Today in Rock n' Roll History

[Koala]

1956 Elvis Presley's debut single for RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel," is released. The first of Presley's 17 Number One hits, it holds down the top spot for eight weeks. "Heartbreak Hotel" establishes Elvis Presley and rock and roll itself as national phenomena.

1968
"Daydream Believer" by the Monkees (written by Neil Diamond) peaks the UK charts at #5.

1968 The Bee Gees make their first-ever appearance in the U.S., at the Anaheim, California Convention Center (then head immediately back to England).

1973 Sweet's "Blockbuster" tops the UK charts where it will remain for five weeks.

[TimothyBFan]

1973 Sweet's "Blockbuster" tops the UK charts where it will remain for five weeks.

OMG--LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!
"You better beware, you better take care.
You better watch out if you've got long black hair...."

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgrYf7VWASE[/ame]

[sodascouts]

1968
"Daydream Believer" by the Monkees (written by Neil Diamond) peaks the UK charts at #5.

You mean "written by John Stewart" right?

LOVE that song.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uohP4gk0wU[/ame]

As a child watching it in 1986 on MTV, it was the first real "love song" I got into.

[Koala]

You mean "written by John Stewart" right?

upps, of course, was the composer John Stewart, I have no idea why I wrote Neil Diamond!

[sodascouts]

upps, of course, was the composer John Stewart, I have no idea why I wrote Neil Diamond!

Probably got it confused with another of their hits, "I'm a Believer," which was written by Neil Diamond. Not an uncommon mistake!

[GlennLover]

Love Davy Jones! I was in grade school when The Monkees were formed & they became my 1st "favorite band".

[Koala]

1956 Elvis Presley makes his first appearance on network TV as a guest on Stage Show, hosted by jazz bandleaders Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. Throughout 1956, Presley's biggest year, he will also appear on The Milton Berle Show, The Steve Allen Show and The Ed Sullivan Show.

1984 The Smiths hit #12 in the UK with "What Difference Does It Make?"

1985 We Are The World" is recorded in Hollywood by a plethora of stars raising money for hunger relief in Africa.

2004 James Brown is arrested for domestic violence at his home in Beech Island, South Carolina.

[Koala]

1964 The Beatles record "Sie Liebt Dich" (the German version of "She Loves You").

1983 Peter Gabriel hits #29 in the US with "Shock the Monkey".

1997 The Paul Simon musical "The Cape Man", opens on Broadway (it lasts only 68 performances)

[Koala]

1969 The Beatles make their last performance as a group on the roof of the Apple building during the filming of 'Let It Be'.

1971 Led Zeppelin hits #15 with "Immigrant Song".

1973 Kiss plays its first live show in Queens, New York.

1975 Genesis hits #41 in the US with 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway'.

1983 Africa (Toto) was a hit.

[Koala]

1963 Seventeen year-old Neil Young performs his first professional date at a Winnipeg country club

1963 The Beach Boys record "Surfin' U.S.A." and "Shutdown.

1970 "I Want You Back," the first of four consecutive #1 hits in a nine-month period from the Jackson 5, reaches the top of the charts. The others: "ABC" (April 1970), "The Love You Save" (June 1970) and "I'll Be There" (October 1970).

1973 Bruce Springsteen performs in New York City for the first time.

1987 Genesis hits #4 in the US with "Land of Confusion".