This day in music history

1953, Lita Roza was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with '(How Much) Is That Doggie In Window.' The 27 year old singer was the NME readers' Top Female artist of 1953 and with this single became the first British female singer to top the UK singles Chart.

1967, Polydor Records released the Bee Gees 'New York mining Disaster 1941' It was released with a promotional slogan announcing 'The most significant talent since The Beatles'. The record became a Top 20 hit in the UK and US.

1969, The recording of 'The Ballad Of John and Yoko' took place, with just two Beatles, Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Paul played bass, drums and piano with John on guitars and lead vocals. The song was banned from many radio stations as being blasphemous. On some stations, the word 'Christ' was edited in backwards to avoid the ban.

1971, The Illinois Crime Commission issued a list of 'drug-oriented records' including 'White Rabbit' by Jefferson Airplane, 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' by Procol Harum and The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.'

1973, Led Zeppelin started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Houses Of The Holy', also a No.1 in the US. The young girl featured on the cover of the album climbing naked up Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland is Samantha Gates who was 6 years old at the time of the photo shoot.

1975, Art Garfunkel started a six week run at No.1 in the UK with the theme from the film 'Watership Down', 'Bright Eyes' which went on to become the biggest selling single of the year. Written by Wombles voice Mike Batt.

1976, Motown Records and Stevie Wonder announced the largest contract renewal to date, worth $13 million.

1980, Gary Numan released 'The Touring Principle', the first long-form rock video to be made commercially available in the UK.

1990, Madonna scored her seventh UK No.1 single with 'Vogue', also a US No.1 hit. Taken from her soundtrack album I'm Breathless (Music from and Inspired by the film Dick Tracy).

1990, Tommy Page went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I'll Be Your Everything', his only hit in the UK reaching No.53.

1945, Born on this day, Ritchie Blackmore, guitarist, Deep Purple, (1970 UK No.2 single 'Black Night', 1973 US No.4 single 'Smoke On The Water'), Rainbow, (1981 UK No.3 single 'I Surrender').

1948, Born on this day, Larry Ferguson, Hot Chocolate, (1975 US No.3 single 'You Sexy Thing', 1977 UK No.1 single 'So You Win Again' plus over 25 other top 40 hits).

1980, Born on this day, Win Butler, lead vocalist, songwriter, Arcade Fire, (2005 album ‘Funeral’).

For more musical feats & facts, you can visit thisdayinmusic.com