40 Years Ago - 1986 Chris De Burgh released his eighth album Into the Light. The album had only one hit in the US. "The Lady in Red" peaked at #3 and #2 AC.

30 Years Ago - 1996 Gabrielle released her self-titled second album. "Give Me a Little More Time" was a #16 Club song and the only one to make any noise in the US.

45 Years Ago - 1981 The Manhattan Transfer released their sixth album Mecca for Moderns. This is one of my favorite bands and albums. "The Boy from New York City" peaked at #7 and #4 AC, and won the group a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The song was originally a #8 hit for the Ad Libs in 1964. "Smile Again" peaked at #41 AC. "Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)" also earned them a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group. This is a vo

45 Years Ago - 1981 Elton John released his fifteenth album The Fox. "Nobody Wins" made #21 "Chloe" made #34

40 Years Ago - 1986 Poison released their debut album Look What the Cat Dragged In. "Talk Dirty to Me" peaked at #9. "I Want Action" made #50. "I Won't Forget You" peaked at #13

30 Years Ago - 1996 The Wallflowers released their debut album Bringing Down the Horse. Led by Jakob Dylan, son of Bob Dylan, and produced by T Bone Burnett. There was no physical single release keeping all the songs from the Hot 100. "6th Avenue Heartache" has Adam Duritz from Counting Crows on backing vocals. It peaked at #2 Adult Alternative Airplay, #8 Alternative Airplay, #10 Mainstream Rock, #26 Adult Pop Airplay, #25 Pop Airplay. "One Headlight" won Grammys for Best Ro

30 Years Ago - 1996 Duncan Sheik released his self-titled debut album. "Barely Breathing" made #16, #1 Adult Alternative Airplay, #2 Adult Pop Airplay, #19 AC. "She Runs Away" made #24 Adult Pop Airplay "Reasons for Living" was a #3 Club hit.

35 Years Ago - 1991 Seal released his self-titled debut album. There were only two releases in the US. "Crazy" reached #7 and #5 Alternative Airplay "Killer" is a remix of the song he did with Adamski in 1990. It charted at #100 and #9 Club.

40 Years Ago - 1986 Peter Gabriel released his fifth album So. This was a huge album! "Sledgehammer" with its massive video peaked at #1 Hot 100, Mainstream Rock, and Club. It also made #61 R&B. "In Your Eyes" was used in the movie Say Anything... with the iconic boombox scene. It made #26 and #1 Mainstream Rock. "Don't Give Up" is a duet with Kate Bush making #72. "Big Time" peaked at #8 and #3 Mainstream Rock. "Red Rain" made #33 Mainstream Rock.

30 Years Ago - 1996 Ani DiFranco released her seventh album Dilate. This was her highest-selling and most critically acclaimed. Born in Buffalo, she started her own record company, Righteous Babe Records, in 1989 at age 19. In 2006, the Buffalo News praised her as "Buffalo's leading lady of rock music." I include it because it's just so good and a real representation of 90s rock/folk music. "Untouchable Face" got some radio play.

20 Years Ago - 2001 Missy Elliott released her third album Miss E... So Addictive. "Get Ur Freak On" peaked at #7, #3 R&B, #7 Rap, #19 Pop Airplay, #3 Rhythmic Airplay. "Lick Shots" peaked at #58 R&B Airplay, #25 Rap. "One Minute Man" made #15, #8 R&B, #30 Pop Airplay, #5 Rhythmic Airplay. "Take Away" peaked at #45, #13 R&B, #29 Rhythmic Airplay.

35 Years Ago - 1991 Chubb Rock released his third album The One. "Treat 'Em Right" made #95, #33 R&B, #1 Rapm #32 Club. "The Chubbster" made #41 R&B, #1 Rap, #8 Club. "Just the Two of Us" made #20 R&B, #1 Rap. "The Big Man" made #96 and #30 Rap.

40 Years Ago - 1986 we all felt The Need For Speed! The Top Gun Soundtrack was released. It was a huge hit, becoming the #1 movie of 1986. The soundtrack was #1 for five nonconsecutive weeks. "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins, not the first choice, Starship, Toto, Corey Hart, and Kevin Cronin from REO all declined. made #2, #7 Mainstream Rock. "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin peaked at #1 and #3 AC. "Heaven in Your Eyes" by Loverboy made #12, "Playing with the Boys" by Kenny Log

35 Years Ago - 1991 Paula Abdul released her second album Spellbound. "Rush Rush" peaked at #1 Hot 100 and AC, #20 R&B. "The Promise of a New Day" peaked at #1, #25 AC "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" made #6, #5 AC "Vibeology" made #16, #17 Club "Will You Marry Me?" made #19, #17 AC

35 Years Ago - 1991 Bananarama released their fifth album Pop Life. It is the only Bananarama studio album which features singer Jacquie O'Sullivan, who replaced Siobhan Fahey following her departure in 1988. This was their break from Stock Aitken Waterman as only two songs were produced by them. Mostly ignored in the US, the chart #s are from the UK. "Only Your Love" made #27 "Preacher Man" made #20 "Long Train Running" a remake of the Doobie Brothers song made #30 "Trippin

20 Years Ago - 1996 George Michael released his third album Older. "Jesus to a Child" made #7, #5 AC, #20 Adult Pop Airplay, #22 R&B, #20 Pop Airplay. "Fastlove" peaked at #8 Hot 100 and AC, #14 Adult Pop Airplay, #10 Rhythmic. "Star People '97" made #1 Club.

35 Years Ago - 1991 Depeche Mode released their tenth album Exciter. "Dream On" peaked at #85, #1 Club, #6 Adult Alternative Airplay, #15 Adult Pop Airplay, #12 Alternative Airplay. "I Feel Loved" peaked at #1 Club. "Freelove" made #1 Club.

30 Years Ago - 1996 Donna Lewis released her debut album Now in a Minute. "l Love You Always Forever" was a huge smash. The most played single to that point, with over 1 million spins at radio. It peaked at #2 Hot 100, AC, and Rhythmic, #1 Adult Pop Airplay and Pop Airplay. "Without Love" made #41 and #24 Pop Airplay.

30 Years Ago - 1996 Everything but the Girl released their ninth album Walking Wounded. "Wrong" is the only track to see chart action in the US, reaching #68 and #1 Club.

30 Years Ago - 1996 Backstreet Boys released their self-titled debut album in Germany. We saw the release of the album in August of 1997. It has songs from both this album and their Backstreet's Back album from 1997. This will be the order of the European releases.(US hits only) "We've Got It Goin' On" failed to have any interest in the US. The album was shelved and only released in Europe. Eventually peaking at #69, #31 club, #35 Pop Airplay. "I'll Never Break Your Heart" pe