Pick a Day

Music History Events: Releases

November 9, 1993 R. Kelly releases his debut album, 12 Play. It peaks at #2 in America and holds the top spot on the R&B albums chart for nine weeks.

October 19, 1993 Counterparts, Rush's 15th studio album, hits stores.

October 12, 1993 Faith Hill releases her debut album, Take Me As I Am, featuring the #1 singles "Piece Of My Heart" and "Wild One."

September 27, 1993 With punk rock pushing into the mainstream, Danzig re-release "Mother," originally issued five years earlier on their debut album. The song earns airplay on rock radio and MTV, and pushes into the pop charts, going to #43 in the US.

September 21, 1993 Bad Religion release their seventh full-length studio album, Recipe for Hate. This album was originally released on Epitaph Records, but was quickly reissued by their now-former label Atlantic.

September 14, 1993 Sixteen years after releasing his landmark album Bat Out Of Hell, Meat Loaf issues the sequel, Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, again with songs written by Jim Steinman. The first single, "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)," tops the charts in many territories, including the US.

August 17, 1993 Type O Negative release Bloody Kisses, one of the few gothic metal albums to go Platinum. It comes with a warning on the back cover: "Don't mistake lack of talent for genius."

August 6, 1993 31-year-old Sheryl Crow releases her first album, Tuesday Night Music Club. It takes about a year to catch on, but eventually sells over 7 million copies.

July 27, 1993 Steve Vai's third solo album, Sex & Religion, is issued. The release is credited simply to "Vai," and is his first to feature traditional vocals, which were provided by a then-unknown Devin Townsend.

June 22, 1993 The Flaming Lips release their sixth studio album, Transmissions From The Satellite Heart, featuring their breakthrough hit, "She Don't Use Jelly."More

May 11, 1993 Onyx bring slam dancing to hip-hop with "Slam," releasing their high-energy hit co-produced by Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC.

May 4, 1993 PJ Harvey, fronted by British alt rocker Polly Jean Harvey, release their second and last album as a trio, Rid Of Me. The album is later hailed as one of the defining albums of the decade, but at the time, critics are split over Steve Albini's aggressive production.More

May 3, 1993 New Order's sixth album, Republic, is launched. It reaches #11 in America, helped to success in that country by a cover featuring images of California and an American-only limited edition release in bright orange vinyl packaging. Lead track "Regret" reaches #28, the band's biggest-selling single Stateside.

April 20, 1993 Shania Twain's self-titled debut album is released. It's an impressive debut, establishing her in the world of country music. Her next three releases, produced by her husband Mutt Lange, make her a pop superstar.

April 6, 1993 Bruce Hornsby releases his first solo album, Harbor Lights. Jerry Garcia, Pat Metheny, Bonnie Raitt, Branford Marsalis, and Phil Collins all make appearances on this jazzy recording.

April 6, 1993 Tool disrupt the grunge genre's victory parade with Undertow, their visionary debut album. Aided by the distinctive and unsettling music videos for "Sober" and "Prison Sex" (directed by Adam Jones), the album sells two million copies and earns the band an ardent fan base.

March 23, 1993 Depeche Mode release Songs of Faith and Devotion in America, where it goes to #1 despite charting no singles higher than "I Feel You," which tops out at #37.

March 9, 1993 Sting releases his fourth solo album, Ten Summoner's Tales, which contains the hit "Fields of Gold."

February 22, 1993 Lenny Kravitz releases "Are You Gonna Go My Way," a song about God.

February 22, 1993 Radiohead release their debut album, Pablo Honey. Thanks to the lead single "Creep," it gradually earns them a substantial following, especially in the US where they tour in the summer and fall.

February 16, 1993 Lynyrd Skynyrd release The Last Rebel, the band's seventh album, on which Kurt Custer appears for his first time and guitarist Randall Hall for his last.

January 6, 1993 Lucky Thirteen, a Neil Young compilation album with four previously unreleased tracks, hits stores. It's his second compilation album, with the first being the Decade triple album released in 1977.

December 1, 1992 Duran Duran release the single "Ordinary World" earlier than planned after radio airplay creates a huge demand. The song reaches #3 in the US, their biggest hit there since "Notorious" in 1986.

November 17, 1992 Metallica release their two-part home video, A Year And A Half In The Life Of Metallica.

November 17, 1992 Kenny G releases Breathless, which sells over 12 million copies in America to become the best-selling mostly instrumental album in history (two of the tracks have vocals).

November 2, 1992 Following his return to success with Freedom and Ragged Glory, Neil Young releases his 19th studio album, Harvest Moon. It's the best-selling and most critically acclaimed album he's put our in years

October 16, 1992 The Offspring release their second studio album, Ignition. It's their first release on Epitaph Records, a label owned by Bad Religion's Brett Gurewitz.

September 29, 1992 Stone Temple Pilots release their debut album Core, featuring the radio hit "Plush." It sells over 8 million copies in America.

September 1, 1992 Alabama releases "I'm in a Hurry (and Don't Know Why)."

August 25, 1992 Mary J. Blige releases "Real Love," her first Top 10 hit on the Hot 100.