FEB 23-MAR 1: Historic events this week from Toto, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, U2, Pink Floyd and more
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FEBRUARY 23, 1983: TOTO WINS BIG AT GRAMMYS
Toto’s fourth album, Toto IV, was a big one for the Los Angeles band. In addition to selling 4 million copies and scoring major platinum hits with “Rosanna” and “Africa”, Toto won five Grammys: Best Engineered Recording, Album of the Year and three for “Rosanna”, including Record of the Year.
FEBRUARY 24, 1975: LED ZEPPELIN RELEASE PHYSICAL GRAFFITI
Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti is their second biggest selling album behind their untitled fourth album (aka Led Zeppelin IV).
Despite only releasing “Trampled Under Foot” as a single, “Houses of the Holy”, “Kashmir” and “The Wanton Song” have all received significant radio air play. The album has sold over 16 Million copies in the US alone.
FEBRUARY 25, 1984: VAN HALEN’S “JUMP” IS #1
“Jump” was the first single from Van Halen’s classic sixth album, 1984. The track spent 5 straight weeks at #1. “Jump” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocal, but ultimately lost to Prince & the Revolution’s “Purple Rain”.
FEBRUARY 27, 1971: JANIS JOPLIN’S PEARL IS #1
Janis Joplin’s final album, Pearl, was released 3 months after her death. The album spent nine consecutive weeks at #1.
Containing “Me and Bobby McGee” & “Mercedes Benz”, Pearl has sold over 4 Million copies in the US alone.
FEBRUARY 28, 1983: U2’s WAR
U2’s third album, War, was their first multi-Platinum album. Containing the well-known singles “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Year’s Day”, the album has gone on to sell over 11,000,000 copies worldwide.
MARCH 1, 1973: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON RELEASED IN AMERICA
Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon gave the band international recognition. With over 45 million sold, it’s their best selling album.
With each new generation discovering the album, it has spent 900 non-consecutive weeks on the charts.
MARCH 1, 1995: SOUNDGARDEN WIN THEIR ONLY GRAMMYS
Soundgarden were previously nominated for Best Metal Performance for the albums Ultramega OK and Badmotorfinger, as well as the song “Into the Void (Sealth)”.
They finally became Grammy winners when their album, Superunknown, brought them four more nominations.
Soundgarden won their only Grammys for “Spoonman” (Best Metal Performance) and “Black Hole Sun” (Best Hard Rock Performance).
