September 1976
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1
Ode Records president Lou Adler and employee Neil Silver are kidnapped at the former's house in Malibu. The two are released eight hours later after paying out $25,000 in hundred dollar bills. A week later, a California couple -- their motivation seemingly only the money -- are charged with the crime, while a search continues for another accomplice in the scheme.
Ode Records president Lou Adler and employee Neil Silver are kidnapped at the former's house in Malibu. The two are released eight hours later after paying out $25,000 in hundred dollar bills. A week later, a California couple -- their motivation seemingly only the money -- are charged with the crime, while a search continues for another accomplice in the scheme.
2
3
The Viking II lander touches down on the plain of Utopia in Mars.
The Viking II lander touches down on the plain of Utopia in Mars.
4
The Top Five
1. "You Should Be Dancing" - Bee Gees
2. "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" - Lou Rawls
3. "Let 'Em In" - Wings
4. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" - England Dan & John Ford Coley
5. "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
The Top Five
1. "You Should Be Dancing" - Bee Gees
2. "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" - Lou Rawls
3. "Let 'Em In" - Wings
4. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" - England Dan & John Ford Coley
5. "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
5
6
Fleetwood Mac 's 1975 self-titled LP reaches #1 in the U.S. It first charted in August of the previous year and took 13 months to journey to the top.
Fleetwood Mac 's 1975 self-titled LP reaches #1 in the U.S. It first charted in August of the previous year and took 13 months to journey to the top.
7
8
Rock and election year politics mix strangely again when Steve Ford , the president's son, invites Briton Peter Frampton , his girlfriend Penny McCall and manager Dee Anthony to the White House. Frampton and company receive a grand tour of the place, and the day concludes with a visit to the First Family's living quarters, mostly spent watching television with the president.
Disco band Wild Cherry 's self-titled debut album , which features their Number One hit single "Play That Funky Music," goes gold.
The debut album by Vancouver- based rock band Heart , Dreamboat Annie, goes gold. The album features their hit singles "Magic Man" (which will hit #9 on the pop chart next month) and "Crazy on You" (which hit #35 two months ago).
Rock and election year politics mix strangely again when Steve Ford , the president's son, invites Briton Peter Frampton , his girlfriend Penny McCall and manager Dee Anthony to the White House. Frampton and company receive a grand tour of the place, and the day concludes with a visit to the First Family's living quarters, mostly spent watching television with the president.
Disco band Wild Cherry 's self-titled debut album , which features their Number One hit single "Play That Funky Music," goes gold.
The debut album by Vancouver- based rock band Heart , Dreamboat Annie, goes gold. The album features their hit singles "Magic Man" (which will hit #9 on the pop chart next month) and "Crazy on You" (which hit #35 two months ago).
9
Mao Tse-tung , leader of Communist China since its inception in 1949, passes away peacefully in his sleep at age 82. News of the death of the iron-fisted ruler of the world's most populous nation trumps all else as politicians, including President Ford , publicly mouth platitudes as millions of Chinese stream by his body lying in state in Peking's Great Hall of the People. "Chairman Mao was a remarkable and a very great man," says Ford, praising his "great ability and skill and vision and foresight." Privately, they and everyone else ponder what news and/or upheaval might emanate next from Peking. Five weeks later, the so-called "Gang of Four," including Mao's widow, will be charged with attempting to stage a coup d'état, and will be imprisoned.
Mao Tse-tung , leader of Communist China since its inception in 1949, passes away peacefully in his sleep at age 82. News of the death of the iron-fisted ruler of the world's most populous nation trumps all else as politicians, including President Ford , publicly mouth platitudes as millions of Chinese stream by his body lying in state in Peking's Great Hall of the People. "Chairman Mao was a remarkable and a very great man," says Ford, praising his "great ability and skill and vision and foresight." Privately, they and everyone else ponder what news and/or upheaval might emanate next from Peking. Five weeks later, the so-called "Gang of Four," including Mao's widow, will be charged with attempting to stage a coup d'état, and will be imprisoned.
10
11
"(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty" shakes up the pop charts, the third chart-topper (after "Get Down Tonight" and "That's the Way I Like It" ) from former Florida record store clerk Harry Wayne Casey and his Sunshine Band . Their high-energy, funky R&B-ish sound, backboned by Casey's cowriting and producing skills, makes his mostly black band a dynamic disco force. Much of their success stems from Casey's retail roots, as he recalled many store customers who could never remember a song's title, just the melody. So repetition becomes a prime ingredient, like his latest hit that repeats the work "shake" four times in its title alone, a record for a No. 1 single.
The Top Five
1. "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
2. "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" - Lou Rawls
3. "Play That Funky Music" - Wild Cherry
4. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" - England Dan & John Ford Coley
5. "A Fifth of Beethoven" - Walter Murphy & the Big Apple Band
"(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty" shakes up the pop charts, the third chart-topper (after "Get Down Tonight" and "That's the Way I Like It" ) from former Florida record store clerk Harry Wayne Casey and his Sunshine Band . Their high-energy, funky R&B-ish sound, backboned by Casey's cowriting and producing skills, makes his mostly black band a dynamic disco force. Much of their success stems from Casey's retail roots, as he recalled many store customers who could never remember a song's title, just the melody. So repetition becomes a prime ingredient, like his latest hit that repeats the work "shake" four times in its title alone, a record for a No. 1 single.
The Top Five
1. "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
2. "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" - Lou Rawls
3. "Play That Funky Music" - Wild Cherry
4. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" - England Dan & John Ford Coley
5. "A Fifth of Beethoven" - Walter Murphy & the Big Apple Band
12
13
Ex- Humble Pie singer/guitarist Peter Frampton 's fourth solo album, Frampton, goes gold. It is his commercial breakthrough album, containing the hit singles "She Me the Way" (#6, a few months ago) and "Baby, I Love Your Way" (#12, this month).
Ex- Humble Pie singer/guitarist Peter Frampton 's fourth solo album, Frampton, goes gold. It is his commercial breakthrough album, containing the hit singles "She Me the Way" (#6, a few months ago) and "Baby, I Love Your Way" (#12, this month).
14
Wired, the second jazz-rock-fusion album by British guitar hero Jeff Beck (after 1975's Blow by Blow ), goes gold.
Fourteen Czech rockers, including members of Plastic People of the Universe and DG 307 , face trial on various charges, including antisocial behavior and anarchism.
Wired, the second jazz-rock-fusion album by British guitar hero Jeff Beck (after 1975's Blow by Blow ), goes gold.
Fourteen Czech rockers, including members of Plastic People of the Universe and DG 307 , face trial on various charges, including antisocial behavior and anarchism.
15
Steely Dan 's fifth album, The Royal Scam, goes gold. It contains the hit singles "The Fez" (which will reach #59 next month) and "Kid Charlemagne" (#82, in July), while many of the album's other songs, including the title track and "Haitian Divorce," are very popular on FM radio.
Convicted serial killer Richard Speck has his first parole hearing ten years after his notorious 1966 crime when he was accused of breaking into a dormitory of student nurses in Chicago and slaughtering eight of them with a pistol. His parole is predictably denied, as are the other two for this decade (1977 and 1978) and the next two decades afterwards (1981, 1984, 1987 and 1990). He dies on Dec. 5, 1991, one day before his 50th birthday.
Steely Dan 's fifth album, The Royal Scam, goes gold. It contains the hit singles "The Fez" (which will reach #59 next month) and "Kid Charlemagne" (#82, in July), while many of the album's other songs, including the title track and "Haitian Divorce," are very popular on FM radio.
Convicted serial killer Richard Speck has his first parole hearing ten years after his notorious 1966 crime when he was accused of breaking into a dormitory of student nurses in Chicago and slaughtering eight of them with a pistol. His parole is predictably denied, as are the other two for this decade (1977 and 1978) and the next two decades afterwards (1981, 1984, 1987 and 1990). He dies on Dec. 5, 1991, one day before his 50th birthday.
16
The dispute over whether women should be allowed to become priests of the Episcopal Church ends as leaders approve a provision that ordination to the priesthood applies equally to women and men.
The dispute over whether women should be allowed to become priests of the Episcopal Church ends as leaders approve a provision that ordination to the priesthood applies equally to women and men.
17
The pilot for The Love Boat, a show that features romantic entanglements aboard a cruise ship, airs on ABC-TV; guest stars for this two-hour extravaganza include Tom Bosley, Cloris Leachman, Don Adams, Florence Henderson, Karen Valentine, and Gabe Kaplan . After a second pilot on Jan. 21, 1977 and a third on May 5, 1977, the show formally begins a 9-season run on Sept. 24, 1977.
The pilot for The Love Boat, a show that features romantic entanglements aboard a cruise ship, airs on ABC-TV; guest stars for this two-hour extravaganza include Tom Bosley, Cloris Leachman, Don Adams, Florence Henderson, Karen Valentine, and Gabe Kaplan . After a second pilot on Jan. 21, 1977 and a third on May 5, 1977, the show formally begins a 9-season run on Sept. 24, 1977.
18
The second annual Don Kirshner -produced Rock Music Awards program broadcasts on CBS-TV. Winners in the program, generously labeled a fiasco by critics for both its spirit and presentation, include Fleetwood Mac for Best Group and Best Album, and Peter Frampton as Rock Personality of the Year. Rock promoter Bill Graham , nominated a year earlier for a special Public Service award, continues his criticism of the event this year by likening it to "a soup that's out there for three weeks and you open it and these maggots come out."
The Top Five
1. "Play That Funky Music" - Wild Cherry
2. "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
3. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" - England Dan & John Ford Coley
4. "A Fifth of Beethoven" - Walter Murphy & the Big Apple Band
5. "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" - Lou Rawls
The second annual Don Kirshner -produced Rock Music Awards program broadcasts on CBS-TV. Winners in the program, generously labeled a fiasco by critics for both its spirit and presentation, include Fleetwood Mac for Best Group and Best Album, and Peter Frampton as Rock Personality of the Year. Rock promoter Bill Graham , nominated a year earlier for a special Public Service award, continues his criticism of the event this year by likening it to "a soup that's out there for three weeks and you open it and these maggots come out."
The Top Five
1. "Play That Funky Music" - Wild Cherry
2. "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
3. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" - England Dan & John Ford Coley
4. "A Fifth of Beethoven" - Walter Murphy & the Big Apple Band
5. "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" - Lou Rawls
19
Promoter Sid Bernstein , the man responsible for handling the Beatles ' 1965 and 1966 Shea Stadium shows, takes out a full-page advertisement in the New York Times extending his hopes of reuniting the Beatles for a concert. While labeling the would-be event a "symbol of hope" that would offer solace to a world "so hopelessly divided," he takes care to point out that revenues could reach $230 million.
Promoter Sid Bernstein , the man responsible for handling the Beatles ' 1965 and 1966 Shea Stadium shows, takes out a full-page advertisement in the New York Times extending his hopes of reuniting the Beatles for a concert. While labeling the would-be event a "symbol of hope" that would offer solace to a world "so hopelessly divided," he takes care to point out that revenues could reach $230 million.
20
In a controversial Playboy interview (controversial for appearing in that publication), Democratic presidential hopeful Jimmy Carter admits, "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times."
The Sex Pistols , the Damned , the Clash , the Buzzcocks , the Vibrators, Subway Sect and Siouxsie & the Banshees (with future Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious on drums) are featured at London's first punk-rock festival, which takes place over two nights at the 100 Club.
In a controversial Playboy interview (controversial for appearing in that publication), Democratic presidential hopeful Jimmy Carter admits, "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times."
The Sex Pistols , the Damned , the Clash , the Buzzcocks , the Vibrators, Subway Sect and Siouxsie & the Banshees (with future Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious on drums) are featured at London's first punk-rock festival, which takes place over two nights at the 100 Club.
21
The Bee Gees ' twentieth album, Children of the World, goes gold. It contains their two latest singles, "You Should Be Dancing" (Number One, two weeks ago) and "Love So Right" (which will hit #3 in two months).
The Bee Gees ' twentieth album, Children of the World, goes gold. It contains their two latest singles, "You Should Be Dancing" (Number One, two weeks ago) and "Love So Right" (which will hit #3 in two months).
22
Bob Dylan 's album Hard Rain, a live document of his 1976 tour with the Rolling Thunder Revue , goes gold.
No more red M&M's: The FDA bans the use of red dye #4 -- common in foods, drugs and cosmetics -- because of its carcenogenic properties.
Charlie's Angels premieres on ABC to a big audience, and a feathered-back hairdo craze inspired by the series' Jill Munroe ( Farrah Fawcett-Majors ) soon follows. Fawcett-Majors, costars Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith become major stars, especially Farrah, whose pinup poster becomes all the rage. Unseen John Forsythe provides the melodious voice of the mysterious Charlie, but the real man responsible for this show and lots more is prolific producer Aaron Spelling , whos run of successful young-skewing ABC hits ( The Mod Squad, The Love Boat, and others) leads to a snickering network nickname: "Aaron's Broadcasting Company." Farrah's hubby, Lee Majors is the star of ABC's The Six Million Dollar Man.
Bob Dylan 's album Hard Rain, a live document of his 1976 tour with the Rolling Thunder Revue , goes gold.
No more red M&M's: The FDA bans the use of red dye #4 -- common in foods, drugs and cosmetics -- because of its carcenogenic properties.
Charlie's Angels premieres on ABC to a big audience, and a feathered-back hairdo craze inspired by the series' Jill Munroe ( Farrah Fawcett-Majors ) soon follows. Fawcett-Majors, costars Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith become major stars, especially Farrah, whose pinup poster becomes all the rage. Unseen John Forsythe provides the melodious voice of the mysterious Charlie, but the real man responsible for this show and lots more is prolific producer Aaron Spelling , whos run of successful young-skewing ABC hits ( The Mod Squad, The Love Boat, and others) leads to a snickering network nickname: "Aaron's Broadcasting Company." Farrah's hubby, Lee Majors is the star of ABC's The Six Million Dollar Man.
23
Rolling Stone reports on the first officially available major rock album on the U.S.S.R.'s Melodiya label: Paul McCartney & Wings 's Band on the Run.
A presidential debate between Republican incumbent Gerald Ford and Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter takes place in Philadelphia, the first time since the 1960 JFK-Nixon debates that presidential contenders have met. It's a rather genteel, uneventful affair -- until the audio goes dead near the end. ABC technicians scramble frantically for an agonizing 27 minutes before they can restore power. The whole time the men don't stray from their lectures or acknowledge each other. The culprit? A 25 cent electrolytic capacitor in one of 24 amplifiers. "It was like blowing a main fuse and having all the lights go out," says ABC's embarrassed director of television operations.
Rolling Stone reports on the first officially available major rock album on the U.S.S.R.'s Melodiya label: Paul McCartney & Wings 's Band on the Run.
A presidential debate between Republican incumbent Gerald Ford and Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter takes place in Philadelphia, the first time since the 1960 JFK-Nixon debates that presidential contenders have met. It's a rather genteel, uneventful affair -- until the audio goes dead near the end. ABC technicians scramble frantically for an agonizing 27 minutes before they can restore power. The whole time the men don't stray from their lectures or acknowledge each other. The culprit? A 25 cent electrolytic capacitor in one of 24 amplifiers. "It was like blowing a main fuse and having all the lights go out," says ABC's embarrassed director of television operations.
24
25
Wings play a benefit and raise $50,000 for the restoration of water-damaged art treasures in Venice's St. Mark's Square. A reported 25,000 people attend the performance and unknowingly set back the cause of the Italian town's reclamation from water when their combined weight loosens some paving stones and allows water to seep through into the Square.
The eponymous debut album by the band Boston enters the album chart. It will eventually reach #3 and become the fastest-selling debut album in history. The album, which features the hit single "More Than a Feeling" (which will reach #5 early in 1977), actually consists of demo tapes produced by the band's guitarist Tom Scholz , a senior production manager for Polaroid Corporation. It will be certified platinum on November 22, 1976, and will go on to sell over 7.5 million copies worldwide. It will be two years before the band's next album, Don't Look Back, appears.
Wings play a benefit and raise $50,000 for the restoration of water-damaged art treasures in Venice's St. Mark's Square. A reported 25,000 people attend the performance and unknowingly set back the cause of the Italian town's reclamation from water when their combined weight loosens some paving stones and allows water to seep through into the Square.
The eponymous debut album by the band Boston enters the album chart. It will eventually reach #3 and become the fastest-selling debut album in history. The album, which features the hit single "More Than a Feeling" (which will reach #5 early in 1977), actually consists of demo tapes produced by the band's guitarist Tom Scholz , a senior production manager for Polaroid Corporation. It will be certified platinum on November 22, 1976, and will go on to sell over 7.5 million copies worldwide. It will be two years before the band's next album, Don't Look Back, appears.
26
27
The Runaways are detained in Dover by Scotland Yard on suspicion of thefts from their London hotel of room keys and a hair dryer during their U.K. tour, based on a previous rash of thefts in London in which there was no forced entries into the hotels' rooms.
NBC debuts the shocking made-for-TV drama Dawn: Portrait of A Teenage Runaway, featuring former The Brady Bunch cast member Eve Plumb as a 15-year-old Los Angeles prostitute. The above mentioned Runaways' signature song "Cherry Bomb" is featured in the film as Dawn walks down Hollywood Boulevard.
The Runaways are detained in Dover by Scotland Yard on suspicion of thefts from their London hotel of room keys and a hair dryer during their U.K. tour, based on a previous rash of thefts in London in which there was no forced entries into the hotels' rooms.
NBC debuts the shocking made-for-TV drama Dawn: Portrait of A Teenage Runaway, featuring former The Brady Bunch cast member Eve Plumb as a 15-year-old Los Angeles prostitute. The above mentioned Runaways' signature song "Cherry Bomb" is featured in the film as Dawn walks down Hollywood Boulevard.
28
29
Former president Richard Nixon sells his memoirs for $2 million.
Jerry Lee Lewis , a.ka. "The Killer," shoots two bullets into the chest of his bass player, Norman "Butch" Owens , while target-shooting holes in an office door with a .357 magnum pistol. Owens is rushed to the local Tennessee hospital in critical condition, and Memphis authorities charge Lewis with firing a gun within city limits. It's the beginning of a wild spree this year for the 41-year-old rock 'n' roll legend, who early in November will flip his brand-new Rolls Royce and get charged with drunk driving. The next day he'll be arrested at the gates of Graceland after waving a .38-caliber derringer pistol and demanding to see Elvis Presley .
Former president Richard Nixon sells his memoirs for $2 million.
Jerry Lee Lewis , a.ka. "The Killer," shoots two bullets into the chest of his bass player, Norman "Butch" Owens , while target-shooting holes in an office door with a .357 magnum pistol. Owens is rushed to the local Tennessee hospital in critical condition, and Memphis authorities charge Lewis with firing a gun within city limits. It's the beginning of a wild spree this year for the 41-year-old rock 'n' roll legend, who early in November will flip his brand-new Rolls Royce and get charged with drunk driving. The next day he'll be arrested at the gates of Graceland after waving a .38-caliber derringer pistol and demanding to see Elvis Presley .
30
A Gallup Poll following the first of three televised presidential candidates' debates finds that 33% considered it a tie, 32% thought President Ford prevailed and 25% favored Jimmy Carter .
A Gallup Poll following the first of three televised presidential candidates' debates finds that 33% considered it a tie, 32% thought President Ford prevailed and 25% favored Jimmy Carter .
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