Music History Events: Releases
October 5, 1987 Bruce Springsteen releases his album Tunnel Of Love. He got married for the first time two years earlier, but there are few signs of domestic bliss in the songs. [The release date is often listed as October 9, but news clips from the time show that October 5 is correct.]More
September 7, 1987 In the UK, Pink Floyd release A Momentary Lapse of Reason, their first album without founding member Roger Waters.More
September 7, 1987 Michael Jackson releases "Bad," the title track to his first album since Thriller. The song was supposed to be a duet with Prince, but the Purple One turned down the offer.
August 3, 1987 After years of delays, Def Leppard's Hysteria album is released in the US.More
July 21, 1987 Guns N' Roses release their first album, Appetite For Destruction. It's a landmark debut, featuring the hits "Welcome To The Jungle" and "Sweet Child O' Mine."More
July 7, 1987 Eric B. & Rakim release their debut, Paid In Full, one of the first major rap albums filled with James Brown samples.
July 1, 1987 Napalm Death release their debut album, Scum, widely acknowledged as the first grindcore album. It peaks at #7 in the UK Indie chart.
June 6, 1987 Heart release their ninth album, Bad Animals, which like their previous album, uses outside songwriters. The big hit from the disc is the #1 ballad "Alone," written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly.More
June 2, 1987 Whitney Houston's second album, Whitney, is released. It contains four #1 hits, including the enduring "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)."More
April 28, 1987 The Art Of Excellence by Tony Bennett becomes the first album to be initially released on CD instead of the traditional vinyl format.
March 22, 1987 Anthrax release their third album, Among the Living. The cover shows an image of Henry Kane, a character in the film Poltergeist II: The Other Side, which the band finds terrifying.More
March 9, 1987 U2 release their fifth studio album, The Joshua Tree. The first two singles, "With Or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," climb to #1 in America. The album becomes their first #1 in that country, and takes the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.More
March 2, 1987 The Trio album, a collaboration between Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton, is released. The album had been planned since 1979 - it was worth the wait, selling over 4 million copies and winning the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.
June 9, 1986 Genesis release Invisible Touch, their most successful album. The title track gives them their only #1 hit.
May 15, 1986 Run-DMC release their Raising Hell album, featuring the groundbreaking rap reworking of "Walk This Way." It's the first rap album to go Platinum and also the first to crack the Top 10, climbing to #3.
March 3, 1986 Metallica release their third album, Master Of Puppets, featuring an anthemic title track that becomes their most-played live song.More
November 18, 1985 LL Cool J releases his debut album, Radio, the first album ever issued on Def Jam Records. It goes Platinum and makes LL the first solo act on par with reigning rap kings Run-D.M.C.
September 16, 1985 Kate Bush's album Hounds Of Love surpasses Madonna's Like A Virgin for the #1 spot on the UK chart. Featuring the hit single "Running Up That Hill," it's the second chart-topper for the British singer-songwriter.More
March 7, 1985 The song "We are the World" is released as a single, soon achieving massive chart success all around the world. The song, written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, is recorded for charity to help battle famine in Africa. The supergroup USA for Africa brought together for the recording features a stunning list of big names in music - everyone from Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan to Ray Charles, Cyndi Lauper and Dionne Warwick.
February 25, 1985 British synthpop duo Tears For Fears release their sophomore album, Songs From The Big Chair, featuring the hits "Shout" and "Everybody Wants To Rule The World."More
November 12, 1984 With Chic frontman Nile Rodgers producing, Madonna releases her second studio album, Like A Virgin, her first #1 on the US albums chart.More
October 29, 1984 Frankie Goes to Hollywood release their debut album, Welcome To The Pleasuredome, in the UK.More
August 18, 1984 After years toiling in clubs, Red Hot Chili Peppers release their self-titled debut album.
August 10, 1984 Red Hot Chili Peppers release their self-titled debut album, an arduous collaboration with producer Andy Gill of the British rock band Gang of Four.More
June 4, 1984 Bruce Springsteen releases the album Born In The U.S.A. The cover photo, showing Bruce posed in front of the American flag, gives many the wrong idea about the title track, which is about the struggles of a veteran returning home from the Vietnam War.
May 29, 1984 Tina Turner releases Private Dancer, her big comeback album.More
November 4, 1983 Paul Simon releases Hearts and Bones, his sixth solo album. The title track is about his new bride, the actress Carrie Fisher.More
October 11, 1983 Lionel Richie releases his second solo album, Can't Slow Down, which goes on to sell over 10 million copies in America.More
September 15, 1983 Huey Lewis & the News release the album Sports, which sells over 7 million copies and includes five hit singles: "I Want a New Drug," "Walking On A Thin Line," "The Heart of Rock 'n Roll," "Heart And Soul," and "If This Is It."
May 21, 1983 ZZ Top release their video for "Gimme All Your Lovin'," marking the first appearance of the Eliminator, Billy Gibbons' 1933 Ford Hot Rod. The car appears in three other ZZ Top videos and becomes closely associated with the band. Gibbons has another one built just like it to bring on tour.More
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