November 1978
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Saturday
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Los Angeles' KTLA-TV airs "Scared Straight," a Peter Falk -narrated documentary about juvenile criminals and aimed as a possible -- and controversial -- deterrent to delinquency. It is the highest rated program of the night on Los Angeles's three networks.
Los Angeles' KTLA-TV airs "Scared Straight," a Peter Falk -narrated documentary about juvenile criminals and aimed as a possible -- and controversial -- deterrent to delinquency. It is the highest rated program of the night on Los Angeles's three networks.
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The Cars roll into Europe for a mini-tour that will include Germany, France, Belgium and Britain.
Diff'rent Strokes, featuring the feisty and pint-sized 8-year-old Gary Coleman , debuts on NBC and becomes one of the most improbable hits of the 1978-1979 season.
The Cars roll into Europe for a mini-tour that will include Germany, France, Belgium and Britain.
Diff'rent Strokes, featuring the feisty and pint-sized 8-year-old Gary Coleman , debuts on NBC and becomes one of the most improbable hits of the 1978-1979 season.
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Minneapolis-based rocker Prince makes his first appearance on the national pop charts, with "Soft and Wet." It will only reach #92 on the pop Top 100.
Music-business vet General (Norman) Johnson -- whose roots go all the way back to the Showmen 's 1961 hit ode to rock & roll, "It Will Stand," and who also sang the scatting, stuttering, Billy Stewart -influenced lead on Chairmen of the Board 's 1970 hit "Give Me Just a Little More Time" -- enters the soul chart with "Can't Nobody Love Me Like You Do," which will peak at #79.
Greg Reeves , former bassist with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young , sues Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young for $1 million in unpaid back royalties.
Boston , the rock band from the city of the same name, play their hometown for the first time since becoming a huge national act. The band, whose first album in 1976 was the fastest- selling debut in U.S. rock history, open a two-night sold-out stand at the Boston Garden.
Amiable pop/country singer Kenny Rogers releases what will become his signature song, "The Gambler." The title track from his latest album , it's the first of five straight country No. 1's for the former First Edition hitmaker. It also wins a Grammy and enjoys pop culture longevity with the forthcoming boom in poker, especially Texas (Rogers's birthplace) Hold 'Em.
Top of the LP charts: Linda Ronstadt 's Living in the U.S.A. (pop album).
The Top Five
1. "You Needed Me" - Anne Murray
2. "MacArthur Park" - Donna Summer
3. "Reminiscing" - Little River Band
4. "Double Vision" - Foreigner
5. "Reminiscing" - Little River Band
Minneapolis-based rocker Prince makes his first appearance on the national pop charts, with "Soft and Wet." It will only reach #92 on the pop Top 100.
Music-business vet General (Norman) Johnson -- whose roots go all the way back to the Showmen 's 1961 hit ode to rock & roll, "It Will Stand," and who also sang the scatting, stuttering, Billy Stewart -influenced lead on Chairmen of the Board 's 1970 hit "Give Me Just a Little More Time" -- enters the soul chart with "Can't Nobody Love Me Like You Do," which will peak at #79.
Greg Reeves , former bassist with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young , sues Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young for $1 million in unpaid back royalties.
Boston , the rock band from the city of the same name, play their hometown for the first time since becoming a huge national act. The band, whose first album in 1976 was the fastest- selling debut in U.S. rock history, open a two-night sold-out stand at the Boston Garden.
Amiable pop/country singer Kenny Rogers releases what will become his signature song, "The Gambler." The title track from his latest album , it's the first of five straight country No. 1's for the former First Edition hitmaker. It also wins a Grammy and enjoys pop culture longevity with the forthcoming boom in poker, especially Texas (Rogers's birthplace) Hold 'Em.
Top of the LP charts: Linda Ronstadt 's Living in the U.S.A. (pop album).
The Top Five
1. "You Needed Me" - Anne Murray
2. "MacArthur Park" - Donna Summer
3. "Reminiscing" - Little River Band
4. "Double Vision" - Foreigner
5. "Reminiscing" - Little River Band
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Marion Barry is elected mayor of the District of Columbia, and among the highlights of his mayoralty is welcoming Pope John Paul II in his first visit to the U.S. capitol in 1979. He will be re-elected two times, but will resign in 1990 during his third term after being caught on video smoking crack. After serving six months in federal prison, he will be elected to the D.C. city council in 1992 and will be elected D.C. mayor once again in 1994, serving from 1995 to 1999.
Marion Barry is elected mayor of the District of Columbia, and among the highlights of his mayoralty is welcoming Pope John Paul II in his first visit to the U.S. capitol in 1979. He will be re-elected two times, but will resign in 1990 during his third term after being caught on video smoking crack. After serving six months in federal prison, he will be elected to the D.C. city council in 1992 and will be elected D.C. mayor once again in 1994, serving from 1995 to 1999.
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William Jefferson Clinton is elected governor of Arkansas, becoming the youngest governor in the nation at the age of 32.
William Jefferson Clinton is elected governor of Arkansas, becoming the youngest governor in the nation at the age of 32.
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The Clash 's second album, Give 'Em Enough Rope, is released in England on CBS Records. It will soon become their first American album release , on Epic Records.
The Clash 's second album, Give 'Em Enough Rope, is released in England on CBS Records. It will soon become their first American album release , on Epic Records.
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Memphis' long-serving soul singer, songwriter, arranger and producer Isaac Hayes enters the soul chart with For the Sake of Love, which will peak at #15.
On the same day that ex- Rufus lead singer Chaka Khan 's "I'm Every Woman" hits Number One on the soul chart, the album from which it came, Chaka, enters the soul LP chart, where it will peak at #2.
The Top Five
1. "MacArthur Park" - Donna Summer
2. "You Needed Me" - Anne Murray
3. "Double Vision" - Foreigner
4. "How Much I Feel" - Ambrosia
5. "Hot Child in the City" - Nick Gilder
Memphis' long-serving soul singer, songwriter, arranger and producer Isaac Hayes enters the soul chart with For the Sake of Love, which will peak at #15.
On the same day that ex- Rufus lead singer Chaka Khan 's "I'm Every Woman" hits Number One on the soul chart, the album from which it came, Chaka, enters the soul LP chart, where it will peak at #2.
The Top Five
1. "MacArthur Park" - Donna Summer
2. "You Needed Me" - Anne Murray
3. "Double Vision" - Foreigner
4. "How Much I Feel" - Ambrosia
5. "Hot Child in the City" - Nick Gilder
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Chic (main members, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards ) are awarded their second gold record of 1978, for "Le Freak," which will hit Number One in January 1979. The group had earlier received a gold disc for "Dance, Dance, Dance."
Chic (main members, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards ) are awarded their second gold record of 1978, for "Le Freak," which will hit Number One in January 1979. The group had earlier received a gold disc for "Dance, Dance, Dance."
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Queen play at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with several semi-nude women bicycling on stage for their hit "Fat Bottomed Girls." It's the first single from their new album Jazz.
Charles Manson is granted his first parole hearing after seven years' imprisonment following his 1971 conviction for the Tate-LaBianca murders. Predictably, it is denied, as are all the other attempts in following decades for both him and his Family members, one of whom, Susan Atkins , dies in 2009, the 40th anniversary of the murders. Manson will die in prison on Nov. 19, 2017, at age 83. Family member Leslie Van Houten , who played a role in the Tate-LaBianca murders, will eventually win her freedom on July 11, 2023, at age 73.
Queen play at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with several semi-nude women bicycling on stage for their hit "Fat Bottomed Girls." It's the first single from their new album Jazz.
Charles Manson is granted his first parole hearing after seven years' imprisonment following his 1971 conviction for the Tate-LaBianca murders. Predictably, it is denied, as are all the other attempts in following decades for both him and his Family members, one of whom, Susan Atkins , dies in 2009, the 40th anniversary of the murders. Manson will die in prison on Nov. 19, 2017, at age 83. Family member Leslie Van Houten , who played a role in the Tate-LaBianca murders, will eventually win her freedom on July 11, 2023, at age 73.
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Linda Ronstadt 's anthology album A Retrospective becomes her eighth gold album.
In a fit of programming insanity, CBS preempts Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk to air The Star Wars Holiday Special, with Chewbacca and Han Solo traveling to Chewie's home planet, Kashyyyk, to celebrate Life Day. The Exxon Valdez of made-for-TV movies, the 97-minute special is cast like an episode of The Love Boat ("Hey, there's Diahann Carroll ! And Harvey Korman !") with stilted dialogue, horrible production values, and even a Bea Arthur musical number.
Linda Ronstadt 's anthology album A Retrospective becomes her eighth gold album.
In a fit of programming insanity, CBS preempts Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk to air The Star Wars Holiday Special, with Chewbacca and Han Solo traveling to Chewie's home planet, Kashyyyk, to celebrate Life Day. The Exxon Valdez of made-for-TV movies, the 97-minute special is cast like an episode of The Love Boat ("Hey, there's Diahann Carroll ! And Harvey Korman !") with stilted dialogue, horrible production values, and even a Bea Arthur musical number.
18
The Boomtown Rats ' "Rat Trap" reaches Number One on the U.K. charts.
Critically acclaimed British funk-pop band Hot Chocolate make one of their rare entries into the U.S. soul chart with "Every 1's a Winner," which in its eighteen weeks on the chart will peak at #7.
Followers of Jim Jones 's Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ shoot and kill California Congressman Leo J. Ryan and members of his staff after his inspection of Jones's 27,000-acre ranch in Guyana. Fearing reprisals, a paranoid Jones orders a mass suicide by lethal injection and counsumption of poison-laced Kool-Aid, and then shoots himself. The death toll is more than 900. The incident will become the subject of several films, most notably the 1980 TV movie Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones featuring an Emmy-winning performance by Powers Boothe as Jones.
The Boomtown Rats ' "Rat Trap" reaches Number One on the U.K. charts.
Critically acclaimed British funk-pop band Hot Chocolate make one of their rare entries into the U.S. soul chart with "Every 1's a Winner," which in its eighteen weeks on the chart will peak at #7.
Followers of Jim Jones 's Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ shoot and kill California Congressman Leo J. Ryan and members of his staff after his inspection of Jones's 27,000-acre ranch in Guyana. Fearing reprisals, a paranoid Jones orders a mass suicide by lethal injection and counsumption of poison-laced Kool-Aid, and then shoots himself. The death toll is more than 900. The incident will become the subject of several films, most notably the 1980 TV movie Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones featuring an Emmy-winning performance by Powers Boothe as Jones.
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British new waver Ian Dury releases his biggest hit, "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick," a huge seller in the U.K. but a noncharter in the U.S.
British new waver Ian Dury releases his biggest hit, "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick," a huge seller in the U.K. but a noncharter in the U.S.
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New York City new wave band Talking Heads hit #29 on the LP chart with their second album, More Songs about Buildings and Food -- the highest position on any U.S. chart so far for a new wave act.
Several veteran soul acts make rather rare disco-era soul-chart entries this day: former Impressions lead singer Jerry Butler with Nothing Says I Love You Like "I Love You," which in twelve weeks on the soul LP chart will peak at #42; former "Duke of Earl" Gene Chandler with Get Down, which will peak at #12 in eighteen weeks on the soul LP chart, and the title single of which is currently climbing the soul chart to #3; Gladys Knight , with a solo single, "I'm Coming Home Again," that will peak at #54 in nine weeks, and a solo album, Miss Gladys Knight, that will peak at #57 in five weeks; Joe Simon with "Love Vibration," which will peak at #15 in fifteen weeks on the chart; and the Temptations with "Ever Ready Love," which will climb to #31 on the chart, from the #46 hit soul LP Bare Back.
New York City new wave band Talking Heads hit #29 on the LP chart with their second album, More Songs about Buildings and Food -- the highest position on any U.S. chart so far for a new wave act.
Several veteran soul acts make rather rare disco-era soul-chart entries this day: former Impressions lead singer Jerry Butler with Nothing Says I Love You Like "I Love You," which in twelve weeks on the soul LP chart will peak at #42; former "Duke of Earl" Gene Chandler with Get Down, which will peak at #12 in eighteen weeks on the soul LP chart, and the title single of which is currently climbing the soul chart to #3; Gladys Knight , with a solo single, "I'm Coming Home Again," that will peak at #54 in nine weeks, and a solo album, Miss Gladys Knight, that will peak at #57 in five weeks; Joe Simon with "Love Vibration," which will peak at #15 in fifteen weeks on the chart; and the Temptations with "Ever Ready Love," which will climb to #31 on the chart, from the #46 hit soul LP Bare Back.
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Eighteen months after her adoptive mother's death, disinherited daughter Christina Crawford gets some sweet revenge as Mommie Dearest, her scathing exposé about her famous actress mother Joan Crawford , tops the best-seller lists. Old Hollywood immediately divides into two camps. Supporters of the late actress, like longtime friend Myrna Loy , call it exaggerated lies by a spoiled brat. Yet others who witnessed Joan's ultra- controlling behavior voice support for Christina. "Joan was not quite rational in her raising of children," says Helen Hayes . "You might say she was strict or stern -- but cruel is probably the right word." The book will spawn the inevitable biopic three years later, with icy Faye Dunaway chewing up the scenery as the fearsome movie queen.
Eighteen months after her adoptive mother's death, disinherited daughter Christina Crawford gets some sweet revenge as Mommie Dearest, her scathing exposé about her famous actress mother Joan Crawford , tops the best-seller lists. Old Hollywood immediately divides into two camps. Supporters of the late actress, like longtime friend Myrna Loy , call it exaggerated lies by a spoiled brat. Yet others who witnessed Joan's ultra- controlling behavior voice support for Christina. "Joan was not quite rational in her raising of children," says Helen Hayes . "You might say she was strict or stern -- but cruel is probably the right word." The book will spawn the inevitable biopic three years later, with icy Faye Dunaway chewing up the scenery as the fearsome movie queen.
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San Francisco mayor George Monscone and openly gay city supervisor Harvey Milk are shot dead by disgruntled former supervisor and homophobe Dan White .
CBS premieres the socially relevant dramatic series The White Shadow, starring Ken Howard and Jason Bernard .
San Francisco mayor George Monscone and openly gay city supervisor Harvey Milk are shot dead by disgruntled former supervisor and homophobe Dan White .
CBS premieres the socially relevant dramatic series The White Shadow, starring Ken Howard and Jason Bernard .
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Neil Young 's thirteenth solo album, Comes a Time, goes gold. The mainly acoustic album features such FM radio hits as "Goin' Back" and "Look Out for My Love," as well as "Human Highway" -- also the title of a film, directed by and starring Young with Devo , which is slated for 1983 release.
Neil Young 's thirteenth solo album, Comes a Time, goes gold. The mainly acoustic album features such FM radio hits as "Goin' Back" and "Look Out for My Love," as well as "Human Highway" -- also the title of a film, directed by and starring Young with Devo , which is slated for 1983 release.
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