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July 31st
album anniversaries

July 31st album covers: Timeless, A Hero's Death, Blood, Time, O' Be Joyful, World Clique
Timeless sleeve

Goldie • Timeless

Released 31 July 1995 · 32nd anniversary

Goldie transformed the frantic energy of jungle into a cinematic, sprawling masterpiece with this debut. It remains a landmark release that proved electronic music could sustain the emotional weight and ambition of a full-length orchestral symphony.

Released on the legendary Metalheadz label, the production blends intricate breakbeats with lush, atmospheric textures. The record defines the mid-nineties London underground scene, capturing a pivotal moment when dance music moved from the club floor into the realm of high art.

A Hero's Death sleeve

Fontaines D.C. • A Hero's Death

Released 31 July 2020 · 7th anniversary

Grian Chatten wrote much of these lyrics while touring relentlessly, resulting in a record that feels like a weary, existential confrontation with fame. It captures the tension of feeling like a stranger in your own life while the world demands you play a specific character.

These songs lean into a darker, more hypnotic post-punk sound that trades the frantic energy of their debut for something moodier and more deliberate. The production keeps things raw and claustrophobic, perfectly mirroring the restless, late-night atmosphere of a band caught in the middle of a rapid ascent.

Blood sleeve

Lianne La Havas • Blood

Released 31 July 2015 · 12th anniversary

Personal heritage takes center stage here, as the songwriting draws heavily from the artist's Jamaican and Greek roots. These tracks explore the messy, beautiful evolution of identity and the vulnerability that comes with growing into your own skin.

Warm, organic production choices give the record a timeless, soulful glow that feels both intimate and expansive. It captures a vibrant mid-2010s sound, blending crisp funk sensibilities with a delicate, confessional approach to modern R&B.

Time sleeve

Electric Light Orchestra • Time

Released 31 July 1981 · 46th anniversary

Jeff Lynne took a bold leap into the future with this ambitious concept record about a man transported to the year 2095. It remains one of the most cohesive sci-fi narratives in rock history, blending orchestral grandeur with a surprisingly lonely, melancholic heart.

Synthesizers and drum machines dominate the soundscape, marking a sharp departure from the band's earlier string-heavy arrangements. Recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, the production reflects the sleek, neon-drenched aesthetic of the early eighties while maintaining the group's signature knack for infectious pop hooks.

O' Be Joyful sleeve

Shovels And Rope • O' Be Joyful

Released 31 July 2012 · 15th anniversary

Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent bring a raw, barn-burning energy that feels like a collision of old-time country and modern indie rock. Their vocal harmonies are messy in the best way possible, sounding like they were recorded on a porch in the middle of a storm.

This debut captures the grit of the American South, blending storytelling with a frantic, percussive intensity. It is a standout release from the early 2010s folk revival that refuses to take itself too seriously.

World Clique sleeve

Deee-Lite • World Clique

Released 31 July 1990 · 37th anniversary

A vibrant explosion of house, funk, and hip-hop that defined the early 90s dance floor aesthetic. The massive success of "Groove Is In The Heart" often overshadows the rest of the record, which is packed with equally infectious, sample-heavy grooves.

This album is a quintessential product of the New York City club scene, where genres were constantly colliding. The production is maximalist and colorful, reflecting the playful, eclectic spirit of the era's dance music.

Also on this day

Tête À Tête Avec Johnny Hallyday sleeve

Johnny Hallyday • Tête À Tête Avec Johnny Hallyday

Released 31 July 1961 · 66th anniversary

The Seven Last Words Of Christ On The Cross sleeve

Joseph Haydn, Zagrebački Solisti, Antonio Janigro • The Seven Last Words Of Christ On The Cross

Released 31 July 1967 · 60th anniversary

Groovin' sleeve

The Young Rascals • Groovin'

Released 31 July 1967 · 60th anniversary

Désormais... sleeve

Charles Aznavour • Désormais...

Released 31 July 1969 · 58th anniversary

It'll All Work Out In Boomland sleeve

T2 • It'll All Work Out In Boomland

Released 31 July 1970 · 57th anniversary

مختارات من ألحان فنان الشعب سيد درويش sleeve

Sayed Darwish • مختارات من ألحان فنان الشعب سيد درويش

Released 31 July 1972 · 55th anniversary

Starland Vocal Band sleeve

Starland Vocal Band • Starland Vocal Band

Released 31 July 1976 · 51st anniversary

Let It Out sleeve

The Jimmy Castor Bunch • Let It Out

Released 31 July 1978 · 49th anniversary

Luxury You Can Afford sleeve

Joe Cocker • Luxury You Can Afford

Released 31 July 1978 · 49th anniversary

Natalie ... Live! sleeve

Natalie Cole • Natalie ... Live!

Released 31 July 1978 · 49th anniversary

Não Há Terra Que Resista - Contraponto sleeve

Vitorino • Não Há Terra Que Resista - Contraponto

Released 31 July 1979 · 48th anniversary

Matinee sleeve

Afterbach • Matinee

Released 31 July 1981 · 46th anniversary

Step By Step sleeve

Eddie Rabbitt • Step By Step

Released 31 July 1981 · 46th anniversary

Shine The Light sleeve

Collage • Shine The Light

Released 31 July 1985 · 42nd anniversary

A Horse Called Music sleeve

Willie Nelson • A Horse Called Music

Released 31 July 1989 · 38th anniversary

Original Sin sleeve

The Mekons • Original Sin

Released 31 July 1989 · 38th anniversary

Requiem For What's-His-Name sleeve

Marc Ribot • Requiem For What's-His-Name

Released 31 July 1992 · 35th anniversary

Dune sleeve

Dune (3) • Dune

Released 31 July 1995 · 32nd anniversary

World Of Hurt sleeve

Ilse DeLange • World Of Hurt

Released 31 July 1998 · 29th anniversary

Power Clown sleeve

Fila Brazillia • Power Clown

Released 31 July 1998 · 29th anniversary

How to track album anniversaries in your collection

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