1991

R.E.M. release “Out Of Time” in March. The idiosyncratic mandolin-driven arrangement of “Losing My Religion” becomes a staple of MTV’s playlist over the spring and summer, helping propel the single to #4 on the pop charts. “Shiny Happy People”, easily the band’s most commercial attempt to date, peaks at #10 on the U.S. singles chart.

U2 release “Achtung Baby”, which includes the hit singles "Mysterious Ways", "One" and "Even Better Than The Real Thing".

Metallica’s self-titled sixth album, unofficially known as “The Black Album”, comes as a shock to longtime fans due to Bob Rock’s polished production. The album is a gigantic worldwide success, going #1 in over ten countries and unleashing the Top 20 U.S. single “Enter Sandman”.

Bryan Adams’ “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)”, from the Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves soundtrack, spent 17 weeks at #1 on the U.S. Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. In hindsight, it seemed a lot longer than that.


The Replacements officially disband after playing their final gig on July 4th in Chicago. Here are some tracks from this, the band's last live show:

I Will Dare
Bent Out Of Shape
Achin' To Be
Merry Go Round
Happy Town
Swingin' Party
One Wink At A Time
Waitress In The Sky
When It Began
I'll Be You
Hey Good Lookin'
Another Girl, Another Planet
Within Your Reach


After jumping ship from EMI to sign a lucrative deal with Warner Brothers, Red Hot Chili Peppers release Blood Sugar Sex Magic, which features the hit single “Under The Bridge” (#2), as well as the popular modern rock radio tracks “Give It Away” and “Breaking The Girl”.

After spending the previous couple years enjoying success with Traveling Wilburys and as a solo artist, Tom Petty returns to working with the Heartbreakers. They release the Jeff Lynne-produced album “Into The Great Wide Open” and enjoy only moderate chart success with the single “Learning To Fly”, which peaked at # 28. [Bonus material: “Mary Jane’s Last Dance (live)”]

Smashing Pumpkins release their debut album, Gish, on Caroline Records. [Check out “Daydream” (live acoustic ’07)]

“More Than Words”, an acoustic ballad by the heavy metal band Extreme, lands at #1 on the U.S. charts. The follow-up single, “Hole-Hearted” would make the Top 5 later in the year.


Material Issue’s “International Pop Overthrow”, which is comprised of demos the band had recorded over an eighteen-month period, is released on Mercury Records.


Contemporary Christian artist Amy Grant enjoys platinum mainstream success with her album “Heart In Motion” (#10), which includes the #1 hit “Baby Baby” as well as “Every Heartbeat (#2), “That’s What Love Is For” (#7), “Good For Me” (#8), and “I Will Remember You” (#20).

Jesus Jones release their second album and score a worldwide hit with the single, “Right Here Right Now”.


The La’s peak at #49 on the U.S. singles charts with “There She Goes”.


MTV’s “120 Minutes” enjoys growing popularity by highlighting alternative bands from around the world. A typical playlist from May ’91 is as follows:

Candy - Iggy Pop
I Don't Know Why I Love You - House of Love
Fool's Gold - Stone Roses
Dig For Fire/Allison - Pixies
Iceblink Luck- Cocteau Twins
Head On - The Jesus and Mary Chain
Head Like a Hole - Nine Inch Nails
Way Down Now - World Party
I'm Free - Soup Dragons
Joey - Concrete Blonde
Never Enough - The Cure
Blue Sky Mine - Midnight Oil

The Only One I Know - Charlatans UK
Here's Where the Story Ends - the Sundays
Kool Thing - Sonic Youth
Nothing Compares 2U - Sinead O'Connor
Cuts You Up - Peter Murphy
Been Caught Stealin' - Jane's Addiction
Taste - Ride
Don't Fence Me in - David Byrne
Driver 8 - R.E.M.
Libertine - Buck Pets
When It Began - Replacements
XY&Z - Pop Will Eat Itself
Out There - Blake Babies

After being unceremoniously dropped by A&M Records, then unable to secure a label for his new studio album, Matthew Sweet signs with new label Zoo Records and released “Girlfriend” in October 1991. The album peaks at #100, but the title track enjoyed heavy MTV airplay and became a Top 5 Modern Rock radio hit. [Check out “Evangeline” (live)]

Swedish Duo Roxette continues their winning ways with their second hit album in the U.S., “Joyride”. The album’s title track hit #1 in ten countries (including the U.S.).

Pearl Jam release their debut album, “Ten”, on Epic Records on August 27, 1991. [Check out “Jeremy (live)”]


Geffen Records releases “Nevermind” by Nirvana on September 24, 1991. Here are some tracks from the band’s 1991 show at Chicago’s Metro:

Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam
Aneurysm
School
Floyd The Barber
Drain You
Smells Like Teen Spirit
About A Girl
Breed
Polly
Sliver
Pennyroyal Tea