Historic events this week from Tom Petty, Weezer, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Seger.
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MAY 5, 1978: BOB SEGER’S STRANGER IN TOWN LP
Bob Seger’s second album with the Silver Bullet Band contained the big singles “Still the Same”, “Hollywood Nights”, “We’ve Got Tonite” and the 2x Platinum “Old Time Rock and Roll.” Stranger In Town went top 5 on its way to selling over 6 million copies.
MAY 5, 1981: TOM PETTY RELEASES HARD PROMISES
Hard Promises was the last Heartbreakers album to go Top 5 until Mojo (#2) in 2010 and Hypnotic Eye (#1) in 2014.
Featuring Stevie Nicks on “Insider” and “You Can Still Change Your Mind”, the Platinum-selling album is notable for containing Tom Petty’s first #1 song, “The Waiting.”
MAY 6, 1965: KEITH RICHARDS DREAMS UP “SATISFACTION”
According to legend, Keith Richards wrote “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” in his sleep.
Richards went to bed with his acoustic guitar, and a tape player rolling.
The next morning, without any recollection, he discovered that he’d been playing the iconic riff as he drifted off to sleep.
MAY 9, 1992: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ON SNL
Nearly 20 years after the release of his debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., Bruce Springsteen made his US network TV debut.
Springsteen released two solo albums a couple of months before his Saturday Night Live appearance, and performed one song from each album.
“57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)” from Human Touch and “Living Proof” from Lucky Town.
MAY 10, 1994: WEEZER’S “BLUE ALBUM”
Weezer’s self-titled power pop debut album has become a classic of the genre.
Produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars, the 5x Platinum Weezer (or “Blue Album”) features the hit singles “Say It Ain’t So”, “Buddy Holly” and “Undone-The Sweater Song.”
In 2002, Rolling Stone ranked “The Blue Album” #82 on a list of the 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time.
