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Today in Music History: The Beach Boys released 'Pet Sounds'

The Beach Boys, 'Pet Sounds'
The Beach Boys, 'Pet Sounds'Capitol Records

May 16, 2018

History Highlight:

Today in 1966, The Beach Boys released the critically-lauded Pet Sounds. It was the band's 11th studio album and peaked at No. 10 on the Billboards, lower than the band's previous albums. The album did well in the U.K. though, peaking at No. 2 in the U.K. Top 40 Albums Chart and remaining among the top ten positions for six months. Since its initial debut, critics and fans have embraced and hailed the album as one of the most influential of all time. The album features songs like "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Sloop John B" and "God Only Knows".

Also, Today In:

1965 - Driving away from a gig at the Civic Hall in Long Beach, the limo taking The Rolling Stones back to their hotel was besieged by fans who caved in the roof by standing on it. The band attempted to hold the roof up while their chauffeur drove off with bodies falling onto the road.

1969 - Pete Townshend spends the night in a New York City jail after assaulting a man who jumped onstage during a Who concert at The Filmore East. It turned out that this man was a plainclothes police officer trying to warn the audience that a fire had broken out, which Townshend wasn't aware of.

1970 - Crosby Stills Nash & Young went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Deja Vu.

1976 - Patti Smith made her U.K. debut at The Roundhouse in London.

1983 - Michael Jackson introduced the Moonwalk for the first time on TV when he broke out the move on the Motown 25th anniversary TV special.

1987 - U2 started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "With Or Without You," the group's first U.S. No. 1.

1992 - Red Hot Chili Peppers peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with Blood Sugar Sex Magik which went on to sell seven million copies in the U.S.

1998 - Keith Richards fell while reaching for a book of nude art in his Connecticut home. The fall broke his ribs, causing the Stones to postpone many dates on their Bridges To Babylon tour.

2000 - Britney Spears' second album, Oops!... I Did It Again, sold 1.3 million copies in its first week, setting a new record for highest debut by a female artist.

2009 - Bob Dylan went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with Together Through Life, his 33rd studio album. The album received two Grammy Award nominations in Best Americana Album category and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance category for "Beyond Here Lies Nothin." The album also is significant as the only album by Dylan to top the U.S. and U.K. charts consecutively.

2010 - Ronnie James Dio, singer for Rainbow, Black Sabbath & Dio died of stomach cancer in Houston. He was 67 years old.

2012 - Chuck Brown, the "Godfather of Go-Go," died at age 75.

Birthdays:

Liberace was born today in 1919.

Pervis Jackson (Detroit Spinners, "Working My Way Back To You") was born today in 1939.

Robert Fripp, guitarist for King Crimson, is 72.

Darrell Sweet, drummer for Nazareth, was born today in 1947.

Barbara Lee of The Chiffons was born today in 1947.

Boyd Tinsley, violinist, mandolinist and singer for the Dave Matthews Band, is 54.

Krist Novoselic, bassist for Nirvana, is 53.

Janet Jackson is 52.

Ralph Tresvant of New Edition is 50.

Simon Katz of Jamiroquai is 47.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock, Song Facts and Wikipedia.