Historic events this week from Bob Seger, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, David Bowie, Doobie Bros and more
APRIL 12, 1976: BOB SEGER RELEASES LIVE BULLET
For years, Bob Seger and his live show were scarcely known outside of Detroit.
The incendiary performances on Live Bullet, which featured “Travelin’ Man/Beautiful Loser”, “Turn the Page” and “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man”, finally made Bob Seger a household name.
Live Bullet would pave the way for the multi-Platinum success of Night Moves, which was released 6 months later.
APRIL 13, 1987: FLEETWOOD MAC’S TANGO IN THE NIGHT
Fleetwood Mac’s Tango in the Night was originally conceived as Lindsey Buckingham’s third solo album. The 3x Platinum album featured the #1 singles “Little Lies” and “Everywhere”; the latter going double Platinum on its own.
It’s the band’s last to feature the classic lineup of John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
APRIL 13, 1999: TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS’ ECHO
Produced during a period of personal turmoil, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers leaned into a melancholic, guitar-driven sound for the deeply introspective album Echo. The record saw the band reuniting in the studio with legendary producer Rick Rubin and features the standout track “Room at the Top,” which captures the raw emotional vulnerability Petty was feeling at the time.
APRIL 14, 1983: DAVID BOWIE RELEASES LET’S DANCE
David Bowie‘s 15th LP, Let’s Dance, remains his biggest selling album worldwide. Featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan on lead guitar, the album contains “China Girl”, “Modern Love” and the #1 single “Let’s Dance.” The album has sold nearly 11 million copies worldwide.
APRIL 14, 1979: DOOBIE BROTHERS’ “WHAT A FOOL BELIVES” IS #1
A few months after releasing Minute by Minute, the Doobie Brothers had their second #1 single since 1975’s “Black Water”.
Co-written with Kenny Loggins, the song would go on to win Grammys for Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
APRIL 15, 1974: SECOND HELPING FROM LYNYRD SKYNYRD
Second Helping was Lynyrd Skynyrd‘s second straight set of essential classic and southern rock. Selling over 2 million copies, the band’s sophomore album contains “Call Me the Breeze”, “Don’t Ask Me No Questions”, “The Ballard of Curtis Loew” and the iconic “Sweet Home Alabama.”
APRIL 17, 1973: EAGLES RELEASE THEIR DESPERADO LP
The Eagles‘ sophomore album, Desperado, featured the single “Tequila Sunrise” as well as the popular ballad, “Desperado.” The old-west themed album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000 and went double Platinum in 2001.
