On February 26, 1965, sales of 45 rpm singles surpassed those of 78 rpm records for the first time. The smaller 45s were introduced in 1949, and their popularity grew, likely influenced by the rise of rock music. Let’s look at some rock history highlights from February 26 that shaped the industry.
1983: Michael Jackson’s album *Thriller* reached No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart, thanks to the hit single “Billie Jean.” The album produced seven singles and spent an incredible 37 weeks at the top.
1966: Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been covered by many artists and featured in numerous films.
1977: The Eagles scored their third No. 1 hit in the U.S. with “New Kid in Town” from their album *Hotel California*.
Cultural milestones on February 26 also impacted rock music:
1928: Rock pioneer Fats Domino was born in New Orleans. His single “The Fat Man” is often seen as the first rock and roll record to sell over a million copies.
1932: Johnny Cash was born in Arkansas. He began his music career in the mid-1950s after serving in the Air Force.
1980: After seeing U2 perform in Dublin, Island Records offered the band a contract. They signed within a month and released their first single by May.
1987: The Beatles released four albums on CD for the first time, including *Please Please Me* and *With The Beatles*, but only in mono.
Notable recordings on February 26 include:
1965: Jimmy Page released his debut solo single, “She Just Satisfies.”
1979: The Sex Pistols released *The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle*, which became the soundtrack for a movie about the band.
1995: Robert Plant and Jimmy Page kicked off their world tour in Pensacola, Florida, to promote their reunion album *No Quarter*.
