Pick a Day

Music History Events: Releases

July 11, 1969 The Rolling Stones release "Honky Tonk Women."

July 5, 1969 The Who release "I'm Free."

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 17, 1969 Elvis Presley releases "Clean Up Your Own Back Yard."

May 7, 1969 The Who release "Pinball Wizard."

May 1, 1969 Neil Young releases his second solo album, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, which features favorites "Cowgirl in the Sand," "Cinnamon Girl," and "Down by the River."

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."

January 28, 1969 Stevie Wonder releases "My Cherie Amour."

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

December 14, 1968 Tommy James and the Shondells release "Crimson and Clover."

December 6, 1968 The Rolling Stones release Beggars Banquet.

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

October 16, 1968 Jimi Hendrix Experience releases Electric Ladyland.

October 15, 1968 Stevie Wonder releases "For Once In My Life."

October 4, 1968 Elvis Presley releases Singer Presents Elvis Singing Flaming Star And Others.

September 21, 1968 Jimi Hendrix releases "All Along The Watchtower.

August 26, 1968 Mary Hopkin releases "Those Were The Days" in the US.

August 26, 1968 In America, The Beatles release the Paul McCartney-penned "Hey Jude" with John Lennon's "Revolution" on the B-side. It hits #1 a month later and stays for nine weeks, longer than any other song in 1968.

August 10, 1968 The Who release "Magic Bus."

July 27, 1968 The Rascals release "People Got To Be Free."

July 27, 1968 Mama Cass Elliot releases "Dream A Little Dream Of Me."

July 26, 1968 The Rolling Stones album Beggar's Banquet is scheduled for release, but withdrawn by their label, Decca, over concerns with the album cover, which shows a toilet covered in graffiti. The album is later released with a picture of an invitation on the cover.

July 22, 1968 In between Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash, Stephen Stills releases the album Super Session, a collaboration with Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper.

June 28, 1968 In the UK, Pink Floyd release their second album, A Saucerful Of Secrets. It's the first with a cover designed by Hipgnosis, the team of Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell.

June 22, 1968 Mason Williams releases "Classical Gas."

May 11, 1968 Richard Harris releases "MacArthur Park," a mysterious song written by Jimmy Webb about a cake left out in the rain. It climbs to #2 in America, but 10 years later reaches #1 in a version by Donna Summer.

December 27, 1967 Bob Dylan releases his eighth album, John Wesley Harding, featuring the classic tune "All Along the Watchtower." The Jimi Hendrix Experience later covers the song, which becomes the band's biggest US hit, peaking at #20 in October 1968.

December 15, 1967 The Who release their third album, The Who Sell Out. There are fake radio jingles between songs, including one for the deodorant Odorono.

December 8, 1967 The Rolling Stones release Their Satanic Majesties Request, the title a play on their malevolent image. It contains a hit with a much more anodyne title: "She's A Rainbow."

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