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Today in rock history: on this date in 1972, extraordinary soul singer Al Green released the most successful album of his career: Let's Stay Together. The album was a surprise hit on pop charts where Green had only enjoyed moderate success prior to this release. Together peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's pop albums chart and rose to No. 1 on the R&B albums chart where it would remain for 10 straight weeks. Green's signature song, the album's title track, remains one of the defining moments from the onslaught of fantastic soul music to emerge in the early 1970s. The album also contains Green's superb rendition of the 1971 Bee Gee's ballad, "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?" which marvelously shows off his astounding vocal abilities. Favorably reviewed at the time and continuing to be one of the most enduring albums of its time, Let's Stay Together is unanimously regarded as one of the greatest soul albums ever.
HUSKER DON'T
Today is rock history: Hüsker Dü bows out
Today in rock history: on this date in 1985, Minneapolis, Minnesota punk rock trio Hüsker Dü released its third studio album, New Day Rising. Known to that point for its aggressive, raw, hardcore sound, the band, led by songwriters and singers Bob Mould and Grant Hart. ventured into more melodic territory and slowed down its approach on some of the tracks featured on the album. While some early fans accused the band of selling out, nothing could be farther from the truth. The band continued to make highly-original and exciting music on its own terms. Still signed to leading independent punk rock label SST Records at the time, Rising managed to find its way onto plenty of "Best of" lists as 1985 came to a close. The New York Times, Spin Magazine and British music magazine New Musical Express all included New Day Rising on their individual year-end lists, which helped draw attention to the band. With each subsequent album, Hüsker Dü's popularity increased, and the band attracted more and more attention. By 1986, the band would be signed to major record label Warner Bros. Records and sadly, would break up in 1987.
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Today in rock history: on this date in 1970, up and coming family group The Jackson 5 scored its very first No. 1 hit single with "I Want You Back," the group's very first release for Motown Records. Featuring eleven-year old lead singer Michael, the song became the first of the group's four consecutive No. 1 singles. Originally pitched to singing group Gladys Knight and the Pips, the song was written and produced by the team known as The Corporation, a collective made up of Motown founder Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, and Deke Richards. "I Want You Back" topped R&B charts as well where it stayed for four straight weeks.
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Today in rock history: on this date in 1956, the man who would become the most notorious and maligned punk rock front man was born. John Joseph Lydon, better known by his initial stage name Johnny Rotten, was born in London, England. Fronting reviled but highly-influential British punk outfit The Sex Pistols, Rotten became a public enemy in the English press thanks to his irreverence for British culture, the royal family, his unconventional appearance and his outspoken opinions. Writing punk rock anthems like "Anarchy in the U.K." and "God Save The Queen," Rotten became the figurehead of the British punk rock movement. After the demise of the band, Rotten reverted back to his given name, Lydon, and formed the vastly original and influential post-punk band Public Image, Ltd., the band with which he still records and tours to this day.
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This article appears in Jan 25 – Feb 1, 2018.