1958 - Fans of rock 'n' roll music were warned that listening to music on the car radio could cost them more money. Researchers from the Esso petroleum company said the rhythm of rock music could cause the driver to be foot-heavy on the pedal, making them waste fuel.
1974 - John Denver started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Annie's Song," the singer's second U.S. No. 1. The song was a tribute to Denver's wife and was written in 10 minutes while he was on the Ajax ski lift on Aspen Mountain.
1974 - Lynyrd Skynyrd released "Sweet Home Alabama." Some of the lyrics are a jab at Neil Young:
I hope Neil Young will remember
A southern man don't need him around anyhow
Young had written songs like "Southern Man" and "Alabama," which implied that people in the American South were racist and stuck in the past. Skynyrd responded with "Sweet Home Alabama," a song about Southern pride and all the good things in Alabama.
Rumors to the contrary, there was no riff between Young and the band.
1973 - The self-titled debut by the New York Dolls is released (and produced by Todd Rundgren). They managed to be named both "Best New Band" and "Worst Band" in Creem Magazine's annual reader's poll. Decades later, it still sounds thoroughly unique, a gritty, big-city amalgam of Stones-style R&B, hard rock guitars, lyrics that merge pulp storytelling with girl group attitude, and a sloppy but brilliant attack that would inspire punk rock
1976 - After a four-year legal fight, John Lennon was awarded his so-called green card, allowing him permanent residence in the U.S.(Number A-17-597-321).
1984 - A little flick called "Purple Rain", starring Prince in his acting debut, was released. It grossed more than $68 million in the United States and over $80 million worldwide and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.
2007 - The Simpsons Movie debuts. Early in the film, Green Day sink into Lake Springfield. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeart)
Birthdays:
Andy White was born today in 1930. He was affectionately christened 'the fifth Beatle' as he was best known for replacing Ringo Starr on drums on The Beatles' first single, 'Love Me Do'. He passed away in 2015.
Bobbie Gentry (Ode To Billie Joe) is 79.
Juliana Hatfield, Blake Babies and The Lemonheads is 54
Pete Yorn is 47.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from This Day in Music, Song Facts, Allmusic, and Wikipedia.