Historic events this week from George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz, Soundgarden, The Clash, Fleetwood Mac, CSN&Y and Joe Walsh
MAY 11, 1981: GEORGE HARRISON’S “ALL THOSE YEARS AGO”
Although written for and recorded by Ringo Starr, George Harrison wrote new lyrics and re-recorded the song after John Lennon’s murder.
Harrison retained Ringo’s original drum track and brought in Paul McCartney for backing vocals.
“All Those Years Ago” was the first post-Beatles song to feature 3 ex-Beatles, and went to #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts.
MAY 12, 1967: DEBUT FROM THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
One of the greatest debut albums of all time, Are You Experienced? sold a million copies within months of its release due to instant classics such as “Purple Haze”, “The Wind Cries Mary”, “Fire”, and “Foxey Lady.”
Shortly after the album’s release, the Jimi Experience were back in the studio to record Axis: Bold as Love, which was released in December of the same year.
MAY 12, 1973: LED ZEPPELIN’S HOUSES OF THE HOLY IS #1
Led Zeppelin‘s fifth album, Houses of the Holy, wasted no time going Gold, having sold 500,000 copies in less than two weeks.
A month later, it would begin a two week reign at #1 on the charts, before being unseated by a Beatles compilation (1967-1970, “The Blue Album”).
Houses of the Holy contains the classic rock radio staples, “Dancing Days”, “Over the Hills and Far Away” and “D’Yer Mak’er.”
MAY 12, 1998: LENNY KRAVITZ’S 5
On 5, Lenny Kravitz streamlined his sound, building songs around tight rhythms, thick basslines, and uncluttered arrangements that put feel over flash, with hits like “Fly Away” and “If You Can’t Say No” leading the way. When the album was re‑released the following year, Kravitz’s explosive cover of “American Woman” was added, helping push 5 into true blockbuster territory.
MAY 13, 1994: SOUNDGARDEN RELEASE “BLACK HOLE SUN”
Soundgarden scored their first of six #1 singles with the release of “Black Hole Sun.”
“Black Hole Sun” would spend 7 total weeks at #1 and earn the band a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.
After Chris Cornell’s passing, the song’s lyrics “No one sings like you anymore”, have become a lasting tribute to the vocalist.
MAY 14, 1982: THE CLASH’S COMBAT ROCK
Combat Rock found The Clash refining their rebellious edge into something broader and more radio‑friendly without fully letting go of their confrontational spirit. Anchored by enduring singles like “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and “Rock the Casbah,” the album expanded the band’s reach worldwide while underscoring the creative tensions that were beginning to pull them apart.
MAY 15, 1975: FLEETWOOD MAC’S FIRST SHOW WITH LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM & STEVIE NICKS
Sixteen months after releasing their Buckingham Nicks album, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks officially joined Fleetwood Mac.
They made their live debut in El Paso, TX to kick off the 1975-76 Fleetwood Mac Tour.
The 18-song set included most of the then-upcoming Fleetwood Mac (“white album”) and three songs from the Buckingham Nicks album.
MAY 16, 1970: CSN&Y’s Déjà Vu IS #1
Recorded separately from one another while David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash all dealt with (in one case, extreme) heartbreak, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young‘s Déjà Vu spent a week at #1 thanks to strong songwriting from each member, and a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock.”
With over 14 million sold worldwide, it is by far the biggest selling album in the Crosby, Stills & Nash oeuvre.
MAY 16, 1978: BUT SERIOUSLY, FOLKS… BY JOE WALSH
Joe Walsh‘s fourth solo album, But Seriously, Folks… is his highest charting solo album (#8).
Best known for the single “Life’s Been Good”, the album was certified Platinum in August 1978.
The album features contributions from Eagles bandmates Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit and Don Felder.
