Pick a Day

Music History Events: Debut Albums

August 30, 1969 Santana release their self-titled debut album, with standout tracks "Evil Ways" and "Soul Sacrifice."

July 21, 1969 Blind Faith, a group comprised of Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech, release their self-titled debut album in the United States.More

June 20, 1969 After working as a music teacher for most of her 20s, Roberta Flack releases her debut album, First Take, at age 32. It doesn't get much attention at first but goes to #1 three years later when the song "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" becomes a surprise hit thanks to its use in the Clint Eastwood movie Play Misty For Me.

June 5, 1969 The Doors concert documentary Feast Of Friends premieres at the Cinematheque in Los Angeles.

April 17, 1969 The first solo concert by The Band is held in San Francisco, California.

March 31, 1969 Led Zeppelin's first album is released in the UK. The self-titled LP contains many hard rock classics, including "Dazed And Confused," "Good Times, Bad Times" and "Communication Breakdown."

March 5, 1969 The rock magazine Creem is published for the first time.

January 12, 1969 Led Zeppelin's self-titled debut album is released in America.More

November 12, 1968 Neil Young releases his self-titled debut solo album, featuring one of his most enduring songs, "The Loner." More

October 26, 1968 Janis Joplin appears on TV for the first time when she performs on the variety show Hollywood Palace with Big Brother & the Holding Company.

January 22, 1968 Apple Corps (home of the boutique and the label) opens its offices at 5 Wigmore Street, Marylebone, London.

December 8, 1967 Traffic release their debut album, Mr. Fantasy.

September 30, 1967 BBC Radio One goes on the air. The first song played is "Flowers In The Rain" by The Move.

July 10, 1967 Bobbie Gentry's first single, "Ode To Billie Joe," is released. It would go on to top the Hot 100 for four weeks.

June 1, 1967 David Bowie releases his self-titled debut album, David Bowie, which bares little resemblance to his future work.

December 12, 1966 Pink Floyd perform their first concert, for the Oxfam Benefit at London's Royal Albert Hall.

May 20, 1966 Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band play their first gig, performing at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco.

December 11, 1965 The Velvet Underground play their first show: opening for a group called The Myddle Class in the auditorium of Summit High School in New Jersey. They play three songs: "There She Goes Again," "Heroin" and "Venus In Furs."

November 22, 1965 The musical Man Of La Mancha, starring Richard Kiley, opens on Broadway.

January 16, 1965 The Guess Who release their debut album, Shakin' All Over.

April 27, 1964 John Lennon's first book of prose and poetry, In His Own Write, is published in the US.

April 17, 1964 Them (with Van Morrison) make their first concert appearance, at Belfast's Maritime Hotel.

April 16, 1964 The Rolling Stones release their self-titled debut album in the UK.

January 11, 1964 The Whisky-a-Go-Go opens at Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California, and quickly becomes a vital music venue. Some of the early acts to play the Whiskey include The Animals, The Doors and Otis Redding.

January 11, 1964 Billboard publishes its first Country and Western Albums chart. Johnny Cash gets the first #1 with Ring of Fire.

March 22, 1963 In the UK, The Beatles release their debut studio album, Please Please Me. It goes to #1 a few months later; in early 1964, they conquer America.

March 19, 1962 Bob Dylan releases his self-titled debut album. It doesn't chart in America, but sets the stage for his breakthrough a year later: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.

October 4, 1961 Alvin & The Chipmunks, who already have #1 hits with "The Chipmunk Song" and "Witch Doctor," get their own TV show on CBS called The Alvin Show.

July 29, 1961 Dick Clark presents his very first Caravan of Stars revue at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey, featuring The Jive Five, The Shirelles, and Clarence "Frogman" Henry.

December 3, 1960 The Lerner and Loewe play Camelot, featuring Richard Burton and Julie Andrews, opens at the Majestic Theatre in New York City.