History Highlight:
Today in 1973, The Rolling Stones released Goat's Head Soup. The eleventh studio album is known for the range of musical styles represented, including blues, rock and funk. Though it received mixed reviews upon release, the album ultimately showcased the band’s willingness to evolve sonically and features tracks like the “Star Star” and “Angie,” which became one of the band’s most iconic ballads.  

Also, Today In: 

1957 - Elvis Presley appeared at the Empire Stadium in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Following gigs in Toronto and Ottawa, the Vancouver show marked the third and final time Elvis ever performed outside of the U.S. 

1963 - The trio Angels started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "My Boyfriend's Back." It was written by Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer (a.k.a. FGG Productions who later formed the group the Strangeloves) and was originally intended as a demo for the Shirelles. The single spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached No. 2 on the R&B Billboard. 

1969 - Decca Records released what has been called the Rolling Stones' most political song, "Street Fighting Man," written after Mick Jagger attended a March 1968 anti-war rally at London's U.S. embassy, during which mounted police attempted to control a crowd of 25,000. The single was kept out of the U.S. Top 40 (reaching No.48) because many radio stations refused to play it based on what were perceived as subversive lyrics. 

1973 - The Rolling Stones release Goat's Head Soup. 

1976 - George Harrison was found guilty of "subconscious plagiarism" of the Ronnie Mack song "He's So Fine" when writing "My Sweet Lord." Earnings from the song were awarded to Mack's estate; The Chiffons then recorded their own version of "My Sweet Lord.” 

1984 - Prince fans across the UK rushed to cinemas to catch Purple Rain, which was causing plenty of buzz since its release a month earlier in America. Buoyed by a hit soundtrack—which featured the enduring singles “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” as well as the title track—the blockbuster film grossed over $72 million worldwide. 

1985 - Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits started a nine-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album charts. The album also topped the charts in 25 other countries and went on to sell more than 20 million copies worldwide. 

1987 - MTV debuts club MTV, their updated version of American Bandstand. 

1987 - The largest pre-order of albums in the history of CBS Records occurred as 2.25 million copies of Michael Jackson's Bad album were shipped to record stores in the U.S. The LP followed Jackson's 1982 album, Thriller, his biggest seller of all time (more than 35 million copies sold). Bad would go on to sell more than 13 million copies. 

1991 - Metallica started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Metallica. The album — which featured the tracks "Enter Sandman," "Sad But True," "The Unforgiven" and "Nothing Else Matters" — went on to sell more than 10 million copies in the U.S. alone. 

1992 - Prince extends his contract with Warner Bros. in a deal reported as being worth $100 million, but worth far less in reality. 

1999 - Led by the hit single "Ready To Run," the Dixie Chicks release their second major-label album, Fly. 

2002 - NASA announced that Lance Bass, singer with *NSYNC, was to become the first celebrity astronaut. His place on a Russian Soyuz module would make him, at age 23, the youngest person to go into orbit. Bass ended up not taking part in the flight after failing to pay for his $20 million ticket on the craft. 

2004 - Green Day released the title track of their new album American Idiot as a single three weeks before the album is issued. Both the song and the album are wildly successful and highly acclaimed, with each nominated for multiple Grammy Awards (winning for Best Rock Album). 

2007 - Hilly Kristal, founder of the New York punk club CBGB died from complications arising from lung cancer at the age of 75. Kristal was credited with discovering Patti Smith and the Ramones and his club became a breeding ground for punk rock. The New York City venue, whose full title CBGB OMFUG stood for 'country, bluegrass, blues and other music for uplifting gourmandisers', was originally launched to showcase country music. 

2014 - Jimi Jamison, the lead singer for Survivor, who sang and co-wrote 'I'm Always Here', the theme tune for hit TV series Baywatch, died at age 63. The band are best-known for their 1982 hit 'Eye of the Tiger' which predated Jamison joining the group. 

2015 - On his 70th birthday, Van Morrison plays two shows on Cyprus Avenue in Belfast, inspiration for his song "Cyprus Avenue." 

Birthdays: 

Buddy Hackett was born today in 1924.

Pianist Big Tiny Little was born today in 1930.

Bobby Parker (“Watch Your Step”) was born today in 1937.

Jerry Allison — drummer for Buddy Holly and the Crickets and solo artist (“Real Wild Child”) — was born today in 1939.

Wilton Felder — a member of the Jazz Crusaders who played bass on the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” and “ABC” — was born today in 1940.

Van Morrison is 79.

Itzhak Perlman is 79.

Bob Welch, member of Fleetwood Mac and solo artist, was born today in 1945.

Rudolf Schenker, guitarist of Scorpions, is 76. 

Rick Roberts of the Flying Burrito Brothers is 75.

Anthony Thistlethwaite of the Waterboys is 69.

Gina Schock, drummer for the Go-Go's, is 67. 

Glenn Tilbrook, lead singer of Squeeze, is 67.

Chris Whitley was born today in 1960.

Reb Beach of Winger and Whitesnake is 61. 

Larry Waddell of Mint Condition is 61. 

Gerard Love of Teenage Fanclub is 57. 

Jeff Russo of Tonic is 55.

Debbie Gibson is 54.  

Craig Nicholls of the Vines is 47. 

Simon Neil, lead singer of Biffy Clyro, is 44. 

Joe Budden is 44.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.