The Plastic blog
August 18th
album anniversaries
By Plastic · Published

Korn • Follow The Leader
Released 18 August 1998 · 28th anniversary
Follow The Leader builds its heaviness around rhythm. Downtuned guitars and hip-hop-influenced vocal delivery lock into the groove, giving the songs a different pulse from metal built primarily around speed.
The production amplifies that physical relationship between the parts. The force comes from their combined weight and timing as much as from distortion.
The Who • Who Are You
Released 18 August 1978 · 48th anniversary
Keith Moon delivered his final performance on this record, passing away just weeks after its release. The title track stands as a defiant, complex centerpiece that captures the band grappling with their own mythos and the changing landscape of late seventies rock.
Synthesizers and slicker production values mark a departure from the raw, explosive energy of their earlier work. It feels like a transitional moment where the group polished their hard rock edge to fit the evolving pop sensibilities of the era.
Travis Scott • Days Before Rodeo
Released 18 August 2014 · 12th anniversary
Fans consider this the definitive bridge between underground obscurity and the massive, psychedelic trap sound that would eventually define a decade of hip-hop. It serves as a raw, unfiltered look at the artist's early creative impulses before the polished stadium tours took over.
The production is drenched in hazy synthesizers, distorted vocals, and aggressive percussion that perfectly captures the gritty energy of the mid-2010s scene. You can hear the experimental spirit of the era in every track, making it a essential piece of history for anyone tracking the evolution of modern rap.
The Grateful Dead • What A Long Strange Trip It's Been (The Best Of The Grateful Dead)
Released 18 August 1977 · 49th anniversary
This collection serves as the perfect entry point for those looking to understand the band's unique blend of folk, psychedelia, and improvisational rock. It highlights the transition from their early, high-energy blues-rock roots to the more expansive, cosmic sound they became famous for.
Compiled during the band's peak, the tracklist captures the spirit of a group that thrived on live performance and communal energy. It is a essential document of the counterculture era, showcasing the songwriting depth that kept their fanbase loyal for decades.
Yes • Drama
Released 18 August 1980 · 46th anniversary
Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes of The Buggles unexpectedly stepped in to lead this record after Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman departed the group. The result is a surprisingly muscular, streamlined version of the band that trades sprawling symphonies for punchy, modern rock textures.
Released at the dawn of a new decade, the production embraces the crisp, forward-thinking aesthetics of 1980. It marks a pivotal shift for the progressive rock giants, proving they could adapt their complex arrangements to a tighter, more aggressive sound.
Bon Jovi • Slippery When Wet
Released 18 August 1986 · 40th anniversary
Songwriter Desmond Child helped craft the massive hooks that turned this record into a global phenomenon. The band famously road-tested these tracks in local clubs before recording, ensuring that every chorus was built to fill an arena.
Bruce Fairbairn’s polished production perfectly captures the high-energy sound of mid-eighties New Jersey rock. It remains a definitive example of the era's glossy, radio-ready aesthetic that dominated the airwaves throughout the decade.
Also on this day

Franz Schubert, Philharmonisches Oktett Berlin • Octuor De Schubert
Released 18 August 1958 · 68th anniversary

Johann Sebastian Bach, Fernando Germani • Bach Organ Music
Released 18 August 1958 · 68th anniversary

Nat King Cole • St. Louis Blues
Released 18 August 1958 · 68th anniversary

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham • Scheherazade
Released 18 August 1958 · 68th anniversary

Sergei Rachmaninoff, Maurice Ravel, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Philharmonia Orchestra, Ettore Gracis • Concerto Per Pianoforte In Sol Maggiore / Concerto Per Pianoforte N. 4 In Sol Minore Op. 40
Released 18 August 1958 · 68th anniversary

Jefferson Airplane • Crown Of Creation
Released 18 August 1968 · 58th anniversary

Muddy Waters • Fathers And Sons
Released 18 August 1969 · 57th anniversary
Melanie (2) • Melanie
Released 18 August 1969 · 57th anniversary

Aardvark • Aardvark
Released 18 August 1970 · 56th anniversary

Joe Dassin • Joe
Released 18 August 1972 · 54th anniversary

Boz Scaggs • My Time
Released 18 August 1972 · 54th anniversary

Daryl Hall & John Oates • Daryl Hall & John Oates
Released 18 August 1975 · 51st anniversary

Burning Spear • Man In The Hills
Released 18 August 1976 · 50th anniversary

Caroline Bernier • Out Of The Shadow
Released 18 August 1978 · 48th anniversary

Wall Of Voodoo • Dark Continent
Released 18 August 1981 · 45th anniversary

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds • Kicking Against The Pricks
Released 18 August 1986 · 40th anniversary

Stacey Q • Better Than Heaven
Released 18 August 1986 · 40th anniversary

ABBA • Live
Released 18 August 1986 · 40th anniversary

Debbie Gibson • Out Of The Blue
Released 18 August 1987 · 39th anniversary
Spinners • Down To Business
Released 18 August 1989 · 37th 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.