Pick a Day

Music History Events: Releases

September 20, 1994 Liz Phair releases her sophomore album, Whip-Smart, featuring the Grammy-nominated hit "Supernova."

September 13, 1994 The Notorious B.I.G. releases his debut solo album, Ready to Die. It's the first album issued on Sean Combs' Bad Boy label.

September 7, 1994 Fifteen-year-old Brandy releases her self-titled debut album, which goes on to sell over 4 million copies and establish her as an R&B star. Hits from the album include "I Wanna Be Down" and "Baby."

September 6, 1994 Bad Religion release their eighth full-length studio album, Stranger Than Fiction, their only gold record in the United States and last recording with founding guitarist Brett Gurewitz until his return seven years later.

August 16, 1994 Barenaked Ladies release their second studio album, Maybe You Should Drive.

August 16, 1994 Neil Young releases Sleeps with Angels, the title of which is inspired by the death of Kurt Cobain. Young's 20th studio album, its dark, brooding sound contrasts sharply with his previous album, Harvest Moon.

August 9, 1994 Lynyrd Skynyrd release Endangered Species, their eight album.

August 8, 1994 The Notorious B.I.G. releases his debut solo single, "Juicy," built on a sample of the 1983 funk track "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume.

July 26, 1994 Motown Records releases the Boyz II Men song "I'll Make Love To You" against the group's wishes - they think it sounds too much like their earlier hit "End of the Road." In this case, the record company gets it right: the song becomes the biggest hit of 1994 in America.

June 24, 1994 Weezer release "Undone - The Sweater Song," the first single from their debut album, Weezer (aka The Blue Album). The song is about an emotional unraveling lead singer Rivers Cuomo was going through.

June 21, 1994 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony release the EP Creepin on ah Come Up, which eventually goes platinum four times.

June 7, 1994 Stone Temple Pilots release their second album, Purple, which goes to #1 in America and sells over 6 million copies on the strength of the tracks "Big Empty," "Vasoline" and "Interstate Love Song."

May 13, 1994 "Black Hole Sun" is released as the second single off Soundgarden's album Superunknown.

May 10, 1994 Philadelphia rhymers G. Love & Special Sauce release their self-titled debut album, featuring "Cold Beverage" and "Baby's Got Sauce."

April 12, 1994 Hole release their major-label debut album, Live Through This, exactly one week after the suicide of Kurt Cobain, husband of the band's frontwoman, Courtney Love.

March 22, 1994 Pantera release Far Beyond Driven, one of the few heavy metal albums to reach #1 in America.

February 1, 1994 Tori Amos releases her second album, Under The Pink, featuring the hit single "Cornflake Girl."More

January 25, 1994 R. Kelly releases the single "Bump N' Grind."

November 23, 1993 Snoop Doggy Dogg releases his highly anticipated debut album, Doggystyle, on Death Row records. Produced by his label boss, Dr. Dre, it goes straight to #1 in the US.

November 23, 1993 Metallica release their first boxed set, Live S--t: Binge & Purge, which contains live performances recorded on both their Damaged Justice tour and Wherever We May Roam tour.

November 23, 1993 Guns N' Roses release The Spaghetti Incident, an album of cover songs featuring a remake of the Skyliners' 1959 hit "Since I Don't Have You." It's their fifth studio album and the last they will record for fifteen years, when they reunite and release Chinese Democracy.

November 9, 1993 R. Kelly releases his debut album, 12 Play. It peaks at #2 in America and holds the top spot on the R&B albums chart for nine weeks.

October 19, 1993 Counterparts, Rush's 15th studio album, hits stores.

October 12, 1993 Faith Hill releases her debut album, Take Me As I Am, featuring the #1 singles "Piece Of My Heart" and "Wild One."

September 27, 1993 With punk rock pushing into the mainstream, Danzig re-release "Mother," originally issued five years earlier on their debut album. The song earns airplay on rock radio and MTV, and pushes into the pop charts, going to #43 in the US.

September 21, 1993 Bad Religion release their seventh full-length studio album, Recipe for Hate. This album was originally released on Epitaph Records, but was quickly reissued by their now-former label Atlantic.

September 14, 1993 Sixteen years after releasing his landmark album Bat Out Of Hell, Meat Loaf issues the sequel, Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, again with songs written by Jim Steinman. The first single, "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)," tops the charts in many territories, including the US.

August 17, 1993 Type O Negative release Bloody Kisses, one of the few gothic metal albums to go Platinum. It comes with a warning on the back cover: "Don't mistake lack of talent for genius."

August 6, 1993 31-year-old Sheryl Crow releases her first album, Tuesday Night Music Club. It takes about a year to catch on, but eventually sells over 7 million copies.

July 27, 1993 Steve Vai's third solo album, Sex & Religion, is issued. The release is credited simply to "Vai," and is his first to feature traditional vocals, which were provided by a then-unknown Devin Townsend.