Today in 1975, one of the stranger episodes in rock music history ended when John Lennon got permanent resident status, his “green card.” The federal government, at the direction of Richard Nixon, tried to deport Lennon because of his 1968 British arrest for possession of marijuana.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that trying to deport Lennon on the basis of an arrest was “contrary to U.S. ideas of due process and was invalid as a means of banishing the former Beatle from America.”

The number one British single today in 1978 came from that day’s number one album:

The number one album today in 1989 was Tears for Fears’ “Seeds of Love”:

The number one album today in 1995 was Alanis Morrisette’s “Jagged Little Pill” (which should have been difficult to fit into a CD player):

Birthdays start with Colin Cooper of the Climax Blues Band, which …

Tony Sylvester of the Main Ingredient, where …

Dino Valenti of Quicksilver Messenger Service:

Kevin Godley of 10cc and Godley and Creme:

David Hope played bass for Kansas:

Perhaps the biggest Indiana Hoosier football fan you’ll find, John Mellencamp:

Tico Torres of Bon Jovi:

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