The first albums from a pair of artists that would go on to to become two of Columbia Record's most successful acts ever dropped on this day in 1973. The catalog of releases from each has surpassed 75 million copies in the US alone and more than double that total in worldwide sales. The albums; Aerosmith's self-titled debut and Bruce Springsteen's Greetings from Asbury Park N.J.
Columbia signed Aerosmith in 1972 after Clive Davis saw their showcase performance at Max's Kansas City in New York that was arranged for Columbia and Atlantic Records. An edit of Dream On that was a full minute shorter than the abum version was released as a single to modest success in 1973. When the full length song got reissued as a single in 1975, it launched the band toward a national level of success it already established and enjoyed in Boston and adjacent New England states.
The label wanted Springsteen's debut on Columbia to be a solo album, but Bruce had already set his mind on recording with his band. The evening of the day Greetings From Asbury Park hit the streets, Bruce was the opening act for a Boston based duo named Travis & Shook that was playing a club near Philadelphia.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on January 5 include...
1923 Sun Records founder Sam Phillips is born.
1948 Nazz drummer Thom Mooney is born.
1950 Blondie guitarist Chris Stein is born.
1954 REO Speedwagon drummer Bryan Hitt born.
1963 Bob Dylan writes Girl From the North Country and Boots of Spanish Leather.
1967 Paul McCartney records his vocal track for Penny Lane.
1969 Creedence Clearwater Revival releases Bayou Country, the first of three albums it would put out that year.
1976 Bob Dylan releases Desire.
1978 The Sex Pistols make US live debut in Atlanta.
1979 Elvis Costello releases Armed Forces.
1979 Joe Jackson releases Look Sharp.
1979 Prince makes live debut at The Capri Club in Minneapolis...
1980 David Bowie performs on Saturday Night Live.
1984 The Police announce a Farewell concert on March 2 in Australia.
1987 Elton John cancels tour after undergoing throat surgery.
2005 Former Doors and Iggy Pop manager Danny Sugarman dies of Lung Cancer at 50.
