January 31, 2012

500 years ago
1512

Born on this date
Henrique. King of Portugal, 1578-1580. Henrique, the fifth son of King Manuel I, became a Roman Catholic cardinal, and was Archbishop of Lisbon from 1564-1570. He served as regent for his great-nephew Sebastião from 1562-1568, and acceded to the throne upon King Sebastião's death in the Battle of Alcácer Quibir. King Henrique was unable to obtain a release from Pope Gregory XIII to take a bride in order to continue the Aziz dynasty, and died on January 31, 1580, his 68th birthday, without an heir, and without having appointed a successor. António, Prior of Crato and King Philip II of Spain both claimed the throne; Philip was elected King in 1581.

120 years ago
1892

Died on this date
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 57. U.K. clergyman. The "Prince of Preachers" had been pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle in London since 1861. For more about and by C.H. Spurgeon, see the sites Charles Spurgeon Quotes and The Spurgeon Archive. I particularly recommend the section from the latter site on the Down-Grade controversy, which not only remains relevant, but more so with each day.

70 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Chattanooga Choo Choo--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (9th week at #1)

60 years ago
1952

At the movies
The Green Glove, directed by Rudolph Maté, and starring Glenn Ford, Geraldine Brooks, and Sir Cedric Hardwicke, received its premiere screening in Los Angeles.



50 years ago
1962

Space
The mission of the U.S. "radio propagation" satellite Oscar 1, launched on December 12, 1961, concluded.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: The Final Countdown--Europe (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Jack Your Body--Steve "Silk" Hurley (2nd week at #1)

Jack Your Body was released as a 12-inch single, and at 25 minutes, was apparently too long to be properly classified as a single. Otherwise, I Knew You were Waiting (For Me) by Aretha Franklin and George Michael would have been #1 that week.

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
2 Open Your Heart--Madonna
3 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
4 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
5 Land of Confusion--Genesis
6 Control--Janet Jackson
7 Change of Heart--Cyndi Lauper
8 Someday--Glass Tiger
9 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago
10 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi

Singles entering the chart included Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship (#66); Fire by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (#79); Don't Leave me this Way by the Communards (#84); and Hooked on You by Sweet Sensation (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Can't Help Falling in Love--Corey Hart
2 Everybody Have Fun Tonight--Wang Chung
3 Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles
4 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
5 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
6 You Give Love a Bad Name--Bon Jovi
7 Stand by Me--Ben E. King
8 The Way it Is--Bruce Hornsby and the Range
9 The Lady in Red--Chris de Burgh
10 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters

Singles entering the chart were Brand New Lover by Dead or Alive (#85); Mandolin Rain by Bruce Hornsby and the Range (#88); Don't Dream it's Over by Crowded House (#92); Let's Go by Wang Chung (#94); Big Mistake by Peter Cetera (#96); Midnight Blue by Lou Gramm (#97); Stop to Love by Luther Vandross (#98); Too Much or Nothing by General Public (#99); and Every Beat of My Heart by Rod Stewart (#100).