February 1970

February 50 years ago started off quite uneventfully. Even the first event of note is pretty iffy.

On February 13, a record album described as the first “heavy metal” album — the eponymously named Black Sabbath — went on sale in Britain. With lead singer Ozzy Osbourne, the band’s debut album went on sale in the U.S. in June.

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath

On the following day, February 14, the British rock group The Who performed a concert at the University of Leeds. The live album, Live at Leeds, was described as “the best live rock album ever made.”

The Who at Leeds

In the U.S., on Valentine’s Day, Harper & Row released what would be the best-selling novel of the year, Love Story.

After five months, the trial of the “Chicago Seven” ended February 18 with the jury acquitting the group of charges of conspiring to foment rioting that took place at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Five of the seven — Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, and Rennie Davis — were found guilty of crossing state lines in order to incite a riot. In 1972, those convictions were overturned.

The Chicago Seven + attorney

An episode of Sesame Street on February 25 featured the muppet character Ernie singing (with Jim Henson providing the voice) Rubber Ducky for the first time. Here’s video.

Hey Jude, the second-to-last marketed album by The Beatles, went on sale worldwide on February 26. The title song had been released as a single in 1968.