Historic events this week from Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Scott Weiland and The White Stripes.
MARCH 29, 1975: LED ZEPPELIN HAS SIX ALBUMS ON THE CHARTS
Led Zeppelin became the first band in history to have six albums at once on the Billboard Albums chart.
The albums and their chart position were:
124: Led Zeppelin III
116: Led Zeppelin
104: Led Zeppelin II
92: Houses of the Holy
83: “Led Zeppelin IV”
1: Physical Graffiti
MARCH 30, 1967: PHOTOSHOOT FOR SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND ALBUM COVER
The Beatles‘ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover had a very simple concept.
I offered the idea that if they had just played a concert in the park, the cover could be a photograph of [them] just after the concert with the crowd who had just watched the concert… it could be a magical crowd of whomever they wanted. –Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Photographer, Peter Blake
Among the Beatles‘ “invited guests” were Albert Einstein, Bob Dylan, Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe.
MARCH 31, 1987: PRINCE RELEASES SIGN O’ THE TIMES
After the dissolution of The Revolution, Prince released the sprawling double album Sign O’ the Times, widely regarded as his magnum opus. The record is a masterclass in musical versatility, blending funk, rock, soul, and spiritual themes across tracks like the socially conscious title track, the playful “U Got the Look,” and the epic “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man.”
MARCH 31, 1992: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN RELEASES HUMAN TOUCH AND LUCKY TOWN
Bruce Springsteen‘s first studio albums in five years were released on the same day. Human Touch and Lucky Town both went Platinum and charted in the Top 5 of the US Billboard 200. Human Touch would go on to receive a 1993 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance.
MARCH 31, 1998: SCOTT WEILAND’S DEBUT SOLO ALBUM
Scott Weiland explored experimental art-rock and glam on his solo debut, 12 Bar Blues, showcasing his versatility through tracks like the futuristic “Barbarella” and “Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down,” which featured Sheryl Crow on accordion. Its eclectic sound and creative presentation marked a distinct departure from his work with Stone Temple Pilots.
APRIL 1, 2003: ELEPHANT BY THE WHITE STRIPES
With their fourth studio album Elephant, The White Stripes made a bold artistic statement by using only analog equipment manufactured before 1963. The record eventually earned the duo a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album, cementing its status as a defining moment in modern rock history.
