1973 - Elton John started a eight week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', the singers third US No.1. The album which had the working titles of Vodka and Tonics and Silent Movies, Talking Pictures, is his best selling studio album.
1975 - Neil Young released Zuma. Having apparently exorcised his demons by releasing the cathartic Tonight's the Night, Neil Young returned to his commercial strengths. The album featured Crazy Horse and one song from an aborted session with CSN&Y. The music had a lively sound well-suited to the songs, which were some of the most melodic, pop-oriented tunes Young had crafted in years, though they were played with an electric-guitar-drenched rock intensity.
1978 - The Clash's second album Give 'Em Enough Rope, was released in England. The album would be their first U.S. release, preceding the U.S. version of The Clash, their debut. While the record doesn't burn with the same intense, amateurish energy of The Clash, it does have a big, forceful sound that is nearly as powerful. (Photo credit should read STR/AFP via Getty Images)
1979 - "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang becomes first rap song to hit the Billboard Hot 100, entering the chart at #84.
2002 - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Brian Setzer and Lenny Kravitz made guest appearances on The Simpsons, where they were depicted running a Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp. The first rule of the camp: There are no rules! Second rule: No outside food.
Birthdays:
1948 - Bassist, guitarist, singer, songwriter, Greg Lake, who worked with King Crimson and Emerson Lake and Palmer.
1975 - Jim Adkins, lead singer and guitarist with Jimmy Eat World.
On This Day In Music History is sourced from Allmusic, This Day in Music, and Wikipedia.