Today in rock history: on this date in 1984, compact discs began to be manufactured here in the United States. The small digital discs that — capable of capturing an hour’s worth of music on a small, round, 5-inch in diameter piece of plastic — had previously been made exclusively in Japan and in Germany. The first American CD pressing plant was opened in Terre Haute, Indiana and the first album to be produced on American soil in that plant was, fittingly, Bruce Springsteen’s enormously popular Born In The U.S.A. which had been released in June of that year. The release wasn’t the first pop album to be manufactured on CD though; Billy Joel’s 52nd Street was the first to be made using the new technology in Japan and, in Germany, it was Abba’s final album, The Visitors that would be the first to be manufactured.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1979, Rockford, Illinois rock and roll band Cheap Trick released its fourth studio album, Dream Police. Intended as the follow-up to the band's 1978 studio album, Heaven Tonight, the release of Dream Police had to be postponed a bit due to the unexpected and unprecedented success of the now legendary live album that was released in between those two releases, Cheap Trick At Budokan, a raucous live document that captured the true essence of the band in a live setting as recorded in Tokyo, Japan. The live album made the band superstars and was the breakout it had been waiting for. Needless to say, anticipation was high by the time Dream Police hit store shelves. The record was the band’s highest charting album in America, peaking at no. 6 on Billboard’s Hot 100 albums chart and achieving sales in excess of 1 million copies sold shortly after its release. Singles from the album included the infectious ballad “Voices,” and the rockers “Way of the World” and the title track, one of the band’s signature songs.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1993, Nirvana released the follow up to its breakthrough record, Nevermind. Expectations were high for the band’s next move after becoming so enormously popular and In Utero, its third (and sadly, final) album did not disappoint. The band hired the sometimes abrasive and primal producer and musician Steve Albini (Big Black, Shellac) to produce the record and together, the pair created a superb, sonically challenging record that wound up being another massive success. The record debuted at no. 1 on Billboard’s album charts and went on to sell over 5 million copies in America alone. Rumors swirled before its release that the band’s record label, Geffen Records, found the record to be too much of a difficult listen and that they found very little commercial potential in it. Regardless, the following the three-piece band had already carved out received the album warmly and passionately as did most rock journalists. Singles from the album included “Heart-Shaped Box,” “Pennyroyal Tea” and “All Apologies.” The band embarked on a successful world tour to promote the album but, sadly, lead singer Kurt Cobain would commit suicide by April of the following year bringing an end to the band that took the world by storm with its small yet highly influential output of music.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKoUdWABYpkToday in rock history: on this date in 1978, pioneering New York City rock band The Ramones released its fourth studio album, Road To Ruin. The first release to feature longtime drummer Marky Ramone (who took over after founding member Tommy Ramone left the band) seemed poised to be the band’s commercial breakthrough. While some fans accused the band of desperately attempting to sound more commercial or vie for radio airplay, the record contains some of the band’s strongest and most enduring songs. Accused of compromising by including ballads and guitar solos on the record, Road To Ruin managed to produce gems (and songs that should have been hits) like “I Wanna Be Sedated,” I Just Want To Have Something To Do” and “She’s The One.” One of the band’s most melodic and instantly gratifying records, the album has aged well and still makes listeners wonder why it wasn’t a bigger commercial success than it was. The record only managed to make it to the lower reaches of Billboard Magazine’s sales charts. Featuring a superb illustration of band members by famed Punk Magazine illustrator John Holmstrom on the cover, this is a fantastic album by one of the most important and influential American rock bands to ever exist.
This article appears in Sep 21-28, 2017.