History Highlight:

Today in 1984, Depeche Mode released their fourth studio album, Some Great Reward. It features the songs "People Are People," "Master and Servant," and "Blasphemous Rumours." The album marked a significant milestone for Depeche Mode’s growth as a band, as it grew their fan base in the United States and Canada through the chart success of “People Are People.”

Also, Today In:

1957 - The Elvis Presley classic "Jailhouse Rock" was released. It became his ninth U.S. No. 1 single and stayed on the Billboard chart for nineteen weeks. The film clip from the movie where he sang the song is considered by many historians to be the first rock video.

1966 - Jimi Hendrix and his manager, Chas Chandler, arrived in London on a flight from New York. Hendrix landed in the U.K. with only the clothes he was wearing, having sold his other belongings to pay a previous hotel bill. One of the first things Hendrix did after arriving in England was legally change his name from James to Jimi.

1966 - The Association started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Cherish."

1983 - Billy Joel went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Tell Her About It," Joel's second No. 1 hit.

1988 - Bobby McFerrin started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Don't Worry Be Happy," the first a cappella song to be a No. 1 record.

1990 - AC/DC released The Razors Edge, their 11th internationally-released studio album. The only studio album to feature drummer Chris Slade, it reached No. 2 on the U.S. chart and No. 4 in the U.K. It features “Thunderstruck,” “Moneytalks,” and “Are You Ready.”

1991 - The Red Hot Chili Peppers released Blood Sugar Sex Magik in the U.S. Containing the hits "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away," the album sells over 10 million copies worldwide and makes the group bona-fide headliners.

1991 - Nirvana released their epic Nevermind, making today the 30th anniversary of the release. The album has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide to date. By January 1992, it reached number one on the US Billboard 200; during this time it was selling approximately 300,000 copies a week. The album produced several successful singles including "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Come as You Are", "Lithium", and "In Bloom". The album was ranked number 17 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list, and upgrading to number 6 in 2020 revised list. Produced by Butch Vig, it was the first Nirvana album to feature drummer Dave Grohl. In addition, it was responsible in part for bringing both grunge and alternative rock music to a mainstream audience and ending the dominance of hair metal.

2003 - The Dave Matthews Band played at Central Park in New York City, in front of almost 100,000 people, the band's largest audience to date. The Central Park Concert was later released as an album.

2010 - Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. released Record Collection. It features “Bang Bang Bang,” “The Bike Song,” and “Somebody to Love Me.”

2012 - Mumford & Sons released their second studio album, Babel, which debuted at No. 1 on both the U.K. Albums Chart and the U.S. Billboard 200. It became the fastest-selling album of 2012 in the U.K., and it won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The album spawned five singles - "I Will Wait", "Lover of the Light", "Whispers in the Dark", "Babel" and "Hopeless Wanderer."

2016 - Buckwheat Zydeco died at the age of 68 in Lafayette, Louisiana.

2022 - Jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders died at the age of 81 in Los Angeles.

Birthdays:

Blind Lemon Jefferson, the father of Texas blues, was born today in 1893. He passed away in 1929. The Christina Ricci movie "Black Snake Moan" was named after one of his songs.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was born today in 1896 in St. Paul. He died in 1940.

Allen Bunn, also known as Tarheel Slim — a guitarist and songwriter whose work spanned gospel, blues, doo-wop, R&B, pop and rockabilly — was born in 1923.

Mel Taylor, drummer for the Ventures, was born today in 1933.

Chick Willis was born today in 1934.

Jim Henson was born today in 1936.

Steve Douglas, American saxophonist and flautist who recorded with Duane Eddy, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley Willy DeVille, Bob Dylan, Ramones and others was born today in 1938. He passed away in 1993.

Linda McCartney was born today in 1941. She passed away in 1998.

Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers was born on this day in 1942. He passed away in January 2021.

Mark Sandman of Morphine was born today in 1952.

Sean McNabb — bassist for Quiet Riot, Dokken, Great White, and more — is 59.

Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney and Quasi is 59.

Shawn “Clown” Crahan of Slipknot is 55.

Peter Salisbury, drummer from English rock band The Verve, is 53.

Jesse Hughes frontman and guitarist of Eagles of Death Metal is 52.

Liam Finn is 41.

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