History Highlight:

Today in 1994, The Cranberries released their second studio album, No Need to Argue. Compared to their debut album released the previous year, No Need to Argue takes on a more emotional and darker tone with songs like “Zombie,” based on a bombing in England that occurred during the Troubles in Northern Ireland; “Ode to My Family,” in which frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan, post fame, reflects fondly on her childhood; and “Ridiculous Thoughts,” inspired by O’Riordan’s dealings with the music press. On a more lighthearted note, the sofa featured on the album’s cover photograph is the same sofa that appears on the cover of the band’s prior album.

Also, Today In: 

1901 - The first record company, The Victor Talking Machine Company, is incorporated, later merging with the Radio Corporation of America to become RCA-Victor. 

1945 - Elvis Presley made his first ever-public appearance in a talent contest at the Mississippi Alabama Dairy Show singing "Old Shep". Elvis was 10 years old at the time and came in second. 

1964 - The Animals' first self-titled album featuring "The House of The Rising Sun" entered the album charts. 

1966 - The Zombies release "She's Not There" in the US. 

1967 - American folk icon Woody Guthrie died after a lengthy battle with Huntington’s disease at age 55. During his career, the pioneering artist wrote hundreds of songs, including, most famously, “This Land Is Your Land,” in response to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.” An anti-fascist activist, who was associated with several American communist groups, Guthrie often incorporated political and social commentary into his songs. His vast catalog of work would inspire artists across a range of genres and decades, including Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Jerry Garcia, and Jeff Tweedy. 

1968 - Working at Trident Studios in London, The Beatles recorded the new George Harrison song "Savoy Truffle."

1975 - The Who released their seventh studio album, The Who by Numbers. It features “Squeeze Box” and “Slip Kid.”

1978 - The members of Aerosmith bailed thirty fans out of jail after they were arrested for smoking pot during an Aerosmith concert at Fort Wayne Coliseum. 

1980 - Paul Simon's semi-autobiographical movie One-Trick Pony, in which he stars, is released in the U.S. 

1980 - The Police released their third album, Zenyatta Mondatta. It features "Don't Stand So Close to Me," "Canary in a Coalmine," and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da."

1981 - Rod Stewart brings out special guest Tina Turner to join him on (what else) "Hot Legs" during his appearance on Saturday Night Live. 

1987 - Smokey Robinson holds the No. 10 spot on the Hot 100 with "One Heartbeat," while a song about him, "When Smokey Sings" by ABC, is at No. 8. 

1988 - Hollywood premieres the acclaimed documentary Imagine: John Lennon. 

1991 - M.C. Hammer offered a $50,000 reward for the return of Michael Jackson's white glove, which had been stolen from the Motown Museum. 

1992 - Sinead O'Connor tore up a photograph of the Pope in front of a Saturday Night Live audience in protest of the Vatican. She ripped the photo as she sang the word "evil", then said "Fight the real enemy", and threw the pieces towards the camera. Executive producer Lorne Michaels recalled that "the air went out the studio" after that moment, and after seeing the act, Michaels ordered that the applause sign not be used. NBC received 4,400 calls in total complaining about O'Connor, but NBC was not fined by the Federal Communications Commission. The act aired on the East and West coast broadcasts, but reruns air footage from the singer's dress rehearsal. 

1995 - The Dismemberment Plan released their debut album, !.

1995 - Mariah Carey released her fifth studio album, Daydream. It features “Fantasy,” “One Sweet Day,” “Open Arms,” “Always Be My Baby,” and “Forever.”

1995 - For Squirrels released their second studio album, Example. It features “Mighty K.C.”

1997 - Sugar Ray are grounded when lead singer Mark McGrath hurts his leg in Bologna, Italy on the first date of their European tour, which is postponed. 

1999 - Akio Morita, founder of Sony electronics, died at age 78. The 1979 Sony Walkman transformed both Sony and consumers across the world. 

2000 - The Cars' singer and bass player Benjamin Orr died of cancer at home in Atlanta at the age of 53. 

2000 - Green Day released their sixth studio album, Warning. It features “Minority,” “Warning,” and “Waiting.”

2002 - Original Iron Butterfly guitarist/vocalist Darryl DeLoach died of liver cancer at the age of 56.

2003 - School of Rock opened in theaters, starring Jack Black as a musician who poses as a substitute teacher and forms a band with the students. Classic rock abounds in the film, with teachable moments soundtracked to "Highway to Hell," "Smoke on the Water" and even "Immigrant Song" — a track secured after Black made a video begging Led Zeppelin to let them use it. 

2004 - 17-year-old Joss Stone became the youngest female artist to top the U.K. Album charts with Mind Body & Soul. Across the pond, Stone’s sophomore LP earned her three Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Female Pop Performance (for “You Had Me”). 

2004 - VH1 holds its first Hip-Hop Honors, giving awards to DJ Hollywood, DJ Kool Herc, KRS-One, Public Enemy, Rock Steady Crew, Run-D.M.C., Tupac and The Sugarhill Gang. 

2005 - Ladytron released their third studio album, Witching Hour. It features “Sugar,” “Destroy Everything You Touch,” “Weekend,” and “Soft Power.”

2011 - According to new scientific research, Queen's 'We Are The Champions' was found to be the catchiest song ever written. Musicologist Dr Alisun Pawley from the University of London, England, conducted research into what makes a song memorable and compiled a list of the ten "catchiest" songs of all time. During the research, they discovered that sing-along songs contained four key elements: long and detailed musical phrases, multiple pitch changes in a song's 'hook', male vocalists, and higher male voices making a noticeable vocal effort. 

2014 - A mint-condition copy of The Beatles' Please Please Me album, signed by George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr sold for $36,655 at an auction held in the US. 

2014 - Seventeen years after its release, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album is certified Double Diamond by the RIAA for sales of over 20 million in the U.S. It is the ninth album to achieve the certification 

2016 - Nickelodeon premieres the animated series Kuu Kuu Harajuku, produced by Gwen Stefani, about a group of girls who make music and fight evil. Stefani introduced her "Harajuku Girls," inspired by the neighborhood in Tokyo, on her solo debut, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and has integrated her love of the culture in her clothing and perfume lines. 

Birthdays: 

George Wein, co-founder of the Newport Folk Festival, was born today in 1925.

Steve Reich is 88.

Eddie Cochran ("Twenty Flight Rock," "Summertime Blues," "C'mon Everybody," and "Somethin' Else") was born today in 1938 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. 

Alan O’Day (“Undercover Angel”) was born today in 1940.

Chubby Checker is 83.

P.P. Arnold (“The First Cut Is the Deepest,” “Angel of the Morning”) is 78.

Ben Cauley of the Bar-Kays was born today in 1947.

Lindsey Buckingham is 75.

Keb’ Mo’ is 73.

Ronnie Laws, saxophone player from Earth, Wind and Fire, is 73. 

Stevie Ray Vaughan was born today in 1954. 

Allen Woody, bassist for Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule, was born today in 1955.

Tommy Lee is 62. 

Chris Collingwood of Fountains of Wayne is 57. 

Dan Miller of They Might Be Giants is 57. 

Gwen Stefani of No Doubt is 55. 

Jimmy Ray is 54.

Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson is 53.

G. Love is 52.

Guy Oseary — manager for Madonna and Red Hot Chili Peppers — is 52.

India Arie is 49.

Talib Kweli is 49. 

Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters is 46.

Josh Klinghoffer of Red Hot Chili Peppers is 45.

Danny O'Donoghue of the Script is 44.

Jonna Lee of iamamiwhoami is 43.

Ashlee Simpson is 40.

ASAP Rocky is 36. 

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