Pick a Day

Music History Events: Releases

September 25, 1989 New wave duo Tears for Fears release their third album, The Seeds Of Love. It's the last TFF release to feature Curt Smith, who relocates to New York to pursue a solo career after an acrimonious split with bandmate Roland Orzabal. They reunite in 2004 for Everybody Loves A Happy Ending.

September 21, 1989 Rush move away from their keyboard-heavy sound with Presto, their 13th studio album and first under the Atlantic Records label. The album's four singles are "Show Don't Tell," "Presto," "The Pass," and "Superconductor."

May 17, 1989 The Doobie Brothers release their reunion album, Cycles, which gets them back on the radio with the hit single "The Doctor."

May 2, 1989 The Cure issue a gloomy record that's predicted to be commercial suicide, but ends up being their best seller: Disintegration. It boasts their biggest pop hits, "Lovesong" and "Lullaby."More

April 24, 1989 Initially rejected by his label, the Tom Petty album Full Moon Fever is finally released, the first credited to him as a solo artist.More

April 17, 1989 Neil Young releases an EP titled Eldorado. Released exclusively in Japan and Australia and recorded with a one-time backing band called The Restless, it contains three songs ("Don't Cry," "Eldorado" and "On Broadway") that will appear on Freedom six months later.

April 10, 1989 The Cult release their fourth album, Sonic Temple, which peaks at #10 on the US chart. The album features some of The Cult's biggest hits, including "Fire Woman," "Sun King," "Edie (Ciao Baby)" and "Sweet Soul Sister."

January 30, 1989 Exodus releases their third studio album, Fabulous Disaster.

January 24, 1989 Skid Row release their self-titled debut album. Two days later, they join Bon Jovi on the New Jersey Syndicate tour. The album, which includes "18 And Life" and "Youth Gone Wild," goes on to sell over 5 million copies in America.

October 31, 1988 Soundgarden issue their full-length debut album, Ultramega OK, on SST Records.

October 11, 1988 Sarah McLachlan releases her debut album, Touch, through Nettwerk Records. The album would be re-mixed and re-released the following year.

September 8, 1988 Bad Religion return with their third album, Suffer - their first full-length in five years and one of their best selling albums of all time. Suffer sees the return of the classic How Could Hell Be Any Worse? lineup, now a five-piece featuring Greg Graffin (vocals), Brett Gurewitz (guitar), Greg Hetson (guitar), Jay Bentley (bass) and Pete Finestone (drums).

September 6, 1988 New Kids On The Block release their breakout album, Hangin' Tough. The LP goes to #1 in America and spawns five hit singles, including the chart-topping title track and the #3 entry "You've Got It (The Right Stuff)."

August 30, 1988 Danzig, fronted by former Misfits lead singer Glenn Danzig, release their self-titled debut album, produced by Rick Rubin. The song "Mother" becomes a minor hit when it is re-released five years later.

August 25, 1988 Metallica issue their fourth studio album, ...And Justice For All, featuring "One" and "To Live Is To Die."

August 9, 1988 Edie Brickell & New Bohemians release their debut album, Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars, the title a reference to their longshot chances of making it big. The first single is the easygoing, introspective "What I Am," which stands out from the dance music and hair metal on the charts and becomes a surprise hit.

August 1, 1988 Soundgarden release their second EP, Fopp, on Sub Pop Records. Its title comes from the name of an Ohio Players song, which they cover on the set.

August 1, 1988 Mudhoney's first-ever single is released: "Touch Me I'm Sick" b/w "Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More," via Sub Pop Records.

July 4, 1988 Kylie Minogue releases her debut album, Kylie, featuring her hit cover of "The Loco-Motion." The album marks a rebirth of disco, a genre Minogue proudly embraces.

June 22, 1988 Robert Palmer releases "Simply Irresistible" in his native UK, where it peaks at #44. It fares much better in the US, where it lands at #2.

June 20, 1988 Saxon release their Destiny album on the EMI label.

May 10, 1988 Prince releases his 10th album, Lovesexy, which becomes his first chart-topper in the UK.

May 2, 1988 Living Colour's debut album, Vivid, is released. It takes almost a year to catch on, as the band slowly builds a following through tours, radio play and MTV.

April 11, 1988 In the midst of a decade characterized by materialism and excess, Neil Young releases This Note's for You, his 16th studio album. The title song mocks the marketing industry and the corporate music scene.

March 21, 1988 Lynyrd Skynyrd release Southern by the Grace of God, their second live album. It features music recorded in 1987 in what was supposed to be a one-time touring tribute to band members who died in a 1977 plane wreck that seemingly ended the band. Four years later, an updated Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup records new material and begins touring again regularly.

March 15, 1988 Talking Heads release their eighth album, Naked, which ends up being their last, as David Bryne breaks up the group three years later. It's produced by Steve Lillywhite, whose wife, Kirsty MacColl, sings on the track "(Nothing But) Flowers."

December 14, 1987 Dinosaur, Jr. release You're Living All Over Me. Overall sales are modest, but the album is an influential landmark in the alternative and indie music genres.

November 2, 1987 George Harrison releases Cloud Nine, a commercial comeback that includes the #1 hit "Got My Mind Set On You." It's the last album he puts out in his lifetime.More

October 15, 1987 Joe Satriani's second full-length solo album, Surfing with the Alien, is released. The popular all-instrumental album kicks open the door for similarly styled "guitar shred" albums.

October 13, 1987 Sting releases his second solo album, ...Nothing Like the Sun.