From the Desk of CLASSICKONG 🦍🎙️
Good Monday morning from all of us at WTSG-DB*, where the music never stops and the memories are always welcome.*
Before we begin today’s journey through music history, CLASSICKONG and everyone at WTSG-DB would like to offer our continued thanks to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces—past and present—and to their families.
Thank you for your service. ❤️🇺🇸
A Note About Our Written & Spoken Editions 🎙️
Beginning with today’s edition, we’re making a small change to the way we present This Day in Music History.
Our written edition will remain the place where we dig deepest—with additional album information, release dates, song details, discography recommendations, historical context, and those musical rabbit holes we love exploring. ❤️
Our spoken-word edition will take a slightly different path.
Rather than simply reading every detail of the written blog aloud, we’ll concentrate more on the stories, memories, people, and moments that give this history its heart.
Think of it this way:
The written edition is the deep dive. The spoken edition is the guided tour.
Neither replaces the other. They’re simply two different ways to enjoy the same journey through music history.
However you join us—reading or listening—we’re glad you’re here.
Dire Straits Take Brothers in Arms to No. 1
On August 31, 1985, Dire Straits reached the top of the Billboard album chart with Brothers in Arms.
The album would spend nine weeks at No. 1 and become one of the defining records of the 1980s.
Produced by Mark Knopfler and Neil Dorfsman, Brothers in Arms also became closely associated with the rise of the compact disc. Its clean, spacious production made it exactly the kind of recording people wanted to hear on the rapidly growing digital format.
The album includes:
- “So Far Away”
- “Money for Nothing”
- “Walk of Life”
- “Your Latest Trick”
- “Why Worry”
- “Ride Across the River”
- “The Man’s Too Strong”
- “One World”
- “Brothers in Arms”
Of course, “Money for Nothing” became an MTV-era monster, helped along by its instantly recognizable guitar sound and Sting’s famous vocal appearance.
But for CLASSICKONG, there’s another song on this album that deserves special attention.
“Brothers in Arms.” ❤️
It is quiet, dark, almost haunting—and Mark Knopfler’s vocal is remarkably understated. At times you almost have to lean toward the speakers to understand what he’s singing.
But perhaps that’s part of its power.
Knopfler has explained that the song was inspired by the 1982 Falklands War, and the narrator can be understood as a soldier facing death while surrounded by the men with whom he served.
Even the phrase “brothers in arms” reportedly came from something Knopfler’s father said while discussing the conflict.
Knopfler didn’t fill the song with specific names, locations, or political arguments. Instead, it became something much larger—a meditation on soldiers, brotherhood, mortality, and the terrible human waste of war.
And then there is Knopfler’s guitar.
Sometimes that guitar seems to say what the voice cannot. 🎸❤️
For a song recorded more than forty years ago, “Brothers in Arms” has lost none of its emotional weight.
CLASSICKONG Essential: Brothers in Arms (1985) ❤️
Metallica Reaches the Top
On August 31, 1991, Metallica—the album the world would come to know simply as The Black Album—was No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
What a journey.
In recent editions we’ve followed pieces of Metallica’s story from their early days and garage-band beginnings through the development of one of heavy metal’s most important bands.
And now we’ve arrived here:
The No. 1 album in America. 🤘
Released on August 12, 1991 and produced by Bob Rock with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, Metallica presented a different version of the band.
The long, complex arrangements that had characterized much of …And Justice for All gave way to a heavier but more streamlined attack.
“Enter Sandman.”
“Sad but True.”
“The Unforgiven.”
“Wherever I May Roam.”
“Nothing Else Matters.”
The result took Metallica far beyond the traditional metal audience without abandoning the enormous guitar sound at the center of the band.
The garage days were long gone.
Metallica had reached the mountaintop. 🤘🔥
Remembering Bob Welch
Born August 31, 1945, guitarist, singer and songwriter Bob Welch occupies a fascinating place in rock history.
Welch died June 7, 2012.
To many casual listeners, Fleetwood Mac history jumps from the blues-driven Peter Green era directly to Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
But there’s an entire chapter in between—and Bob Welch was a major part of it.
Welch joined Fleetwood Mac in 1971 and remained through 1974, contributing to albums including:
Future Games (1971)
Bare Trees (1972)
Penguin (1973)
Mystery to Me (1973)
Heroes Are Hard to Find (1974)
His Fleetwood Mac composition “Hypnotized” remains a favorite from that period.
But Bob Welch wasn’t finished.
After leaving Fleetwood Mac and spending time with the band Paris, he launched a solo career that produced some absolutely wonderful American radio records. ❤️📻
French Kiss (1977) gave us the beautiful remake of “Sentimental Lady,” with some familiar Fleetwood Mac friends joining him.
Then came “Ebony Eyes.”
Later came “Precious Love.”
For anyone who grew up listening to radio during the late 1970s, Bob Welch wasn’t simply “that guy who used to be in Fleetwood Mac.”
Bob Welch was on the radio.
Those records mattered.
And they still sound mighty good today. ❤️
CLASSICKONG Essential Listening:
French Kiss (1977)
Three Hearts (1979)
And if you’ve never explored Fleetwood Mac between Peter Green and Buckingham/Nicks, don’t skip that chapter.
There’s some wonderful music waiting there.
Wilton Felder and the Sound of the Crusaders
Jazz saxophonist and bassist Wilton Felder was born August 31, 1940, in Houston, Texas.
He died September 27, 2015.
Felder was one of the founding musicians behind The Jazz Crusaders, alongside pianist Joe Sample, drummer Stix Hooper, and trombonist Wayne Henderson.
The Jazz Crusaders eventually shortened their name to The Crusaders, and their music evolved into an irresistible mixture of jazz, soul, funk, R&B, and fusion.
Felder was unusual because he wasn’t merely an outstanding saxophonist.
He was also one heck of a bass player. 🎷❤️
As a studio musician, Felder played electric bass on recordings by artists including the Jackson 5 and Marvin Gaye while continuing his long association with the Crusaders.
And then came Street Life (1979).
The title song featured the extraordinary voice of Randy Crawford, with the Crusaders creating that unmistakable groove underneath her.
For CLASSICKONG, “Street Life” comes with a personal memory. ❤️
As a kid, I remember watching the 1981 Burt Reynolds movie Sharky’s Machine.
The opening sequence moves across Atlanta while “Street Life” plays.
That voice.
That groove.
Joe Sample.
Wilton Felder.
The Crusaders.
I was hooked.
I’ve been a fan ever since.
Sometimes that’s all it takes.
One movie.
One scene.
One song.
And suddenly an artist becomes part of your musical life forever. ❤️🎷
CLASSICKONG Essential: Street Life (1979)
And while you’re there, don’t stop with one album.
The Crusaders left behind a musical catalog worth exploring.
Jerry Allison and the Beat Behind the Crickets
Drummer Jerry Allison was born August 31, 1939, in Hillsboro, Texas.
He died August 22, 2022.
Allison was the drummer for Buddy Holly and the Crickets, but describing him merely as “the drummer” doesn’t quite tell the story.
He was also a songwriter.
Allison shared writing credit on two pieces of early rock-and-roll history:
“That’ll Be the Day”
and
“Peggy Sue.”
But drummers—listen to “Peggy Sue” again. 🥁❤️
Don’t concentrate only on Buddy Holly’s voice.
Listen to what Jerry Allison is doing behind him.
That rolling, changing drum pattern helps give the record its identity. In an era when rock drumming was still defining what it was going to become, Allison showed how much personality a drummer could bring to a recording.
Sometimes the best way to rediscover an old record is simply to choose a different instrument and follow it all the way through.
Today, follow the drums. 🥁
Happy Birthday to Rudolf Schenker
Rudolf Schenker, born August 31, 1948, celebrates his 78th birthday today.
Happy birthday, Rudolf! 🤘🎂
Rudolf founded the Scorpions in Hanover, Germany, in 1965, beginning what would become one of the longest and most successful runs in hard-rock history.
The band’s guitar story alone is remarkable.
Rudolf was there at the beginning.
His younger brother Michael Schenker played lead guitar on the Scorpions’ debut album, Lonesome Crow (1972), before leaving for UFO.
Then came the brilliant Uli Jon Roth era.
Later, Matthias Jabs became the band’s longtime lead guitarist.
And through all of those chapters remained Rudolf Schenker—the rhythmic foundation of the Scorpions and an important part of their songwriting and identity.
The catalog speaks loudly:
Lonesome Crow (1972)
Fly to the Rainbow (1974)
In Trance (1975)
Virgin Killer (1976)
Taken by Force (1977)
Lovedrive (1979)
Animal Magnetism (1980)
Blackout (1982)
Love at First Sting (1984)
Savage Amusement (1988)
Crazy World (1990)
And CLASSICKONG is planting the flag right here:
CLASSICKONG Essential: Blackout (1982) ❤️🤘🔥
What an album.
Klaus Meine endured serious vocal problems before the album was completed, raising real questions about whether he would be able to continue singing.
He came back.
And listen to that record.
“Blackout.”
“No One Like You.”
“Dynamite.”
“China White.”
“When the Smoke Is Going Down.”
That is hard rock done right.
Happy 78th birthday to Rudolf Schenker, and much love and respect to the Scorpions for an incredible lifetime of hard rock. ❤️🤘
George Harrison and the My Sweet Lord Decision
On August 31, 1976, U.S. District Judge Richard Owen issued his decision in the copyright dispute involving George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” and “He’s So Fine,” written by Ronnie Mack and made famous by The Chiffons.
This is where things get interesting.
The court found copyright infringement—but the judge did not conclude that Harrison deliberately sat down and stole the song.
Instead, the court concluded that Harrison had subconsciously copied musical elements of “He’s So Fine.”
The judge analyzed recurring melodic motifs in “He’s So Fine” and concluded that while the individual musical phrases were not themselves novel, their particular pattern and repetition were sufficiently distinctive.
In other words:
The court believed Harrison had heard “He’s So Fine,” retained its musical pattern somewhere in his memory, and later reproduced enough of that pattern while creating “My Sweet Lord” to constitute copyright infringement.
For musicians, the case leaves behind a fascinating—and somewhat uncomfortable—question:
After a lifetime of listening to music, where does influence end, memory begin, and copying actually take place?
We’ll leave the legal analysis to people who went to law school.
Which brings us to…
CLASSICKONG Goes to Court ⚖️😂
Now, before CLASSICKONG attempts to interpret federal copyright law, we should probably establish one important fact:
He is completely unqualified to do so.
“Good morning, everybody. CLASSICKONG here. I’m not an attorney, but I’ve played piano for a long time, so today I’ll be interpreting federal copyright law…”
COUNSEL: “Objection!”
JUDGE: “On what grounds?”
COUNSEL: “HE’S A DRUMMER!”
CLASSICKONG: “Well, Your Honor, I also play keyboards…” 🎹
JUDGE: “OVERRULED. BUT DON’T PUSH IT.”
😂😂😂
And with that, CLASSICKONG will wisely step away from the witness stand and leave further legal analysis to qualified professionals.
We’ve got records to play. ❤️🎙️
Michael Jackson Continues the Bad Story
Yesterday we talked about Michael Jackson and Bad.
Today the story continues.
On August 31, 1987, the long-form short film for “Bad” premiered on CBS television.
And this wasn’t simply another promotional music video.
It was directed by Martin Scorsese and featured a young Wesley Snipes as Mini Max, one of the central characters confronting Michael Jackson’s Darryl.
Snipes was years away from becoming the movie star audiences would later recognize, making his appearance particularly fun to spot today.
And one little piece of Michael Jackson history is worth keeping straight:
The famous story about Jackson bringing real members of rival Los Angeles street gangs together involved the 1983 video for “Beat It,” not “Bad.”
The long-form Bad film incorporated music, choreography, dialogue, and dramatic storytelling on a scale far beyond the conventional promotional clip.
Once again, Michael Jackson was treating the music video as something closer to a short film.
For anyone following yesterday’s edition:
Consider this Part Two. ❤️
Alice Cooper Captures a Paranormal Evening
On August 31, 2018, living rock legend Alice Cooper released A Paranormal Evening at the Olympia Paris. 🤘
The live album captured the final night of Cooper’s Paranormal tour, recorded at the historic Olympia in Paris on December 7, 2017.
Alice’s band included guitarists Nita Strauss, Tommy Henriksen and Ryan Roxie, bassist Chuck Garric, and drummer Glen Sobel.
And that guitar lineup deserves a little extra attention.
Throughout his career, Alice Cooper has surrounded himself with seriously good guitar players. 🎸🔥
He’s also never seemed particularly concerned about whether the guitarist standing beside him was a man or a woman.
Can you PLAY?
That’s what matters.
And buddy, Alice has had some bad-ass female guitar players in his band.
Orianthi brought the goods.
Nita Strauss most certainly brings the goods. ❤️🤘🎸
And in 2026, while Nita stepped away temporarily as she prepared to welcome her first child, Alice brought young British guitarist Anna Cara into the touring lineup.
When Alice Cooper hands you a guitar spot in his band, you’d better be able to PLAY.
The Paranormal Evening recording reaches across Alice’s enormous catalog, from “I’m Eighteen” and “School’s Out” to “Poison” and material from Paranormal (2017).
No need to list every song.
Trust us.
Alice brought the goods. 😂🤘
More than half a century into his career, Alice Cooper remains committed to giving audiences a genuine rock-and-roll show.
Living legend. ❤️
Rush Finds a Rock Home at Roadrunner
On August 31, 2011, Rush announced a new worldwide partnership between Anthem Records and Roadrunner Records.
On paper, that’s a record-industry story.
But there was something important behind it.
By 2011, the music business had changed enormously, and for fans of hard rock and metal, Roadrunner Records remained one of the labels still proudly flying the flag for guitar-driven music. ❤️🤘
Its world included artists such as Dream Theater, Megadeth, Korn, Slipknot, Opeth, Trivium, Stone Sour, Killswitch Engage, Black Stone Cherry, and Airbourne, while its broader rock partnerships had also provided homes for veteran artists.
Rush manager Ray Danniels explained the attraction quite simply:
Rush wanted to work with a record company focused on rock.
Roadrunner was.
And from CLASSICKONG:
Thank goodness for Roadrunner Records. ❤️🤘
At a time when many longtime hard-rock and metal fans wondered where their music fit into a rapidly changing record industry, Roadrunner continued putting real weight behind heavy music—new generations and established artists alike.
For Rush, the partnership opened one final studio chapter.
Clockwork Angels arrived in 2012. ❤️
It would become Rush’s final studio album.
So looking backward, that August 31 announcement wasn’t merely paperwork.
It marked the beginning of the final recording chapter for Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart.
What a run.
What a band. ❤️🥁
Birthday Spotlight
Van Morrison — born August 31, 1945
Van turns 81 today.
“Brown Eyed Girl.”
“Moondance.”
“Into the Mystic.”
“And It Stoned Me.”
“Crazy Love.”
“Have I Told You Lately.”
Whatever anyone thinks about Van Morrison’s famously prickly reputation, those records aren’t going anywhere. 😂❤️
And on his 81st birthday, CLASSICKONG would simply like to say:
Whether Van Morrison is happy about turning 81 is between Van and Van.
😂😂😂
Happy birthday, Van.
And yes…
The songs really are that good. ❤️
Debbie Gibson — born August 31, 1970
Happy 56th birthday to singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Debbie Gibson. 🎹❤️
Gibson became one of the defining young pop artists of the late 1980s with records including:
“Only in My Dreams”
“Shake Your Love”
“Out of the Blue”
“Foolish Beat”
“Lost in Your Eyes”
Her first two albums, Out of the Blue (1987) and Electric Youth (1989), established Gibson as much more than a singer standing in front of somebody else’s songs.
She was writing.
She was playing.
She was producing.
And she was doing it while still remarkably young.
“Foolish Beat” made Gibson the youngest female artist at the time to write, produce, and perform a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single herself.
Happy birthday, Debbie! ❤️🎹
National Days
August 31 gives us a couple of easy ones to celebrate.
National Trail Mix Day
Grab the nuts, raisins, granola, chocolate pieces—whatever goes into your favorite mixture—and enjoy.
CLASSICKONG would like to point out that a bowl containing nothing but Oreos does not technically qualify as trail mix.
Jarvis has reviewed the evidence.
The ruling stands. 😂🍪⚖️
National Eat Outside Day
Take breakfast onto the porch.
Have lunch at the park.
Fire up the grill.
Or just sit outside with a cup of coffee and enjoy the final day of August. ❤️
Sometimes the simplest things are the best ones.
Final Spin
August closes today, and what a way to send it out.
We watched an underground metal band climb all the way to the top of the American album chart.
We remembered Bob Welch and an important chapter of Fleetwood Mac history that should never be skipped. ❤️
We listened again to Jerry Allison and remembered that sometimes the best way to rediscover an old record is to listen to the drummer. 🥁
We celebrated Wilton Felder, Joe Sample, Randy Crawford, and the unforgettable groove of the Crusaders—a sound that takes CLASSICKONG all the way back to being a kid watching Sharky’s Machine. 🎷❤️
We wished Rudolf Schenker a happy birthday and cranked up one of hard rock’s great catalogs. 🤘🔥
We followed Michael Jackson into the next chapter of Bad, saluted living legend Alice Cooper and his tradition of surrounding himself with killer musicians, and thanked Roadrunner Records for continuing to give rock and metal a home.
We even sent CLASSICKONG into federal court.
That didn’t go particularly well. 😂⚖️🦍
But perhaps the song that stays with us today is the quietest one.
“Brothers in Arms.” ❤️
Behind the charts, albums, guitars, courtrooms, and laughter are people.
Friends.
Families.
Bandmates.
Soldiers.
Brothers and sisters.
Music has an extraordinary way of reminding us of that.
So as August fades into September, turn up something you love.
Call somebody you’ve been meaning to call.
Tell somebody you appreciate them.
And whenever possible:
Give people their flowers while they’re still here to smell them. ❤️
From CLASSICKONG and all of us at WTSG-DB:
Thank you for spending part of your day with us.
Keep listening.
Keep remembering.
And keep the music alive. ❤️🎙️
Great Music. Great Radio. Great Community.
WTSG-DB
Listen to Today’s Broadcast 🎙️
Prefer to hear today’s highlights? Our spoken-word edition offers a shorter, more personal journey through today’s biggest stories and memories.
For deeper album information, dates, discography notes, and additional historical details, you’re already in the right place—the complete written edition of This Day in Music History.
References
Dire Straits — Brothers in Arms chart and album history — Rhino Records
Metallica — The Black Album chart and album history — Rhino Records
Bob Welch — biography and Fleetwood Mac history — AllMusic
Fleetwood Mac — band history and personnel — AllMusic
Wilton Felder — biography and recording history — AllMusic
Debbie Gibson — Official Biography
Rush — Roadrunner Records announcement — Official Rush Website
Alice Cooper — A Paranormal Evening at the Olympia Paris — Official Alice Cooper Website
George Harrison — Bright Tunes v. Harrisongs Court Decision
