Today in MJJ HIStory

1966 - The Jackson family spent some of their summers visiting Joe Jackson’s father, Samuel Jackson, in Winslow, Arizona. During their time there, they occasionally performed local shows.

One such show took place at Winslow’s Elks Lodge on August 20, 1966. Also, sometime during this year (probably earlier), Michael had joined the group to win a talent show contest at Gary's Roosevelt High School, where his older brothers were students.

1983 - The Jackson 5 compilation album "18 Greatest Hits" hit #1 in the U.K.

Edited Telstar 16 Motown singles, plus Happy and We've Got A Good Thing Going on this compilation.
Reissue July 1988 by Motown.
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1. One Day In Your Life
2. Lookin' Through The Windows
3. Got To Be There
4. Doctor My Eyes
5. Ben
6. ABC
7. We're Almost There
8. Skywriter
9. Rockin' Robin
10. Happy
11. Ain't No Sunshine
12. I'll Be There
13. I Want You Back
14. The Love You Save
15. We've Got A Good Thing Going
16. Mama's Pearl
17. Never Can Say Goodbye
18. Hallelujah Day

A heavy advertising campaign, coupled with the phenomenal success of "Thriller" (which dominated the world rankings in 1983) begat a surprising success in the charts.
"18 Greatest Hits" spent more than a year in the UK charts and became the 10th sale of the year 1983 (the first being Thriller).
Happy for the first time appeared on the album "Music and Me" (1973) and was released as a single for the first time in 1983 to promote this compilation. The English original 45s included a free poster (as will be the tradition in the promotion of Michael's solo albums for Epic). Well, the first Michael tube was brought out to this promotion.

1992 - Michael perform first of three concert at Wembley Stadium, London attending 72,000 fans.

1993 - On 21st/22nd August, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) served search warrants on Neverland Valley and Michael’s condominium in Century City. Several boxes of items were removed but, contrary to press reports, nothing that could be termed 'evidence' was discovered.
'The search warrant,' a LAPD spokesman confirmed, 'didn’t result in anything that would support a criminal filing.'

1996 - On January 18th, 1996, it was announced that Lisa Marie Presley had filed for divorce from Michael Jackson. The divorce would become final on August 20th, 1996.

Filed under  //   1966   1983   1992   1993   1996  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1972 - Michael's single Ben entered Hot R&B Chart.
The song was released on Aug 05

1974 – Michael Jackson was guest host at Tonight Show with Bill Cosby. He performed the "Dancing Machine".



1984 - The Jacksons perform Victory Tour at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, Michigan attending 47,900.

1997 - Michael performs HIStory world tour at Valle Hovin stadium, Oslo, Norway.

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Blood on the Dance Floor was taken off the set list for HIStory Tour after this concert.

Filed under  //   1972   1974   1984   1997  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1990 - Michael welcomes 130 children from the "YMCA" Summer Program in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to his ranch. They were treated to a barbecue meal, played video games, visited his zoo, and watch movies. Each child was given a free pair of sneakers, and you can bet they weren't Reeboks! The children made him a banner reading, "We Love You Michael" and made him an honorary member of the 8th St. YMCA in Los Angeles.

It was announced that Michael had hired Sandy Gallin as his new personal manager

1992 - Jackson performed for the last time in Glasgow, Scotland on August 18 before being banned by city council chiefs due to complaints of the noise the concert created.

Filed under  //   1990   1992  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1978 - The Jacksons: Marlon, Michael, Tito, Randy and Jackie pose during a publicity photo shoot after the band signed to Epic Records, at Jackie Jackson's home in Westlake Village, California (Photo Credit: Gregg Cobarr).
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The band of brothers "Jackson 5ive" with the 10 year-old child star Michael as the lead singer, become the first black teen idols to appeal equally to white audiences. After their departure from Motown to CBS in 1976, the group were forced to change their name from "Jackson 5ive" to "The Jacksons", and Jermaine was replaced with younger brother Randy as Jermaine chose to stay at Motown. After 2 years under the Philadelphia International Records label, in 1978, they signed with Epic Records and asserted control of their songwriting, production, and image, and their success continued into the 1980s with hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", "Lovely One", and "State of Shock".

1984 – The Jacksons perform their Victory Tour at Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan attending 47,900.

1995 - Michael went 'on-line' via the Sony Music Internet, at the Museum of Television and Radio in Manhatten, for his first ever internet Simulcast conducted on three leading online services--America Online, CompuServe, Prodigy--as well as the Internet. It was the largest ever 'cyber chat' at the time, drew in over staggering 25,000 fans around the world – more than 3 times the previous record for a 'cyberchat'!
Michael devoted 70 minutes to answer around 100 of the questions about his music & life, while MTV airs MJ videos and special programming while simulcasting the chat session on television, in a unique use of split-screen technology (New York City, NY).

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He revealed:
  • He doesn’t pay attention to tabloid junk. He is very resilient, and feels like he has a suit of armour around him – like rhinoceros skin.
  • If he could be any fictional super hero he liked, he would choose Morph, from The X-Men. Why? Because Morph constantly transforms himself, and can even teleport.
  • Among his musical influences are Tchaikovsky, and the great writing of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.
  • The two favourite places he had travelled to are South America and Africa, as he loves the people and the cultures.
  • The favourite song he’s recorded is probably Ben, Got To Be There, Heal The World – one of the oldies.
  • His dream is to make films; not only to act and sing, but to produce as well.
  • One of his proudest musical achievements is We Are The World, a song he is proud of because it reached so many people.
  • What he missed most during his childhood was the simple little things that kids do – having a friend over, going to the park, trick-or-treat, Christmas and birthdays.
  • If he could meet someone, dead or alive, to talk with them for an hour, he would choose Michaelangelo whom he thinks was a phenomenal artist.
  • Among his favourite songs on HISTORY are Earth Song, Childhood, Stranger In Moscow and Little Susie – he loves songs with heart.
  • He thinks the technology that allowed him to have a simulchat with his fans is incredible, just amazing! As for why he is doing it – for his fans, because he loves them and wanted to talk to them.

He also announces the existence of the project titled "Michael Jackson: One Night Only": "I’m doing an HBO special, and it’s intimate. It’s close-up. It will allow me to do things I’ve never done before."

Source

2001 - Michael's long-awaited first single off "Invincible", titled "You Rock My World" premièred on the US radio station "Jammin 105.1".

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Prior to the singles official release, an unidentified source leaked to two New York radio stations on Friday, August 17, without authorization from Sony Music or Michael Jackson. Immediately after the songs radio airplay the radio stations had received "a herd of [radio] callers asking for more." You Rock My World was first played on the WJTM-FM station at 6 p.m., with WKTU-FM airing the song 45 minutes later. Both stations had played the single every two hours until around 6 p.m. Saturday, when Jackson's record label, Epic Records, called the program director for both stations, Frankie Blue, and asked him to stop. "[They] informed me of the dangers of playing a song too early, [They] said, 'Please do me a favor and take it off the air.'" Blue, a friend of Jackson's, stated on Wednesday, August 22, he would not say how he got the single.
Filed under  //   1978   1984   1995   2001  

Today in MJJ HIStory

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1969 - Motown star Diana Ross officially introduced the Jackson 5 to the press in August 1969, also presented them at the Forum, when the J5 opened for the Supremes – the photo above is from that show. She hosted the variety show Hollywood Palace when the J5 made their national TV debut in October. Her name headlined their debut album, on the eve of her heralded solo breakaway.

J5 fans know that she didn’t “discover” the Jackson 5; Gladys Knight was the one who from the road called Motown first. But it was Bobby Taylor, a Motown songwriter and producer, and lead singer of the Vancouvers, who drove the brothers, the band and Papa Joe Jackson to Hitsville in the summer of 1968. More on him in another post.

Miss Ross, however, surely helped launch the Jackson 5’s career in a big way.
Source: j5live.tumblr.com

1973 - Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 perform in a benefit gig at St. Paul Civic Center Arena in Minnesota, with proceeds of the concert being funneled to the Afro-American Music Opportunities Association (AAMOA). AAMOA, based in the Twin Cities, promotes Black Music and assists Black composers and musicians worldwide.

1992 - Backstage in Leeds, England, Michael meets with 6-year-old Nicholas Killen, left visually impaired after a cancer procedure.

1995 - Michael's album HISTORY: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE BOOK I was certified 5xPlatinum by RIAA.

1997 - Michael performs HIStory World tour at Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden attended 50,000 fans.



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Michael Jackson Live in Gothenburg
Concert broadcast by TV1000 and Channel 3. This concert is very similar to the Copenhagen concert; also the last professionally filmed performance of Blood on the Dance Floor (though the concert in Oslo on August 19 was the last performance of this song). During "Scream," the pre-recorded a capella vocal of Jackson was malfunctioning. Jackson continued to lip-sync and dance until the vocals continued during the chorus.

1998 - In the States, Captain EO was finally replaced in March 1997, by a new feature, Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. It had its final showing at Disneyland, Paris on 16th August 1998.

Filed under  //   1969   1973   1992   1995   1997   1998  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1987 - Michael's duet with Siedah Garret "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" reached #1 in the UK Singles chart replacing Los Lobos's hit La Bamba, and stay there for 2 weeks.

Michael was in Hong Kong for a short visit.

1993 - Michael Jackson began the second leg of Dangerous World tour in Hong Kong.

1995 - "You Are Not Alone", the second single from from "HIStory" album was released in America, and went on to create chart history.

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The single debuted at number 1 on the US charts, smashing the previous record set by “Scream”. “You Are Not Alone” was the first song to ever debut at number one on the US Billboard Chart. Michael broke his own record which he set with "Scream" 2 1/2 months ago ["Scream" entered the Billboard charts at number 5, being the then-highest entry of all time]. The number one position is the highest possible debuting position on the single-charts. This record can only be tied but never be broken. Michael was honored with the "Billboard Hot 100 Achievement Award" for having the first ever single in the history of the Billboard charts, "You Are Not Alone", to debut at number one on the charts!

The single was a worldwide smash, reaching number 1 in six countries and record sales for HIStory soared.

The short film to accompany the song was directed by Wayne Isham and featured Lisa Marie Presley.

1999 - On Sunday, the Dalai Lama, earthly embodiment of the Buddha of Compassion granted an audience to Michael Jackson.

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It was the first meeting between His Holiness and Michael. The meeting took place at the Mark Hotel. The Dalai Lama and Michael spoke for about 20 minutes

The Dalai Lama left New York Yesterday, but Michael remained in New York finishing an album. While there, he dined at a New York apartment with Dolly Parton and Elizabeth Taylor. According to a source, the focus of much of their talk was the death of John Kennedy Jr. and the dangers Celebrities face when flying private planes.

2004 - Michael Jackson was a special guest of Rev. Cecil "Chip" Murray at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, one of the most respected churches in the Los Angeles African-American community.

At 10:00 a.m. Michael Jackson, his youngest brother Randy Jackson, entertainer Steve Harvey, and attorney Mr. Thomas Messerau sat comfortably towards the back of the church and enjoyed the service. Although news of Michael's appearance was not widely publicized, the press from most major news channels were on hand. Much of the public learned of Michael's appearance from hearing it mentioned on the Steve Harvey radio program earlier. There were a handful of fans who knew where First AME Church was located and were able to be there to greet Michael. After Michael left the church he made his way to the Cecil F. Murray Education Center, a small school a block away that is run by First AME Church. There, he was scheduled to greet a class room full of about 25 African-American children. The press were told before Michael entered the room that there would be absolutely no questions that would be allowed by the press.
Filed under  //   1987   1993   1995   1999   2004  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1971 – The Jackson 5ive perform at St Louis, Kiel Auditorium.

1997 - Michael Jackson perform HIStory World tour in Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark.

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Michael Jackson Live in Copenhagen
Broadcast by TV1000 and Channel 3. Most VHS rips of this version that have appeared seem to suffer from a greenish video noise. This concert, along with the 1996 concert in Seoul, were televised on Korean Television in July 2009; the songs "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Stranger in Moscow" and "Blood on the Dance Floor" were edited off in this new televised version of this concert. However, only a version with poor sound quality was recorded by a fan. This performance was also televised on Singapore's MediaCorp Channel 5 in early 2010, which is the best quality available of this concert so far.
Filed under  //   1971   1997  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1967 - Jackson 5 at the Apollo.
Having toured the "chitlin’ circuit" of strip bars and nightclubs around the mid-west, the Jackson Five legend began to take hold on the east coast when the group won the Amateur Night Showdown at Harlem’s famous Apollo theater on August 13, 1967.

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In August 1967, The Jackson 5 performed at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem for their amateur night. The Apollo’s amateur night audience was known to performers as the toughest audience around. Many performers had been discovered here and it was an important night for the young group. After their set, The Jackson 5 won first prize and brought the house down.

After winning a talent contest at Beckman Junior High in Gary, Gordon Keith of Steeltown Records asked The Jackson 5 to sign a contract with his label. It was their first official recording contract and The Jackson 5 immediately began recording. Their first single was released in late 1967, called “Big Boy”. Although it never charted, it became a big regional hit.

The group impressed Motown artist Gladys Knight so much that she recommended them to label boss Berry Gordy. However, already weary from the complications of handling child star Stevie Wonder, he passed on even hearing them for consideration.

1971 – The Jackson 5ive perform their First National Tour at Kansas City - Missouri / Municipal Auditorium.

1972 – The Jackson 5ive perform their First National Tour at Charleston, Virginia.

1992 – Michael Jackson performed his Dangerous World Tour in Hameln, Germany, attending 25000 at Weserbergland Stadium. By Weserberglandstadion they made a special transmission to support the event.

Michael Jackson's maxi single for "Jam" was released.

1999 - MJJ Productions has confirmed that Michael will give a press conference on August 29, to announce his millennium concerts. The exact location and time of the conference will be announced soon.

2001 - From August 13-21, 2001 - Michael shoots the You Rock My World 13-minute short film in Los Angeles directed by Paul Hunter and featuring Chris Tucker and a special appearance by Marlon Brando.

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After Robert DeNiro turned Michael down to star in his newest video for You Rock My World, Michael turned to Brando, who was a longtime close friend of the entertainer and paid regular visits to his Neverland Ranch, resting there for weeks at a time. Brando also participated in the singer's two-day solo career 30th-anniversary celebration concerts in 2001, and gave a speech to the audience on humanitarian work. The actor's son, Miko, was Michael's bodyguard and assistant for several years, and was a friend of the singer. He stated "The last time my father left his house to go anywhere, to spend any kind of time... was with Michael Jackson. He loved it... He had a 24-hour chef, 24-hour security, 24-hour help, 24-hour kitchen, 24-hour maid service."

The Jackson brothers convened in Los Angeles to begin rehearsing for the two tribute concerts at Madison Square Garden, New York in September.

2003 – Some picture taken from Dr. Farschian (a doctor who healed Michael Jackson after spider bite) were avaiable on the doctor's website: the picture speak for themeself and show how sever is the vitiligo skin disease on Michael’s body.

Usher, who performed at Michael's '30th Anniversary Special', is due to attend the birthday party along with Slash and Bret Ratner, banning any sudden changes to their schedules.

Filed under  //   1967   1971   1972   1992   1999   2001   2003  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1969 - The Jackson Five (soon to be called “The Jackson 5″) were formally introduced to the music press by Diana Ross, on behalf of Motown, at a private club called the Daisy in Hollywood [on North Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills] at a special party that began at 6:30 p.m. on August 11, 1969.

Diana Ross invited 350 guests to a Beverly Hills club to see the newest Motown act, The Jackson 5. Berry Gordy predicts that the Jackson 5 first 3 singles will be number ones hit single and that they will become one of the biggest selling acts of the decade.

Five days later, they performed with Diana at a concert at the Los Angeles Forum.

It was at this party that ten-year-old Michael, just over two weeks away from his 11th birthday, was instructed to tell interviewers that he was only eight years old. Ever the professional, young Michael understood the importance of publicity in show business, and eager to please, he gladly did as he was told.

1973 - The Jackson 5 perform in concert in Columbia, South Carolina.

1974 - The Jackson 5 perform in concert in Kansas City, Missouri.

1992 - Michael Jackson's single "Jam" was released.

1995 - New York Times, titled "SONY'S GROUP PROFIT RISES 91%". The articled added the rises of profit to the release of "History", by Michael Jackson.

Filed under  //   1969   1973   1974   1992   1995  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1970 - Michael is on the cover of Soul magazine.

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In the early years, no publication covered the Jackson 5 like Soul, a weekly newspaper devoted to Black music that was published in Los Angeles, kind of the Black version of Rolling Stone.

In July and August of 1970, each Jackson brother had his own cover story in Soul. Later, all of the profiles and pictures were compiled in a special J5 Extra edition of Soul.

Michael's cover story appeared in the August 10 issue. It's filled with rare photos and interesting tidbits, including a mini photo-drama about finding and capturing a snake while on the ABC photoshoot, with the assistance of Motown singer, Chris Clark. It gives an interesting portrait of Michael as a child and as a performer. Here it is, in all its glory.
Source: j5collector

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1979 - Michael released Off The Wall, his first solo album on Epic and first co-produced with Quincy Jones, and it became a tremendous success. With hit singles like Don’t Stop (Til You Get Enough) and Rock With You, it became an instant smash on the pop and disco charts.

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It was his fifth overall solo album, but his first ever for Epic records. The album was recorded between December 4 1978 and July 7, 1979. Michael contributed three songs to Off The Wall: “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough”, “Working Day and Night” and “Get on the Floor” (co-written with Louis Johnson). Michael and Quincy sought top writers and musicians for the album, with Rod Temperton who contributed three tracks: “Rock With You”, “Off The Wall” and “Burn This Disco Out”, Paul McCartney contributed the playful “Girlfriend”, Tom Bahler gave the emotional “She’s Out of My Life” and Stevie Wonder and Susaye Greene offered the quirky “I Can’t Help It”. There was one duet between Michael and Patti Austin called “It’s the Falling in Love”, which was written by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster.

A flawless album of exuberant celebration, orchestrated with unforgettable summer sounds, Michael proved that he was more than just a mere performer or group leader, but a complete recording artist, with the skills to make the hottest music out of nothing but his own imagination. It was the album he had been trying to make all along.

The album was hailed as a major breakthrough for Michael, and received amazing reviews. The album went to number 3 in the US chart and number 1 on the US soul chart and stayed on the top 20 for a massive 48 weeks.

Michael Jackson is the first singer ever to spawn 4 Top Ten singles in the US from one album ["Off The Wall"], two of which became number one hits. In Britain, for the first time in music history, a record 5 hit singles were released, "Girlfriend" being one of them.

The album exceeded all expectations and was hugely successful on both the Pop and Black album charts. With the release of this album, the world got to see a new Michael Jackson.

With "Off The Wall" Michael becomes the Prince of Pop!

At the Grammy Awards for 1979, Michael got nominated for "Best R&B Vocal Performance" and also won in his category.

Michael: "Although 'Off The Wall' had been one of the most popular records of the year, it received only one nomination: 'Best R&B Vocal Performance'. I remember where I was when I got the news. I felt ignored by my peers and it hurt. People told me later that it surprised the industry too... I said to myself, 'Wait until next time - they won't be able to ignore the next album.' I watched the ceremony on television and it was nice to win in my category, but I still was upset by what I perceived as the rejection of my peers. I just kept thinking 'Next time, next time.'"

"I can be brutally objective about my work as I create it, and if something doesn't work, I can feel it, but when I turn in a finished album - or song - you can be sure that I've given it every ounce of energy and God-given talent that I have. 'Off The Wall' was well received by my fans and I think that's why the Grammy nominations hurt. That experience lit a fire in my soul. All I could think of was the next album and what I would do with it. I wanted it to be truly great."

The release of "Off The Wall" in August of 1979, the same month Michael turned 21 and took control of his own affairs, was definitely one of the major landmarks of Michael's life. It meant a great deal to him because the album's eventual success proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that a former "child star" could mature into a recording artist with contemporary appeal.

1981 - The Jacksons perform Triumph tour at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, U.S.

1985 - In August of 1985 Michael Jackson purchased the "ATV Back Catalogue" for US$ 47.5 million. The catalogue [publishing rights], today worth 3 times as much, comprises over 4'000 compositions, including 251 songs by The Beatles as well as hits by Pat Benatar, Little Richard, The Pointer Sisters and The Pretenders. Michael already owns the publishing rights to the Sly Stone collection as well as a collection of 60's hits. Michael rewarded his attorney John Branca and then-manager Frank Dileo each with a Rolls Royce for their help in negotiating the "Beatles deal".

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Michael’s decade-old friendship with Paul McCartney was brought to an abrupt end, when he spent $47.5 million buying ATV Music, the company that owned the Lennon-McCartney songwriting catalog. Ironically, McCartney had been the one to suggest Michael invest in music publishing a few years earlier, not suspecting how that advice would affect him personally. Jackson stayed at the home of McCartney and his wife Linda during the recording sessions of #1 hit single "Say, Say, Say", becoming friendly with both. One evening whilst at the dining table, McCartney brought out a booklet displaying all the songs to which he owned the publishing rights. He explained that music publishing was a way to make big money. Jackson replied by telling McCartney that he would buy The Beatles' songs one day. "Great. Good joke", McCartney laughed.

McCartney, who along with Beatles partner John Lennon had lost ownership of their songs in 1969 due to bad business deals, had declined earlier opportunities to buy it back due to the high asking price, but was nonetheless incensed by Michael’s opportunism. Michael, who finalized the deal in Perth, Australia two months later, quickly put his new purchase to work, and soon sold the rights to Lennon’s song Revolution for a Nike shoe advertisement.

However, Yoko Ono (Jonh Lennon's widow) was pleased that Michael had acquired Northern Songs and called it a "blessing". In 1990, she stated, "Businessmen who aren't artists themselves wouldn't have the consideration Michael has. He loves the songs. He's very caring!"

  • In 1995 ATV Music Publishing was merged with Sony and renamed Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and become the 3rd largest music publisher in the world.
  • In 2001, Michael declares: "I want to clarify a silly rumour - the Beatles catalogue is not for sale, has not been for sale and will never be for sale."
  • Today, Sony/ATV Music Publishing owns & administers more than 500,000 song copyrights, valued at about $4-5 billion.

1992 - Michael performs Dangerous World tour at Volkspark Stadium, Hamburg, Germany attending 51,000.

1997 - Michael performs HIStory world tour at Hockenheimring stadium, Hockenheim, Germany.

Filed under  //   1970   1979   1981   1985   1992   1997  

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