Big Joe's This Week in Music History

November 16th

1968- While their career is taking off in America, Led Zeppelin play Manchester College of Science & Technology in England for a mere 225 pounds.

1970- No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``I Think I Love You,'' The Partridge Family. The song reaches the top spot exactly two months and four days after ``The Partridge Family'' TV show debuts.

1974- No. 1 single in the U.S. is John Lennon with Elton John singing "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night."

1977- A big day for Rush. The Canadian noodle rockers receive three gold records for sales of their albums 2112, All the World's a Stage, and A Farewell to Kings.

November 17th

1956- Elvis Presley tops the U.S. singles chart today with "Love Me Tender," the title song from his first movie.

1963- In Guildford, England, a headmaster says that students turning up to Clark's Grammar School with Beatles haircuts will be sent home. "This ridiculous style brings out the worst in boys physically," says John Weightman. "It makes them look like morons."

1974- Abba begin their first European tour in Copenhagen.

1987- During a concert in Los Angeles, U2's Bono pulls a person from the audience to sing along to the band's version of "People Get Ready." In turn, the aspiring singer hands Bono a demo tape.

November 18th

1975- Bruce Springsteen's first gigs in London are promoted with posters reading, "Finally the world is ready for Bruce Springsteen."

1987- No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Mony Mony,'' Billy Idol. Idol's version of the song reaches the top of the charts 13 years after Tommy James and the Shondells make it a hit.

1990- At a rock memorabilia auction, Paul McCartney's birth certificate sells for $18,000.

1995- The Rolling Stones become the first band to Webcast one of their concerts over the Internet today.

 

November 19th

1968- The Supremes perform at the Royal Variety Show in London, with Queen Elizabeth in attendance.

1970- Funky president James Brown marries Deidre Yvonne Jenkins in Barnwell, S.C.

1971- B.B. King marks his 25th anniversary in music by opening a European tour in London.

1995- Bruce Springsteen's 13th album, ``The Ghost of Tom Joad,'' is released.

November 20th

1942- Norman Greenbaum, who scored a No. 3 hit with "Spirit in the Sky," is born in Malden, Mass.

1967- The Beach Boys release their  album , Smiley Smile. The follow-up to Pet Sounds fails to chart despite boasting the singles "Heroes and Villains" and "Good Vibrations"

1979- No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``No More Tears (Enough Is Enough),'' Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer. The song is the fourth No. 1 for both women,   including a duet Streisand had with Neil Diamond

2003- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces it will induct Prince, George Harrison, Traffic, Bob Seger, Jackson Browne, ZZ Top, and doo-wop group the Dells in 2004. Yep, still no Foghat.

November 21st

1960- Call this Ray Charles' heyday. He has four singles on the Billboard Hot 100 "Georgia on My Mind" (No. 5), "Ruby" (No. 51), "Hard Hearted
Hannah" (No. 66), and "Come Rain or Come Shine" (No. 95).

1967- The Who release their album The Who Sell Out

1981- In Lakeland, Fla., Bob Dylan wraps up his Shot of Love tour with one of his longest shows ever. He plays 28 songs and six encores. It's also the first time he plays "Every Grain of Sand."

1995- On its first day of release, The Beatles Anthology I sells 450,000 copies

November 22nd

1950- E Street Band guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt and Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth share a birthday today.

1955- Sun Records sells Elvis Presley's contract to RCA for $40,000. Sun boss Sam Phillips invested his portion of the money into the fledging Holiday Inn chain and went on to became a millionaire with a funny beard.

1981- Tonight at Chicago's Checker Board Lounge, blues giant Muddy Waters is joined by fans Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood for a jam onstage.

2003- ZZ Top become the final rock band to play their hometown's legendary venue, the Houston Compaq Center. The trio first played there in November 1975.