This Week In Classic Hits History (11/30-12/4)

This week, Neil is sued for being Neil, Keith is shocked, Pink Floyd's pig gets loose,and there's smoke on the water.

November 30th, 1982:

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' album was released. It became the biggest selling pop album of all time, with sales over 50 million copies. Seven singles were released from the album.

December 1, 1983:

Neil Young was sued by David Geffen and Geffen Records because his new music for the label was ‘not commercial in nature and musically uncharacteristic of his previous albums’. In fact, Neil's album 'Everybody's Rockin' featured a selection of rockabilly songs (both covers and original material) which was 25 minutes long, Young's shortest album.

December 2nd, 1976:

The first day of the photo shoot for the forthcoming Pink Floyd Animals album cover took place in London, England with a giant inflatable pig lashed between two of a power station's tall towers. A trained marksman was hired ready to fire if the inflatable escaped. Unfortunately the following day the marksman hadn't been rebooked, so when the inflatable broke free from its moorings, it was able to float away, eventually landing in Kent where it was recovered by a local farmer, reportedly furious that it had ‘scared his cows.’

December 3rd, 1965:

At a concert in Sacramento, California, Keith Richards was knocked unconscious by an electric shock on stage when his guitar made contact with his microphone.

December 4th, 1971:

The Montreux Casino in Switzerland burned to the ground during a gig by Frank Zappa. The incident is immortalized by Deep Purple 1973 hit, 'Smoke On The Water' - 'some stupid with a flare gun, burned the place to the ground..'. A recording of the outbreak and fire announcement can be found on a Frank Zappa Bootleg album titled 'Swiss Cheese / Fire.