On this day in music . . . . . . .edited highlights

1961, Brian Epstein invited The Beatles into his office to discuss the possibility of becoming their manager. John Lennon, George Harrison and Pete Best arrived late for the 4pm meeting, (they had been drinking at the Grapes pub in Matthew Street), but Paul McCartney was not with them, because, as Harrison explained, he had just got up and was "taking a bath".

1965, The Beatles sixth studio album Rubber Soul was released. Often referred to as a folk rock album, Rubber Soul incorporates a mix of pop, soul and folk musical styles. The title derives from the colloquialism "plastic soul", which referred to soul played by English musicians.

1966, Ray Charles was given a five year suspended prison sentence and a $10,000 fine after being convicted of possessing heroin and marijuana.

1976, A giant 40ft inflatable pig could be seen floating above London, England after breaking free from its moorings. The pig, nicknamed Algie, was being photographed for the forthcoming Pink Floyd Animals album cover. The Civil Aviation Authority issued a warning to all pilots that a flying pig was on the run, and the pig eventually crashed into a barn in Godmersham, Kent, where the farmer complained of his cows being scared by the incident.

On this day in music history: December 3, 1976 - The photo shoot for Pink Floyd’s album “Animals” goes awry. The photo session goes wrong, when the thirty foot tall, helium filled inflatable pig suspended above the Battersea Power Station in London, breaks free from its moorings and floats away. An All Points Bulletin is issued to aircraft flying in the area to be on the lookout for “a giant flying pig”. The balloon eventually lands in a cow pasture in near by Kent. It is discovered by the owner of the farm, furious that the giant pig has frightened his cows. Eventually the final cover art for the album features the pig superimposed against the background.

1976, An attempt was made on Bob Marley's life when seven gunmen burst into his Kingston home injuring Marley his wife Rita and manager Don Taylor, the attack was believed to be politically motivated.

1986, Judas Priest were sued by two family's, alleging that the band were responsible for their son's forming a suicide pact and shooting themselves after listening to Judas Priest records. The parents and their legal team alleged that a subliminal message of 'do it' had been included in the Judas Priest song Better By You, Better Than Me from the Stained Class album and alleged the command in the song triggered the suicide attempt. The trial lasted from 16 July to 24 August 1990, when the suit was dismissed.

Rob Halford has expressed concern regarding the open-ended nature of the judge’s ruling. Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, Halford claims the court left musicians “in limbo” regarding subliminal messages and feared that “it might occur again.” Almost thirty years have passed since the infamous trial. We can only hope that sanity continues to prevail. 

Please note any suggestion that 'back masking' can make anyone DO anything is ludicrous!