This Day in Rock & Roll History for January 18

Little Richard enters the pop chart at #26 with "Tutti Frutti." His original beats out covers by Elvis Presley and Pat Boone. Also the Top Fifty pop album chart which is dominated by records like "Jackie Gleason Plays Music for Lovers Only" and "Jackie Gleason Plays Romantic Jazz," lists its first rock and roll entry. Billy Haley & the Comets' "Rock around the Clock" is #12. (1956)

The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" enters the Hot 100 at #45, just ten days after its release, making it the fastest-breaking and the fastest selling single in Capitol Records history. (1964)

Albums released this week include the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" on Apple Records; Tommy James & the Shondells' "Crimson and Clover" on Roulette; Creedance Clearwater Revival's "Bayou Country" on Fantasy and the self-titled LP by Blood, Sweat and Tears on Columbia. (1969)

Pete Best wins his defamation suit against the Beatles. He had sought 8 million dollars, but won considerably less. (1969)

Pink Floyd begin recording "Dark Side Of The Moon". (1973)

The Rolling Stones benefit concert for Nicaraguan earthquake victims is a success. The group raises over $400,000. (1973)

Bad Company is formed by ex-members of several groups -- Free, Mott the Hoople and King Crimson. (1974)

On the eve of President-elect Jimmy Carter's inauguration, a televised Inauguaral Concert took place...Among the performers --- Linda Ronstadt and Aretha Franklin, while in the audience were people like John Lennon and Paul Simon. (1977)

Ending of the last show of the Sex Pistols' U.S. tour, Johnny Rotten sneers at his San Francisco audience, "How does it feel to be swindeled?" The next morning he announces the group is history, blaming manager Malcolm McLaren for "sensationalizing" everything about the band. That afternoon Sid Vicious is taken unconscious off their London bound plane in New York and rushed to a hospital. He is treated for an overdose of barbituates and alcohol. (1978)

Capricorn Records, the home of such Southern rock acts as the Allman Brothers Band, files for Chapter 11. (1980)

Newspaper USA Today took a poll of its readers as to where the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame should be built. The winner was Cleveland. (1985)

Steve Winwood marries Eugenia Grafton. (1987)

Dion, The Ink Spots, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, Bessie Smith, The Soul Stirrers, Phil Spector, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame during ceremonies at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Highlights of the ceremony included a tribute to Roy Orbison, who had passed away the previous month. Bruce Springsteen sang the Orbison classic, "Crying." (1989)

Three people were crushed to death at an AC/DC concert in Salt Lake City. The victims had been crushed by people who rushed the stage. (1991)

The 10 day Rock In Rio Two festival opens in Brazil. Among the performers were Joe Cocker, Prince and Guns N' Roses. (1991)

Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California. He didn't receive a scratch. (1995)

Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from Michael Jackson. (1996)

Spencer Goodman, the man who kidnapped and killed the wife of ZZ Top manager Bill Ham in Houston in 1991, is executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas. Ham is present for the execution. (2000)

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