On this day

December 24, 1980

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

Historical Context for December 24, 1980

In 1980, the world population was approximately 4,447,606,236 people^[†]

Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of December 24, 1980, covering December 24, 1980.

1
Double Fantasy
John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Last week
11
Peak
1
Weeks
4
2
Guilty
Barbra Streisand
Last week
2
Peak
1
Weeks
12
3
Hotter Than July
Stevie Wonder
Last week
3
Peak
3
Weeks
7
4
Back In Black
AC/DC
Last week
4
Peak
4
Weeks
19
5
Crimes Of Passion
Pat Benatar
Last week
5
Peak
5
Weeks
19
6
Eagles Live
Eagles
Last week
6
Peak
6
Weeks
5
7
Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits
Kenny Rogers
Last week
1
Peak
1
Weeks
11
8
Zenyatta Mondatta
The Police
Last week
8
Peak
8
Weeks
10
9
The Jazz Singer (Soundtrack)
Neil Diamond
Last week
10
Peak
9
Weeks
5
10
Gaucho
Steely Dan
Last week
12
Peak
10
Weeks
4

Notable Births

1980Stephen Appiah, Ghanaian footballer^[†]

Stephen Leroy Appiah is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. During his career, he played for Udinese, Parma, Brescia, Juventus and [[Fenerbahçe.

1980Tomas Kalnoky, Czech-American singer-songwriter and guitarist^[†]

Tomas Kalnoky is a Czechoslovak-born American musician. He is the lead singer/guitarist and songwriter of the bands Streetlight Manifesto and Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution, and goes by the pseudonym Toh Kay as a solo performer. He is the former lead singer/guitarist for 3rd-wave ska band Catch 22, but left the band after making only one album to attend Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia, for visual art. According to the booklet of Somewhere in the Between, Kalnoky attended Rutgers University. He is the owner of Pentimento Music Company, a record company.

1980Maarja-Liis Ilus, Estonian pop musician^[†]

Maarja-Liis Ilus, sometimes better known by her performing name Maarja is an Estonian pop musician and presenter. She has represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest twice. She was only 15 when she participated in the 1996 contest.

Notable Deaths

1980Karl Dönitz, German admiral and politician, President of Germany (born 1891)^[†]

Karl Dönitz was a German grand admiral and convicted war criminal who, following Adolf Hitler's suicide, succeeded him as head of state of Nazi Germany during the Second World War in April 1945. He held the position until the dissolution of the Flensburg Government following Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allies weeks later. As Supreme Commander of the Navy beginning in 1943, he played a major role in the naval history of the war.

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Headlines from December 24, 1980

Hogmanay, When Scots Celebrate; Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year's Eve Celebration There's also dance and song.

By Craig Claiborne

HOGMANAY must be the most oddly named feast day in the world. It is Scotland's name for a New Year's celebration and derives, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, from the old French word "aiguillanneuf" meaning "the last day of the year at which New Year's gifts ...

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Chase Cuts Its Prime To 20 %; Other Interest Rates Up After Recent Drop Wells Fargo Led the Way Factors in Rate Move Chase Cuts Prime Rate To 20 % Caution on Market Assessment

By Karen W. Arenson

The Chase Manhattan Bank and several smaller banks reduced their prime lending rates yesterday by a full percentage point, to 20 percent, from the record 21 percent peak set only last Friday.

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Rating 'Bargain' Caviar; Rating Medium-Priced Caviar: How to Find the Good Buys American Caviar Red Salmon Caviar EXPERT SHOPPER Whitefish Caviar Where To Shop

By Mimi Sheraton

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Police Seeking Link in Slayings of 4 On Streets of Midtown Manhattan; No Link to Earlier Attacks Seen Died Shortly After Attacks Police Investigate Link In Fatal Stabbings of 4 On Streets of Midtown

By Selwyn Raab

Four men were stabbed to death on the streets of midtown Manhattan in an eight-hour period Monday afternoon and evening, and police officials said yesterday one man might be responsible for all of the murders.

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CENSUS BUREAU TOLD TO READJUST FIGURES FOR CITY AND STATE; 'UNDERCOUNT' CITED BY JUDGE Decision Could Save Federal Funds and Congressional Seats-- Koch Says He Is 'Elated' Number of Seats Unknown An Appeal to Be Recommended Says Methods Are Available Census Bureau Is Told To Revise Its Figures For the City and State

By Arnold H. Lubasch

A Federal judge ruled yesterday that the Census Bureau must revise its population figures to compensate for a "disproportionate undercount" in New York City and New York State.

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Article 1 -- No Title

By Unknown Author

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Mao's Widow Rails at Trial Judges; They Charge Her With Contempt; Chance for a Final Statement MAO'S WIDOW RAILS AT COURT OFFICIALS Details of Persecution Given

By Fox Butterfield Special To the New York Times

PEKING, Dec. 23--Jiang Qing, the widow of Mao Zedong, was charged with contempt of court today after she shouted at a panel of judges and prosecutors that they were "fascists" and Chinese Nationalist agents, the New China News Agency reported.

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News Summary; International National Metropolitan

By Unknown Author

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Venezuela, Mexico Oil Prices Up; Two Raise Crude Prices Word from Africa Awaited Rises Outside OPEC Impact on Consumers

By Douglas Martin

Venezuela and Mexico, which together supply about 7 percent of the petroleum needs of the United States, yesterday announced price increases for their crude oil of $3 to $5.50 a barrel, depending on quality.

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Kennecott, Curtiss Again Trading Volleys in Court; Kennecott And Curtiss In Court

By Robert J. Cole

The long battle between the CurtissWright Corporation and the Kennecott Corooration moved into the courtroom yesterday for the second time in two years, as the New Jersey aerospace company opened its case to fight an unwelcome $335 million takeover bid by Kennecott.

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Key Grant to Aid Portman Project Is Cast in Doubt; Approval of $22.5 Million by H.U.D. Held Unlikely Approval of a 2d Grant Is Expected Grant Considered 'Trigger' Money

By Clyde Haberman

A $22.5 million Federal grant that is a key component of the financing package for the proposed Portman Hotel in Times Square is in "serious trouble" at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal officials said yesterday.

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Article 2 -- No Title

By Unknown Author

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Historical Context for December 24, 1980

Double Fantasy

Guilty

Hotter Than July

Back In Black

Crimes Of Passion

Eagles Live

Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits

Zenyatta Mondatta

The Jazz Singer (Soundtrack)

Gaucho

Notable Births

Notable Deaths

Headlines from December 24, 1980

Hogmanay, When Scots Celebrate; Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year's Eve Celebration There's also dance and song.

Chase Cuts Its Prime To 20 %; Other Interest Rates Up After Recent Drop Wells Fargo Led the Way Factors in Rate Move Chase Cuts Prime Rate To 20 % Caution on Market Assessment

Rating 'Bargain' Caviar; Rating Medium-Priced Caviar: How to Find the Good Buys American Caviar Red Salmon Caviar EXPERT SHOPPER Whitefish Caviar Where To Shop

Police Seeking Link in Slayings of 4 On Streets of Midtown Manhattan; No Link to Earlier Attacks Seen Died Shortly After Attacks Police Investigate Link In Fatal Stabbings of 4 On Streets of Midtown

Article 1 -- No Title

Mao's Widow Rails at Trial Judges; They Charge Her With Contempt; Chance for a Final Statement MAO'S WIDOW RAILS AT COURT OFFICIALS Details of Persecution Given

News Summary; International National Metropolitan

Venezuela, Mexico Oil Prices Up; Two Raise Crude Prices Word from Africa Awaited Rises Outside OPEC Impact on Consumers

Kennecott, Curtiss Again Trading Volleys in Court; Kennecott And Curtiss In Court

Key Grant to Aid Portman Project Is Cast in Doubt; Approval of $22.5 Million by H.U.D. Held Unlikely Approval of a 2d Grant Is Expected Grant Considered 'Trigger' Money

Article 2 -- No Title