Historic events this week from Soundgarden, David Bowie, U2, Lenny Kravitz, Sinéad O’Connor, R.E.M., Collective Soul and Mad Season
MARCH 8, 1994: SUPERUNKNOWN BY SOUNDGARDEN
Soundgarden reached the pinnacle of the grunge-era with their masterpiece Superunknown, an album that debuted at #1 and redefined the band’s heavy sound with psychedelic layers. The record is anchored by the Grammy-winning classic “Black Hole Sun” and the driving hit “Spoonman,” both of which became era-defining anthems on rock radio.
MARCH 8, 2013: DAVID BOWIE RELEASES THE NEXT DAY
After a decade of silence, David Bowie surprised the world with the unannounced release of the single “Where Are We Now?” on his 66th birthday, signaling his return with the album The Next Day. The record was a critical and commercial triumph that reached #1 in several countries, featuring a cover that provocatively obscured his iconic “Heroes” portrait with a simple white square.
MARCH 9, 1987: U2’S THE JOSHUA TREE
Containing the US #1 singles “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, U2‘s fifth album has sold over 25,000,000 worldwide.
The Joshua Tree was U2‘s first of eight straight #1 albums in the US. A year after its release, The Joshua Tree would win four Grammys including Album of the Year.
MARCH 9, 1993: ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY BY LENNY KRAVITZ
Lenny Kravitz‘s third album, Are You Gonna Go My Way, was his first to go Platinum.
Selling over 2 million copies in the US, it is his second biggest studio album behind the triple Platinum 5. The album’s title track was his first #1 single, which sold over a million copies on its own.
MARCH 12, 1990: SINÉAD O’CONNOR’S I DON’T WANT WHAT I HAVEN’T GOT
Sinéad O’Connor achieved global superstardom with her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, which topped the charts worldwide and earned her a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Performance. The record is immortalized by her haunting cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a track that showcased her vocal power and vulnerable artistry against a backdrop of deeply personal songwriting.
MARCH 12, 1991: R.E.M. RELEASE OUT OF TIME
R.E.M.‘s seventh album, Out of Time, was a big one for the band. It was their first #1 album and contained the massive Platinum selling #1 single, “Losing My Religion.”
Out of 7 Grammy nominations, R.E.M. won two for “Losing My Religion”, and one for Best Alternative Music Album.
MARCH 14, 1995: COLLECTIVE SOUL’S EPONYMOUS SOPHOMORE ALBUM
Following the massive success of their debut, Collective Soul released their self-titled sophomore album in 1995, which solidified their place as radio staples with a polished, guitar-driven alternative sound. The triple-platinum record produced an impressive string of five #1 rock hits, including the atmospheric “The World I Know,” the riff-heavy “Gel,” and the chart-topping anthem “December.”
MARCH 14, 1995: SUPERGROUP MAD SEASON RELEASE THEIR ONLY ALBUM
Mad Season were a supergroup consisting of members of Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam.
The busy schedules of each members’ main bands, and the deteriorating health of singer Layne Staley, resulted in the band only releasing one studio album.
Above quickly went Gold based on the strength of their hit song, “River of Deceit.”
