On this day in music history: January 24, 1987 - At This Moment by Billy & The Beaters hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks. Written by Billy Vera, it is the biggest hit for the Los Angeles, CA based band. Working as a singer and songwriter since the 60s, Billy Vera (born William McCord, Jr.), will only have minor successes in both areas for two decades before fate intervenes. In the late 70s, Vera and fellow musician Chuck Fiore will put together The Beaters and become fixtures on the L.A. club circuit. During this time, Billy Vera will write the ballad At This Moment, which becomes a highlight of the bands live performances. The band are signed to Japanese based label Alfa Records in 1980, after opening up offices in the US. Rather than taking the traditional route of recording in a studio, the label will opt to capture the band in their element, live on stage in front of an audience. Produced by Jeff Skunk Baxter (former lead guitarist for The Doobie Brothers), At This Moment is recorded at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood, CA in January 1981. Released as a single in July of 1981, it will skim the bottom half of the pop singles chart, peaking at #79 on October 3, 1981, spending only three weeks on the chart, before sinking without a trace. The song will be raised from obscurity when it is included in several episodes during the fourth season of the sitcom Family Ties in 1986. Following the episode broadcasts, NBCs switchboard will be swamped with thousands of inquiries about where to find the record. With Alfa Records effectively out of business in the US and the bands album being long out of print, Rhino Records will purchase the masters from the label, re-releasing the single and album (re-titled By Request). Re-entering the Hot 100 at #96 on November 8, 1986, it will climb to the top of the chart eleven weeks later. On its second release, the single will become one of the last to sell over a million copies on the 7 vinyl format. At This Moment is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 02:00:09 +0000
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