Musical #tbt: May 16

1970

The UK World Cup Team (yes, the footballers) rode the top spot in the charts for three straight weeks with their rousing banger, “Back Home.” The song, written and produced by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter, was recorded and released by the reigning World Cup Champs ahead of their campaign to repeat the W. The English side was knocked out of contention by the West Germans by a score of 3-2 in the quarter final round. “Back Home” indeed.

The footballers switch gears to make patriotic music.

1977

The London Evening Standard reported that Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant was arrested in the Atlanta airport, drunk and brandishing a knife. After it turned out that Plant had been holed up in his Welsh home at the time of the incident, The Standard took a stairway to retraction. The question remains: who was this magnificently wasted, knife-wielding Robert Plant impersonator?

Police and papers confused another man for Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant.

1990

Ice Cube released his debut album, Amerikkka’s Most Wanted. The album was Cube’s first solo project after leaving NWA. He was heated. In lieu of that potent Dr. Dre production he’d been writing and rapping over, the MC turned east to work with Public Enemy’s preferred producers: The Bomb Squad. Cube not only used the explosive beats to come after his former group with a vengeance, but utilized the platform to showcase his diverse writing talents. The album touched on race, violence, women, fatherhood, and a wide array of issues plaguing him, his community, and his country.