This Week In Classic Rock History

JUN 9-15: Historic events this week from The Rolling Stones, Rush, Billy Joel, Nirvana and Santana

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JUNE 9, 1978: THE ROLLING STONES’ SOME GIRLS

When The Rolling Stones’ Some Girls went to #1 in the US, it was their sixth of eight straight albums to top the charts.

Some Girls remains the band’s biggest album thanks to hit singles “Shattered”, “Beast of Burden” and the US #1 single, “Miss You.”

• • •
JUNE 11, 1966: ”PAINT IT BLACK” IS #1
“Paint It Black” was The Rolling Stones’ third US #1 hit.

The song details the intense grief that accompanies unexpectedly losing your lover.

With Brian Jones on sitar, it was the first ever #1 song to feature the instrument.

JUNE 12, 2012: RUSH’S CLOCKWORK ANGELS

Rush’s concept album, Clockwork Angels, was their 19th and final studio album.

They brought back producer Nick Raskulinecz (2007’s Snakes & Arrows), who is perhaps best known for producing two Foo Fighters albums.

Peaking at #2, Clockwork Angels and 1993’s Counterparts are as the band’s highest charting albums in the US.

• • •

JUNE 14, 1980: BILLY JOEL’S GLASS HOUSES IS #1

Glass Houses was Billy Joel’s second US #1 album in a row, after 52nd Street.

Thanks to hit singles “You May Be Right” and “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”, the album was #1 in the US for 6 consecutive weeks.

Glass Houses earned Joel a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance in 1981.

• • •

JUNE 15, 1989: NIRVANA’S DEBUT ALBUM
Before Nirvana’s Nevermind changed the landscape of rock music, they recorded their debut album, Bleach, for a modest $606.17.

Despite not containing any hits, the album’s most well known song is “About a Girl”.

The acoustic version of “About a Girl” from MTV Unplugged in New York would go to #1 in 1994.

• • •
JUNE 15, 1999: SANTANA RELEASES SUPERNATURAL
Supernatural was a big hit for Santana thanks to a lineup of star guest vocalists and the massive single, “Smooth.”

Supernatural‘s two #1 singles, “Smooth” & “Maria Maria” spent a combined 22 weeks at the top.

The album won nine Grammys and became the band’s first chart-topping album in 28 years.

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