March 20, 1971
Janis Joplin started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with her version of the Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster song “Me And Bobby McGee.” Joplin, who was a lover and a friend of Kristofferson’s from the beginning of her career to her death, changed the sex and a few of the lyrics in her cover. Kristofferson states he did not write this song for her, but the song is associated with her – especially, he has said, in the line “Somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away.” Joplin died of a drug overdose the year before on 4th October aged 27.
March 20, 1975
Patti Smith and Television begin a 7-week residency at CBGB in New York City. During these shows, Smith refines that songs that later appear on her debut album Horses.
March 20, 1976
, Queen entered the Top 10 with A Night at the Opera at number 9
March 20, 1982
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’, a No.4 hit in the UK. The song had been a B-side from 60’s bands The Arrows.
The Go-Go’s were to this point the top self-contained all-girl group of the Rock Era (The Bangles would later pass them.) The Go-Go’s album Beauty and the Beat was #1 for a third week.
Olivia Newton-John was Physical at #8 ,
1993
“Simple Life” by Elton John was the #1 Adult Contemporary song.
Whitney Houston scored her 16th Top 10 song in 20 releases–“I Have Nothing”.
1994
Madonna snags her third Razzie for Worst Actress at the 14th Golden Raspberry Awards. Her first came in 1987 for Shanghai Surprise, and the second followed in 1988 for Who’s That Girl. This time around, it’s her role as Rebecca Carlson in Body Of Evidence that underwhelms the judges.