Today in 1957, the sixth annual New Music Express poll named Elvis Presley the second most popular singer in Great Britain behind … Pat Boone. That seems as unlikely as, say, Boone’s recording a heavy metal album.

The number one British song today in 1962, coming to you via satellite:

Britain’s number one album today in 1969 was the Beatles’ “Abbey Road”:

The number one album on both sides of the Atlantic today in 1975 was Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here”:

The number one single today in 1980:

Birthdays start with LeRoy Van Dyke, whose number one country and number five pop song in 1961 is not the “Walk on By” you might think it is:

Who is Patricia Holt? You know her better as Patti LaBelle:

Jim Fielder was the original bass player for Blood Sweat & Tears:

Chris Lowe played keyboards for the Pet Shop Boys:

Barbara Kooyman MacDonald, half of Timbuk 3, which claimed …

Two deaths of note today: Janis Joplin in 1970 …

… and Bruce Palmer, who played in the Buffalo Springfield and Crosby Stills Nash & Young, today in 1974:

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