Historic events this week from David Bowie, Van Halen, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger and more
MAY 24, 1974: DAVID BOWIE RELEASES DIAMOND DOGS
At the time of its release, David Bowie‘s eighth LP was his highest charting album, peaking at #5 in the US.
Diamond Dogs, featuring Bowie’s new character “Halloween Jack”, has sold over 500,000 copies in the US and contains the hit single “Rebel Rebel.”
MAY 24, 1988: OU812 BY VAN HALEN
A month after its release, Van Halen‘s OU812 began a four week run at #1.
Containing the hits “Black and Blue” (#1), “When It’s Love” (#1) and “Finish What Ya Started” (#2), OU812 became Van Halen‘s second #1 album after 1986’s 5150.
MAY 26, 1967: SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
Deriving inspiration from The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, The Beatles’ psychedelic masterpiece (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band) is one of the greatest albums ever recorded.
With over 32 million copies sold worldwide it’s one of the biggest-selling albums ever.
Critics generally rank it the 2nd best album of all time behind Pet Sounds.
MAY 27, 1963: FREEWHEELIN’ BOB DYLAN
Bob Dylan came into his own as a songwriter with his second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.
Dylan’s debut was dominated by trad. folk songs; a trend he reversed for his follow up.
Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan contained 11 originals which featured humor and a more direct sociopolitical emphasis.
MAY 27, 2017: GREGG ALLMAN DIES
Southern rock pioneer Gregg Allman was plagued with health issues in the final years of his life. He’d battled hepatitis C and liver cancer (twice).
In May 2016, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee succumbed to liver cancer at age 69. The posthumous Southern Blood was released in September 2017, to universal critical acclaim.
MAY 29, 1969: CROSBY, STILLS & NASH’S DEBUT ALBUM
David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, after leaving their respective bands the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Hollies, recorded their debut album February-March ’69 and released the classic LP two months later.
The Crosby, Stills & Nash LP has sold 6.5 million worldwide and contains the hits “Marrakesh Express” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.”
MAY 30, 20147: BOB SEGER’S GREATEST HITS CERTIFIED DIAMOND
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band’s Greatest Hits is their biggest selling album with over 10 million sold in the US.
The solid collection of heartland rock contains five Top 5 hits: “Like a Rock” (#1), “Turn the Page” (#1), “Night Moves” (#4), “Still the Same” (#4) and “Against the Wind” (#5).
