From the classics to those rare gems you forgot about, each week music blogger Sam Smith reviews an album celebrating an anniversary. Offering a mix of history, quirky facts, and of course tunes, catch anniversary albums every Monday on Morning Glory with Geneva for your fix of music history.
This week, Sam and Geneva take a look at "Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches." the third studio album from Madchester band Happy Mondays. Released in 1990, this record was one of the seminal albums to come out of the Madchester scene of the early 1990s.
This week, Sam takes a look at the second studio album from post-punk group Public Image Limited "Metal Box." Released in 1979, this album was one of the most ambitious projects former Sex Pistol John Lydon was ever involved in.
This week, Sam takes a look at the fourth studio album from Janet Jackson "Rhythm Nation 1814." Released in 1989, Janet tapped into the new jack swing scene in a move that took her to number one in America.
This week, Sam takes a look at the debut album from the British Two-Tone band the Specials "The Specials." Released in 1979, this album made an immediate impact leading the Two-Tone charge and contributing to a new socio-political environment in Thatcher UK.
This week, Sam takes a look at the third studio album from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers "Damn the Torpedoes." Released in 1979, many say this was the band's best record and a classic rock staple of the day.
This week, Sam takes a look at the 1999 classic from The Roots "Things Fall Apart." This album helped set the future blueprint for instrumentation in hip-hop and proved rap could be more than just sample-based.
This week, Sam takes a look at the fifth studio album from Boston new wave band the Cars "Heartbeat City." Released in 1984, this was the Cars most commercially successful and popular album cementing them as one of the best new wave bands of the day.
This week, Sam takes a look at the second studio album from American hardcore band Hüsker Dü "Zen Arcade." Released in 1984, this album positioned Hüsker Dü as one of the big three bands of the new hardcore scene in the States during the early 1980s.
This week, Sam takes a look at the fifth studio album from American new wave group The B-52's "Cosmic Thing." Released in 1989, this album was a comeback album for the group and went on to become their most commercially successful.
This week, Sam takes a look at the debut solo album from Brooklyn rapper Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) "Black on Both Sides." Released in 1999, this album came hot on the back of the Black Star record and helped cement Bey's place as one of the most talented up and coming rappers at the turn of the century.