1972: Billy Paul received a Gold record for "Me and Mrs. Jones", which was still climbing the US charts on its way to number one in mid-December. Paul's only other appearance on the Billboard Top 40 would come in 1974 when "Thanks For Saving My Life" would reach #37.

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1966: At a time when the airwaves and record charts where dominated by Rock and Roll, a most unusual song called "Winchester Cathedral" by The New Vaudeville Band became the number one tune in the US. It also reached the top in the UK. The song would go on to win the 1966 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Recording, edging out The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations", The Beatles' "Elenor Rigby", The Mamas & The Papas' "Monday Monday," The Association's "Cherish" and The Monkees' "Last Train To Clarksville".

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1972: The Temptations' version of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" gave the Motown group their fourth US number one song. The Temps' Otis Williams would later say that he considers "Papa" to be the last real classic the group recorded. An earlier rendition by The Undisputed Truth had stalled at number 63.

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Today in Rock History: December 1st

1982: After nearly eight months in production, Michael Jackson's milestone album "Thriller" is released. Seven of the album's nine songs were issued as singles and all reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The LP won a record-breaking eight awards at the 1984 Grammys and would become the largest selling album of all time, worldwide.

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1974: Former Kris Kristofferson sideman Billy Swan had the best selling record in America with "I Can Help", a song he recorded in just two takes.

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