Pick a Day

Music History Events: Releases

June 3, 1969 Elton John's first album, Empty Sky, is released in the UK and initially sells 4,000 copies. It isn't released in America until 1975.

April 28, 1969 The self-titled, debut album by Chicago Transit Authority is released. For their next album, the group shortens their name to Chicago.More

April 9, 1969 Bob Dylan stuns fans and critics alike by releasing Nashville Skyline, a country album sung in an entirely different voice from the one Dylan has been using.

December 2, 1968 Cruising with Ruben & the Jets, the fourth studio album of the Mothers of Invention, is released.

March 4, 1968 The Mothers of Invention release their third studio album, We're Only it It for the Money.

February 22, 1968 Genesis release their first single, "The Silent Sun." At this point, the band is a 5-piece fronted by Peter Gabriel with Chris Stewart on drums. Phil Collins joins two years later.

January 16, 1968 Blue Cheer release their debut album, Vincebus Eruptum. Considered a high-water mark of psychedelic music, it's also a formative influence on the heavy metal genre.

December 26, 1967 The Osborne Brothers release "Rocky Top." Written by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, it's named for Rocky Top, Tennessee, in the Smoky Mountains. In 1982 it becomes an official state song of Tennessee.

October 18, 1967 Louis Armstrong, 66 years old, releases "What a Wonderful World." It goes to #1 in the UK, but takes a lot longer to catch on in his home country of America, where it doesn't make much impact until 1988 when it's used in the film Good Morning, Vietnam.

August 7, 1967 Following two albums recorded as member of the Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa releases his debut solo album, Lumpy Gravy, in which he conducts an orchestra but doesn't actually play any instruments himself in order to get around some contractual issues with Verve and MGM Records. MGM promptly sues him, anyway.

May 26, 1967 Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention release Absolutely Free, their second studio album. Considerably more commercially successful than their debut album, it peaks at #41.

March 10, 1967 Aretha Franklin issues her first album on Atlantic Records, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You. Featuring the hit title track and her soon-to-be-signature "Respect," it sets her on a path to stardom.

February 10, 1967 After seven years at Columbia, Aretha Franklin releases her first single on Atlantic Records, "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)." It becomes her first big hit, clearing a path to the throne of the Queen of Soul.

June 27, 1966 Led by Frank Zappa, the Mothers of Invention release their debut album Freak Out! Critics and music fans alike are baffled by what they hear.

April 1, 1966 David Bowie's first solo single is released, "Do Anything You Say." It flops.

December 9, 1963 The Beach Boys release "Little Saint Nick," which envisions Santa in a hot-rod sleigh.

November 23, 1963 "Walk In The Room"/"Till You'll Say You'll Be Mine" is released by Jackie DeShannon; the A-side is later covered by numerous artists.

September 16, 1963 The Beach Boys release their third album, Surfer Girl. Five of the tracks have the word "surf" in the title.

February 25, 1963 The Beatles release "Please Please Me" in America. It gets little attention, but becomes one of their big hits a year later when Beatlemania strikes and the song is re-released.

April 17, 1961 The Cleftones release their R&B version of "Heart and Soul."

March 9, 1961 The Supremes' first single, "I Want A Guy," is released. Despite a push from their label, Motown, it flops, as does their next several singles.

July 1, 1960 The Shadows release the instrumental call-to-arms "Apache," which goes to #1 in the UK and is a US hit the next year for Jorgen Ingmann. Variations of the song are later sampled on a number of hip-hop tracks.

April 20, 1959 Thirteen-year-old Dolly Parton releases her first single, the rockabilly-style love tune "Puppy Love."

October 6, 1958 Johnny Mathis releases his first of many holiday albums, Merry Christmas. The balladeer's smooth renderings of traditional Christmas tunes become a staple of the season for years to come.

October 15, 1957 Elvis Presley's first Christmas album, titled Elvis' Christmas Album, is released. It goes on to become the best-selling holiday album of all time by a wide margin.

August 12, 1957 Johnny Mathis releases his first #1 hit single, "Chances Are."

March 4, 1946 Frank Sinatra releases his solo debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, through Columbia Records.

May 28, 1941 Country singer Ernest Tubb releases his signature song, "Walking The Floor Over You," and launches the honky tonk genre.

December 15, 1831 A small advertisement in the London Times announces the publication of a patriotic song "dedicated to Earl Grey and his noble confederates in the cause of constitutional reform."