17/3/81: 'Jealous Guy' by Roxy Music at no. 1 (UK)

On Tuesday 17 March 1981 a cover version of the John Lennon song 'Jealous Guy' by British band Roxy Music was at no. 1 in the UK for the second of two weeks.

The band had added the song to their live set during their tour following the death of Lennon in December 1980. It was intended to be a one off tribute performance at a show in Dortmund on 19th December. It has featured in every Roxy Music or Bryan Ferry solo tour since, including Live Aid in 1985.

Despite a long and successful career this single would be Roxy Music's only number 1 in the UK. The full length version of the song is 6:10 long. A live version can be heard on the Roxy Music album Heart Still Beating (1990)

Source. Viva Roxy Music

16/3/81: Time magazine (Alexander Haig cover)

On 16 March 1981, Time magazine featured the US Secretary of State Alexander Haig on its front cover.

Haig (b. 1927) was a veteran of both the Korean and the Vietnam wars and had served as NATO Supreme Commander from 1974–79. His term in office under Ronald Reagan was relatively short and his comments and actions often met with controversy both at home and abroad. He resigned from his post in June 1982. His memoirs, Inner Circles: How America Changed The World, were published in 1992. Haig died in 2010.

14/3/81: Michael L Kennedy marries Victoria Gifford

OnSaturday 14 March 1981 Michael LeMoyne Kennedy married Ms. Victoria Gifford in New York City.

pic.: Corbis Images

Michael L. Kennedy was the nephew of former American President, John F Kennedy, assassinated in 1963, and the sixth child of Robert F. Kennedy, also assassinated in 1968. 

Michael died in 1997 after a skiing accident in Aspen, Colorado. That same year he had been accused of (but not charged with) statutory rape, and had separated from Victoria.

source: Time.com archive, 

12/3/81: Bucks Fizz: 'Making Your Mind Up' released

On Thursday 12 March 1981 the debut single by British vocal group Bucks Fizz was released. Making Your Mind Up was the UK's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, which was to be held in Dublin in April.

The release of the single came the day after Bucks Fizz won the qualifying Song For Europe contest which had been transmitted live on BBC One the previous evening.

source: BBC genome, discogs

11/3/81: 'Today Tonight' : Slum army housing in Dublin

On Wednesday 11 March 1981, a report was shown on RTE Eire denouncing the slum housing conditions at the Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, Rep. of Ireland. the report was by report by Forbes McFall.

Click picture below for link to full video report.

source. rte.ie/archives via twitter

10/3/81: UK Budget presented to Parliament; UK Top 40

On Tuesday 10 March 1981 a new UK budget was presented to Parliament by teh Chancellor of the Exchequer Geoffrey Howe.

pic.: ssplprints.com

This was Howe's second budget and the second of the Thatcher leadership and was presented at a time of significant economic hardship in the UK. Inflation was running at 15% and manufacturing output was down by 9% over the previous year with unemployment up by one million. In budget measures, the price of a pint of beer went up 4p, spirits went up 60p, wine up 12p, and 20 cigarettes up 13p. Petrol duty went by by up a significant 20p per gallon.

Geoffrey Howe would become Thatcher's longest serving cambinet minister, resigning in November 1990, just three weeks before Thatcher's own resignation. He died in 2015.

sources: guardian, wikipedia.

Roxy Music go to no.1 in the UK with the John Lennon song Jealous Guy. 

Duran Duran and New Order make their Top 40 debuts.

source: Official Charts archive

9/3/81: Charles & Diana's first official night out

On the vening of Monday 9th March 1981, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, now engaged to be married, attended a charity concert at the Goldsmith's Hall in London.

The couple were greeted by hoards of paparazzi photographers eager to get pictures of Diana in her 'little black dress'.

 

pictures: princessdianabookboutique