Today in Music History for Nov. 4: In 1740, English clergyman Augustus Toplady, who wrote the hymn "Rock of Ages," was born. In 1847, composer Felix Mendelssohn died at Leipzig at age 38.

In the early 2000s, the country singer decided he wanted to headline stadiums. He says it took obsessive diligence in the studio and the gym to get there.

These rock songs from 1978 did well when they were released, but I can help but think they should have hit No. 1 on at least one chart.

Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica, and Jane's Addiction each had great album-opening rock songs in the 1990s with iconic riffs.

IMG Two decades can turn what once felt radical into common language. The mid-2000s delivered a wave of albums whose DNA ...