Today in Music History

Zelma Davis, singer of C+C Music Factory, was born.

The Moody Blues performed at Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee.

Elton John performed at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario.

Elton John released his seventh studio album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which became his most successful and best-selling studio album. It includes “Candle in the Wind,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and the title track. Bernie Taupin's lyrics were written in two and a half weeks, and Elton John composed most of the music in three days in Kingston, Jamaica. The album sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, sold eight million copies in the United States, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.

King Crimson performed at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas.

AC/DC played their first concert with Bon Scott as lead singer. The concert took place at Masonic Hall in Rockdale, Australia.

Elvis Presley performed two concerts at the Expo Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. The first began at 2:30 p.m. and the second at 8:30 p.m.; both were attended by 14,000 people. For the first performance he wore the Mad Tiger suit, and for the second the Peacock suit.

R&B and soul singer Heather Headley was born in Trinidad.

Mike Oldfield's album Tubular Bells reached No. 1 on the UK album chart for the first time, 15 months after its release. Interest surged after the album was used in the film The Exorcist. Tubular Bells was the first album released by Virgin Records and sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. After spending three weeks at No. 1 with Hergest Ridge, Mike Oldfield remained at the top with Tubular Bells.

Olivia Newton-John achieved the first No. 1 hit of her career on the Billboard Hot 100 with “I Honestly Love You.” The song appeared on the album If You Love Me, Let Me Know, and its success helped the album reach No. 1 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape a week later. The song began a two-week run at the top and was her first of five US No. 1 hits.

Randy Newman performed at Atlanta Symphony Hall with an 87-piece orchestra conducted by his uncle Emil Newman.

The Beach Boys reached No. 1 on the US Billboard album chart for the second time in their career with Endless Summer. The compilation of original recordings from the 1960s spent 155 weeks on the chart and received triple-platinum certification for sales of more than three million copies.

The Guess Who's song “Clap for the Wolfman” reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and featured the unmistakable voice of radio host Wolfman Jack. He liked the song so much that he left his lucrative job at WNBC and went on tour with the Canadian band.

Harry Chapin released the song “Cat's in the Cradle.”

Original members Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer performed together for the final time at the Wonder Dream Concert in Kingston, Jamaica. The benefit concert was organized by Stevie Wonder.

AC/DC performed at Stadthalle in Bern, Switzerland.

Elvis met with private investigator John O'Grady, who discussed preventing the publication of a book by his former bodyguards. Elvis agreed to a plan to offer Red West, Sonny West, and Dave Hebler money to withdraw the book from publication. The plan ultimately failed.

Elvis flew to Los Angeles to stay with Linda Thompson at her new apartment. In Hollywood, he also picked up a new Ferrari that he had ordered.

Hall & Oates' second album Abandoned Luncheonette, containing the hit “She's Gone,” received gold certification just three weeks after its release.

British singer Kele Le Roc was born.

Rush performed at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona.

Aerosmith performed at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dolly Parton became the first female country singer to pose for Playboy magazine.

Guitarist and singer James Valentine was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is known as a member of the pop rock band Maroon 5.

English musician Patrick Walden, known as the guitarist for Babyshambles, was born.

ABBA visited the White House during their tour, for the first and last time during their stay in America. They met Amy Carter, daughter of President Jimmy Carter and a great fan of the group.

“Gotta Serve Somebody” entered the U.S. chart and became Bob Dylan's twelfth U.S. Top 40 hit. The song was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios and won a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male, in 1980.

Jethro Tull performed at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario.

Joe Jackson released his second studio album I'm the Man.

The album Led Zeppelin In Through The Out Door was at No. 1 on the U.S. Albums Chart. The cover was released in six different versions, each showing the same bar scene from a different angle.

Michael Jackson's “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough” spent its fifth week at No. 1 on the R&B chart.

Queen released the single “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”

Robert John reached No. 1 on the Billboard Pop Chart with the song “Sad Eyes.” Almost 21 years had passed since his first minor hit in 1958.

The Eagles released “Heartache Tonight,” which later became their fifth Billboard No. 1 single, while reaching only No. 40 in the UK.

The Police released their second studio album Reggatta de Blanc on A&M Records. The album reached No. 1 in the UK and Australia and featured the hits Walking on the Moon and Message in a Bottle.

A little over a year after the death of Keith Moon, The Who's soundtrack compilation The Kids Are Alright received RIAA platinum certification. It reached No. 8 in the US and No. 26 in the UK.

The Who released the soundtrack album Quadrophenia.

NME magazine named Joy Division's “She's Lost Control” its single of the week. The song was inspired by a girl Ian Curtis worked with at a center for people with disabilities who later died from an epileptic seizure.

Paul Thomas, bassist for the band Good Charlotte, was born in Waldorf, Maryland.

The Bee Gees filed a $200 million lawsuit against their manager Robert Stigwood over alleged mismanagement of their career. The dispute was settled out of court in May 1981, and both sides publicly apologized.

Yes performed at Selland Arena in Fresno, California.

Journey released the single “Don't Stop Believin'.”

Comedian, singer, and songwriter Jud Strunk died at the age of 45 in a small-plane crash in Maine after suffering a heart attack while piloting the aircraft. He became famous for appearing on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and for the hit “Daisy A Day,” which reached No. 14 in 1973.

King Crimson performed as the headlining band at Moles Club in Bath, England.

EMI reissued the single “Love Me Do” in the UK exactly twenty years after its original release. The anniversary edition reached No. 4 on the UK singles chart. Because the original studio master had been destroyed, a new master was created from a perfectly preserved 1962 vinyl single.

The Who performed at the Horizon in Rosemont, near Chicago, Illinois.

Barry Manilow performed a benefit concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, attended by Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

David Bowie reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart with the album Tonight. The album included, among other songs, the single “Blue Jean.”

Scottish composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erland Cooper was born.

Prince was at No. 1 on the R&B chart with the song “Let's Go Crazy.”