Historic events this week from The Rolling Stones, Rush, The Beatles, Nirvana, David Bowie, Santana and The Police
JUNE 11, 1966: “PAINT IT BLACK” IS #1
“Paint It Black” was The Rolling Stones’ third US #1 hit.
The song details the intense grief that accompanies unexpectedly losing your lover.
With Brian Jones on sitar, it was the first ever #1 song to feature the instrument.
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JUNE 12, 2012: RUSH’S CLOCKWORK ANGELS
Rush’s concept album, Clockwork Angels, was their 19th and final studio album.
They brought back producer Nick Raskulinecz (2007’s Snakes & Arrows), who is perhaps best known for producing two Foo Fighters albums.
Peaking at #2, Clockwork Angels and 1993’s Counterparts are as the band’s highest charting albums in the US.
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JUNE 14, 1966: THE BEATLES’ BUTCHER COVER
The Yesterday and Today compilation was controversial due to the Beatles being draped in meat and doll parts on the cover.
The album was recalled when stores refused to sell it due to the offensive cover art.
The cover was replaced with a photo of the Beatles and a steamer trunk.
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JUNE 15, 1989: NIRVANA’S DEBUT ALBUM
Before Nirvana’s Nevermind changed the landscape of rock music, they recorded their debut album, Bleach, for a modest $606.17.
Despite not containing any hits, the album’s most well known song is “About a Girl”.
The acoustic version of “About a Girl” from MTV Unplugged in New York would go to #1 in 1994.
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JUNE 15, 1999: SANTANA RELEASES SUPERNATURAL
Supernatural was a big hit for Santana thanks to a lineup of star guest vocalists and the massive single, “Smooth”.
Supernatural‘s two #1 singles, “Smooth” & “Maria Maria” spent a combined 22 weeks at the top.
The album won nine Grammys and became the band’s first chart-topping album in 28 years.
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JUNE 16, 1972: THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS
Bowie’s 5th album was a big one for him, introducing the world to his most famous and beloved stage persona, “Ziggy Stardust”.
With nearly 8 million sold worldwide, it remains Bowie’s second best-selling album behind 1983’s Let’s Dance.
In 2017, the Library of Congress deemed the album “culturally, historically, or artistically significant”.
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JUNE 17, 1983: THE POLICE’S SYNCHRONICITY
Synchronicity was The Police’s final and biggest studio album.
The album contained the hits “King of Pain”, “Wrapped Around Your Finger” and “Every Breath You Take”.
“Every Breath You Take” would spend eight-straight weeks at #1, and was the best-selling single of 1983.
