Pick a Day

Music History Events: Releases

August 30, 1988 Danzig, fronted by former Misfits lead singer Glenn Danzig, release their self-titled debut album, produced by Rick Rubin. The song "Mother" becomes a minor hit when it is re-released five years later.

August 25, 1988 Metallica issue their fourth studio album, ...And Justice For All, featuring "One" and "To Live Is To Die."

August 9, 1988 Edie Brickell & New Bohemians release their debut album, Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars, the title a reference to their longshot chances of making it big. The first single is the easygoing, introspective "What I Am," which stands out from the dance music and hair metal on the charts and becomes a surprise hit.

August 1, 1988 Soundgarden release their second EP, Fopp, on Sub Pop Records. Its title comes from the name of an Ohio Players song, which they cover on the set.

August 1, 1988 Mudhoney's first-ever single is released: "Touch Me I'm Sick" b/w "Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More," via Sub Pop Records.

July 4, 1988 Kylie Minogue releases her debut album, Kylie, featuring her hit cover of "The Loco-Motion." The album marks a rebirth of disco, a genre Minogue proudly embraces.

June 22, 1988 Robert Palmer releases "Simply Irresistible" in his native UK, where it peaks at #44. It fares much better in the US, where it lands at #2.

June 20, 1988 Saxon release their Destiny album on the EMI label.

May 10, 1988 Prince releases his 10th album, Lovesexy, which becomes his first chart-topper in the UK.

May 2, 1988 Living Colour's debut album, Vivid, is released. It takes almost a year to catch on, as the band slowly builds a following through tours, radio play and MTV.

April 11, 1988 In the midst of a decade characterized by materialism and excess, Neil Young releases This Note's for You, his 16th studio album. The title song mocks the marketing industry and the corporate music scene.

March 21, 1988 Lynyrd Skynyrd release Southern by the Grace of God, their second live album. It features music recorded in 1987 in what was supposed to be a one-time touring tribute to band members who died in a 1977 plane wreck that seemingly ended the band. Four years later, an updated Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup records new material and begins touring again regularly.

March 15, 1988 Talking Heads release their eighth album, Naked, which ends up being their last, as David Bryne breaks up the group three years later. It's produced by Steve Lillywhite, whose wife, Kirsty MacColl, sings on the track "(Nothing But) Flowers."

December 14, 1987 Dinosaur, Jr. release You're Living All Over Me. Overall sales are modest, but the album is an influential landmark in the alternative and indie music genres.

November 2, 1987 George Harrison releases Cloud Nine, a commercial comeback that includes the #1 hit "Got My Mind Set On You." It's the last album he puts out in his lifetime.More

October 15, 1987 Joe Satriani's second full-length solo album, Surfing with the Alien, is released. The popular all-instrumental album kicks open the door for similarly styled "guitar shred" albums.

October 13, 1987 Sting releases his second solo album, ...Nothing Like the Sun.

October 12, 1987 INXS release their breakthrough album Kick, with the hits "Need You Tonight," "Devil Inside" and "New Sensation."More

October 7, 1987 Exodus releases their second studio album, Pleasures of the Flesh.

October 1, 1987 Soundgarden release their first EP, Screaming Life, on Sub Pop Records. Recorded in 1986 at Reciprocal Recording in Seattle, Washington, the six-song release is co-produced by Jack Endino.More

September 8, 1987 Rush bring back Peter Collins, producer of Power Windows, for Hold Your Fire. Featuring Top Five singles "Time Stand Still" and "Force Ten," Power Windows goes Gold but is the first Rush album in nine years to fail to reach the Billboard Top 10 or to achieve Platinum status in the US.

August 21, 1987 Metallica release The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited.

July 6, 1987 Neil Young & Crazy Horse release Life, their last album under the Geffen label. With the exceptions of studio recordings "Cryin' Eyes" and "We Never Danced," the tracks are all taken from live performances.

June 1, 1987 Sub Pop Records issues Soundgarden's first single, "Hunted Down"/"Nothing to Say."

May 26, 1987 Richard Marx releases his first single, "Don't Mean Nothing," featuring Joe Walsh on guitar. It climbs to #3 on the Hot 100, the first of seven consecutive singles to place in the Top 5.

May 25, 1987 The Cure find mainstream success in America with the versatile double album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, featuring the hit singles "Why Can't I Be You?" and "Just Like Heaven."More

April 13, 1987 Fleetwood Mac release Tango In The Night, their first album since Mirage five years earlier. Guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, who produced the album and had a hand in writing seven of the 12 songs, leaves before they tour.More

April 7, 1987 Whitesnake slides into hair metal with their seventh, self-titled album. It's by far their most successful, with the MTV hits "Here I Go Again" and "Is This Love?"

March 30, 1987 Prince releases his ninth album, Sign O' the Times. The title track is a sober look at problems like poverty and drug abuse, but it's balanced with "U Got the Look," a lusty duet with Sheena Easton.

March 23, 1987 Whitesnake releases "Is This Love" in the UK.