25 Years Ago - 2001 Crystal Method released their second album Tweekend. "Name of the Game" peaked at #5 Club and #22 Alternative Airplay. You probably have heard it, it's showed up everywhere from Malcolm in the Middle, Dark Angel, NCIS, Resident Evil, Blade II and Trinity, and Video Games.

30 Years Ago - 1996 LeAnn Rimes released her debut album Blue. It went 6X Platinum! It was huge!!! "Blue" was the crossover hit recorded when she was 13. It peaked at#26 and #10 Country.

30 Years Ago - 1996 Prince (or at the time the symbol) released his eighteenth album Chaos and Disorder. Prince refused to promote the album, still engaged in his fight against his Warner Bros. contract, and it was released simply to fulfill his contractual obligations. No US single released, but "Dinner with Delores" charted in the UK at #36 and #5 Hip Hop/R&B.

25 Years Ago - 2001 Cake released their fourth album Comfort Eagle. "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" made #7 Alternative Airplay and #31 Adult Pop Airplay. An instrumental version was used as the theme song for the TV show Chuck.

40 Years Ago - 1986 Chaka Khan released her sixth album Destiny. "Love of a Lifetime" peaked at #52, #21 R&B, #11 Club. It was co-written with Green Gartside from Scritti Politti. "Tight Fit" charted #28 R&B. "The Other Side of the World" made #81 R&B and was co-written by Mike Rutherford of Genesis. It also appeared on the White Nights soundtrack. "Earth to Mickey" made #93 R&B.

45 Years Ago - 1981 Pat Benatar released her third album Precious Times. "Fire and Ice" made #17 and #2 Mainstream Rock. "Promises in the Dark" charted #38 and #16 Mainstream Rock. (That's it??)

40 Years Ago - 1981 Foreigner released their fourth album 4. The number was not only their fourth album, but the band was now a foursome. The album was produced by Mutt Lange. "Urgent" has some synth work from a then unknown Thomas Dolby. The song made #4, #1 Mainstream Rock, and even #32 Club. "Waiting for a Girl Like You" peaked at #2, #1 Mainstream Rock, and #5 AC. "Juke Box Hero" charted #26 and #3 Mainstream Rock. Also #1 on my college dorm floor! "Break It Up" made #26

35 Years Ago - 1991 Heavy D & the Boyz released their third album Peaceful Journey. "Is It Good to You" peaked #32 and #13 R&B/Hip Hop. "Now That We Found Love" is a cover of the O'Jays 1973 song and Third World #47 1978 hit. They took it to #11, #2 Club, #5 R&B/Hip Hop, and #4 Rap. It features Aaron Hall.

35 Years Ago - 1991 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released their eighth album Into the Great Wide Open. Jeff Lynne of ELO was the producer just like Tom's last album Full Moon Fever. "Learning to Fly" spent six weeks at #1 Mainstream Rock, and peaked at #28 Hot 100 and #36 AC. "Into the Great Wide Open" made #4 Mainstream Rock and #92 Hot 100.

40 Years Ago - 1986 Communards released their self-titled debut album. This was Jimmy Somerville's second band after Bronski Beat. "Don't Leave Me This Way" features jazz singer Sarah Jane Morris and peaked at #40 (criminal!!!) and #1 Club. it is a cover of the #1 Thelma Houston 1976 original.

40 Years Ago - 1986 Samantha Fox released her debut album Touch Me. The record company was looking for a British Madonna. "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)" peaked at #4 and #41 Club. "Do Ya Do Ya (Wanna Please Me)" only made #87. (yea..you've never heard this)

40 Years Ago - 1986 Madonna released her third album True Blue. With Confessions II coming out July 3rd it's good to revisit Madonna here. This album remains Madonna's best-selling studio album, the best-selling album of 1986, the best-selling album of the 1980s by a female artist, and one of the best-selling albums of all time, with sales exceeding 25 million copies worldwide. "Live to Tell" was also featured in her then husband Sean Penn's At Close Range and hit #1 Hot 100

40 Years Ago - 1986 Eurhythmics released their fifth album Revenge. "Missionary Man" was the fourth single released in the UK, first in America, where it peaked at #14, #1 Mainstream rock, #6 Club. It won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. "Thorn in My Side" made #68.

30 Years Ago - 1996 Me'shell Ndegeocello released her second album Peace Beyond Passion. It went o to be her most commercially successful album. "Who Is He and What Is He to You" is a cover of a Bill Withers song and peaked at #1 Club and #34 R&B. "Leviticus: Faggot" peaked at #15 Club.

40 Years Ago - 1986 Wham! released their third and final studio album Music from the Edge of Heaven. This is a pared-down version of the "Final" greatest hits album. "I'm Your Man" peaked at #3, #13 AC, #42 Club, #55 R&B. "A Different Corner" made #7 and #6 AC. "The Edge of Heaven" features a guest appearance by Elton John on the Piano. It made #10, and #22 AC. "Where Did Your Heart Go?" is a cover of a Was (Not Was) song charting #50 and #33 AC. "Last Christmas" is included

35 Years Ago - 1991 Crystal Waters released her debut album Surprise. "Gypsy Woman" is regarded as one of the biggest classics of house music. It peaked at #8, #1 Club, #25 R&B/Hip Hop. "Makin' Happy" peaked #1 Club, #63 R&B, #58 Radio Songs.

35 Years Ago - 1991 Bonnie Raitt released her eleventh album Luck of the Draw. This album surpassed her previous album Nick of Time commercially. "Something to Talk About" won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and peaked at #5 Hot 100 and AC, #12 Mainstream Rock. "I Can't Make You Love Me" peaked at #18 and #6 AC. "Not the Only One" charted #34 and #2 AC.

40 Years Ago - 1986 Peter Cetera released his second solo album Solitude/Solitaire. "Glory of Love" is featured in The Karate Kid 2 movie and reached #1 Hot 100 and AC. "The Next Time I Fall" is a duet with Amy Grant. #1 again Hot 100 and AC. "Big Mistake" peaked at #61. "Only Love Knows Why" charted #24 AC.

25 Years Ago - 2001 Basement Jaxx released their second album Rooty. "Romeo" made #5 Club. "Where's Your Head At" peaked at #3 Club and #39 Alternative Airplay. "Get Me Off" was originally intended for Janet Jackson. "She told us she loved our stuff," recalls Felix Buxton, "but she thought we were Zero 7. We wished her every success in hooking up with a British dance duo eventually and said, 'Cheerio, Celine.' It made #26 Club.

45 Years Ago - 1981 Kim Wilde released her self-titled debut album. "Kids in America" peaked at #25 and #29 Mainstream Rock. "Water on Glass" charted #52 Mainstream Rock.