Today in rock history, on this date in 1969 The Who released the album that raised them to a new different level of brilliance and popularity: the double LP epic rock opera, Tommy. Centered around the deaf and blind title character, the majority of the album was written by lead guitarist Pete Townshend who allowed many of his life experiences and familial relationships to surface into the words. The album featured the hit singles "Pinball Wizard" and "I'm Free" and it made the band worldwide stars. Following the release, the band embarked on an ambitious tour that saw them playing the album in its entirety. The album has been reissued several times and it spawned a conceptual film as well as a Broadway play. Without a doubt, one of the greatest rock albums ever released.
Today in rock history, on this date in 1991. The photo session for what would become one of the most iconic album covers took place in Los Angeles, California. Nirvana's Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl had seen a television documentary about babies swimming and came up with the concept for the cover of their second album, Nevermind. Photographer Michael Levine took several shots of various different babies for consideration of the cover shot. It was a baby by the name of Spencer Eldon whose photo was chosen for what is not one of the most recognizable album covers of all time.
Born on this date in 1973 in Brooklyn, New York — Gerald Maxwell Rivera. Better known simply as Maxwell, this amazing soul and r&b singer and songwriter has become one of the best performers in his class thanks to the string of fine albums he's released over the past twenty years and his fantastic live performances. Read our review of his latest performance here.
Today in rock history, on this date in 1964. Jazz singer extraordinaire Ella Fitzgerald became the very first recording artist to cover a Beatles song. Ella released a version of "Can't Buy Me Love" which became a chart hit not long after the original release by the Fab Four had come out earlier that same year.
Today in rock history, on this date in 1979. Kiss released their seventh studio album, Dynasty. This, for many of the band's hardcore followers, was the dividing line for their admiration for the makeup-wearing New York hard rock band. Although the record was successful and it cracked the Top 10 on U.S. album charts, it was the lead single from the album that made many rethink their loyalty to the foursome. Deep in the throes of discomania, the band's "I Was Made For Loving You" was viewed as an attempt to cash in on the popularity that disco music was still enjoying on radio airwaves, in dance clubs and in popular culture at the time. The single was a hit; it climbed as high as no. 11 on the Billboard singles chart but for many, it was the end of their devotion for Kiss. The rest of the album rocks, however…Ace Frehley's vocally led "Hard Times" and his cover of the Rolling Stone's "2000 Man" are two of the finer tunes on the album. The album originally came packaged with a poster and went on to sell in excess of one million copies but it's still a hot topic of heated debate among Kiss fans.
This article appears in May 18-25, 2017.