History Highlight:

On this day in 1962, Bob Dylan's self-titled debut album was released in the United States. Initially, poor sales led the record to be known around Columbia Records as "Hammond's Folly" (John Hammond was producer of Dylan's early recordings and the man responsible for signing Dylan to the label). The album was praised by Village Voice as an "explosive country blues debut," but it featured only two Dylan original compositions, "Talkin' New York" and "Song To Woody," the rest being old folk standards.

Also, Today In:

1955 - The film Blackboard Jungle opened, with "Rock Around the Clock" under the opening credits. The song's inclusion in the film marked a turning point for rock 'n' roll, transforming the genre from a musical niche to a wide-ranging cultural phenomenon.

1996 - Volume Two of The Beatles' Anthology series was released. It features rarities, outtakes and live performances from the 1965 sessions for Help! to the sessions just prior to their trip to India in February 1968, along with the song "Real Love," an old John Lennon demo track that the surviving members of the Fab Four had embellished. Like the album's predecessor, the album topped the Billboard 200 album chart and has been certified 4t Platinum by the RIAA.

1974 - Jefferson Airplane renamed the group Jefferson Starship. The new line-up included Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, drummer Johnny Barbata, David Freiberg, Peter Kaukonen, Cragi Chaquico and Papa John Creach.

1981 - The J Geils Band were at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Centerfold."

1990 - Andrew Wood, lead singer of the bands Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone, died of a heroin overdose at the age of 24. Though Malfunkshun, formed in 1980, only had two songs released ("With Yo' Heart (Not Yo' Hands)" and "Stars-n-You"), they are often cited as being among the founding fathers of the Seattle grunge movement. Mother Love Bone formed in 1988, members of which would go on to form Pearl Jam.

1995 - Bruce Springsteen started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with his Greatest Hits.

2006 - Shakira became the first pop star to release a single as a mobile download only. Her release, "Hips Don't Lie," would not be issued as a CD or Internet download, but was available only to Verizon phone customers.

2007 - Soul singer Luther Ingram died from a heart attack at the age of 69. Ingram scored the 1972 No. 2 hit "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" and wrote the Staple Singers' hit "Respect Yourself".

Birthdays:

Paul Atkinson, guitarist with The Zombies, was born today in 1946.

Ruth Esther Pointer was born on this day in 1946, making her 78 today. Best known as the eldest member of The Pointer Sisters, the group released their first album in 1973 and eventually found fame with songs like "Yes We Can Can", "Fairytale" and "How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)". Their biggest success was their 1983 album Break Out which featured hits such as "Automatic", "Jump (For My Love)", and a re-released version of "I'm So Excited."

Bay City Rollers drummer Derek Longmuir is 73.

Ricky Wilson, guitarist with The B-52's, was born today in 1953.

Bruce Willis (you might remember his versions of "Under The Boardwalk" and "Respect Yourself" — a duet with June Pointer — both of which were taken from his debut album The Return of Bruno) is 69.

Terry Hall, lead singer of The Specials, was born today in 1959.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts and Wikipedia.