What Happened Today In Music

November 8th

1952 - Al Martino

The first ever UK pop chart was published by the New Musical Express after staff asked 53 record shops to divulge their sales returns. ‘Here In My Heart’ by Al Martino was the first No.1. The song stayed at No.1 for nine weeks.

1958 - South Pacific

The soundtrack to South Pacific went to No.1 on the UK album chart. It became the longest running No.1 album of all time spending a total of 115 weeks at the No.1 position.

1965 - The Beatles

The Beatles worked on a new George Harrison song ‘Think For Yourself’ at Abbey Road for their forthcoming Rubber Soulalbum. After rehearsing the song, they recorded the basic instrumental track in one take.

1968 - Joe Cocker

The Who, Joe Cocker and The Grease Band, The Mindbenders and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown all appeared at The Walthamstow Granada Theatre, England.

1969 - George Harrison

'Something' the first Beatles A-side composed by George Harrison entered the UK singles chart, it peaked at No.4 in the UK and went on to be a No.1 on the US chart. The song has been covered by over 150 artists, making it the second-most covered Beatles song after 'Yesterday'.

1971 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin released their fourth album. With no title printed on the album, and generally referred to as Four Symbols, The Fourth Album or Led Zeppelin IV it has gone on to sell over 37 million copies worldwide. The 19th century rustic oil painting on the front of the album was purchased by Robert Plant from an antique shop in Reading, Berkshire, England. The 20th century urban tower block on the back of the full gatefold LP cover is Butterfield Court in Eves Hill, Dudley, England.

1975 - David Bowie

David Bowie made his US TV debut performing 'Fame', on the Cher CBS-TV show. Bowie who was living in New York at the time had written the song with John Lennon during a jamming session.

1980 - Kiss

Kiss kicked off their 11 date Unmasked Tour of Australia and New Zealand laying two nights at Perth Entertainment Centre.

1986 - Berlin

Berlin started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Take Your Breath Away'. The song which was featured in the film Top Gun, was written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1986.

1998 - Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams scored his second UK No.1 album with 'I've Been Expecting You'. The album, which featured his UK No.1 hit 'Millennium', went on to become the UK's best selling album for that year with sales now over 2.5m.

1999 - Lester Bowie

American jazz trumpet player and composer Lester Bowie died of liver cancer aged 58. He was a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and co-founded the Art Ensemble of Chicago. In 1993, he played on the David Bowiealbum Black Tie White Noise, including the song ‘Looking for Lester’, which was named after him.

2001 - Dido

Winners at the MTV Europe Awards included Robbie Williams who won Best male and Best song for 'Rock DJ', Craig David won Best R&B act and Best UK & Ireland act, Dido won Best new act and Anastacia won Best pop act. Gorillaz won Best song for ‘Clint Eastwood’ and Best Dance act and Eminem won the Best Hip Hop award.

2007 - Amy Winehouse

Four men were arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice after Police raided a house in Camden, London belonging to singer Amy Winehouse. The arrests were in connection of a court case involving Ms Winehouse's husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who faced charges of causing grievous bodily harm.

2008 - AC/DC

AC/DC started a two-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 'Black Ice' the bands fifteenth studio album and the second-best selling album of 2008. Black Ice went to #1 in 29 countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US.

2009 - Morrissey

Former Smiths frontman Morrissey stopped a concert halfway through his second song after being hit by a beer bottle. The 50-year-old singer who was hit in the eye by a plastic bottle of beer, said goodnight to the 8,000 strong crowd in Liverpool, England before walking off.

2012 - Jermaine Jackson

Reports surfaced that Jermaine Jackson had filed legal papers at Los Angeles County Superior Court asking to have the spelling of his surname altered to Jacksun for "artistic reasons." The request would be granted in February, 2013.

2016 - Adele

Adele more than doubled how much she's worth to be crowned the richest British celebrity under 30. She knocked One Direction off the top spot after their three-year run in first place and was now reported to have an estimated £92m in the bank. Last year the 28-year-old was in fourth place on Heat's list of the 30 richest British stars under 30.

Born Today In Music

November 8th

1927 - Ken Dodd

Ken Dodd, singer, comedian, (1965 UK No.1 single 'Tears' plus 17 other UK Top hit singles).

1929 - Bert Berns

American songwriter and producer Bert Berns. He wrote many classic songs including 'Twist And Shout', 'Hang On Sloopy', ‘Here Comes the Night’, ‘I Want Candy’, ‘Under the Boardwalk’, ‘Everybody Needs Somebody to Love’ and 'Brown Eyed Girl'. Berns died of heart failure on December 30 aged 38.

1942 - Gerald Alston

Gerald Alston, vocals, The Manhattans, (1976 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Kiss And Say Goodbye').

1944 - Bonnie Bramlett

Bonnie Bramlett, Delaney and Bonnie, (1971 US No.13 single 'Never Ending Song Of Love', worked with Eric Clapton during early 70s, acting roles in 'Fame', 'Roseanne' and 'The Doors').

1944 - Rodney Slater

Rodney Slater who was a founding member of Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band playing saxophones and other musical instruments. The had the 1968 UK No.5 single ‘I'm The Urban Spaceman’.

1945 - Don Murray

American drummer Don Murray, best known for his work with The Turtles. The band had several Top 40 hits beginning with their cover version of Bob Dylan's 'It Ain't Me Babe' in 1965. They scored their biggest and best-known hit in 1967 with the song 'Happy Together'. Murray died on March 22 1996.

1946 - John Farrar

Australian-born songwriter, arranger, singer and guitarist John Farrar who has been a member of The Strangers, Marvin, Welch & Farrar, and The Shadows. He wrote the No.1 hit singles for Olivia Newton-John, 'Have You Never Been Mellow' and 'You're the One That I Want' with John Travolta.

1946 - John Martin

John Martin, The Big Figure, Dr Feelgood, (1979 UK No.9 single 'Milk And Alcohol').

1946 - Roy Wood

Roy Wood, guitar, vocals, with British rock band The Move who had the 1969 UK No.1 single 'Blackberry Way' and hits with 'I Can Hear The Grass Grow', 'Flowers in the Rain' and 'Fire Brigade'. And with Wizzard scored the 1973 UK No.1 single 'See My Baby Jive'. Wood sang backing vocals on 'You Got Me Floatin'' a track on the The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold as Love album.

1947 - Minnie Riperton

Minnie Riperton, US singer, (1975 US No.1 & UK No.2 with the Stevie Wonder produced single 'Loving You'). Died of cancer 12th July 1979.

1949 - Alan Berger

Alan Berger, Southside Johnny & The Ashbury Jukes, (1978 album 'Hearts Of Stone').

1949 - Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt, Blues singer songwriter, slide guitarist, (1994 UK No.31 single 'You', 1990 US No.1 album 'Nick Of Time’).

1957 - Porl Thompson

Porl Thompson, with English rock band The Cure who had the 1989 US No.2 single 'Love Song', the 1992 UK No.6 single 'Friday I'm In Love', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles.

1958 - Terry Lee Miall

Terry Lee Miall, from English rock band Adam and the Ants who scored the 1981 UK No.1 single 'Stand And Deliver' and 15 other UK Top 40 singles.

1970 - Rat

Rat, guitar, Neds Atomic Dustbin, (1991 UK No.16 single 'Happy').

1977 - Tiffani Wood

Tiffani Wood, Australian singer, songwriter, from Bardot, winners of the Australian Popstars reality show, who had the 2000 Australian No.1 single ‘Poison’, and 2000 Australian No.1 self-titled album. Now solo.

1985 - Jack Osbourne

Jack Osbourne, son of Ozzy and star of MTV The Osbournes TV Show.