Historic events this week from Black Sabbath, Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan and KISS

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FEBRUARY 13, 1970: BLACK SABBATH’S DEBUT ALBUM

It’s not a coincidence that Black Sabbath’s debut album was released on Friday the 13th.

Upon being released, the album received negative reviews from the critics.

However, the album would go on to influence heavy metal, doom metal and stoner rock.

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FEBRUARY 14, 1987: BON JOVI’S “LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER” IS #1
A month before “You Give Love a Bad Name” became Bon Jovi’s first #1 single, the band released “Livin’ on a Prayer” as the second single from their massive Slippery When Wet album.

“Livin’ on a Prayer” held the top spot on the charts for 4 straight weeks and sold 3 million copies.

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FEBRUARY 16, 1974: DYLAN’S FIRST US #1 ALBUM

Twelve years after releasing his self-titled debut album, Bob Dylan finally had a #1 album in the US.

Planet Waves, Dylan’s first album with The Band, spent 3 weeks at #1.

Planet Waves contained 2 versions (one fast, one slow) of the classic “Forever Young”.

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FEBRUARY 18, 1974: KISS RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM

KISS’s self-titled debut was the first of two albums they released in 1974.

The debut features such classics as “Deuce”, “Strutter” and Ace Frehley’s “Cold Gin”.

During a 2018 appearance on Good Morning America, Gene Simmons called it his favorite KISS album.