This Week in Music History: January 17-23
As the days fly off the calendar, we’re remembering some of the catchiest tunes from years past. This week, we’re headed back to simpler days with Twista, Rascal Flatts, Robin Thicke and more.
January 17, 2004: Yeezy and a Foxx Get Caught in a Twista
Photo by Frank Micelotta / Getty Images
Today, it’s hard to imagine a time when Kanye West (a.k.a. Yeezy) and Jamie Foxx were lacking in No. 1 hits. But it was just 12 years ago that the two received their first No. 1, courtesy of Twista. This week back in 2004, Twista’s “Slow Jamz,” which featured both West and Foxx, hit No. 1 on the Mediabase Rhythmic chart, topping the Urban chart one week later. The first No. 1 for all three, it was Twista’s biggest radio hit to date, earning the trio a Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The track was also included on West’s debut album, College Dropout, which received critical acclaim and was a huge consumer hit, setting up the rapper for a truly dominant musical career over the past decade.
January 22, 2005: Rascal Flatts Bless the Road
Photo by Scott Gries / Getty Images
“Bless The Broken Road” is a track that has been covered time and time again. Originally recorded by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1994 for their album Acoustic, the song has since been sung by everyone from Carrie Underwood to Buddy Greene. However, the most successful iteration came from Rascal Flatts. This week in 2005, the band hit No. 1 on the Mediabase Country chart with their unique take on “Bless The Broken Road.” The cover went on to become the second most played song on Country Radio in 2005, and won the Grammy for Best Country Song. The success of the track helped propel the band forward and today, Rascal Flatts is on their fourth single, “I Like the Sound of That,” off of their current record Rewind which is already in the Top 20 on the Country chart.
January 20, 2007: Robin Thicke Breaks Through Without U
Photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Back in 2007, long before going viral with Miley Cyrus at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2013, actor Alan Thicke’s son was finally breaking through to the music world. This week nine years ago, Robin Thicke went to No. 1 on the Mediabase Urban AC chart with “Lost Without U.” While the track in no way surpasses the success of his later hit “Blurred Lines,” it put Thicke on the map and became one of the most-played songs on Urban radio in 2007. Despite some time away from the spotlight, Thicke has released two tracks off of his next record (“Morning Sun” and “Back Together”), which is expected to debut this year.
