January 22, 2012

440 years ago
1572

Born on this date
John Donne. English clergyman and poet. Very Rev. Donne was born into a recusant Roman Catholic family, but eventually converted to Anglicanism. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 1615, and was Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London from 1621 until his death. Very Rev. Donne was known for his sermons, but was best known as the most prominent of the metaphysical poets, writing love poems, sonnets, religious poems, and satires. He died on March 31, 1631 at the age of 59.

100 years ago
1912

Transportation
The Florida East Coast Railway, connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland, was completed.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Red Signal, starring Philippa Bevans, Peter Cookson, Isabel Elsom, and Tom Helmore

50 years ago
1962

On television tonight
Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Storm, starring Nancy Kelly, David McLean, and James Griffith



Crime
The trial of James Hanratty, accused of murdering British physicist Michael Gregsten the previous August, began in Bedford, England.

40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--New Seekers (3rd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Imagine--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (4th week at #1)
2 Peace Train--Cat Stevens
3 Maggie May/Reason to Believe--Rod Stewart
4 Day by Day--Colleen Hewitt
5 The Desiderata--Les Crane
6 Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves--Cher
7 Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey--Paul and Linda McCartney
8 Speak to the Sky--Rick Springfield
9 The Banks of the Ohio--Olivia Newton-John
10 Freedom Come, Freedom Go--The Fortunes

The only single entering the chart was An Old Fashioned Love Song by Three Dog Night (#36).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean (2nd week at #1)
2 Brand New Key--Melanie
3 Let's Stay Together--Al Green
4 Scorpio--Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band
5 Sunshine--Jonathan Edwards
6 Day After Day--Badfinger
7 Clean Up Woman--Betty Wright
8 Sugar Daddy--The Jackson 5
9 Drowning in the Sea of Love--Joe Simon
10 You are Everything--Stylistics

Singles entering the chart were Down by the Lazy River by the Osmonds (#48); My World by the Bee Gees (#50); Sweet Seasons by Carole King (#52); Country Wine by the Raiders (#53); Everything I Own by Bread (#54); Ring the Living Bell by Melanie (#55); The Way of Love by Cher (#57); Until it's Time for You to Go by Elvis Presley (#58); The Nickel Song by Melanie (#59); Runaway/Happy Together by Dawn (#62); Now Run and Tell That by Denise LaSalle (#86); Lonesome Mary by Chilliwack (#92); Sweet Baby by Donnie Elbert (#93); Brian's Song by Michel Legrand (#94); Love Me, Love Me, Love by Frank Mills (#95); Rock 'n Roll by Detroit (#97); and I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) by Donnie Elbert (#98).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean
2 Brand New Key--Melanie
3 Cherish--David Cassidy
4 Day After Day--Badfinger
5 Sunshine--Jonathan Edwards
6 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--New Seekers
7 It's One of Those Nights--The Partridge Family
8 No Good to Cry--The Poppy Family
9 Never Been to Spain--Three Dog Night
10 An Old Fashioned Love Song--Three Dog Night

Singles entering the chart were Down by the Lazy River by the Osmonds (#71); Floy Joy by the Supremes (#73); Good Friends? by the Poppy Family (#79); We're Dancin' by Second Helping (#81); Softly Whispering I Love You by English Congregation (#83); Rock and Roll Stew by Traffic (#88); Make Me the Woman by Gladys Knight and the Pips (#91); Everything I Own by Bread (#93); Move 'Em Out by Delaney & Bonnie & Friends (#94); We've Got to Get it On Again by the Addrisi Brothers (#95); Oh Me, Oh My by Aretha Franklin (#96); Until it's Time for You to Go by Elvis Presley (#98); and My World by the Bee Gees (#100).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean (3rd week at #1)
2 Brand New Key--Melanie
3 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--New Seekers
4 Friends with You--John Denver
5 Without You--Nilsson
6 No Good to Cry--The Poppy Family
7 Day After Day--Badfinger
8 It's One of Those Nights--The Partridge family
9 Take it Slow--Lighthouse
10 Sugar Daddy--The Jackson 5
Pick hit of the week: Never Been to Spain--Three Dog Night

30 years ago
1982

Died on this date
Eduardo Frei Montalva, 71. 28th President of Chile, 1964-1970. Mr. Frei began his political career in the Conservative Party, but in 1938 co-founded the Falange Nacional, which became the Partido Demócrata Cristiano (Christian Democratic Party) (PDC) in 1957. He ran unsuccessfully for President in 1958, but was elected in 1964, defeating Socialist candidate Salvador Allende with the help of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. President Frei modernized his country and instituted numerous reforms. After Mr. Allende was elected President in 1970, Mr. Frei opposed his administration as a "totalitarian project" to establish Communist tyranny. Mr. Frei was elected to the Senate, representing Santiago, in March 1973, and was elected President of the Senate in May, leading the opposition to Mr. Allende. He supported the armed forces coup that ousted Mr. Allende in September 1973, even though the resulting junta led by General Augusto Pinochet dissolved the Senate on September 21. Mr. Frei later became an opponent of the junta, and opposed the extension of Gen. Pinochet's term as President in 1981. He died six days after his 71st birthday, ostensibly of septicaemia stemming from surgery for a hiatal hernia. It was alleged that Mr. Frei had been poisoned by the junta's secret police force DINA, and in 2009 it was ruled by Judge Alejandro Madrid that six accused individuals had administered toxic substances that weakened Mr. Frei's immune system and made him too weak to survive his surgery. Judge Madrid was overruled and suspended by the Appeals Court and the accused were released on bail, but the case was reopened in 2010, and the six accused were convicted in January 2019 and given prison sentences ranging from 3-10 years.

25 years ago
1987

On television tonight
Our World, hosted by Linda Ellerbee and Ray Gandolf, on ABC

Tonight's episode: World Apart: Summer 1939



Died on this date
R. Budd Dwyer, 47. U.S. politician. Mr. Dwyer was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1971-1981, and was the Pennsylvania State Treasurer from 1981-1987. He had been convicted on a bribery charge and was due to be sentenced on January 23, but held a televised press conference, where he proclaimed his innocence. At the end of his statement, Mr. Dwyer handed an envelope to each of three associates, then took a handgun out of another envelope; despite protests from those in attendance, he put the barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Black or White--Michael Jackson (10th week at #1)