November 16 Rock And Roll History

Happy Friday! It's time for rock and roll history on WZOZ!

On this day in 1968, The Jimi Hendrix Experience went to #1 on the U.S. album chart with their third and final studio album, "Electric Ladyland." The double LP included the tracks "Crosstown Traffic," "Voodoo Chile," and a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower." Hendrix wasn't pleased with the cover, which was banned by several record dealers, but other vendors sold it with the cover turned inside out.

In 1968, Led Zeppelin played their first show in the north of England at the Manchester College of Science & Technology. They were paid £225 to do the gig.

In 1973, David Bowie's first British TV special, 1980 Floor Show, aired on NBC. Marianne Faithfull and the Troggs were his guests.

In 1974, John Lennon had his only solo #1 hit in the U.S. during his lifetime with "Whatever Gets You Through the Night." In his native England it topped out at #36. Lennon's inspiration for the song came from TV evangelist Reverend Ike, who said, "Let me tell you guys, it doesn't matter, it's whatever gets you through the night.”

In 1985 on this day, U2 launched their own record label and called it Mother Records. Their intent was to "unearth fresh musical talent in Ireland." The label released several one-off single releases for groups like The Hothouse Flowers, In Tua Nua, and Cactus World News.

In 1996, The Beatles' "Anthology 3" went all the way to #1 on the U.K. album chart. The album included rarities and alternative tracks from the last two years of the band's career, from the initial sessions for the White Album, to the last sessions for "Let It Be" and "Abbey Road" in 1969 and 1970.

And in 2001, a six-minute recording of a Beatles interview, which was purchased for $5 at a flea market, was auctioned off for $10,400 online. The winning bidder was unidentified, simply described as an "avid record and music memorabilia collector" from the United States.