This Day in Music

Michael Fitzgibbon

A landmark hip-hop album, Frank is in Colorado, and Elvis goes to the fair, on this day in music.

Elton John

1970: Legendary singer-songwriter and piano player Elton John releases his second studio album, simply titled “Elton John.” Featuring his breakout Top-10 single, “Your Song,” along with the great tracks “Take Me to the Pilot” and “Border Song,” the album established John as a bona fide pop star.

The LP received favourable reviews, though some critics pointed out that it was overly orchestrated. Peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Canada RPM Top Albums Chart, the release earned Elton millions of new fans. It was certified Platinum in both the U.S. and Canada.

Fear of a Black Planet

1990: Legendary rap and hip-hop act Public Enemy release their third studio album, the landmark “Fear of a Black Planet.” It includes the single “Fight the Power,” which was featured in the Spike Lee joint Do the Right Thing the year before, bringing attention to the group and the subsequent album.

Lead rapper Chuck D had set out to make a “deep, complex album” with this work, and he certainly succeeded. Including elaborate soundscapes and a polyrhythmic pulse underlying samples used before the establishment of the samples clearing protocol, media sound bites, and sophisticated tape loops, the LP ushered in the golden age of hip hop.

Earning universal critical acclaim, New Musical Express rated it 10/10 and the Village Voice graded it A-. The record achieved crossover success, not only peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Hip Hop Albums chart, but going to No. 10 on the Billboard 200, No. 4 on the U.K. Albums Chart, and No. 15 on the Canada RPM Top Albums Chart. It was certified Platinum in the U.S. and Gold in Canada and the U.K.

A legacy recording, “Fear of a Black Planet” would influence generations of rappers and hip-hop artists who followed. It was added to The Library of Congress National Recording Archives in 2004, places No. 176 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (c) 2020, and in 2013 was named by New Musical Express as their 96th-best choice in their all time albums list.

Heavy Horses

1978: “Heavy Horses,” the eleventh studio album from English prog-rock band Jethro Tull, is released to mixed critical reviews. The second of the group’s trilogy of folk-music albums, it depicts themes of country living and is dedicated to the “indigenous working ponies and horses of Great Britain.”

A clear change from the madrigal-sounding folklore-inspired themes of Tull’s prior folk LP, “Songs from the Wood,” it was reviewed as unfavourable by Melody Maker, but earns 4/5-Stars at AllMusic.

The release performed well commercially, peaking at No. 20 in the U.K., No. 19 in the U.S., and No. 14 in Canada. It was certified Gold in Canada and the U.S.

The Friday Frank

1980: In the newly-built CU Events Center at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Zappa performs to nearly 10,000 fans on his 1980 Spring Tour.

The Daily Elvis

1963: The Elvis movie It Happened at the World’s Fair opened its wide release across the U.S., following its premiere in Los Angeles on April 3rd.

Pictured: Elton John in 1970.