Matthew Reine
It is my two year anniversary here at CXF. I must thank you all once for following my content on this site and encouraging me to convey my thoughts. In my very first article in back 2013, I discussed significant events and album releases in music from 1993 and last year, I recalled similar occurrences of 1994. Now, it’s time to review 1995 in yet another article that is going to make all of us feel more and more like we’re closer to a retirement home. So what went down in music in 1995?
One of the biggest artists to break out in the 1990s was singer, Alanis Morissette. Starting off in show business as a child actor on Canadian sketch comedy show, You Can’t Do That On Television, in the 1980s, Morissette kicked off her singing career in the early 90s before landing it big in….c’mon guess….c’mon….1995! I’m sure sure 98% of us own a copy of Jagged Little Pill whether we like to admit it or not. What’s to be ashamed of? The record’s great not to mention it was massively successful. It sold over 30 million copies worldwide and earned five Grammy awards including album of the year. It was, without a doubt, one of the biggest recordings to drop during the decade.
Thanks to the weight of such well liked singles as Ironic, Head Over Feet, Hand In My Pocket, and You Oughta Know (which for years was rumored to be inspired by actor/comedian, Dave Coulier, but both parties have vehemently denied this), the record reached number one in 13 different countries including her native Canada.
Following Kurt Cobain’s tragic suicide in ‘94, Nirvana drummer, Dave Grohl, carried on as a musician and formed one of the hottest rock acts today, Foo Fighters. Their self-titled debut record dropped in 1995 starting them on their journey and giving notice to listeners that there was life after Nirvana. Along with writing all the songs, Grohl himself performed all the instrumentation on the record before joining up with longtime members Taylor Hawkins and Nate Mendel. Songs like Big Me and I’ll Stick Around were just a taste of what the Foos were on their way to becoming. Now, 20 years later and Foo Fighters are regularly selling out arenas and stadiums worldwide.
After the success of similar acts like Green Day, The Offspring, and Bad Religion, California punkers, Rancid looked to make a similar wave in the music industry. The band released their self titled debut in 1993 and their sophomore effort, Let’s Go, in 1994 to some success but it wasn’t until their third effort in 1995 that they started turning heads. The 19-track LP, …And Out Come the Wolves, was a punk rock collective that continued the genre’s success in the mainstream. It had such addicting cuts as Root Radicals, Olympia, WA, Junkie Man, and Journey to the End of the East Bay as well as the band’s two signatures tunes, Time Bomb and Ruby Soho, both of which are still live trademarks of Rancid’s setlist. Yeah, Tim Armstrong’s vocals are hard to make out sometimes but that has no effect on AOCTW being one of the most important albums of the year.
By the time 1995 rolled around, RHCP guitarist John Frusciante had split from the group and in his place was Jane’s Addiction axeman, Dave Navarro. Hoping to capitalize on the huge success of their previous, LP, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, the band returned with One Hot Minute in… yeah, 1995. The record sold considerably less than BSSM and is generally glossed over when looking at the history of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band themselves don’t really play much of its tracks live which is a shame considering there is some really good stuff on there. Stuff like My Friends and Aeroplane were popular songs for them and a nice progression from their previous effort. I also enjoyed the rockier feel on certain tracks such as Warped.
This would wind up being the Peppers’ only full-length recording with Navarro who was booted in 1998 due to his drug problems. Frusciante would rejoin the group that same year where he would remain for the next decade.
Fans could never get enough of those dysfunctional Gallagher brothers in the mid-90s. People still wanted more after Definitely, Maybe and they got it in 1995’s (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?. Almost every song off the record was used as a single and it’s one of the most consistently awesome albums of that decade. For a while, Oasis were the U.K.’s premiere act and you could see why as one of the biggest songs of the 1990s was Wonderwall. If you’ve never listened to the song before, you’ve definitely heard it as it’s still played on every radio station and every bar you visit. Champagne Supernova might be one of the best album closers ever and I love, love She’s Electric.
The Gallaghers would perform as a unit for another 10 years before finally getting sick of one another and splitting apart in 2009. We’ll always have Morning Glory!
It’s crazy to think that Just A Girl and Don’t Speak turn 20 this year but it’s a truth we all have to face. Gwen Stefani and her pack of ska misfits known as No Doubt released one of the biggest albums of 1995, Tragic Kingdom. It had a genuine blend of rock, pop, and ska that wasn’t all that dissimilar to Sublime. In fact, Stefani sang on the Sublime track, Saw Red, a year prior in 1994. Tragic Kingdom helped ska reach the mainstream turning most listeners on to that style of music for the very first time. Catchy music with a pretty face to look at proved to be successful as the record wound up selling more than 10 million copies in the United States alone. It’s also amazing to see that after 20 years, Stefani has not aged much and still looks great.
Can you guess how many years ago the native Chicagoans put out their most recognizable and highest selling endeavor?
The band’s collective songwriting matched with Jimmy Chamberlain’s thunderous drumming helped Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness skyrocket to the top of the Billboard Top 200. The double CD album boasted 28 selections and over two hours of music. The single, Tonight, Tonight was accompanied by a popular music video that many consider one of the very best of all time and helped contribute to the song’s success. The tunes, Zero and 1979 are among the Pumpkin’s most well known tracks. The former has a scintillating riff while the other one is a more somber ditty that was nominated for a few Grammys. They were still able nab their first Grammy award for Best Hard Rock performance for Bullet with Butterfly Wings.
I heard this album a ton growing up since my sister was a fan and bought it the first week it was out. I was turned onto the beautiful artwork and recall hearing Tonight, Tonight repeatedly. Later on, I met a few people who would later become some of my best friends who are all huge Pumpkins fans and they helped me appreciate the album more.
Alice in Chains’ last studio album with Layne Staley? That was in 1995.
The self-titled CD with the famous album cover of the three legged dog was released 20 years ago. I still listen to Grind and Heaven Beside You regularly to this day.
Michael Jackson’s wickedly popular ninth record, HIStory? That was also 1995. The double album contained one disc of his prior hits and a CD of all new material including little talked about tracks with basketball legend, Shaquille O’Neal and rap God, the Notorious B.I.G. Scream, the duet with his sister, Janet, at one point had the most expensive music video ever produced.
Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson’s tumultuous marriage and famous sex tape? Oh yeah, that was 1995. The couple initially met just a few short days before their wedding. They would be on and off for years and years.
As I stated in a previous article, Australian rockers, Silverchair first hit the scene in 1995 with their debut, Frogstomp. The members were only 16-years-old at the time and rocked the music scene with their very first hit, Tomorrow.
Blind Melon singer, Shannon Hoon, died of a drug overdose in 1995. I cannot believe that was 20 years ago now.
White Zombie released their very last recording, Astro-Creep: 2000 in 1995. Rob Zombie went on to have a very successful solo career as well as take up filmmaking. Devil’s Rejects, anyone?
1995 also marked the release of Cleveland’s Bone Thugs-n-Harmony‘s trademark album, E. 1999 Eternal which contained the critically acclaimed single, Tha Crossroads. The song was about Eazy-E who has died from AIDS that same year and helped the group get their start in the music business.
Another rapper scored a major hit 20 years ago. His name was Coolio. His song, Gangsta’s Paradise remains one of the most well known cuts in hip-hop history and coincided with the Michelle Pfeiffer film, Dangerous Minds. Pfeiffer herself appears in the song’s video.
Can you believe it’s been 20 years since the passing of Grateful Dead singer, Jerry Garcia? Deadheads everyone were devastated to learn the news and still feel the effects today.
Hey! My favorite Radiohead LP, The Bends, dropped in 1995. Street Spirit is still my all-time favorite track of theirs. Yes, I know, High and Dry rules too.
The highly controversial Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame may have started in 1983 but the official museum opened up in Ohio in 1995. It’s hosted millions upon millions of visitors since then. I hope to make a trip out there in the next few years.
Now how can I write this entire article and not give a shoutout to GZA for his genius solo record, Liquid Swords? The Wu-Tang rapper dropped this bomb on us 20 years ago and it debuted at number nine on the Billboard Top 200. Not to mention, the tons of accolades it received in the hip-hop community. GZA’s currently working on a sequel record while he tours to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Feeling old yet? Make sure you return next year for the inevitable 1996 in music piece!
