Historic events this week from Peter Gabriel, Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bad Company and David Bowie
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MAY 19, 1986: PETER GABRIEL’S 5th ALBUM
So is far and away Peter Gabriel’s biggest album with over 5,000,000 copies sold in the US, thanks to four Top 5 singles:
“Red Rain” (#3), “Big Time” (#3), “Sledgehammer” (#1) and “In Your Eyes” (#1)
So peaked at #2. It was held off of the top spot by massive albums from Whitney Houston and Madonna.
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MAY 20, 1988: VAN HALEN’S OU812
A month after its release, Van Halen’s OU812 began a four week run at #1.
Containing the hits “Black and Blue” (#1), “When It’s Love” (#1) and “Finish What Ya Started” (#2), OU812 became Van Halen’s second #1 album after 1986’s 5150.
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MAY 22, 1971: STICKY FINGERS IS #1
The Stones’ 9th album was only their second to go to #1 in the US. Featuring “Brown Sugar” and “Wild Horses”, Sticky Fingers immediately went Gold and spent four straight weeks at #1. The landmark album started a streak of eight straight Stones albums to reach #1 in the US.
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MAY 23, 1969: THE WHO RELEASE TOMMY
When you think “rock opera”, The Who’s Tommy likely comes to mind.
One of the first “rock operas”, Tommy is about a “deaf, dumb and blind kid” who “sure plays a mean pinball” (lyrics: “Pinball Wizard”).
Peaking at #4 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, Tommy is one of The Who’s biggest albums with over 20 million sold worldwide.
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MAY 24, 1974: BAD COMPANY’S DEBUT ALBUM
Bad Company released their debut album 50 years ago this week.
The classic album featured the hit singles “Can’t Get Enough” and “Movin’ On”, as well as “Ready For Love” and the title track.
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MAY 24, 1974: DAVID BOWIE RELEASES DIAMOND DOGS
At the time of its release, David Bowie’s eighth LP was his highest charting album, peaking at #5 in the US.
Diamond Dogs, featuring Bowie’s new character “Halloween Jack”, has sold over 500,000 copies in the US and contains the hit single “Rebel Rebel.”