Today in 80s History: June 18th in the 80s

Mirage

Artist: Fleetwood Mac

Released: June 18, 1982

Fleetwood Mac returned with a smoother, more radio-friendly album after the experimental sprawl of Tusk, giving the band one of its biggest 80s records.

Featured Tracks: "Hold Me" and "Gypsy"

Chart Notes: Hit #1 on the Billboard 200.

Breaking Hearts

Artist: Elton John

Released: June 18, 1984

Elton John kept his classic 80s comeback rolling with a polished pop-rock album featuring the same core band that powered Too Low for Zero.

Featured Tracks: "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" and "Who Wears These Shoes?"

Chart Notes: Reached #20 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the UK Albums Chart.

Goodbye Cruel World

Artist: Elvis Costello and the Attractions

Released: June 18, 1984

Elvis Costello later famously dismissed this album, but it still captured his mid-80s move into slicker pop production with the Attractions.

Featured Tracks: "The Only Flame in Town" and "I Wanna Be Loved"

Chart Notes: Reached #35 on the Billboard 200.

Dare to Be Stupid

Artist: "Weird Al" Yankovic

Released: June 18, 1985

"Weird Al" followed his In 3-D breakthrough with a full blast of parody, polka and oddball pop culture comedy, led by his Madonna spoof "Like a Surgeon."

Featured Tracks: "Like a Surgeon" and "Dare to Be Stupid"

Chart Notes: Reached #50 on the Billboard 200.

In Other 80s Music News

1988 - Rick Astley Hits #1 with "Together Forever"

Event: Billboard Hot 100 #1

Details: Rick Astley's "Together Forever" became the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart dated June 18, 1988.

Annie (1982)

Release Date: June 18, 1982

Directed by: John Huston

Starring: Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Ann Reinking, Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters and Aileen Quinn

The Broadway musical favorite expanded wide in theaters with a huge cast, big production numbers and a reported budget of about $50 million. It earned about $57 million at the box office.

Legal Eagles (1986)

Release Date: June 18, 1986

Directed by: Ivan Reitman

Starring: Robert Redford, Debra Winger and Daryl Hannah

This legal romantic comedy thriller teamed Robert Redford and Debra Winger in a glossy mid-80s courtroom caper. Made for about $30 million, it earned more than $93 million worldwide.

No major 80s TV news today!

1984 - Fuzzy Zoeller Wins the U.S. Open

Event: U.S. Open Golf Championship

Team: Fuzzy Zoeller

Opponent: Greg Norman

Result: Zoeller won an 18-hole playoff by eight strokes

Details: After tying Greg Norman through 72 holes at Winged Foot, Fuzzy Zoeller dominated the Monday playoff to win his first U.S. Open title.

1985 - Patrick Ewing Goes #1 in the NBA Draft

Event: NBA Draft

Team: New York Knicks

Opponent: 1985 NBA Draft Field

Result: Knicks selected Patrick Ewing with the first overall pick

Details: The Knicks used the first pick of the first NBA Draft Lottery era to select Georgetown center Patrick Ewing, one of the defining draft moments of the decade.

1986 - Don Sutton Wins His 300th Game

Event: MLB Milestone

Team: California Angels

Opponent: Texas Rangers

Result: Angels won 5-1

Details: Don Sutton threw a complete-game three-hitter to become the 19th pitcher in major league history to reach 300 career wins.

1989 - Curtis Strange Wins Back-to-Back U.S. Opens

Event: U.S. Open Golf Championship

Team: Curtis Strange

Opponent: Chip Beck, Mark McCumber and Ian Woosnam

Result: Strange won by one stroke

Details: Curtis Strange defended his U.S. Open title at Oak Hill, becoming the first golfer since Ben Hogan to win consecutive U.S. Opens.