The Plastic blog
April 4th
album anniversaries
By Plastic · Published


The Prodigy • Music For The Jilted Generation
Released 4 April 1994 · 33rd anniversary
Liam Howlett shifted the focus of rave culture away from the dance floor and into the streets with this aggressive, genre-bending masterpiece. It remains a defining statement of rebellion, famously featuring a track recorded with Pop Will Eat Itself to protest the UK's Criminal Justice Act.
Raw breakbeats and distorted synthesizers define the sound, capturing the frantic energy of the mid-90s UK rave scene. The production balances dark, industrial textures with massive hooks, cementing its place as a cornerstone of the big beat movement.

Djo • The Crux
Released 4 April 2025 · 2nd anniversary
Joe Keery steps away from his screen persona to deliver a project that feels like a kaleidoscope of psychedelic pop and indie rock. The songwriting leans into quirky, synth-heavy arrangements that feel both intimate and expansive.
Production here favors a lo-fi charm that makes the record feel like a basement recording session turned into a stadium anthem. It captures a specific brand of modern indie energy that is as catchy as it is unpredictable.

Black Country, New Road • Forever Howlong
Released 4 April 2025 · 2nd anniversary
Intricate arrangements and sprawling narratives define this latest collection, marking a significant evolution in the group's songwriting approach. The tracks weave through moments of quiet intimacy and sudden, explosive shifts that keep you guessing from the opening note to the final fade.
Raw, live-focused production gives the record a tactile, breathing quality that feels perfectly at home in the current alternative rock landscape. It captures the tension of a band refining their craft while leaning into the unpredictable energy that has defined their sound since the beginning.

Gary Moore • Still Got The Blues
Released 4 April 1990 · 37th anniversary
Gary Moore made a massive pivot here, trading his hard rock roots for a deep, soulful dive into the blues. He even recruited legends like Albert King and Albert Collins to trade licks with him, proving he had the chops to stand alongside his childhood heroes.
Released in 1990, the record captures a polished, late-eighties production style that keeps the guitar tone sharp and biting. It remains a definitive bridge between classic blues standards and the high-energy rock sensibilities that defined his career.

Malo • Malo
Released 4 April 1972 · 55th anniversary
Jorge Santana leads this powerhouse ensemble through a seamless fusion of fiery Latin percussion and gritty rock guitar. The standout track, 'Suavecito,' became an enduring anthem that perfectly captures the band’s signature blend of soulful melodies and heavy, rhythmic grooves.
Released in 1972, this record defines the vibrant San Francisco Latin rock scene of the early seventies. It balances complex jazz-inflected arrangements with a raw, funk-driven energy that feels just as electric today as it did decades ago.

Exile • Mixed Emotions
Released 4 April 1978 · 49th anniversary
Before they hit it big with 'Kiss You All Over,' this band was already crafting smooth, radio-ready melodies. This record captures that transitional moment where their country roots began blending seamlessly into the polished soft rock sound of the late seventies.
Production here leans heavily into the era's fascination with light disco textures and clean, crisp arrangements. It is a quintessential late-night driving record that feels both nostalgic and surprisingly punchy.
Also on this day

Richard Strauss, Fritz Reiner, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra • Ein Heldenleben Op. 40 (A Hero's Life)
Released 4 April 1949 · 78th anniversary

Les Paul & Mary Ford • Les And Mary
Released 4 April 1955 · 72nd anniversary

Nunzio Rotondo • The Artistry Of Nunzio Rotondo
Released 4 April 1959 · 68th anniversary

Annie Ross • A Gasser!
Released 4 April 1959 · 68th anniversary

Johann Sebastian Bach, Orchestre De Chambre Jean-François Paillard, Robert Veyron-Lacroix • Concerto Pour Un Clavecin Et Orchestre En La Majeur, BWV 1055 / Concerto Pour Un Clavecin Et Orchestre En Mi Majeur, BWV 1053 / Concerto Pour Un Clavecin Et Orchestre En Sol Mineur, BWV 1058
Released 4 April 1960 · 67th anniversary

Charles Mingus • Blues & Roots
Released 4 April 1960 · 67th anniversary

Johann Sebastian Bach, Orchestre De Chambre Jean-François Paillard, Robert Veyron-Lacroix • Les Concertos Pour Clavecin Et Orchestre (Volume I)
Released 4 April 1960 · 67th anniversary

Jacques Brel • Jacques Brel
Released 4 April 1962 · 65th anniversary
Clementina De Jesus • Clementina De Jesus
Released 4 April 1966 · 61st anniversary

The Fifth Dimension • Up, Up And Away
Released 4 April 1967 · 60th anniversary

Ella Fitzgerald • Ella & Duke At The Côte D'Azur
Released 4 April 1967 · 60th anniversary

Neil Diamond • Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
Released 4 April 1969 · 58th anniversary

Piero Piccioni, I Cantori Moderni di Alessandroni • Amore, Amore, Amore
Released 4 April 1969 · 58th anniversary

ZZ Top • Rio Grande Mud
Released 4 April 1972 · 55th anniversary

Los Tres Cantores Del Paraguay • Los Tres Cantores Del Paraguay
Released 4 April 1974 · 53rd anniversary

Johann Sebastian Bach • Orgelwerke (Bach-Orgel Der Schloßkirche In Lahm) = Organ Works (Bach Organ Of The Lahm Schlosskirche) 1708-1744
Released 4 April 1975 · 52nd anniversary

Fabulous Poodles • Fabulous Poodles
Released 4 April 1977 · 50th anniversary

Andy Gibb • Shadow Dancing
Released 4 April 1978 · 49th anniversary

Gary Numan • Replicas
Released 4 April 1979 · 48th anniversary

Grover Washington, Jr. • Paradise
Released 4 April 1979 · 48th anniversary
How to track album anniversaries in your collection
Give the records on your shelf another spin. Plastic helps you organize your vinyl and CDs, sync your collection with Discogs, and discover album anniversaries and the stories behind them. Explore new releases and rediscover something you already own.