History Highlight:

Today in 2021, Rostam Batmanglij released his second full-length solo album, Changephobia. While showcasing the aesthetics that made Rostam such a catalyst within Vampire Weekend and that band’s powerful influence on the indie music of the first decade of the 2000s, on Changephobia, Rostam embraces more sounds from jazz. The jazz influence is most sincerely felt in the baritone sax playing of Henry Solomon, whom Rostam recruited to arrange and play saxophone on seven of the album’s 11 tracks. The album’s vinyl release even included sheet music with the saxophone parts, lyrics and guitar chords. Changephobia features the single, “4Runner.”

Also, Today In:

1942 - Glenn Wallichs launched Capitol Records in Hollywood. The label became home to such artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Glen Campbell, Steve Miller, Dr. Hook, Bob Seger, Tina Turner, Heart and countless others. Wallichs was the man who invented the art of record promotion by sending copies of new releases to radio disc jockeys.

1956 - Elvis Presley scored a rare trifecta as "Heartbreak Hotel" simultaneously held the No. 1 spots on Billboard's Pop, R&B and Country charts. Written by Tommy Durden and Mae Boren Axton, the lyrics to "Heartbreak Hotel" were based on a newspaper article about the suicide of a lonely man who jumped from a hotel window.

1967 - The Monkees' TV show scored an Emmy for outstanding comedy series.

1975 - The Rolling Stones became the first rock band to receive royalties for sales of their records in Russia (the Soviet Union at that time).

1979 - Fleetwood Mac recorded the USC Trojan Marching Band at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for use in their song "Tusk," the title track to their first album since Rumours. A film crew captured the action (including Stevie Nicks deftly twirling a baton) which was made into the video for the song. On May 23, 1997, Fleetwood Mac recorded the live album The Dance in Burbank, California, and again invited the USC Trojan Marching Band to accompany them on “Tusk.”

1984 - Bruce Springsteen released the album Born In the U.S.A., which became the best-selling album of 1985 in the United States — and also Springsteen's most successful album ever. A few fun facts about the album: Seven of the album's 12 songs were released as singles and entered the top 10, meaning that over half of all Springsteen's career top-10 hits came from the album. Born in the U.S.A. didn't produce a No. 1 single, but "Dancing in the Dark" peaked at No. 2, blocked from the top spot by the wild success of Prince's "When Doves Cry." The album's iconic cover was shot by Annie Liebovitz. Springsteen was forced to deny rumors that the image showed him urinating on the flag. "We took a lot of different types of pictures," he said, "and in the end, the picture of my (butt) looked better than the picture of my face, that's what went on the cover."

1984 - Sheila E. released her debut solo album, The Glamorous Life. All tracks, including the title track single, were written by or co-written with Prince.

1993 - Bad Religion released their seventh studio album, Recipe for Hate. It features "American Jesus" and "Struck a Nerve."

1993 - Police in Seattle arrested Kurt Cobain at his home after an argument with his wife, Courtney Love, over his collection of firearms.

1996 - Squirrel Nut Zippers released their second studio album, Hot. It features “Hell” and “Put a Lid on It.”

1996 - Metallica released their sixth studio album, Load. It features “Until It Sleeps,” “Hero of the Day,” and “King Nothing.”

1997 - Jeff Buckley's body was discovered in the Mississippi River. Buckley had disappeared when swimming on May 29 in Wolf River Harbor in Memphis, while wearing boots, all of his clothing, and singing the chorus of "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin. An autopsy ruled Buckley's death an accidental drowning.

2000 - A teenage Sisqó fan was shot in the leg at a concert by the R&B star in Phoenix, Arizona, when violence erupted after concertgoers began objecting to parking fees of $30 at the venue. (Related: Sisqó now lives in Maple Grove, Minn.)

2001 - Americana Legend and banjo picker John Hartford died in Nashville. The three-time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and session man (The Byrds/James Taylor/Jerry Garcia/David Grisman/Bela Fleck) passed away after a long battle with cancer. Hartford also wrote songs recorded by others, including “Gentle on My Mind,” a big hit for Glen Campbell.

2002 - Frou Frou released their only studio album, Details. It features “Breathe In,” “Shh,” and “Let Go.”

2002 - Interpol released their third EP, which is self-titled. It features “PDA,” “NYC” and “Specialist.” The first two songs later appeared on their debut album, Turn on the Bright Lights.

2002 - Avril Lavigne released her debut album, Let Go. It features “Complicated,” “I’m With You,” and “Sk8er Boi.

2002 - DJ Shadow released his second studio album, The Private Press. It features “Six Days.”

2002 - The Polyphonic Spree released their debut studio album, The Beginning Stages of.... It features the singles "Soldier Girl" and "Hanging Around."

2002 - Dirty Vegas released their self-titled debut album. It features “Days Go By.”

2005 - System Of A Down's fourth album, Mezmerize, went No. 1 in America. Six months later, their next album, Hypnotize (recorded in the same sessions), took the top spot.

2007 - Soul singer Freddie Scott died at age 74.

2013 - Queens of the Stone Age released their sixth studio album, …Like Clockwork. It features “I Sat by the Ocean” and “My God Is the Sun.”

2013 - Capital Cities released their debut studio album, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery. It features “Safe and Sound.”

2013 - Portugal. The Man released their seventh studio album, Evil Friends.

2013 - Joey Covington (drummer for Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) died in a single-vehicle accident in Palm Springs, California, at age 67.

2017 - Ariana Grande hosted the "One Love Manchester" benefit concert to honor the victims of the terrorist bombing at her May 22, 2017, concert at the Manchester Arena, which killed 22 people. The show took place at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground about three miles from the arena.

2020 - Producer Rupert Hine, whose credits include Tina Turner's hit "Better Be Good To Me" and the first four albums by The Fixx, died at 72.

2020 - Steve Priest, the bassist and co-founder of glam rock band Sweet, died at the age of 72. He was known for his playful humour and outrageous costumes when Sweet played hits like "Blockbuster", "Teenage Rampage" and "Little Willy" on Top of the Pops. The group was originally called Sweetshop.

2021 - Japanese Breakfast released their third studio album, Jubilee. It features “Be Sweet” and “Paprika.”

2021 - Wolf Alice released their third studio album, Blue Weekend. It features "The Last Man on Earth," "Smile," "No Hard Feelings," and "How Can I Make It OK?"

2021 - Joy Oladokun released her third studio album, In Defense of My Own Happiness.

2021 - Liz Phair released her seventh studio album, Soberish. It features “Good Side.”

Birthday:

Country and Tejano singer and guitarist Freddy Fender was born Baldemar Garza Huerta on this day in 1937. Fender’s best-known hit is 1975’s “Before the Next Teardrop Falls.”

Cliff Bennett of Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers is 86.

Roger Ball, saxophonist with Average White Band, is 82.

Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas is 82.

Anthony Braxton of the Association is 81.

Gordon Waller of Peter and Gordon was born today in 1945.

Jimmy McCulloch of Wings was born today in 1953.

Raphael Ravenscroft (sax on Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street”) was born today in 1954.

Reeves Gabrels (guitarist, songwriter and record producer who worked with David Bowie from 1987 to 2000 and a member of The Cure since 2012) is 70.

El DeBarge is 65.

Al B. Sure! is 58.

Richie Hawtin is 56.

Stefan Lessard, bassist from Dave Matthews Band, is 52.

Kasey Chambers is 50.

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