Phil Collins, Elton John, and Gloria Estefan dominated Adult Contemporary radio back in the 1980s and '90s, yet have disappeared from modern radio. Seemingly, the only time you ever hear them is at the grocery store or your local CVS. This blog remembers the music, the stories and the quirky characters from my days working in Adult Contemporary radio.
Friday, July 26, 2019
Peter Gabriel "Sledgehammer"
A remarkable feat in music history occurred on this date (July 26th) in 1986 when the former lead singer of a band nudged his former band's song out of the #1 spot on the Hot 100. Throughout the '70s, Peter Gabriel fronted Genesis before exiting the band thus leaving drummer Phil Collins to fill the void. While Collins juggled a solo career while continuing to perform with Genesis, the band's popularity soared. That July 1986 week saw Genesis' "Invisible Touch" fall out of the #1 spot thanks to Gabriel's "Sledgehammer". Many can and rightfully should credit MTV for helping make the song a hit as the video featured animation never before seen in a music video. The Hit Parade Podcast expertly tackles this unlikely story.