February 5, 2012

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Hank Aaron and Don Cherry!

75 years ago
1937

Law
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court of the United States in order to overcome resistance to his New deal legislation. Mr. Roosevelt's detractors referred to this as a plan for "packing" the Court.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Betrayal in Vienna, starring Claude Dauphin, Ernest Graves, and Robert H. Harris

40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Telegram Sam--T. Rex

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Imagine--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (6th week at #1)
2 The Desiderata--Les Crane
3 Day by Day--Colleen Hewitt
4 Cherish--David Cassidy
5 Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves--Cher
6 Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)--Benny Hill
7 Peace Train--Cat Stevens
8 Maggie May/Reason to Believe--Rod Stewart
9 Captain Zero--The Mixture
10 Freedom Come, Freedom Go--The Fortunes

Singles entering the chart were Witch Queen of New Orleans by Redbone (#25); I Will Return by Springwater (#35); and Cos I Luv You by Slade (#39).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean (4th week at #1)
2 Let's Stay Together--Al Green
3 Day After Day--Badfinger
4 Clean Up Woman--Betty Wright
5 Sunshine--Jonathan Edwards
6 Sugar Daddy--The Jackson 5
7 Precious and Few--Climax
8 Never Been to Spain--Three Dog Night
9 Hurting Each Other--Carpenters
10 You are Everything--Stylistics

Singles entering the chart were Runnin' Away by Sly and the Family Stone (#64); Mother and Child Reunion by Paul Simon (#70); No One to Depend On by Santana (#73); Rock and Roll Lullaby by B.J. Thomas (#75); Handbags and Gladrags by Rod Stewart (#78); Roundabout by Yes (#81); Missing You by Luther Ingram (#84); A Simple Game by the Four Tops (#89); Goin' Down (On the Road to L.A.) by Terry Black and Laurel Ward (#93); Kentucky by Sammi Smith (#94); I Wrote a Simple Song by Billy Preston (#97); Tryin' to Stary 'Live by Asylum Choir (#98); In and Out of My Life by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas (#99); and Iron Man by Black Sabbath (#100).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean (2nd week at #1)
2 Day After Day--Badfinger
3 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--New Seekers
4 Sunshine--Jonathan Edwards
5 Never Been to Spain--Three Dog Night
6 Stay with Me--Faces
7 Levon--Elton John
8 Brand New Key--Melanie
9 Love Me, Love Me, Love--Frank Mills
10 It's One of Those Nights--The Partridge Family

Singles entering the chart were Sweet Seasons by Carole King (#66); Country Wine by the Raiders (#71); The Way of Love by Cher (#76); Never Comin' Home by Brave Belt (#83); Runaway/Happy Together by Dawn (#94); You Could Have Been a Lady by April Wine (#96); Another Puff by Jerry Reed (#98); and I Shall Be Released by Anne Attenborrow (#100).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Brand New Key--Melanie (2nd week at #1)
2 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--New Seekers
3 Without You--Nilsson
4 Cotton Jenny--Anne Murray
5 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean
6 No Good to Cry--The Poppy Family
7 Never Been to Spain--Three Dog Night
8 Life in the Bloodstream--The Guess Who
9 Don't Say You Don't Remember--Beverly Bremers
10 Friends with You--John Denver
Pick hit of the week: Mercedes Benz--Goose Creek Symphony

Life in the Bloodstream, this blogger's favourite Guess Who song, was the B-side of Sour Suite, which had reached the top 10 a couple of months earlier.

Died on this date
Kenne Duncan, 68. Canadian-born U.S. actor. A native of Chatham, Ontario, Mr. Duncan appeared in dozens of B-western movies and television shows, usually as a villain. His best-known movie was probably Revenge of the Dead, aka Night of the Ghouls (1960), written and directed by the legendary Edward D. Wood, Jr. A notorious drinker and womanizer whose nickname was "Horsecock," Mr. Duncan committed suicide in Hollywood with an overdose of barbiturates 12 days before his 69th birthday.

30 years ago
1982

Business
The British aviation firm Laker Airways collapsed, with debts of £270 million.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 14 (CHED)
1 Can't Help Falling in Love--Corey Hart
2 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
3 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
4 Land of Confusion--Genesis
5 Open Your Heart--Madonna
6 Control--Janet Jackson
7 Kiss You (When it's Dangerous)--Eight Seconds
8 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
9 Change of Heart--Cyndi Lauper
10 You're What I Look For--Glass Tiger
11 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi
12 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago
13 Jacob's Ladder--Huey Lewis and the News
14 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox

On television tonight
Our World, hosted by Linda Ellerbee and Ray Gandolf, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Winds of Change: Winter 1968



Economics and finance
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate in January had declined 0.3%, to 8.5%.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden: Justified & Ancient--The KLF (featuring Tammy Wynette)

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Private Butthead