Today in rock history: on this date in 1983, British post-punk outfit New Order released its second album, the landmark Power, Corruption & Lies. Rising from the ashes of highly influential band, Joy Division, the remaining members regrouped as New Order and started on their own path. Following the release of the band’s 1981 debut album, Movement, New Order ventured into more electronic and synthesizer-based territory for its follow up. Often regarded as one of the most ambitious and substantial albums of the 1980s, the record helped give New Order an identity of itsown rather than being known merely as Joy Division’s follow-up act. Enthusiastically received by the music press as well as the band’s fans, Power, Corruption & Lies was the first of several cutting edge, successful albums New Order would release that would show off the band's smart, clever, danceable electronic sound.
A NEW MOVEMENT
Today in rock history; New Order is born, Leonard Cohen's Spector-produced Death and more
Today in rock history: on this date in 1989, Manchester, England’s dance pop band The Stone Roses released its monumental, self-titled debut album. Although the record was slow to catch on when initially released, it eventually caught fire and spawned several hit singles in the band’s native England. The leaders of the neo-psychedelic “Madchester” movement, this debut album is regarded as the quintessential release of its time and serves as the best representation of the time and space fromwhich it was released. While this important album is often referred to as one of the greatest albums of all time by the sometimes overzealous British press, significant singles like “She Bangs the Drums,” “Fools Gold” and “I Wanna Be Adored” helped catapult the album to No. 5 on British sales charts and achieve triple-platinum sales status in England as well. Although the band was never able to duplicate the success of this record with future releases, this album alone will forever guarantee The Stone Roses a place in British music history.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1929, Native American hotshot guitarist Link Wray was born in Dunn, North Carolina. Link Wray is best known for his 1958 instrumental classic “Rumble” which featured Wray’s distorted guitar sounds and his penchant for heavy power chords. Getting his start concentrating more on country music, Wray, born Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray, Jr., later expanded his arsenal to include rockabilly and rock and roll.. Several rock artists have cited Wray as a huge influence including Jimmy Page, Iggy Pop and Pete Townshend. Link Wray enjoyed another round of success in the mid-1970s when he was featured as lead guitarist for a series of superb albums by rockabilly revivalist, singer Robert Gordon. Link Wray passed away at the age of 76 in 2005 due to heart failure but remains one of the coolest and most influential electric guitarists of all time.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1963, The Beatles reached the No. 1 spot on British sales charts for the very first time. “From Me To You,” a song with a title inspired by the title of a personal letters column in British music paper New Musical Express that became the band’s first chart-topper. The single was the band’s third release and became the first of eleven No. 1 singles the band would score in England. Although “From Me To You” initially made little impact in the United States at the time, it remained at the No. 1 spot in England for seven consecutive weeks.
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 3, 2018.