Historic events this week from U2, Lenny Kravitz, Quiet Riot, R.E.M. and more
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MARCH 9, 1987: U2 RELEASES 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: LENNY KRAVITZ RELEASES ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY
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 11, 1983: QUIET RIOT RELEASES METAL HEALTH
Quiet Riot’s third album, Metal Health, remains their biggest album. The album went to #1 in the US with help from “Metal Health (Bang Your Head)” and the Gold-selling Top 5 hit “Cum On Feel the Noize”.
MARCH 12, 1971: NIGHT #1 OF ALLMAN BROS AT FILLMORE EAST
Allman Brothers Band’s classic live album, At Fillmore East, was recorded over 2 nights at the titular legendary theater in New York. The live collection features 7 songs and 78 minutes worth of astounding southern rock.
MARCH 12, 1991: R.E.M. RELEASES 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: 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.”
MARCH 15-20, 1969: “THE BALLAD OF JOHN & YOKO”
The Beatles’ “The Ballad of John & Yoko” is the true story of passport problems, a wedding, and protests.
It was very romantic. It’s all in the song, if you want to know how it happened, it’s in there. Gibraltar was like a little sunny dream. I couldn’t find a white suit. I had sort of off-white corduroy trousers and a white jacket. Yoko had all white on. – John Lennon, Rolling Stone 1970
John wrote “The Ballad of John & Yoko” while honeymooning in Paris. With McCartney’s assistance the song was recorded in one day as a duo. Despite being banned by some radio stations, the song went to #1 all over Europe and peaked at #8 in the US.
