On this day

August 26, 1978

Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of August 23, 1978, covering August 26, 1978.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Grease by Soundtrack

    Grease

    Soundtrack

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    15
  2. 2
    Album cover for Some Girls by The Rolling Stones

    Some Girls

    The Rolling Stones

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    10
  3. 3
    Album cover for Natural High by Commodores

    Natural High

    Commodores

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    3
    Weeks
    14
  4. 4
    Album cover for Double Vision by Foreigner

    Double Vision

    Foreigner

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    8
  5. 5
    Album cover for Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by Soundtrack

    Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band

    Soundtrack

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    5
    Weeks
    3

Notable Deaths

Charles Boyer

1978Charles Boyer, French-American actor, singer, and producer (born 1899)[†]

Charles Boyer was a French-American actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found his success in American films during the 1930s. His memorable performances were among the era's most highly praised, in romantic dramas such as The Garden of Allah (1936), Algiers (1938), and Love Affair (1939), as well as the mystery-thriller Gaslight (1944). He received four Oscar nominations for Best Actor. He also appeared as himself on the CBS sitcom I Love Lucy.

José Manuel Moreno

1978José Manuel Moreno, Argentinian footballer and manager (born 1916)[†]

José Manuel Moreno Fernández, nicknamed "El Charro", was an Argentine footballer who played as an inside forward for several clubs in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia; for many who saw him play, he is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, even among Diego Maradona, Pelé and Alfredo Di Stéfano, and was the first footballer ever to have won first division league titles in four countries.

Historical Events

Pope John Paul I

1978Papal conclave: Albino Luciani is elected as Pope John Paul I.[†]

Pope John Paul I was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal history, giving rise to the most recent year of three popes—the first since 1605. John Paul I remains the most recent Italian-born pope, the last in a succession of such popes that started with Clement VII in 1523.

Historical Context for August 26, 1978

In 1978, the world population was approximately 4,292,097,502 people[†]