a whack at "96 Tears" should give you an idea: American punk bands such as X, The Cramps, Suicide and Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers have all recorded it, along with U.K. punk pioneers Eddie & the Hot Rods and The Stranglers -- Somewhat weirdest of all are the versions by Motown legend Jimmy Ruffin and none other than the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin on her second studio album 1967's "Aretha Arrives". One-hit wonders, they're kinda magical, really...

10/29/1983 (37 years ago today) - Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" marked its 491st week on the Billboard album chart, surpassing the previous record holder, "Johnny's Greatest Hits" by Johnny Mathis -- It will be another five years before the Floyd masterpiece falls off the chart: adios doesn't occur until October 1988, after hanging in there for an incredible run of 741 weeks in a row. Now enjoy some terrific/rare/live/grainy 8mm footage of Floyd from '73, pretty cool: 

10/29/2003 (17 years ago today) - Apparently, anything can be "researched": According to a study released on this date by University of Cincinnati College of Business Administration Professor James Kellaris, the reason songs get 'stuck in our heads' is because they actually create what is called a "brain itch" that can only be scratched by repeating a tune over and over and over -- While this (partially helps) explain the success of tracks like as "YMCA" by The Village People or "Who Let The Dogs Out" by The Baha Men, their ability to create what's known as a "cognitive itch" doesn't help make 'em go away either...

Share your two cents with the Calendar here on our web site and on the WBLM Facebook and Twitter pages with the hashtag #TommysCoffeeBreak.

"There's someone in my head/But it's not me...", xoxo!