Historic events this week from Oasis, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones and Huey Lewis
AUGUST 23, 1981: TATTOO YOU BY THE ROLLING STONES
The Rolling Stones‘ Tattoo You is largely composed of outtakes from earlier recording sessions, with fresh vocals and instrumentation added. It was a massive success, reaching #1 in the US, and is celebrated for hits like “Waiting on a Friend” and “Start Me Up.”
AUGUST 24, 1985: “POWER OF LOVE” IS #1
Huey Lewis and the News‘ first #1 Billboard Hot 100 single, “The Power of Love”, spent back-to-back weeks at the top.
The Grammy-nominated hit single appears in the 1985 blockbuster film Back to the Future.
The single helped the film’s soundtrack (featuring tracks from Eric Clapton and Lindsey Buckingham) sell over 500,000 copies.
AUGUST 25, 1975: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’S BORN TO RUN
Bruce Springsteen‘s breakthrough album, Born to Run, peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200.
The title track is far and away Springsteen’s most played song in concert.
With 6 million sold in the US, Born to Run remains his 2nd biggest album behind the massively successful Born In the USA (20M in sales worldwide).
AUGUST 27, 1991: PEARL JAM’S TEN
Pearl Jam‘s debut album, Ten, initially sold slowly but became a massive success, peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 and eventually selling over 13 million copies in the US. The album’s title, Ten, is said to be a tribute to basketball player Mookie Blaylock, whose jersey number it was, as that was the band’s original name. It features iconic singles like “Alive,” “Even Flow,” and “Jeremy,” addressing themes of depression, loneliness, and social issues.
AUGUST 27, 1996: PEARL JAM’S NO CODE
Pearl Jam‘s No Code album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, their third consecutive album to do so. No Code was a deliberate departure from their earlier stadium rock sound, incorporating elements of garage rock and worldbeat, and famously features an album package with 156 unique Polaroid photos that unfold to form the album’s distinctive Eye of Providence logo.
AUGUST 29, 1994: THE DEBUT ALBUM FROM OASIS
Oasis‘s Definitely Maybe immediately became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, rocketing to number one and establishing them as a dominant force in Britpop.
Despite its raw, anthemic sound, the album faced initial recording struggles, with the band scrapping early sessions before re-recording it to capture their signature energy. The iconic album cover, shot at guitarist Bonehead‘s house, is laden with subtle cultural references and inside jokes.
