History Highlight:

Today in 1975, Led Zeppelin released their sixth album, Physical Graffiti. Recording sessions had been disrupted when bassist and keyboard player John Paul Jones had proposed quitting the band, supposedly to become choirmaster at Winchester Cathedral, although in reality he just needed time to rest after Zeppelin's demanding tour schedule. The group decided on a double album so they could feature songs left over from their previous albums Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin IV and Houses Of The Holy. Eight new tracks created for the album were recorded in the south of England at Headley Grange, a former poorhouse built in 1795.

Also, Today In:

1965 - The Beatles began work on their second movie, Help!.

1969 - Before breaking up, the Jimi Hendrix Experience performed its last British concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

1971 - Janis Joplin's posthumous release, Pearl, was awarded a Gold record.

1973 - Roberta Flack had her second No. 1 single when "Killing Me Softly With His Song" started a five-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

1979 - The Sex Pistols release the album The Great Rock N' Roll Swindle.

1979 - The Police's single, "Roxanne," entered the Billboard Hot 100 charts for the first time, where it would remain for 13 weeks.

1981 - The Double Fantasy album won John Lennon a posthumous Grammy for Best Album.

1982 - The Police (q.v.) won Best British Group at the first annual Brit Awards, held in London.

1987 - Graceland won Paul Simon a Grammy for Album Of The Year.

1992 - Kurt Cobain married Courtney Love in Waikiki, Hawaii.

1998 - Elton John became Sir Elton John (Reginald Dwight), knighted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.

2009 - The United States Mint launched a new coin featuring American composer, pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington.

Birthdays:

Rupert Holmes, a singer-songwriter best known for his hit "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" is 68.

Michelle Shocked is 53.

Chad Hugo — who, with Pharrell Williams, forms the production duo The Neptunes — is 41.