All year, we’re celebrating PLR’s 50th Anniversary. Listen every Friday at 1pm for 4 songs off a classic album. Below are our 99.1 PLR Curran Volkswagen 50 Years / 50 Albums Hall of Fame Inductees.
Check out the PLR 50 Archives here.
- 50 Years, 50 Albums 1974: Aerosmith ‘Get Your Wings’
Certainly, a tough choice this week and quite the race for the most votes as we wrap up the year 1974 with three, of what became, iconic albums of that decade. The second album from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Second Helping, along with Eric Clapton’s 461 Ocean Boulevard gave us timeless songs that will always be played…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1994: Alice in Chains ‘Jar of Flies’
1994 gave us these three awesome albums: Green Day’s third album Dookie, Nine Inch Nails’ third album The Downward Spiral, and Alice in Chain’s Jar of Flies. Jar of Flies was titled after a third-grade science experiment. Jerry Cantell recalls an experiment he conducted with a jar of flies in the third grade, of which…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1985: Phil Collins ‘No Jacket Required’
No Jacket Required, the third studio album from Phil Collins, came in with the most votes this week; edging out Heart’s self-titled album and John Mellencamp’s Scarecrow, all MTV favorites. But the drummer from the legendary Prog Rock band Genesis showed us what a great front man he is, as well as songwriter and album…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1976: Eagles ‘Hotel California’
The music of 1976 is synonymous with names like Steve Miller, Bob Seger and the Eagles. All artists have some great musical anthems like “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Night Moves” and, of course, “Hotel California.” It was the Eagles’ fifth studio album that came in with the most votes this week. It was the first…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1991: Metallica ‘Metallica’
1991 was a great year in music with the debut of Pearl Jam’s Ten, Guns ‘N Roses’ Use Your Illusion I and II, and the fifth studio album from Metallica “The Black Album” or self titled. Ten and I & II were incredible albums that gave us songs that have become staples in our music…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1984: Bruce Springsteen ‘Born in the U.S.A.’
Tough choice for this week’s 50 Years, 50 Albums. We had the 9th studio album from Scorpions Love at First Sting, which is a great follow up to their previous album Blackout, the U.S. introduction to the band. We also had the 5th studio album from the Cars Heartbeat City, which had six great singles…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 2001: Staind ‘Break the Cycle’
Staind were a Springfield based band that were discovered by Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit fame. Their debut album came out in 1999 just when the nu metal movement was starting to gain steam. Staind was part of the extremely popular “Family Values” tour and then in 2001 dropped their biggest record and our hall…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1978: The Cars ‘The Cars’
It is not often that your debut album also sounds like a greatest hits. The Cars are one of those bands thanks to the genius of Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr. These two Boston based musicians came up with a sound that would later would be called new wave. An album with six hits that…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1998: Godsmack ‘Godsmack’
This is a first in voting for 50 Years, 50 Albums for the year 1998 with Kid Rock’s 4th album Devil Without A Cause, Offspring’s 5th album Americana and the debut lp from Godsmack. It came down to a tie at the end of the voting between Offspring and Godsmack, so we went to a…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1981: Rolling Stones ‘Tattoo You’
Wrapping up the year 1981 with a tight voting race between Foreigner’s fourth album 4, Journey’s seventh studio album Escape, which gave us some of Journey’s biggest hits, and Tattoo You from the Rolling Stones. After the dust settled, it was the 18th studio album from the Stones that came in with the most votes.…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 2006: Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Stadium Arcadium’
This will be the second time the Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) get inducted into the WPLR Hall of Fame. The first time with the album Californication, which represented the year 1999 in our 50th year anniversary and now with there ninth studio album Stadium Arcadium coming in with the most votes. The album released…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1979: Pink Floyd ‘The Wall’
Well, it was no surprise the 11th studio album from Pink Floyd came in with the most votes over two worthy albums AC/DC’s Highway to Hell, the last album to feature the late Bon Scott, and Tom Petty’s third studio album Damn the Torpedoes. The Wall, a rock opera about a jaded rock star named…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1993: Pearl Jam ‘Vs.’
The year was 1993 and three great albums from that year were up for voting. Aerosmith’s Get a Grip, their 11th studio album; the 3rd and last studio album for Nirvana In Utero; and then we have the second album from Pearl Jam Vs. Voting was very close, but the sophomore effort from Pearl Jam…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1988: Van Halen ‘OU812’
The year 1988; MTV at its peak; and songs you heard on the radio, you can see on TV…ah the Eighties. The three albums up for voting this week got plenty of both. Bon Jovi’s New Jersey, Poison’s Open up and Say Ahh and Van Halen’s OU812. The eighth studio album from Van Halen got…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1972: Rolling Stones ‘Exile on Main St.’
The year was 1972 and the three albums we chose from that year was the debut album from the Eagles, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main St. After the dust settled, it was the 12th Studio Album and the first double album from the Stones Exile on Main Street that…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1990: The Black Crowes ‘Shake Your Money Maker’
Learn more about the album: How the Black Crowes’ Debut Album Broke All of the Rules The Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson reflects on the band’s breakthrough debut, Shake Your Money Maker, and a new edition celebrating its 30th birthday The Black Crowes’ Chris and Rich Robinson unpack the story behind their timeless debut, Shake Your Money…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1989: Bon Jovi ‘Slippery When Wet’
Learn more about the album:The story behind Bon Jovi’s ‘Slippery When Wet’ album cover‘Slippery When Wet’: The Album That Changed Bon Jovi’s LivesHow Bon Jovi Changed the World With ‘Slippery When Wet’Essential video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwkListen to the album:Powered by Curran Volkswagen… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 2002: Audioslave ‘Audioslave’
Learn more about the album: Audioslave’s Debut Album: A Vital Record That ‘Sounded Transcendent’ Chris Cornell Speaks About His Split With Audioslave 15 Years Ago: Audioslave’s Debut Shatters Expectations Essential video: Listen to the album: Powered by Curran Volkswagen… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1974: Bad Company ‘Bad Company’
Bad Company’s debut album came in with the most votes over Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Second Helping and Eric Clapton’s 461 Ocean Blvd.; both excellent albums. Bad Company, formed in 1973 in Surrey, England, is often referred to as a super group with members Paul Rodgers from Free, drummer Simon Kirke, Mott the Hoople’s guitarist Mick Ralphs, and…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1996: Metallica ‘Load’
It started off as a tight race between Tool’s Aenima, Sublime’s third album and Metallica’s Load for the year 1996 and by the end of voting, Metallica took in the most nods to be inducted into the PLR Hall of Fame. Coming off the the fifth album, referred to as the “Black Album” in 1991…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1984: Van Halen ‘1984’
It’s no surprise that Van Halen’s 1984 album came in with the most votes. The Car’s Heartbeat City was a huge album for the band with five singles released from 1984 to 1985 and Bruce’s Born in the U.S.A., cited by rock critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. But it was…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1978: Van Halen ‘Van Halen’
The year was 1978. Disco at its prime and three iconic albums to choose from to be inducted into our Hall of Fame. Rolling Stones Some Girls album coming off a decline in popularity put the boys back on top. The debut of the Cars introducing us, at that time, into the New Wave/Rock Pop…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1992: Stone Temple Pilots ‘Core’
Once again it comes as no surprise that the debut album from Stone Temple Pilots Core came in with the most votes in this week’s 50 Years, 50 Albums. Formed in San Diego in 1989, Scott Weiland, the DeLeo brothers and Eric Kretz set out to make an album reviving the album-oriented era where you just…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1981: Rush ‘Moving Pictures’
It certainly comes with no surprise that Rush’s Moving Pictures album came in with the most votes this week as we focused on the year 1981. Foreigner 4 and Tattoo You from the Stones are both great albums from that year, but couldn’t keep up with our rabid Rush fans! Moving Pictures is the eighth studio…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 2008: Kings of Leon ‘Only by the Night’
A family band out of Nashville, Brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill with cousin Matthew Followill formed Kings of Leon in 1999. To describe the band’s music is a combination of southern rock, garage rock with a heavy dose of alternative sound, basically making this a kick ass band. Their fourth album Only by the…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1975: Bruce Springsteen ‘Born to Run’
Well, it comes with no surprise that Bruce Springsteen came in with the most votes this week for the Hall of Fame although Kiss’s Alive and Queen’s Night at the Opera certainly got their fair share of votes. It was Bruce’s third album and a make-it-or-break-it scenario; the first one Greetings from Asbury Park and the…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 2003: Linkin Park ‘Meteora’
Formed in Agoura Hills, California in 1996, Linkin Park rose to fame in 2000 with their debut album Hybrid Theory released during the nu metal scene with heavy airplay on MTV. This certainly paved the way for their second album Meteora debuting at number one upon its release in March 2003. Meteora has sold over…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1997: Foo Fighters ‘The Colour and the Shape’
This was a big week for the Foo Fighters as they have been inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and their second album The Colour and the Shape goes into our “Hall of Fame” as well. Released in 1997,The Colour and the Shape marks the official debut of the Foo Fighters…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1983: Def Leppard ‘Pyromania’
Formed in Sheffield, England in 1977, Def Leppard became a part of the new wave of British heavy metal in the early ’80s. The third studio album Pyromania is the second to be produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange after the success of the previous album, High n Dry, moving the bands roots to a…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 2001: System of a Down ‘Toxicity’
Formed in Glendale, California in 1994 this “Armenian-American” heavy metal band System of a Down achieved huge commercial success with the release of five albums between 1998 and 2005. Toxicity is the second studio album released in 2001, selling 220,000 copies in its first week and a total of 12 million worldwide and certified triple-platinum…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1987: Guns ‘N Roses ‘Appetite for Destruction’
This is the third debut album in our Hall of Fame. Guns ‘N Roses Appetite for Destruction. Released in July of 1987 when hair metal bands were dominating rock station charts, we all thought that this was just another hair band out of L.A. That’s until you dropped the needle on cut one, side one…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1999: Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Californication’
Formed in Los Angeles in 1983 Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) have incorporated a wide spectrum of music genres from alternative rock, funk, hip hop, rap to psychedelic rock. Their Seventh studio album “Californication” marked the return of John Frusciante replacing Dave Navarro. Frusciante was also on Mother’s Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik, both…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1973: Pink Floyd ‘Dark Side of the Moon’
Dark Side of the Moon is Pink Floyd’s eighth studio album. A brilliantly composed concept record that is certainly worthy of being called the greatest of all time. After the Meddle tour, Roger Waters came up with this concept album that dealt with things that make people mad, mental illness and an illusion to lunacy…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1985: Dire Straits ‘Brothers in Arms’
Dire Straits, formed in London by brothers Mark and David Knopfler in 1977, hit the ground running with the debut self-titled album in 1978. The band sold over 100 million albums by 1985, making Dire Straits one of the world’s best-selling artists. Brothers in Arms was the fifth album and the last one for the…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 2007: The White Stripes ‘Icky Thump’
The rock duo out of Detroit is now in our Hall of Fame. With a short run of seven years The White Stripes, Jack White and then wife Meg White, put out six incredible albums that covered the genres of alternative rock, garage rock, alternative, punk, blues, etc. Although they are no longer together (or…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1991: Nirvana ‘Nevermind’
The second album from the Seattle based grunge band that changed the face of music as we know it. Taking a cue from the Pixies while also combining the punk sounds of Black Flag with the pop hooks of the Beatles, Nirvana created an album that famously knocked Michael Jackson out of the number 1…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1977: Fleetwood Mac ‘Rumours’
What started as a British Blues Band in London with founding members Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Danny Kirwin, Fleetwood Mac became the band that has broken records with album sales. Up until 1975 Fleetwood Mac changed members often creating different sounds and styles on each album. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined in 1975…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1982: Iron Maiden ‘The Number Of The Beast’
The third album from Iron Maiden The Number of the Beast was their breakthrough album in 1982 featuring new lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson. Released just a year after Killers, Beast showed the writing skills of Bruce and of course his vocal talents. Dickinson didn’t get the writing credits on the album due to his obligations with former…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 2009: Cage the Elephant ‘Cage the Elephant’
This is the second time a debut album has been voted into the WPLR Hall of Fame; the first was Boston and now we welcome Cage the Elephant’s self-titled debut album. Formed back in 2006 in Bowling Green, Kentucky by brothers Matt and Brad Shultz combining classic rock along with blues, punk rock and alternative rock.…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1989: Mötley Crüe ‘Dr. Feelgood’
The Crüe hit the scene in 1981 Los Angeles and really kicked off the Heavy Hair Metal genre with their first four albums. It wasn’t until 1989’s Dr. Feelgood that launched them into the stratosphere. At this point the band was getting sober which certainly made legendary producer Bob Rock’s job a lot easier. (Watch…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1976: Boston ‘Boston’
There are very few albums where every song on it has become a recognizable hit, especially a debut album! This is true for Boston’s first LP behind the genius of Tom Scholz, an MIT graduate with a Master’s degree from that esteemed university. When first signed to a record label (Epic) they wanted him to…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1994: Soundgarden ‘Superunknown’
This is the 4th album from Soundgarden and definitely their breakthrough record. Superunknown was recorded shortly after the 1992 Lollapalooza tour and supporting the previous album Badmotorfinger, which gave us songs like “Outshined” and “Rusty Cage.” Superunknown was released in March of 1994 with the first single released in February of that year. “Spoonman” launched…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 2004: Green Day ‘American Idiot’
Stolen recordings led to one of Green Day’s best albums! While working on a new album (Cigarettes and Valentines) master tapes were somehow stolen, so the band decided to start from scratch leaving C & V behind. American Idiot, a “Punk Rock Opera”, was born. With the anti-hero “Jesus of Suburbia”, as “Tommy” from The…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1980: Ozzy Osbourne ‘Blizzard of Ozz’
When Ozzy was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, he has stated in many interviews that he thought he was finished with his career, when in fact he was just starting a brilliant solo legacy. Blizzard introduced us to the incredible Randy Rhoads, who co-wrote with Ozzy, and songs that have become classic metal hits! We…… Continue Reading - 50 Years, 50 Albums 1971: Rolling Stones ‘Sticky Fingers’
Welcome to Week 1 of our yearlong 50th Anniversary Celebration. This week, we celebrate the year we went on the air, 1971. Sticky Fingers was the first album on “Rolling Stones Records” which first featured the Lips and Tongue logo. It also gave the band complete control over the music and artwork. Sticky Fingers album…… Continue Reading
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