History Highlight:

Today in 1972, Harry Nilsson's eighth album, Son of Schmilsson, was released. Nilsson was being pressured to produce a follow-up album similar to his 1971 breakthrough, Nilsson Schmilsson, but instead, he created a more eccentric work. Among the album's tracks are "You're Breakin' My Heart" and the U.S. hit "Spaceman." Session musicians on the album included Peter Frampton, Ringo Starr (credited as Richie Snare) and George Harrison (credited as George Harrysong). The album cover for Son of Schmilsson features a photo of Nilsson taken at Harrison's home in England.

Also, Today In:

1950 - The music show Your Hit Parade premiered on NBC TV. The program, which featured vocalists covering the top hits of the week, had been on radio since 1935. It moved to CBS television in 1958 but was canceled the following year, unable to cope with the rising popularity of rock 'n' roll.

1961 - Bobby Lewis started a seven-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with 'Tossin' and Turnin'," the longest-running No. 1 single of 1961, spending seven weeks at the top of the chart.

1964 - A crowd of nearly 200,000 fans took to the streets of Liverpool to celebrate The Beatles' return for the premiere of the film A Hard Day's Night. The group was honored in a public ceremony in front of Liverpool Town Hall, and as The Beatles stood on a balcony looking over the crowd below, John Lennon gave a few Nazi salutes — and not everyone appreciated his sense of humor.

1965 - The Rolling Stones started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," the group's first chart-topper in America.

1969 - The funeral of Rolling Stone Brian Jones took place in his hometown of Cheltenham, England, at Hatherley Road Parish Church. Canon Hugh Evan Hopkins read Jones's own epitaph, "Please don't judge me too harshly." Bill Wyman, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts from The Stones attended the funeral.

1976 - One-hit wonders Starland Vocal Band started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Afternoon Delight." The song enjoyed a prominent appearance in the 2004 film, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

1978 - Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman was knocked unconscious after falling from the stage during a Stones concert at the St. Paul Civic Center (now the site of the Excel Energy Center).

1979 - Chuck Berry was sentenced to five months in jail after being found guilty of tax evasion.

2011 - A pub in Dundee, Scotland, called Lennon's Bar was forced to change the name of the venue and remove all Beatles memorabilia after Yoko Ono threatened legal action for copyright infringement.

Birthdays:

Ronnie James Dio was born today in 1942.

Sandy West of the Runaways was born today in 1959.

Arlo Guthrie is 68.

Greg Kihn ("Our love's in jeopardy / Baby / Ooooh, oooh, oooh, ooh") is 65.

Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys is 61.