David Essex, George Michael, The King, Dylan meets The Beatles and more – it’s This Week In Rock.

#OnThisDay August 26, 1973
David Essex enters the UK Top 20 for the first time with the idiosyncratic single, ‘Rock On’. Did you know that this trans-Atlantic smash was concocted after David Essex played Jeff Wayne a version in the studio by singing the song without any instruments and keeping the beat on an upturned garbage can?

#OnThisDay August 27, 1988
George Michael is at the top of the US charts for the eighth time in the 80s as ‘Monkey’ hits pole position. It was his sixth solo chart topper in the US. Can you name the Wham! singles that went to No. 1 Stateside?

#OnThisDay August 28, 1964
In a summit that alters popular music forever, Bob Dylan meets the Beatles for the first time at the Delmonico Hotel in New York. In addition to admiring each other’s work, the Mighty Zimm turns the Fab Four on.

#OnThisDay August 29, 1964
Roy Orbison releases ‘Oh Pretty Woman’ in the US, where it hits the top slot four weeks later. His wife, Claudette, reportedly inspired the song as she was going out for the evening. Asked by Roy if she was good for cash, his co-writer Bill Dees said, “A pretty woman never needs any money.”

#OnThisDay August 30, 1954
Happy birthday to Wild Cherry drummer Ronald Beitle. Their 1976 single, ‘Play That Funky Music’, was a US No. 1 and global smash hit. And rightly so! Now stop what you’re doing, roll back the carpet and get down and get with it!

#OnThisDay August 31, 1957
Elvis Presley performs for the third and final time outside of the US when he plays to 26,000 fans at the Empire Stadium in Vancouver, Canada. Tickets for the show cost $1.50, $2.50 and $3.50.

#OnThisDay September 1, 1974
Carl Douglas moves five positions to No. 4 with ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ as it continues its inexorable climb to the top of the UK charts. Did you know that this homage to martial arts films has sold a staggering 11m copies and is one of the best selling singles of all time?