History Highlight:

Today in 1996, Weezer released their second studio album, Pinkerton. Most of the songs had been written during the time Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo was a student at Harvard University. Cuomo had been working on a rock opera, but that idea didn’t take flight — although the album name, Pinkerton, derives from the name of an American character in Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly. The album Pinkerton is the last to feature Weezer founding bassist Matt Sharp, later of The Rentals. Pinkerton was not well received the year of its release — Rolling Stone readers voted it the third-worst album of 1996 — but it has garnered much more respect since then, and the songs “Pink Triangle,” “The Good Life” and, in particular, "El Scorcho," are fan favorites to this day.

Also, Today In:

1957 - The Elvis Presley classic "Jailhouse Rock" was released. It became his ninth U.S. No. 1 single and stayed on the Billboard chart for nineteen weeks. The film clip from the movie where he sang the song is considered by many historians to be the first rock video.

1966 - Jimi Hendrix and his manager, Chas Chandler, arrived in London on a flight from New York. Hendrix landed in the U.K. with only the clothes he was wearing, having sold his other belongings to pay a previous hotel bill. One of the first things Hendrix did after arriving in England was legally change his name from James to Jimi.

1966 - The Association started a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Cherish."

1981 - Kool & the Gang released their thirteenth studio album, Something Special. It features the singles "Steppin' Out," "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)," and "Get Down on It."

1982 - The Psychedelic Furs released their third studio album, Forever Now. It features the singles "Love My Way," "Danger," and "Run and Run."

1983 - Billy Joel went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Tell Her About It," Joel's second No. 1 hit.

1984 - Depeche Mode released their fourth studio album, Some Great Reward. It features the songs "People Are People," "Master and Servant," and "Blasphemous Rumours." The album marked a significant milestone for Depeche Mode’s growth as a band, as it grew their fan base in the United States and Canada through the chart success of “People Are People.”

1986 - Boston released their third studio album, Third Stage. It features the singles "Amanda," "We're Ready," "Cool the Engines," "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)/Still in Love," and "Hollyann"

1988 - Bobby McFerrin started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Don't Worry Be Happy," the first a cappella song to be a No. 1 record.

1990 - AC/DC released The Razors Edge, their 11th internationally released studio album. The only studio album to feature drummer Chris Slade, it reached No. 2 on the U.S. chart and No. 4 in the U.K. It features “Thunderstruck,” “Moneytalks,” and “Are You Ready.”

1991 - The Red Hot Chili Peppers released Blood Sugar Sex Magik in the U.S. Containing the hits "Under the Bridge" and "Give It Away," the album sold over 10 million copies worldwide and makes the group bona-fide headliners.

1991 - Nirvana released their epic Nevermind. The album has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide to date. By January 1992, it reached number one on the US Billboard 200; during this time it was selling approximately 300,000 copies a week. The album produced several successful singles including "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Come as You Are," "Lithium," and "In Bloom." The album was ranked number 17 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list, and upgrading to number 6 in 2020 revised list. Produced by Butch Vig, it was the first Nirvana album to feature drummer Dave Grohl. In addition, it was responsible in part for bringing both grunge and alternative rock music to a mainstream audience and ending the dominance of hair metal.

1991 - A Tribe Called Quest released their second studio album, The Low End Theory. It features the singles "Check the Rhime," "Jazz (We've Got)," and "Scenario."

1991 - Bryan Adams released his sixth studio album, Waking Up the Neighbours. It features the singles "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You," "Can't Stop This Thing We Started," "There Will Never Be Another Tonight," "Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven," "All I Want Is You," and "Do I Have to Say the Words?"

1996 - Sheryl Crow released her second studio album, Sheryl Crow. It features the singles "If It Makes You Happy," "Everyday Is a Winding Road," "Hard to Make a Stand," "A Change Would Do You Good," and "Home."

1996 - The Roots released their third studio album, Illadelph Halflife. It features the singles "Clones," "Concerto of the Desperado," and "What They Do."

1996 - Archers of Loaf released their third studio album, All the Nations Airports. It features the singles "Scenic Pastures," "Vocal Shrapnel," and "Bones of Her Hands."

1996 - That Thing You Do! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was released, featuring the Adam Schlesinger-penned single "That Thing You Do!”

2002 - Elvis Presley reached a new generation with the release of the greatest hits compilation ELV1S: 30 No. 1 Hits. It features the singles "A Little Less Conversation" (JXL Remix) and "Burning Love."

2002 - Beck released his eighth studio album, Sea Change. It features the singles "Lost Cause" and "Guess I'm Doing Fine."

2002 - Rhett Miller released his second studio album, The Instigator. It features the singles "Our Love," "Come Around," and "This Is What I Do."

2002 - Cody Chesnutt released his debut studio album, The Headphone Masterpiece. It features the singles "The Seed," "Look Good in Leather," and "The World Is Coming to My Party."

2002 - Iron & Wine released his debut studio album, The Creek Drank the Cradle.

2003 - The Dave Matthews Band played at Central Park in New York City, in front of almost 100,000 people, the band's largest audience to date. The Central Park Concert was later released as an album.

2007 - PJ Harvey released her seventh studio album, White Chalk. It features the singles "When Under Ether," "The Piano," and "The Devil."

2010 - Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. released Record Collection. It features “Bang Bang Bang,” “The Bike Song,” and “Somebody to Love Me.”

2013 - Kings of Leon released their sixth studio album, Mechanical Bull. It features the singles "Supersoaker," "Wait for Me," "Temple," "Beautiful War," "Don't Matter," and "Family Tree."

2016 - Buckwheat Zydeco died at the age of 68 in Lafayette, Louisiana.

2021 - The tribute album I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground & Nico was released. It features St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, Bobby Gillespie, and Iggy Pop.

2021 - Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine released their collaborative studio album, A Beginner's Mind. It features the singles "Reach Out" and "Olympus."

2021 - Alessia Cara released her third studio album, In the Meantime. It features the singles "Sweet Dream," "Shapeshifter," "Best Days," and "You Let Me Down."

2022 - Jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders died at the age of 81 in Los Angeles.

Birthdays:

Blind Lemon Jefferson, the father of Texas blues, was born today in 1893. He passed away in 1929. The Christina Ricci movie "Black Snake Moan" was named after one of his songs.

The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald was born today in 1896 in St. Paul. He died in 1940.

Allen Bunn, also known as Tarheel Slim — a guitarist and songwriter whose work spanned gospel, blues, doo-wop, R&B, pop and rockabilly — was born in 1923.

Mel Taylor, drummer for the Ventures, was born today in 1933.

Blues singer and guitarist Chick Willis was born today in 1934.

Muppets creator Jim Henson was born today in 1936.

Steve Douglas, American saxophonist and flautist who recorded with Duane Eddy, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley Willy DeVille, Bob Dylan, Ramones and others was born today in 1938. He passed away in 1993.

Linda McCartney was born today in 1941. She passed away in 1998.

Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers was born on this day in 1942. He passed away in January 2021.

Mark Sandman of Morphine was born today in 1952.

Sean McNabb — bassist for Quiet Riot, Dokken, Great White, and more — is 60.

Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney and Quasi is 60.

Shawn “Clown” Crahan of Slipknot is 56.

Peter Salisbury, drummer from English rock band The Verve, is 54.

Jesse Hughes frontman and guitarist of Eagles of Death Metal is 53.

Liam Finn is 42.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Song Facts and Wikipedia.