This Day in Music
A number of notable album releases and Elvis is gold in a different way, on this day in music.
Live in London
2009: Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and novelist, Leonard Cohen, releases his fourth contemporary live album, “Live in London.” His first live album in 30 years, following 1979's “Field Commander Cohen,” it was recorded at The O2 Arena in London on July 17, 2008.
Seventy-three years old at the time, Cohen discovered his manager had stolen his entire fortune. Though he sued her and won a $9 million settlement, she had no ability to pay, and therefore Cohen hit the road as a means of rebuilding his retirement fund.
The 2008 tour was so successful and enjoyable, he decided not to retire, and recorded four more studio albums before his death in 2016, going on tour two more times and releasing four more live albums.
“Live in London” is a spectacular collection that captures Leonard at his best. Praised by critics and making the Top-10 in several European countries, it was certified Platinum in Canada.
Presence
1976: Led Zeppelin release their seventh studio album “Presence” to tepid reviews. As usual for a Zeppelin album, it sold well at over three million copies, however that makes it the band's lowest-selling studio album.
The highlight of the record is the epic “Achilles Last Stand.” It's a Zeppelin LP, so even though it was unfairly maligned by critics and some fans, it still reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It’s actually a good album.
Triplicate
2017: Legendary American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and painter, Bob Dylan, releases his 38th studio album, “Triplicate.”
A three-LP set of classic American songs recorded live in the studio with no overdubs by he and his touring band, it's divided into three distinct song moods. LP-1 is titled “'Til the Sun Goes Down,” LP-2 is “Devil Dolls,” and LP-3 is named “Comin' Home Late.”
Featured song writers include Irving Berlin, Jimmy Van Heusen, Arthur Schwartz, and Rogers & Hammerstein. By far the best of his three consecutive cover albums, it was highly-praised by music writers, resulting in a MetaCritic score of 80/100. It reached No. 37 on the Billboard 200.
And Then There Were Three
1978: “And Then There Were Three,” not just the title but the literal number of remaining band members, is released by Genesis, their ninth studio album.
Down to just three full-time members with the departure of Steve Hackett, the album received mixed reviews. However, it did issue the band's most successful single at the time, “Follow You Follow Me,” which peaked at No. 7 in the U.K., and it became the highest-selling LP of their career, shipping nearly two million units.
The band would enjoy their best commercial success, though not necessarily their best artistic success, throughout the 1980's.
Lucky Town and Human Touch
1992: Adopting a brief trend of the early-1990's, Bruce Springsteen releases two albums on the same day, “Human Touch” and “Lucky Town.” Combined sales for the records were just under seven million units, with “Human Touch” selling slightly more than “Lucky Town,” and performing slightly better in the charts, going to No. 1 in the U.K. and Europe, and No. 2 in the U.S. and Canada. Meanwhile “Lucky Town” peaked at No. 3 in the U.S. and Canada, and No. 2 in the U.K. and Europe.
London Town
1978: British-American rockers Wings release their sixth studio album, “London Town.” Though the record spun-out three singles, only “With a Little Luck” met with any significant success, going to No. 1 in the U.S. and Canada, and peaking at No. 5 in the U.K.
“London Town” received favourable reviews and peaked at No. 2 in the U.S. and Canada, earning Platinum certification in both countries.
Dusty in Memphis
1969: English singer Dusty Springfield releases her sixth studio album, “Dusty in Memphis.” Including the great single “Son of a Preacher Man,” and the movie song “The Windmills of Your Mind,” featured in the The Thomas Crown Affair starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway, directed by Canadian legend Norman Jewison, the album was highly-rated by critics and certified Gold in the U.K.
The Daily Elvis
1957: At Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Elvis performs two shows to a combined crowd of 24,000. He wore his famous gold lamé suit, which he debuted for the 1957 tour.
Pictured: Leonard Cohen performing in London in 2008.
