This Day in Music History: The Beatles score their first #1 album, Steven Van Zandt makes his live debut with the E Street Band

1940 – The industry publication Billboard combines their sales charts for the first time, including all major labels. The first #1 is Tommy Dorsey’s “I’ll Never Smile Again” with vocals by Frank Sinatra.

1961 – The Beatles, known as The Beat Brothers, get some press in the British paper Mersey Beat, which announces their first record deal.

1963 – The Beatles nab their first UK Number One LP with Please Please Me.

1974 – Joey Ramone becomes the new lead singer for The Ramones.

1975 – Steven Van Zandt makes his first performance as lead guitarist for E Street Band.

1986 – Santana celebrate their 20th anniversary on Carlos’ 39th birthday with a massive group reunion when all 17 current and former members play a concert in San Francisco.

1986 – Sid and Nancy, the biopic about The Sex Pistols’ Sid Vicious, premieres in the UK. Gary Oldman stars as Vicious.

1987 – Paul McCartney records “Kansas City,” “Twenty Flight Rock,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “I’m In Love Again,” “Bring It On Home To Me,” “Lucille,” “I’m Gonna Be A Wheel Someday,” “That’s Alright Mama,” “Summertime,” “Just Because,” and “Midnight Special.”

1987 – Production was completed on Prince’s third movie, Sign O’ The Times, in Minneapolis.

Information for this post was gathered from This Day in Music, The Music History Calendar, On This Day, and Wikipedia.