This Week In Classic Rock History

May 31- Jun 6: Historic events this week from Black Sabbath, Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and Guns N’ Roses

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JUNE 1, 1970: BLACK SABBATH\’S DEBUT ALBUM

Nearly 4 months after being released in the UK, Sabbath\’s eponymous debut arrived in the US.

It was critically panned upon release, with Creem magazine\’s Lester Bangs describing it as \”shuck\”, \”inane\” and \”cliché\”.

The album has since received retrospective reviews referring to it as \”so influential it remains a template for metal bands\” (Q magazine, 2000).

• • •

JUNE 3, 1972: EAGLES RELEASE \”TAKE IT EASY\”

Having trouble completing Take It Easy for his debut album, Jackson Browne received assistance from Glenn Frey.

Upon hearing \”standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona\”, Frey completed the verse with \”Such a fine sight to see. It\’s a girl, my lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowin\’ down to take a look at me.\”

The song was the Eagles\’ first single off their debut album. Jackson Browne recorded his own version the following year for his second album.

• • •

JUNE 4, 1984: BORN IN THE U.S.A

Move over Born to Run. Springsteen\’s Born in the U.S.A. was a game changer for him, selling 15 millions copies to date.

All seven singles released from the album would crack the Top 10 in the US.

\”Dancing in the Dark\” (#2), \”Cover Me\” (#7), \”Born in the U.S.A.\” (#9), \”I\’m on Fire\” (#6), \”Glory Days\” (#5), \”I\’m Goin\’ Down\” (# 9), \”My Hometown\” (#6)

• • •

JUNE 6, 1992: \”NOVEMBER RAIN\” VIDEO DEBUTS ON MTV

When it was released, GNR\’s $1,500,000 \”November Rain\” music video was the most expensive in rock music.

The video went on to win the MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography.

In 2018, it became the first pre-YouTube era video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube.

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