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The Plastic blog

March 3rd
album anniversaries

March 3rd album covers: Master Of Puppets, ÷ (Divide), Plastic Beach, American Teen, 3 Feet High And Rising, Atlas
Master Of Puppets sleeve

Metallica • Master Of Puppets

Released 3 March 1986 · 41st anniversary

Cliff Burton’s intricate bass lines and classical influences pushed the band far beyond the boundaries of standard thrash metal. The title track remains a masterclass in tension, shifting seamlessly from aggressive down-picked riffs to haunting, melodic interludes.

Recorded in Copenhagen during the winter of 1986, the album captures a raw, cold intensity that defined the peak of the thrash scene. It stands as the final studio effort featuring the original lineup, marking a definitive moment where speed met sophisticated, progressive songwriting.

÷ (Divide) sleeve

Ed Sheeran • ÷ (Divide)

Released 3 March 2017 · 10th anniversary

Global superstardom reached a fever pitch with this record, which famously finds the singer-songwriter blending his signature acoustic loop-pedal roots with polished, genre-hopping production. It balances intimate, stripped-back ballads like 'Supermarket Flowers' against massive, dance-floor-ready hits that defined the pop landscape of the late 2010s.

Sessions for this project saw the artist experimenting with a wider sonic palette, incorporating elements of Irish folk, funk, and tropical pop. The result is a highly eclectic collection that feels like a personal diary set against a backdrop of modern, high-gloss studio craftsmanship.

Plastic Beach sleeve

Gorillaz • Plastic Beach

Released 3 March 2010 · 17th anniversary

Damon Albarn envisioned this project as a sprawling, star-studded commentary on environmental decay and consumer culture. It functions like a surreal, neon-soaked island retreat where hip-hop legends and indie icons collide in a fictionalized oceanic landscape.

Production here is dense and layered, blending vintage synthesizers with crisp electronic beats to create a distinctly futuristic pop sound. Released on Parlophone, the record captures a specific moment in UK production where leftfield experimentation met mainstream accessibility.

American Teen sleeve

Khalid • American Teen

Released 3 March 2017 · 10th anniversary

This debut studio project captures the essence of youth through a blend of smooth R&B melodies and atmospheric production. It explores themes of high school life, late-night drives, and the complexities of growing up in a modern suburban landscape.

Synthesizers and soulful vocal arrangements define the sonic palette of this 2017 release. The collection resonates with listeners by balancing introspective lyrics with catchy, radio-friendly hooks that solidified its place in contemporary pop culture.

3 Feet High And Rising sleeve

De La Soul • 3 Feet High And Rising

Released 3 March 1989 · 38th anniversary

Samples of everything from Johnny Cash to Hall & Oates collide here, creating a playful, psychedelic collage that completely rewrote the rules of what a hip-hop record could sound like. It turned the genre on its head by trading aggressive posturing for daisy-age optimism and surreal, witty storytelling.

Production wizard Prince Paul crafted this masterpiece by layering obscure funk loops with quirky, unexpected sound bites. The result is a vibrant, kaleidoscopic snapshot of late-eighties creativity that feels just as fresh and inventive today as it did upon its initial release.

Atlas sleeve

Real Estate • Atlas

Released 3 March 2014 · 13th anniversary

Sun-drenched melodies and bittersweet nostalgia define this record, which perfectly captures the feeling of suburban transition. It marks a pivotal moment where the band refined their signature jangly sound into something more expansive and introspective.

Released during the peak of the mid-2010s indie rock revival, the production feels clean, airy, and effortlessly melodic. The songs carry a distinct sense of place, blending classic guitar pop sensibilities with a polished, modern studio sheen.

Also on this day

Cugat Cavalcade sleeve

Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra • Cugat Cavalcade

Released 3 March 1958 · 69th anniversary

Good Night, Dear Lord sleeve

Johnny Mathis • Good Night, Dear Lord

Released 3 March 1958 · 69th anniversary

The Nutcracker Suite sleeve

Duke Ellington And His Orchestra • The Nutcracker Suite

Released 3 March 1960 · 67th anniversary

Feelin' Good sleeve

The Three Sounds • Feelin' Good

Released 3 March 1961 · 66th anniversary

Horn Concerto In E Flat Major KV. 447 / Bassoon Concerto In B Flat Major KV. 191 sleeve

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart • Horn Concerto In E Flat Major KV. 447 / Bassoon Concerto In B Flat Major KV. 191

Released 3 March 1965 · 62nd anniversary

Green, Green Grass Of Home sleeve

Tom Jones • Green, Green Grass Of Home

Released 3 March 1967 · 60th anniversary

Eli And The Thirteenth Confession sleeve

Laura Nyro • Eli And The Thirteenth Confession

Released 3 March 1968 · 59th anniversary

Happy Trails sleeve

Quicksilver Messenger Service • Happy Trails

Released 3 March 1969 · 58th anniversary

Blues Roots sleeve

The Dave Brubeck Trio Featuring Gerry Mulligan • Blues Roots

Released 3 March 1969 · 58th anniversary

Blues For We sleeve

Mel Brown • Blues For We

Released 3 March 1969 · 58th anniversary

It's A Beautiful Day sleeve

It's A Beautiful Day • It's A Beautiful Day

Released 3 March 1969 · 58th anniversary

Piano E Cordas Volume II sleeve

Luiz Eça • Piano E Cordas Volume II

Released 3 March 1970 · 57th anniversary

Wando sleeve

Wando • Wando

Released 3 March 1971 · 56th anniversary

Pure Prairie League sleeve

Pure Prairie League • Pure Prairie League

Released 3 March 1972 · 55th anniversary

Eliana Pittman sleeve

Eliana Pittman • Eliana Pittman

Released 3 March 1972 · 55th anniversary

Music Of My Mind sleeve

Stevie Wonder • Music Of My Mind

Released 3 March 1972 · 55th anniversary

Tim Maia sleeve

Tim Maia • Tim Maia

Released 3 March 1972 · 55th anniversary

Elza Pede Passagem sleeve

Elza Soares • Elza Pede Passagem

Released 3 March 1972 · 55th anniversary

Glitter sleeve

Gary Glitter • Glitter

Released 3 March 1972 · 55th anniversary

Charlie My Boy! sleeve

Charlie McCoy • Charlie My Boy!

Released 3 March 1975 · 52nd 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.

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