1963: In just under ten hours, the Beatles recorded ten songs for their debut album Please Please Me at EMI’s London studios including “Twist And Shout” and “I Saw Her Standing There.”

1964: After the success of their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, the Beatles played their first live performance in the US at the Washington Coliseum. Over 350 police were required to keep the 8,000 wild fans under control. Tommy Roe, the Chiffons, and the Caravelles opened the show.

1966: Following its release in January, Peter & Gordon’s single “Woman,” written for them by Paul McCartney, was issued in the UK.

1966: Cher recorded her third solo single, “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).” Written with her then-husband Sonny Bono, the song reached #2 in the US and #3 in the UK.

1967: “Happy Together” by The Turtles entered the Billboard Hot 100. Later that spring, the single became their only #1 in the US, topping both the Hot 100 and Cash Box charts.

1967: After their debut album spent thirteen weeks at the top of the Billboard pop chart, the Monkees’ second LP, More of the Monkees, took its place, jumping from #122 to begin eighteen straight weeks at #1.

1970: After its UK premiere in December, the satirical film The Magic Christian, starring Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers, had its US premiere in New York City. On the same day, the accompanying soundtrack album, featuring “Come and Get It” by Badfinger, was released on the Commonwealth United Records label.

1977: David Bowie released “Sound and Vision,” the first single from his eleventh studio album, Low.

1977: Jethro Tull released their tenth studio album, Songs from the Wood. It is considered to be the first of a trio of folk rock albums that also include Heavy Horses and Stormwatch.

1978: Jackson Browne entered the Billboard Hot 100 with the title track from his fifth LP, Running on Empty.

1979: Marvin Gaye released “A Funky Space Reincarnation,” the first single from his fifteenth studio album, Here, My Dear.

1981: Eric Clapton released “I Can’t Stand It,” the first single from his seventh solo studio album, Another Ticket.

1985: The Smiths released their second studio album, Meat Is Murder. It became their only studio album to reach #1 on the UK chart.

1992: Cowboy Junkies released their fourth studio album, Black Eyed Man.

1997: Big Head Todd and the Monsters released their fourth studio album, Beautiful World.

2003: Hall & Oates released their sixteenth studio album, Do It for Love.

2008: R.E.M. released “Supernatural Superstition,” the lead single from their fourteenth studio album, Accelerate.

Birthdays Today

Jimmy Carter, singer and founding member of soul and gospel group the Blind Boys of Alabama, was born circa 1930.

Gene Vincent, singer, musician, and rockabilly pioneer, was born Vincent Eugene Craddock in Norfolk, VA in 1935.

Bobby “Boris” Pickett, singer and co-writer of 1962 novelty hit single “Monster Mash,” was born Robert George Pickett in Somerville, MA in 1938.

Gerry Goffin, one half of the hit songwriting team with his wife Carole King, who co-wrote many international pop hits of the early and mid-1960s, was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1939.

Otis Clay, soul, R&B, and blues singer, was born in Waxhaw, MS in 1942.

Little Johnny Taylor, soul singer, was born in Gregory, AR in 1943.

Derek Shulman, singer, multi-instrumentalist, record executive, and lead vocalist for Gentle Giant, was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1947.

Sheryl Crow, singer and songwriter, was born in Kennett, MO in 1962.