History

Finding a new lover sure can put a spring in your step, huh? Rarely has this phenomenon been more clearly demonstrated in rock history than with Billy Joel's ninth album, 1983's 'An Innocent Man,' which turns 30 years old today.

On Aug. 4, 1975, Robert Plant and his family were vacationing in Rhodes, Greece, when the car he was driving spun off the road and crashed. It was the first in a string of bad luck for the Led Zeppelin singer.

As Jackson Browne prepared to release his sixth studio album, the singer-songwriter was at the peak of his pop success. His previous LP, 1980’s ‘Hold Out,’ was Browne’s first (and only) album to hit #1 on the Billboard charts. Plus, he had scored his biggest hit single with 1982’s ‘Somebody’s Baby,’ featured on the soundtrack to ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High.’

The term "Beatlemania" wouldn't be coined for another two months, but by August 1963, the Beatles were becoming so popular in the U.K. that they created a magazine devoted to all things Beatles. That month, the first of 77 issues of Beatles Monthly went out to members of the band's fan club.

It's an anthem that, to this day, still ends the main set of Paul McCartney's solo concerts.

Later that same year, the frustrated label sued him for $3.3 million.

A full 60-member orchestra joined the group for over-the-top readings of their biggest hits.

Sixth album came a year after David Bowie helped them become glam-rock superstars.

For Ray Davies, personal issues came to a head in July 1973, when he announced onstage that he was quitting the Kinks.

They were on a skyward trajectory, but it wasn't a bump-free ride.

The 1973 classic had logged more than 730 weeks after debuting on the weekly Top 200 listing.

They eventually boasted multi-layered vocals and ringing guitar notes, but didn't start out that way.