Women's Suite

Mega Hit Songs were released on August 26th: Jimi Hendrix * The Beatles * Donna Summer * Don Henley

Rock ‘n’ Roll History on August 26: Jimi Hendrix * The Beatles * Donna Summer * Don Henley 

1967

August 26, 1967

Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” is released, 54 years ago. Although it is now considered a Rock ‘n’ Roll classic, the single only reached #65 on the Billboard chart. 

The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s bassist, Noel Redding, died at his home in Ireland of unknown causes on May 11, 2003, at the age of 57. Drummer Mitch Mitchell was found dead in a Portland, Ore. hotel room on November 12, 2008. He was 62.

1968

August 26 

Apple Corps releases five single records, including The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” backed by “Revolution”54-years ago. It will become the band’s biggest hit.  

1976 

August 26 

Donna Summer groans and sighs her way through her erotic Disco hit “Love To Love You Baby” on American Bandstand. Even though the song reached #2 in America, Donna later admitted that she was not completely sure of some of the lyrics, and parts of the song were improvised during the recording. 

1989

August 26 

Ringo Starr wins a court order to prevent a record producer from releasing material Starr considered to be of inferior quality due to the impaired state Starr was in when it was recorded. 

August 26 

Eagles’ drummer Don Henley sees his solo effort, “The End of the Innocence” peak at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

1966 

August 27 

The Association’s “Cherish” is released in the US, where it will reach #1 a month later. Although the song is actually longer, the label showed the running time to be exactly three minutes, to keep radio programmers from dismissing the record as too long