History Highlight:

Singer-songwriter Colin Blunstone was born on this day in 1945, making him 80. Blunstone grew up in a commuter town outside London, and while still at school, he was invited to join his classmates’ band, The Zombies. After developing a strong local fanbase, the Zombies were signed to Decca Records — which led to the release of their four major hit singles: “She’s Not There,” “Tell Her No,” “She's Coming Home” and “Time of the Season.” The Zombies broke up in 1968, and Blunstone launched a solo career after a short break. As a guest artist, Blunstone’s vocals are featured on Dave Stewart’s version of “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” and on the Alan Parsons Project song, “Old and Wise.” In 2000, the Zombies reunited and have released four albums since 2004. In 2019, The Zombies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Blunstone continues to perform with the Zombies, and he released a five-track solo EP, Less is More, in April 2024.

Also, Today In:

1958 - Nina Simone released her debut album, Little Girl Blue.

1965 - John Lennon's second book of poetry and drawings, A Spaniard in the Works, was published.

1967 - The Monkees went to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts with Headquarters, the group's third chart topper. The album was the first with substantial songwriting and instrumental performances by members of the group itself, rather than by session musicians and professional songwriters. As of 2008, Headquarters had sold seven million copies in the United States and achieved global sales of 11.6 million. It is included in the 2006 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

1980 - Jackson Browne released his sixth studio album, Hold Out.

1982 - The Replacements released the EP Stink. It features “Gimme Noise” and “Kids Don’t Follow.”

1985 - Mötley Crüe released their third album, Theatre of Pain. It features "Smokin' in the Boys Room" and the power ballad "Home Sweet Home."

1986 - Soul Asylum released the compilation Time’s Incinerator.

1989 - Paul McCartney scored his seventh U.K. No. 1 solo album with Flowers in the Dirt.

1994 - Weezer released "Undone - The Sweater Song," the first single from their debut album, Weezer (AKA The Blue Album). The song was originally called "Undone" but the band added "The Sweater Song" to the title after fans at shows called it "the sweater song" or "that song about the sweater." Frontman Rivers Cuomo believed song titles with parentheses looked ugly, so the title features a dash instead. It was recorded at Electric Lady studio in New York City with producer Ric Ocasek. There are no sweaters in the music video, but there are dogs. Directed by Spike Jonze, the popular MTV clip features the band playing along to a sped-up version of the song — but slowed down to match its normal speed. Trippy stuff. The album narrowly came in second during The Current’s March Music Madness celebration of the best albums of 1994 in 2024.

1995 - Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder left the stage due to illness after only seven songs during an outdoor concert in San Francisco. To the delight of some, but mostly dismay to the younger fans, Neil Young stepped up to finish the show.

1997 - Wyclef Jean released his debut album, The Carnival. It features "We Trying to Stay Alive," "Guantanamera," and "Gone till November."

1997 - Sugar Ray released their second studio album, Floored. It features “Fly.”

1997 - Edwin McCain released Misguided Roses. It features “I’ll Be.”

1997 - Ween released their sixth album, The Mollusk. It features “Mutilated Lips” and “Ocean Man.”

1999 - Eric Clapton put 100 of his guitars up for auction at Christie's in New York City to raise money for his drug rehab clinic, the Crossroads Centre in Antigua. His 1956 Fender Stratocaster — named Brownie, which was used to record the electric version of "Layla" — sold for a record $497,500. The auction helped raise nearly $5 million for the clinic.

2000 - Kiss auctioned off $888,000 worth of costumes, instruments and tour memorabilia, including Gene Simmons' Psycho Circus tourwear (including codpiece), which went for $32,200.

2003 - Motion City Soundtrack released their debut studio album, I Am the Movie. It features “The Future Freaks Me Out” and “My Favorite Accident.”

2003 - Guster released their fourth studio album, Keep It Together.

2003 - Liz Phair released her self-titled fourth studio album. It features “Why Can’t I?”

2003 - The Mars Volta released their debut studio album, De-Loused in the Comatorium.

2003 - Black Eyed Peas released their third studio album, Elephunk. It features “Let’s Get It Started.”

2007 - The White Stripes went to No. 1 on the U.K. album chart with Icky Thump, the duo's sixth and final studio album. Icky Thump won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2008.

2008 - Amos Lee released his third studio album, Last Days at the Lodge. It features “Listen.”

2011 - Beyoncé released her studio album, 4. It's her fourth album; the title also references her favorite number, as she was born on September 4 and married on April 4. It features "Run the World (Girls)" and “Love On Top.”

2013 - Tom Odell released his debut studio album, Long Way Down. It features “Can’t Pretend” and “Hold Me.”

2014 - A working draft of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" set a record at auction after selling for $2 million at Sotheby's. The manuscript, said to be the only known draft of the final lyrics, was written in pencil in 1965 by the 24 year-old Dylan.

2015 - Carly Rae Jepsen released her third studio album, E•MO•TION. It features “I Really Like You.”

2016 - A jury concluded that Led Zeppelin did not copy the opening chords of "Stairway To Heaven" from the Spirit, saying the riff Led Zeppelin was accused of taking from Spirit's 1967 song "Taurus" was not intrinsically similar to Stairway's opening. During the trial, defence lawyers argued the chord progression in question was very common and had been in use for more than 300 years.

2016 - DJ Shadow released his fifth studio album, The Mountain Will Fall. It features “Nobody Speak” featuring Run the Jewels.

2021 - Beabadoobee released the EP Our Extended Play. It features “Last Day On Earth.”

Birthdays

Terry Riley is 90.

Brigitte Fontaine — collaborator with Sonic Youth, Stereolab, and more — is 86.

Arthur Wilton Brown, also known as The God of Hellfire, is 83.

Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck (Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group) was born today in 1944.

Colin Blunstone, lead singer of the Zombies, is 80.

Today in 1947, Michael John Kells (Mick) Fleetwood was born. He is best known as the drummer, co-founder, and leader of the rock band Fleetwood Mac. Born in Redruth, Cornwall, Fleetwood lived in Egypt and Norway for much of his childhood. Choosing to follow his musical interests, Fleetwood travelled to London at the age of 15, eventually forming the first incarnation of Fleetwood Mac with Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer and Bob Brunning. His surname was merged with that of the group's bassist John "Mac" McVie to form the name of the band. After several album releases and line-up changes, the group moved to the United States in 1974. Fleetwood then invited Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to join. Fleetwood's own determination to keep the band together was essential to the band's longevity. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Fleetwood Mac in 1998.

Patrick Moraz, keyboardist for Yes and the Moody Blues, is 77.

John Illsley, bassist for Dire Straits, is 76.

Andy McCluskey of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark is 66.

Siedah Garrett — sang “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” duet with Michael Jackson, backing vocals for Madonna, Donna Summer, and more — is 65.

Dennis Danell of Social Distortion was born today in 1961.

Curt Smith, of Tears for Fears, is 64.

Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star is 59.

Glenn Medeiros (“Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You”) is 55.

Ariel Pink is 47.

Solange is 39.

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