Pick a Day

Music History Events: Debut Albums

May 17, 1971 The Christian musical Godspell opens at New York's Cherry Lane Theatre. It becomes the third-longest-running off-Broadway production of its day.

May 3, 1971 Led Zeppelin play their song "Four Sticks" for the first and only time in concert during a show in Denmark.

January 7, 1971 The film Performance, starring Mick Jagger, premieres in London two years after its completion.

August 25, 1970 At Plymouth Guildhall in England, Emerson, Lake & Palmer perform for the first time. They play to a far larger audience four days later at the the Isle Of Wight Festival.

May 20, 1970 George Harrison meets producer Phil Spector at Abbey Road Studios to play demos of the songs which will appear on his debut album, All Things Must Pass.

April 17, 1970 Paul McCartney releases his first solo album, McCartney. Unlike the grand Beatles' productions, this one is stripped-down, with Paul playing all the instruments himself.

February 17, 1970 Bee Gee Maurice Gibb opens in the London stage musical Sing A Rude Song.

September 14, 1969 Genesis take the stage for the first time, playing at the cottage owned by leader Peter Gabriel's former Sunday School teacher.

September 13, 1969 John Lennon introduces the Plastic Ono Band at the Rock and Roll Revival Show in Toronto. The set is later released as the Live Peace In Toronto 1969 album. Basically a supergroup with revolving members headed by John and Yoko, they are credited for the single "Give Peace A Chance."

August 30, 1969 Santana release their self-titled debut album, with standout tracks "Evil Ways" and "Soul Sacrifice."

July 21, 1969 Blind Faith, a group comprised of Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech, release their self-titled debut album in the United States.More

June 20, 1969 After working as a music teacher for most of her 20s, Roberta Flack releases her debut album, First Take, at age 32. It doesn't get much attention at first but goes to #1 three years later when the song "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" becomes a surprise hit thanks to its use in the Clint Eastwood movie Play Misty For Me.

June 5, 1969 The Doors concert documentary Feast Of Friends premieres at the Cinematheque in Los Angeles.

April 17, 1969 The first solo concert by The Band is held in San Francisco, California.

March 31, 1969 Led Zeppelin's first album is released in the UK. The self-titled LP contains many hard rock classics, including "Dazed And Confused," "Good Times, Bad Times" and "Communication Breakdown."

March 5, 1969 The rock magazine Creem is published for the first time.

January 12, 1969 Led Zeppelin's self-titled debut album is released in America.More

November 12, 1968 Neil Young releases his self-titled debut solo album, featuring one of his most enduring songs, "The Loner." More

October 26, 1968 Janis Joplin appears on TV for the first time when she performs on the variety show Hollywood Palace with Big Brother & the Holding Company.

January 22, 1968 Apple Corps (home of the boutique and the label) opens its offices at 5 Wigmore Street, Marylebone, London.

December 8, 1967 Traffic release their debut album, Mr. Fantasy.

September 30, 1967 BBC Radio One goes on the air. The first song played is "Flowers In The Rain" by The Move.

July 10, 1967 Bobbie Gentry's first single, "Ode To Billie Joe," is released. It would go on to top the Hot 100 for four weeks.

June 1, 1967 David Bowie releases his self-titled debut album, David Bowie, which bares little resemblance to his future work.

December 12, 1966 Pink Floyd perform their first concert, for the Oxfam Benefit at London's Royal Albert Hall.

May 20, 1966 Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band play their first gig, performing at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco.

December 11, 1965 The Velvet Underground play their first show: opening for a group called The Myddle Class in the auditorium of Summit High School in New Jersey. They play three songs: "There She Goes Again," "Heroin" and "Venus In Furs."

November 22, 1965 The musical Man Of La Mancha, starring Richard Kiley, opens on Broadway.

January 16, 1965 The Guess Who release their debut album, Shakin' All Over.

April 27, 1964 John Lennon's first book of prose and poetry, In His Own Write, is published in the US.