The number one single today in 1960 was perhaps aspirational given the time of year:

Its remake 16 years later — which I had never heard of before writing this blog — finished 12 places below the original:

The number one British single today in 1962:

The number one single today in 1975

Proving there is no accounting for taste, even among the supposedly cultured British, I present their number one single today in 1981:

The number one British single today in 1997:

The short list of birthdays begins with one-hit-wonder Ernie K. Doe (whose inclusion certainly does not express my opinion about my own mother-in-law):

Bobby Hendricks of the Drifters:

Michael Wilton of Queensryche:

One non-musical death of note today in 1987: The indescribable Andy Warhol, who among other things managed the Velvet Underground:

One musical death of note today in 2002: Drummer Ronnie Verrell, who drummed as Animal on the Muppet Show:

• Music