On Aug. 11, 1956, Elvis Presley released the double-sided single “Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog.” Both songs became No. 1 hits and helped cement Presley’s place in music history.
Keep reading to discover more memorable events from August 11 in Top 40 history, including major releases, cultural milestones, historic performances and important moments in the music industry.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Memorable hit singles and influential albums don’t always have a typical backstory. Here are some of the notable releases connected to Aug. 11:
- 1962: Tony Bennett released the double-sided track “Once Upon a Time” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” The latter initially received little attention until radio DJs began playing the B-side. The song eventually became a major hit and earned Bennett a GRAMMY for Record of the Year.
- 1992: Babes in Toyland released their sophomore album, Fontanelle. The record featured “Bruise Violet,” “Handsome & Gretel” and “Bluebell.” It spent two weeks on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, peaking at No. 24.
- 1995: The Dangerous Minds movie soundtrack was released. Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” served as the soundtrack’s leading hit and topped the Billboard Hot 100.
- 2009: Lady A released “Need You Now,” a major crossover hit that connected with both country and pop audiences. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- 2009: Train released “Hey, Soul Sister,” marking a major return for the group after a six-year hiatus. The song peaked at No. 3 on the pop charts and became one of Train’s signature hits.
- 2014: Sinéad O’Connor released her 10th and final studio album, I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss. The 15-track project included “8 Good Reasons,” “Take Me to Church,” “How About I Be Me” and “James Brown,” featuring guest vocals from Seun Kuti. The album reached the Top 40 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums charts.
- 2017: Billie Eilish released her debut EP, don’t smile at me. The project included “ocean eyes,” “idontwannabeyouanymore” and “Bellyache.” It reached No. 12 on the U.K. Albums Chart and No. 14 on the Billboard 200.
Cultural Milestones
August 11 has also produced several important moments involving influential artists and popular culture.
- 1943: Michael James “Jim” Kale was born in Canada. He became best known as a member of The Guess Who, which scored multiple U.S. Top 40 hits. Those songs included “These Eyes,” “No Time” and “American Woman.” The latter spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- 1964: At the height of Beatlemania, The Beatles’ iconic film A Hard Day’s Night premiered in the United States. Its soundtrack was already sitting at No. 1 when the movie opened.
- 1969: At a party in Beverly Hills, Motown Records introduced The Jackson 5 to a crowd of music industry figures and other influential guests. The group would soar to stardom the following year.
- 2000: Madonna and filmmaker Guy Ritchie welcomed their son, Rocco Ritchie, in Los Angeles. Madonna, known for hits including “Papa Don’t Preach,” and Ritchie divorced in 2008 and continued to co-parent their son.
- 2011: The Go-Go’s received the 2,444th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6652 Hollywood Boulevard in California, outside The Masque, where they played their first live concert. The GRAMMY-nominated band scored several Top 40 hits during the 1980s, including “Head Over Heels” and “We’ve Got the Beat.”
- 2016: President Barack Obama’s second set of summer playlists became available. Obama has since made sharing his summer music selections an annual tradition.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Some of August 11’s most interesting moments took place in recording studios and on concert stages.
- 1976: Neil Young recorded an entire album, Hitchhiker, in a single night. However, the record remained unreleased until 2017, when it finally became available to the public.
- 2016: Rihanna’s Anti World Tour stopped at Óbudai-Sziget in Budapest, Hungary. Her 23-song set included “Love On the Brain,” “Stay,” “Work” and “Needed Me.” The 75-date tour supported Rihanna’s chart-topping eighth studio album, ANTI.
- 2018: J. Cole performed “No Role Modelz,” “Kevin’s Heart” and other songs at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The performance was part of his KOD Tour, which supported his No. 1 album of the same name. Young Thug, Jaden Smith and EarthGang were among the supporting acts on the trek.
- 2018: Shakira performed at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., as part of her El Dorado World Tour. Her set included “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Whenever, Wherever” and “Can’t Remember to Forget You.” Released in 2017, El Dorado reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top Latin Albums chart for five weeks.
- 2023: Hip-hop legends including Snoop Dogg, Run-D.M.C. and Lauryn Hill performed at Yankee Stadium for Hip Hop 50 Live. The concert celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and honored the genre’s roots.
- 2024: Phoenix performed at the closing celebrations of the Paris Olympics. Lead singer Thomas Mars ended the exhilarating performance by crowd-surfing through a sea of Olympic athletes.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Music history is also shaped by controversy, changing trends and major industry breakthroughs.
- 1966: John Lennon publicly apologized in Chicago for remarks he had made about The Beatles’ popularity. His statement that the band was “more popular than Jesus” had sparked a strong backlash among fans.
- 2014: 5 Seconds of Summer became the first Australian musical act to reach No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with a debut album. Their self-titled release made history by reaching the top of the Billboard 200.
Robin Marchant/Getty Images
August 11 in Top 40 History
From Elvis Presley’s unforgettable double-sided single to influential albums, major concerts and defining cultural moments, August 11 in Top 40 history has produced plenty of memorable music milestones.
The day’s history spans generations and genres, showcasing artists such as The Beatles, Madonna, Rihanna, Billie Eilish, The Go-Go’s and many more. These stories offer another look at how popular music has evolved while highlighting the songs and artists that continue to shape music history.