This Day In Music History

1948, Columbia Records started the first mass production of the 33-RPM long player. The new format could contain a maximum of 23 minutes of music per side versus the three minutes that could be squeezed on to a 78 RPM disc.

1955, Jimmy Young was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of 'Unchained Melody', (a theme for the obscure prison film Unchained and a hit for the Righteous Brothers in 1965). Young scored another ten Top 40 hit singles and went on to become one of UK's favourite radio DJ's

1966, This weeks Top 5 UK singles: No.5, Percy Sledge, 'When A Man Love's A Woman', No.4, The Mersey's, 'Sorrow', No.3, The Mamas and the Papas, 'Monday Monday', No.2, The Beatles, 'Paperback Writer', No.1, Frank Sinatra, 'Strangers In The Night.'

1977, Fleetwood Mac went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Dreams', the group's first and only US No.1, it made No.24 in the UK.

1977, The Beatles 'Live At The Hollywood Bowl' went to No.1 on the UK album chart, the album featured recordings from 23rd August 1964 and 30th August 1965.

1988, Rick Astley went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Together Forever', his second US No.1, a No.2 hit in the UK.

1994, The Beastie Boys entered the US album chart at No.1 with 'III Communication'.

2000, It was reported that sales of pirate music CDs had now exceeded more than 500 million a year and accounted for one in every five sold. The Phonographic Industry estimated it was costing the music industry £3 billion ($5.1 billion) in lost sales.

2003, Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller became the first British music manager since The Beatles’ Brian Epstein to hold the top three positions in the US singles chart. Fuller, who steered the Spice Girls and S Club 7 to success, was in charge of bestselling artists Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, together with the American Idol 2 Final 10. During 2003 Fuller sold more than ten million records around the world and has had 96 No.1 singles and 79 top-placed albums in both the US and UK during his career. He was named in the latest Sunday Times Rich List as the 359th wealthiest person in the UK with assets of £90 million ($153 million).

2006, Keane started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Under The Iron Sea' the bands second No.1 album.

2007, American singer and record producer Hank Medress died of lung cancer at 68. He was the vocalist on The Tokens 1961 US No.1 hit ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’, Medress was also in the vocal quartet The Linc-Tones with Neil Sedaka and produced the hit single ‘He's So Fine’ by The Chiffons, as well as Tony Orlando's ‘Knock Three Times.’

1942, Born on this day, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Wings, solo. The most successful rock composer of all time. First met John Lennon on July 6th 1957 who was impressed that Paul could tune a guitar. With The Beatles he scored 21 US No.1 & 17 UK No.1 singles plus McCartney has scored over 30 US & UK solo Top 40 hit singles.

1942, Born on this day, Carl Radle, bass, Derek and the Dominoes, (1972 UK No.7 single 'Layla'). Died of kidney failure June 30th 1980, aged 38. Also worked with George Harrison and Delaney And Bonnie.

1957, Born on this day, Tom Bailey, vocals, keyboards, The Thompson Twins, (1984 UK No.2 single 'You Take Me Up', 1984 US No.3 single, 'Hold Me Now').

1961, Born on this day, Alison Moyet, singer, Yazoo, (1982 UK No.2 single 'Only You'). Solo (1985 UK No.2 single 'That Ole Devil Called Love').