Britishers with taste bought this single when it hit the charts today in 1961:

Today in 1965, the four Beatles were named Members of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. The Beatles’ visit reportedly began when they smoked marijuana in a Buckingham Palace bathroom to calm their nerves.

The Beatles’ receiving their MBEs prompted a number of MBE recipients to return theirs. “Lots of people who complained about us receiving the MBE received theirs for heroism in the war — for killing people,” said John Lennon, previewing the public relations skills he’d show a year later when he would compare the Beatles to Jesus Christ. “We received ours for entertaining other people. I’d say we deserve ours more.”

Lennon returned his MBE in 1969 as part of his peace protests.

The number one album today in 1974 was Barry White’s only number one album, “Can’t Get Enough”:

Britain’s number one album today in 1985 was a George Benson greatest hits compilation:

Proving that there is no accounting for taste (you have been warned), I present the number one British single today in 1997:

Today in 2004, Forbes magazine listed the top five dead musicians in order of postmortem earnings, starting with number five:

Everyone moved down one spot after Michael Jackson’s death.

Birthdays begin with Keith Hopwood, one of Herman’s Hermits:

David Was was in Was (Not Was):

Keith Strickland of the B-52s:

Natalie Merchant, formerly one of the 10,000 Maniacs:

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