Plastic Vinyl & CD Collection app All articles

The Plastic blog

January 26th
album anniversaries

January 26th album covers: Bridge Over Troubled Water, Con Todo El Mundo, Wall Of Eyes, Bustin' Out Of L Seven, All Melody, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Bridge Over Troubled Water sleeve

Simon & Garfunkel • Bridge Over Troubled Water

Released 26 January 1970 · 57th anniversary

Tension between the duo reached a breaking point during these sessions, yet they managed to craft some of their most intricate arrangements. The title track remains a masterclass in gospel-infused production, featuring Art Garfunkel’s soaring vocals layered over a lush, piano-driven soundscape.

Released at the dawn of the 1970s, the record captures a shift toward a more sophisticated, studio-polished folk-rock sound. It blends global influences like Andean folk with the classic pop sensibilities that defined the era, marking a bittersweet final chapter for the pair.

Con Todo El Mundo sleeve

Khruangbin • Con Todo El Mundo

Released 26 January 2018 · 9th anniversary

Global influences collide here, blending Thai funk, Middle Eastern melodies, and classic psychedelic rock. The trio creates a sound that feels like a dusty, sun-drenched road trip through a place you cannot quite place on a map.

Bass-heavy grooves anchor the tracks, allowing the guitar to weave intricate, melodic patterns. It is a masterclass in understated cool, perfect for a slow Sunday morning.

Wall Of Eyes sleeve

The Smile • Wall Of Eyes

Released 26 January 2024 · 3rd anniversary

Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood lean into a sprawling, cinematic atmosphere that feels like a fever dream unfolding in real time. The centerpiece, "Bending Hectic," showcases a dramatic, orchestral swell that proves this trio is operating at a level of creative freedom rarely seen in modern rock.

Sam Petts-Davies takes over production duties here, favoring a lush, organic warmth that gives the complex arrangements plenty of room to breathe. Recorded between Oxford and Abbey Road, the record captures a sophisticated blend of jazz-inflected rhythms and intricate guitar work that feels both intimate and grand.

Bustin' Out Of L Seven sleeve

Rick James • Bustin' Out Of L Seven

Released 26 January 1979 · 48th anniversary

Rick James solidified his reputation as the king of punk-funk with this record, blending aggressive basslines with polished disco production. The title track became an anthem for the era, showcasing his ability to command a dance floor while maintaining a gritty, street-level edge.

Motown Records provided the perfect backdrop for this high-energy release, allowing James to push the boundaries of what a funk artist could sound like. It remains a definitive document of the late 1970s transition from disco into harder, synth-driven grooves.

All Melody sleeve

Nils Frahm • All Melody

Released 26 January 2018 · 9th anniversary

Recording this project required the construction of a custom-built studio space, Saal 3, inside Berlin’s historic Funkhaus complex. The result is a deeply tactile experience where the creaks of piano pedals and the hum of analog synthesizers feel like living, breathing entities in the room with you.

These tracks blur the lines between intimate neoclassical piano compositions and expansive, experimental electronic soundscapes. It captures a rare sense of scale, moving seamlessly from the quiet solitude of a single instrument to the overwhelming, layered textures that define the modern Berlin electronic scene.

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand sleeve

Franz Ferdinand • Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Released 26 January 2009 · 18th anniversary

Late nights in Glasgow fueled the creation of this record, shifting the band's focus toward a darker, more atmospheric sound. It trades the jagged, nervous energy of their debut for a polished, synth-heavy approach that feels like a hazy walk home after the clubs have closed.

Recorded in an abandoned town hall, the production leans into a moody, nocturnal aesthetic that defines the late 2000s indie scene. You can hear the band experimenting with dance-floor textures while maintaining the sharp, rhythmic precision that made them famous.

Also on this day

Afro sleeve

Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra • Afro

Released 26 January 1954 · 73rd anniversary

Symphony No. 4 In G Major, Op.88 sleeve

Antonín Dvořák, George Szell, The Cleveland Orchestra • Symphony No. 4 In G Major, Op.88

Released 26 January 1959 · 68th anniversary

The Black Maskers / Tabuh-Tabuhan sleeve

Roger Sessions • The Black Maskers / Tabuh-Tabuhan

Released 26 January 1960 · 67th anniversary

Nice An' Cool sleeve

Gene Ammons • Nice An' Cool

Released 26 January 1961 · 66th anniversary

Sings The Select Cole Porter sleeve

Frank Sinatra • Sings The Select Cole Porter

Released 26 January 1965 · 62nd anniversary

Chicago sleeve

Chicago (2) • Chicago

Released 26 January 1970 · 57th anniversary

Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player sleeve

Elton John • Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player

Released 26 January 1973 · 54th anniversary

Who Do We Think We Are sleeve

Deep Purple • Who Do We Think We Are

Released 26 January 1973 · 54th anniversary

Bursting At The Seams sleeve

Strawbs • Bursting At The Seams

Released 26 January 1973 · 54th anniversary

A Luci Spente... ...Brividi sleeve

Elvio Monti • A Luci Spente... ...Brividi

Released 26 January 1973 · 54th anniversary

D. J. Rogers sleeve

D. J. Rogers • D. J. Rogers

Released 26 January 1973 · 54th anniversary

Me And Mrs. Jones sleeve

Johnny Mathis • Me And Mrs. Jones

Released 26 January 1973 · 54th anniversary

City Boy sleeve

City Boy • City Boy

Released 26 January 1976 · 51st anniversary

Live Herald sleeve

Steve Hillage • Live Herald

Released 26 January 1979 · 48th anniversary

Instant Funk V sleeve

Instant Funk • Instant Funk V

Released 26 January 1983 · 44th anniversary

The Art Of Falling Apart sleeve

Soft Cell • The Art Of Falling Apart

Released 26 January 1983 · 44th anniversary

Live And Let Live sleeve

Aurra • Live And Let Live

Released 26 January 1983 · 44th anniversary

Cats - Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording sleeve

Andrew Lloyd Webber • Cats - Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording

Released 26 January 1983 · 44th anniversary

Skyscraper sleeve

David Lee Roth • Skyscraper

Released 26 January 1988 · 39th anniversary

Ghetto Dub sleeve

Bim Sherman • Ghetto Dub

Released 26 January 1988 · 39th 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.

Explore Plastic →
How Plastic works with Discogs →

← More from the Plastic blog