1965: Wilson Pickett recorded “634-5789” in Memphis with Stax house musicians the M.G.’s and Isaac Hayes on piano for his third album, The Exciting Wilson Pickett. The song is a reference to Motown girl group the Marvelettes’ 1962 hit “Beechwood 4-5789.” Despite the record’s success, Pickett’s “wicked” persona proved too difficult for the Memphis crew to handle and it was his last session at Stax, with president Jim Stewart allegedly banning him from returning. Concerned that another label might profit off the studio’s sound, Atlantic Records began sending Pickett and other artists, including Aretha Franklin, to FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

1965: The Beach Boys released “Barbara Ann” from their tenth studio album, Beach Boys’ Party!. The song was written by Fred Fassert of doo-wop group The Regents and first recorded by them in 1961.

1967: After leaving the John Evan Band, vocalist Ian Anderson, bassist Glenn Cornick, and guitarist Mick Abrahams recruited drummer Clive Bunker to form Jethro Tull. John Evan later joined as the group’s keyboard player. At first, the group frequently changed their name, but after one of their booking agent’s staff members christened them “Jethro Tull” after the 18th century agriculturalist, the name stuck the first time they were invited by a club manager for a return performance.

1968: The Beatles released their sixth and penultimate Christmas record for fan club members. It was the group’s first to be recorded separately and the first Christmas flex disc that US fans received after years of simply getting postcards.

1969: “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” by the Hollies entered Billboard Hot 100, where it later became their fourth top 10 hit, peaking at #7.

1969: “No Time” by The Guess Who entered the Billboard Hot 100. The song was originally recorded for the band’s fifth studio album, Canned Wheat, but was re-recorded for their next album, American Woman, and released as the LP’s lead single. It peaked at #5 in the US and was the first in a string of three million-selling singles that all hit #1 in the band’s home country of Canada.

1969: After scoring a pair of #2 singles in 1963 with “Puff the Magic Dragon” and “Blowin’ in the Wind,” Peter, Paul & Mary achieved their only #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with the John Denver-penned song “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”

1969: Just over a week after it’s release, the Rolling Stones’ eighth Britain studio album, Let It Bleed, knocked the Beatles’ Abbey Road LP off the top of the UK album chart for one week.

1971: Billy Preston released “I Wrote a Simple Song,” the title track from his sixth studio album. The record’s B-side, “Outa-Space,” later became Preston’s first top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #2, as well as his first to reach #1 on the R&B chart.

1975: Joe Walsh officially replaced Eagles guitarist and founding member Bernie Leadon, who had left to pursue a solo career.

1975: “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” the second single from Paul Simon’s fourth solo studio album, Still Crazy After All These Years, entered the Billboard Hot 100. It became his only solo #1 on the chart in February.

1975: “All By Myself,” the first single from Raspberries singer Eric Carmen’s self-titled debut solo LP, entered the Billboard Hot 100. The record became his biggest solo hit, reaching #2 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Cash Box chart.

1980: “(Just Like) Starting Over” by John Lennon from his album Double Fantasy with wife Yoko Ono became his first solo #1 hit on the UK chart.

1986: The Bangles achieved their first #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Walk Like an Egyptian,” a song written by “Akron Sound” songwriter Liam Sternberg.

Birthdays Today

Judy Henske, singer and songwriter known as “the Queen of the Beatniks”, was born in Chippewa Falls, WI in 1936.

Kim Weston, Motown singer, was born Agatha Nathalia Weston in Detroit, MI in 1939.

Larry Willis, jazz pianist and composer who performed with a wide array of musicians including several years with Blood, Sweat & Tears starting in 1972, was born in Harlem, New York City in 1942.

Bobby Colomby, drummer and original member of Blood, Sweat & Tears, was born in New York City in 1944.

Stevie Wright, musician, songwriter, and founding member and leader singer of the Easybeats, was born Stephen Carlton Wright in Leeds, England in 1947.

Alan Parsons, audio engineer, songwriter, musician, who served as record producer on several significant albums and lead his own group, the Alan Parsons Project, was born in London, England in 1948.

Anita Ward, singer and musician, was born in Memphis, TN in 1956.

Guy Babylon, keyboardist and composer who joined Elton John’s studio and touring band in 1988, was born in New Windsor, MD in 1956.

Billy Bragg, singer, songwriter, and activist, was born Stephen William Bragg in Barking, Essex, England in 1957.

Chris Robinson, lead singer for the Black Crowes, was born in Marietta, GA in 1966.

Winston Marshall, banjoist, lead guitarist, and founding member of Mumford & Sons, was born in Wandsworth, London, England in 1987.