Rock 'n' Roll History for
November 26


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1955 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock" reaches #1 in the UK and is considered to be the first Rock and Roll record to accomplish that feat.

November 26
Tennessee Ernie Ford's rendition of a 1946, Merle Travis song, "Sixteen Tons", tops the Billboard Top 100 chart, becoming the fastest selling single in recording industry history up to that time. The song would lead the chart for eight weeks before crossing the Atlantic to claim the top spot on the UK charts for four weeks early in 1956. On March 25th, 2015, Ford's version was inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry.

1962 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
The Beatles re-record "Please Please Me" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios. Under the direction of producer George Martin, who told the band that their original ballad version was "too bloody boring for words," the song is re-arranged to an up-tempo rocker which would rise to #2 in the UK and #3 in the US.

1964 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
The Zombies record the Rod Argent composition, "Tell Her No". The song would rise to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, but was only a minor hit in the band's native UK, where it stalled at #42. The word "No" is sung a total of sixty-three times during the two minute and eight second song.

1966 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
"I'm Losing You" by The Temptations enters the US R&B chart where it will become the group's fourth straight number one. The record peaked at #8 on the Pop chart. The tune will return in versions by Rare Earth in 1970 (#7) and Rod Stewart in 1971 (#24).

1967 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
The promotional film for the Beatles' "Hello Goodbye" was aired on The Ed Sullivan Show, but was not shown at the time in the UK due to a musicians union ban on miming.

1977 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
A twenty track collection called "The Sound Of Bread", that featured the Soft-Rock style of David Gates and company, replaces The Sex Pistols "Never Mind The Bollocks - Here's The Sex Pistols" at the top of the UK album chart. The Sex Pistols will regain the position in January.

1979 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
Bill Haley plays for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Command Performance during his final tour of the UK. After the show, Her Majesty confided in Haley, "You know, we grew up with you."

1994 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
"When Hell freezes over" was the answer that former Eagles members would give when asked when a reunion would take place. When they finally gave in to financial pressures, the band titled their album just that, and it hit the top of the Billboard album chart on this day. The effort, which was a combination of live versions of earlier hits and studio cuts of newly recorded material, would go on to sell over six million copies.

2000 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
Frank Smith of The Monotones died of cancer at the age of 61. The six-man vocal band from Newark, New Jersey reached number 5 in 1958 with the million selling hit, "Book Of Love". Although they recorded a series of songs as follow-ups, none of them were successful and the group split up in 1962.

2001 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
Elton John appears on the Fox network's Ally McBeal, where he is shown sitting at a bar singing about wanting love.

November 26
At the Queen's Royal Command Performance in London, England, Elton John, Cher, Donny Osmond and Cilla Black are among the performers.

2002 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
Citing "irreconcilable differences", actor Nicolas Cage files for divorce from Lisa Marie Presley. The petition was granted on May 27, 2004, nearly a year and a half later, ending a marriage that lasted less than four months.

2008 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
For the eighth straight year, revenue for North American terrestrial radio declined, with figures showing a seven percent drop from last year. The entire industry had its worst year financially since 1954. In 2023, Tesla, BMW, Porsche, Audi and Volvo all dropped AM receivers from some models.

2009 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
Paul McCartney told a BBC interviewer that his concerts are a way of helping him "revisit" other Beatles members and his late wife Linda. "If I'm doing songs by The Beatles, I obviously remember the sessions when we recorded," Sir Paul said. He added: "Similarly with John and Linda. In a way you're kind of in contact them again and it's sad, it's emotional."

2012 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
Rod Stewart scored his first number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart since "Have I Told You Lately" in 1993 when his rendition of "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" rose to the top.

2023 - ClassicBands.com

November 26
Cher earned a new number one song on a Billboard chart for the seventh straight decade when "DJ Play A Christmas Song" led the Dance/Electronic Song Sales survey. The track was the lead single from her first holiday album, "Christmas".



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