Today in rock history: on this date in 1980, Boys Don't Cry, the first album to be released in America by post-punk giants The Cure surfaced. A compilation of tracks from the band's first proper European release, Three Imaginary Boys, as well as some recent tracks that appeared on singles only, the album was released in hopes of helping the band draw more exposure outside of its native England. For many, this was the introduction to a band that would go on to be one of the most enduring and successful bands of the era. Containing essential Cure tracks like "Jumping Someone Else's Train," "Fire in Cairo" and the title track, this is a fine overview of the earliest works from this prolific and influential band.

Today in rock history: on this date in 1972, "Telegram Sam" became the third consecutive No. 1 hit single for T. Rex in England. As mania for lead singer Marc Bolan raged through the country and Britain became entranced with "T. Rexstacy" as it was dubbed, the band was at the height of its popularity. Hailing from the incredibly successful album The Slider, T. Rex dominated album and singles charts throughout the early 1970' in England. The song was later covered by renowned goth-rock band Bauhaus in 1980 which put its own unique spin on it and proved that Bolan's influence was still felt many years after the single had originally charted.

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN
Today in rock history; Queen's debut LP

Today in rock history: on this date in 1991, Innuendo, the final Queen album to come out during lead singer Freddie Mercury's lifetime was released. Passing away only nine months after the record's release, the album was embraced warmly as rumors about Mercury's health and livelihood swirled throughout the British press. Reaching No. 1 on English salescharts, the album boasted several singles that performed well in Britain like "Headlong," "These Are the Days of Our Lives," the prophetic title track "The Show Must Go On," a song which was later revealed to be Freddie's message to his fans that his days were sadly numbered. The album topped charts all over Europe and was the first Queen album to achieve gold sales status in America since the mid-1980s.

Today in rock history: on this date in 1957, American rock and roll reached British shores for the first time. Bill Haley, known for his hit "Rock Around The Clock," one of the earliest and best-selling singles of the rock and roll era, was greeted by over 5,000 British fans when the ship he arrived in England upon, the Queen Elizabeth, reached English soil. Haley had traveled to England to perform a series of live concerts for his rabid British fans, and became the first American rock and roll artist to ever perform in that country.