On August 1st, 1981, MTV premiered. Over the course of 24 hours, 166 unique music videos were played on MTV. Yes, there was a time when the M actually did stand for music.
The 70th video to play on MTV was The Specials’s cover of A Message To You, Rudy. A Message To You, Rudy was originally recorded by Dandy Livingstone in 1968. The original version didn’t get much play but the Specials version, which was produced by Elvis Costello, was a different story, reaching the number 10 spot on the UK charts. This video features The Specials performing the song and it’s one of the few times that black musicians appeared on MTV during the channel’s first day of broadcast.
Enjoy!
The First Videos Shown on MTV:
- Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles
- You Better Run by Pat Benatar
- She Won’t Dance With Me by Rod Stewart
- You Better You Bet By The Who
- Little Suzi’s On The Up by PH.D
- We Don’t Talk Anymore by Cliff Richard
- Brass in Pocket by Pretenders
- Time Heals by Todd Rundgren
- Take It On The Run by REO Speedwagon
- Rockin’ in Paradise by Styx
- When Things Go Wrong by Robin Lane & The Chartbusters
- History Never Repeats by Split Enz
- Hold On Loosely by .38 Special
- Just Between You And Me by April Wine
- Sailing by Rod Stewart
- Iron Maiden by Iron Maiden
- Keep On Loving You by REO Speedwagon
- Better Than Blue by Michael Johnson
- Message of Love by The Pretenders
- Mr. Briefcase by Lee Ritenour
- Double Life by The Cars
- In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins
- Looking for Clues by Robert Palmer
- Too Late by Shoes
- Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Do Ya Think I’m Sexy by Rod Stewart
- Surface Tension by Rupert Hine
- One Step Ahead by Split Enz
- Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
- I’m Gonna Follow You by Pat Benatar
- Savannah Nights by Tom Johnston
- Lucille by Rockestra
- The Best of Times by Styx
- Vengeance by Carly Simon
- Wrathchild by Iron Maiden
- I Wanna Be a Lifeguard by Blotto
- Passion by Rod Stewart
- Oliver’s Army by Elvis Costello
- Don’t Let Me Go by REO Speedwagon
- Remote Control and Illegal by The Silencers
- Angel of the Morning by Juice Newton
- Little Sister by Rockpile with Robert Plant
- Hold On To The Night by Bootcamp
- Dreamin’ by Cliff Richard
- Is It You? by Lee Ritenour
- Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
- He Can’t Love You by Michael Stanley Band
- Tough Guys by REO Speedwagon
- Rapture by Blondie
- Don’t Let Go The Coat by The Who
- Ain’t Love A Bitch by Rod Stewart
- Talk of the Town by The Pretenders
- Can’t Happen Here by Rainbow
- Thank You For Being A Friend by Andrew Gold
- Bring It All Home by Gerry Rafferty
- Sign of the Gypsy Queen by April Wine
- The Man With The Child In His Eyes by Kate Bush
- All Night Long by Raindow
- Boys Keep Swinging by David Bowie
- Rat Race by The Specials
- Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads
- Victim by Bootcamp
- Tonight’s the Night (Gonna be Alright) by Rod Stewart
- Cruel to be Kind by Nick Lowe
- A Little In Love by Cliff Richard
- Wild-Eyed Southern Boys by 38 Special
- Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush
- Celebrate The Bullet by The Selecter
- More Than I Can Say by Leo Sayer
Through the Shattered Lens 
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Heart of Glass by Blondie (1978, directed by Stanley Dorfman) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight by Rod Stewart (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Kid by The Pretenders (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Come What May by Lani Hall and Herb Alpert (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: I Got You by Split Enz (1980, directed by Noel Crombie) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Sister Disco by The Who (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Lisa Marie’s Week In Review: 10/4/21 — 10/10/21 | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Fasion by David Bowie (1980, directed by David Mallet) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Tomorrow Night by Shoes (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Prime Time by The Tubes (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Cruel You by Shoes (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Calling All Girls by Hilly Michaels (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: I Was Only Joking by Rod Stewart (1977, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Ridin’ The Storm Out by REO Speedwagon (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: You’re In My Heart by Rod Stewart (1978, directed by Bruce Gowers and Mike Mansfield) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: I Don’t Want To Know by Robin Lane and The Chartbusters (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Go Back Home Again by Andrew Gold (1977, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Time For Me To Fly by REO Speedwagon (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Rough Boys by Pete Townshend (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Turn It On Again by Genesis (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: We’re So Close by Carly Simon (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Kid Blue by Louise Goffin (1979, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Undertanding by Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1979, directed by Chuck Statler) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: I Won’t Let You Down by Ph.D (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Holiday by Nazareth (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: In My Arms Again by Shoes (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Passing Strangers by Ultavox (1980, directed by Russell Mulcahy) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Roll With The Changes by REO Speedwagon (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Tattooed Love Boys by The Pretenders (1978, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Only The Strong Survive by REO Speedwagon (1980, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Kiss On My List by Hall & Oates (1981, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Living in a Plastic Age by The Buggles (1980, directed by Russell Mulcahy) | Through the Shattered Lens
Pingback: Music Video of the Day: Lonely Boy by Andrew Gold (1977, directed by ????) | Through the Shattered Lens