The number one British single today in 1961:

The number one single today in 1963:

Today in 1964, the Beatles began filming “A Hard Day’s Night,” and George Harrison met Patti Boyd, who had one line in the movie.

Boyd later would become the subject of an Eric Clapton song (in fast and slow versions), and then Clapton’s wife, and then Clapton’s ex-wife, while inspiring enough songs, between Harrison and Clapton, for an entire album.

Stevie Wonder won R&B song of the year for “Superstition,” and album of the year for “Innervisions” in today’s 1974 Grammy Awards:

The number one album today in 1985 was the first album of Wham!, which wanted to “Make It Big”:

The number one British album today in 1985 was Phil Collins’ “No Jacket Required”:

The number two British single today in 1991 was recorded 21 years earlier but became popular because of its use in a Wrigley’s Gum ad:

Birthdays begin with Lawrence Payton of the Four Tops:

Lou Reed:

Former New York police officer Eddie Mahoney, better known as Eddie Money:

Karen Carpenter:

John Cowsill:

John Francis Bongiovi Jr., better known as Jon Bon Jovi:

Chris Martin of Coldplay:

Four deaths of note today: Serge Gainsbourg, who recorded a highly suggestive song, in 1991 …

… Dusty Springfield in 1999 …

… songwriter Hank Ballard in 2003 …

… and Jeff Healey in 2008:

• Music