On this day

August 31, 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 30, 1978, covering August 31, 1978.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Grease by Soundtrack

    Grease

    Soundtrack

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    16
  2. 2
    Album cover for Some Girls by The Rolling Stones

    Some Girls

    The Rolling Stones

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    11
  3. 3
    Album cover for Natural High by Commodores

    Natural High

    Commodores

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    3
    Weeks
    15
  4. 4
    Album cover for Double Vision by Foreigner

    Double Vision

    Foreigner

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    9
  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
    4

Notable Births

1978Philippe Christanval, French footballer[†]

Philippe Charles Lucien Christanval is a French former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. During his career, he played for Monaco, Barcelona, Marseille and Fulham and earned six full international caps with the France national team, as well as selection to the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

1978Ido Pariente, Israeli mixed martial artist and trainer[†]

Ido Pariente is an Israeli mixed martial arts fighter and trainer. His nickname is "The Hebrew Hammer". He is one of Israel's top fighters.

1978Jennifer Ramírez Rivero, Venezuelan model[†]

Jennifer RamĂ­rez Rivero was a Venezuelan model and owner of the clothing and accessories brands Mac River and Jen River. She was murdered in 2018 in CĂșcuta, Colombia.

Craig Stapleton (rugby league)

1978Craig Stapleton, Australian rugby league player[†]

Craig Stapleton is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League. Stapleton formerly played for St. George and St. George Illawarra, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) competition as well as Leigh Centurions and Salford City Reds in Super League, primarily as a prop. A journeyman forward, Stapleton played for eight clubs in twelve years.

Sandis Valters

1978Sandis Valters, Latvian basketball player[†]

Sandis Valters is a retired professional basketball shooting guard, who last played for BK Ventspils. He is member of Latvia national basketball team. His father is a former Soviet basketball star, Valdis Valters, and his younger brother, Kristaps Valters, also plays professional basketball.

Morten Qvenild

1978Morten Qvenild, Norwegian pianist and composer[†]

Morten Qvenild is a Norwegian jazz pianist, band leader, and producer.

Notable Deaths

1978John Wrathall, Rhodesian accountant and politician, 2nd President of Rhodesia (born 1913)[†]

John James Wrathall, was a British-born Rhodesian politician. He was the last white President of Rhodesia. He formerly worked as a chartered accountant.

Historical Context for August 31, 1978

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