\\<\/iframe\>
Today in rock history: on this date in 1973, Boston-based hard rock band Aerosmith released its very first album. A regional hit, the self-titled record took a while to catch on outside of the New England area. Signed to Columbia Records, the band’s sound was a cross between blues and hard rock with obvious influence coming from The Rolling Stones. The album consisted of seven original tunes as well as a spirited, rocking cover of the Rufus Thomas soul classic, “Walkin’ The Dog” which was listed incorrectly on first pressings as “Walkin’ The Dig”. The album’s centerpiece, the slow burning rocker “Dream On” was not an instant hit; it was released to very little fanfare upon its initial release but fared much better three years later when re-released after the band had climbed to international success. The record is a raw, ragged, hard-driving classic that served as the introduction to Aerosmith, one of the most successful and popular rock bands of all time.
\\<\/iframe\>
Today in rock history: on this date in 1973, another significant debut came in the form of Bruce Springsteen’s very first album, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.. Although highly-touted by rock journalists and the press, the record was a commercial flop for the man who’d soon earn the nickname of The Boss. Often eliciting comparisons to the great songwriter and performer Bob Dylan, Springsteen’s debut gave listeners a glimpse into the cinematic, vivid world Springsteen was able to conjure through his lyrics and his delivery. Two singles were released from the album: “Spirit In The Night” and “Blinded By the Light” although neither managed to make any impact on singles charts. The latter, however, was a No. 1 hit single in American and in Canada for British band Manfred Mann’s Earth Band when they scored big with their cover of “Blinded By The Light.” It wouldn’t be until 1975 when Springsteen would make a splash on sales charts thanks to his third album, the breakthrough Born To Run but, nonetheless, this, his first album, is still highly regarded as a masterwork of the then up and coming artist who was only in his early 20s when the album was released.
MO' JOE
Review: Joe Jackson's sold-out Clearwater debut is a top-class musical journey (w/photos+setlist)
Today in rock history: on this date in 1979, the debut album from British new wave artist Joe Jackson was released. Look Sharp!, with its striking black and white cover photo featuring a pair of blinding white modern-looking shoes, was an instant hit for the pianist, singer and songwriter. Fueled by the hit single “Is She Really Going Out With Him?,” the album found its way to the Top 20 on American sales charts and brought plenty of attention and accolades to the artist who’d come to be one of the most critically-acclaimed artists of the era. The album also featured the minor hits “Sunday Papers” and “One More Time” as well as the album cut “Got The Time,” which thrash metal band Anthrax would cover in 1990. Jackson, refusing to be pigeonholed, would soon delve into other genres like jazz, swing and reggae on subsequent albums with his biggest success coming in 1982 on his sophisticated pop masterpiece album Night and Day, which featured the international hit single, “Steppin’ Out.” Click here to read CL's review of Jackson's June 2017 set in Clearwater.
\\<\/iframe\>
Today in rock history: on this date in 1979, Elvis Costello released his third album, Armed Forces. The record was the first to credit Costello’s amazing backing band, The Attractions and featured drastically different cover artwork and packaging styles in the U.K. and the U.S. Originally intended to be titled Emotional Fascism, the American pressing of the record contains the song that many have come to know the brilliant performer for, "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding" although that’s the one song on the record Costello didn’t pen; the song was actually written by Elvis contemporary and record producer, Nick Lowe. The British cover featured artwork of charging elephants while the American cover sported a colorful, drip paint cover that seemed more suited to fit the new wave image Costello’s U.S. record company was trying to portray. The critically-lauded record did well; it climbed to No. 2 in England and cracked the Top 10 on America’s Billboard albums chart as well. Other standouts on the album include “Oliver’s Army,” “Accidents Will Happen” and the ballad “Party Girl,” which was soon covered by the reigning female pop vocalist of the day, Linda Ronstadt. Initial copies of the U.S. pressing came with a free three-song single recorded live at a Costello concert recorded at Hollywood High School in June of 1978.
\\<\/iframe\>
This article appears in Jan 4-11, 2018.