Pick a Day

Music History Events: Releases

March 23, 1979 Van Halen release their second album, Van Halen II, setting a furious pace that finds them issuing an album a year from 1978-1982. The album includes the concert favorites "Dance the Night Away" and "Somebody Get Me a Doctor."

March 16, 1979 Supertramp release their breakout album, Breakfast In America. The title track mirrors their story, telling the tale of young British kids who come to America and make it big.

February 20, 1979 George Harrison issues his eighth, self-titled album.

December 23, 1978 Rod Stewart releases "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" in the US.

December 9, 1978 The Blues Brothers release their first single, a cover of "Soul Man." The original is by Sam & Dave, whom the Blues Brothers (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) emulated to create their act.

September 8, 1978 David Bowie releases his second live album, Stage. The album was recorded at concerts in Philadelphia, Providence and Boston.

July 29, 1978 Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks release "Whenever I Call You 'Friend'."

June 20, 1978 Foreigner release their second album, Double Vision. Hits from the set include the title track and "Hot Blooded."

June 9, 1978 Dire Straits release their self-titled debut album in the UK. The single "Sultans Of Swing" takes off, and the album ends up going Platinum in several territories, including America.

June 2, 1978 Bruce Springsteen releases Darkness On The Edge Of Town. It's his first album in almost three years due to a legal dispute with his ex-manager Mike Appel.

April 22, 1978 Gerry Rafferty releases "Baker Street."

March 10, 1978 The Buzzcocks release their debut full-length album, Another Music in a Different Kitchen. Filled with cerebral songs about freedom, relationships, and making sense of the world, it takes UK punk in a more melodic and thoughtful direction.

January 30, 1978 Journey release Infinity, their fourth album but first with lead singer Steve Perry. With the singles "Wheel In The Sky" and "Lights," it takes the band away from their progressive rock sound and squarely into pop, where they thrive for the next 10 years.

January 18, 1978 Warren Zevon releases his most popular album, Excitable Boy, filled with outlandish story songs like "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Werewolves Of London." It's co-produced by Jackson Browne.

November 11, 1977 Wings release "Mull Of Kintyre."

October 15, 1977 Paul Simon releases "Slip Slidin' Away."

October 14, 1977 KISS release Alive II, recorded over three nights at the Forum in Los Angeles.

September 23, 1977 The Rolling Stones release Love You Live.

September 20, 1977 Ringo Starr releases Ringo The 4th.

August 19, 1977 A year after her group Labelle call it quits, Patti LaBelle releases her self-titled debut album, introducing one of her signature songs, "You Are My Friend."

July 10, 1977 Queen release their "We Are The Champions"/"We Will Rock You" single in the UK, providing stadium anthems for sporting events the world over.

June 17, 1977 Steve Winwood releases his debut solo album, Steve Winwood.

May 27, 1977 The Sex Pistols' "God Save The Queen" is released, selling about 150,000 copies in a week despite being nightparted on BBC's Radio 1 and declined by some record stores.

January 28, 1977 Buzzcocks release the their EP Spiral Scratch on their own independent label, distributing it at live shows, via mail order and at record stores around their stomping grounds of Manchester, England. It sells over 15,000 copies, proving it's possible to succeed without a major label and leading a wave of DIY UK punk bands.

January 14, 1977 David Bowie releases Low, the first of three albums produced with the help of Brian Eno in which Bowie explores electronic music. Much of the album is instrumental.

December 10, 1976 Queen release their fifth album, A Day At The Races, in the UK (US release is December 18). Like their previous album, A Night At The Opera, it's titled after a Marx Brothers movie.

December 10, 1976 Wings release Wings Over America.

November 8, 1976 George Harrison releases The Best Of George Harrison.

September 27, 1976 Ringo Starr releases Ringo's Rotogravure.

September 13, 1976 Bob Dylan releases Hard Rain.