The Plastic blog
August 3rd
album anniversaries
By Plastic · Published

Mac Miller • Swimming
Released 3 August 2018 · 8th anniversary
Introspection takes center stage here as the artist navigates personal turbulence with a newfound sense of vulnerability and acceptance. It serves as a raw, meditative journey that finds beauty in the struggle to keep one's head above water.
Warm, organic instrumentation blends seamlessly with hazy, jazzy production to create a soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive. The record leans into laid-back funk and soul influences, offering a refreshing departure from the harder-edged trap sounds prevalent during its 2018 release.
Mac Miller • NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
Released 3 August 2023 · 3rd anniversary
These three tracks capture a singular moment of intimacy where the studio polish of Swimming melts away into something raw and human. Watching Mac lead the band through the lush, soulful arrangement of '2009' remains one of the most poignant highlights of the entire Tiny Desk series.
Live instrumentation breathes new life into these songs, trading programmed loops for a warm, organic pocket that feels like a late-night jam session among friends. The performance showcases a masterclass in jazz-inflected hip-hop, proving just how much depth and musicality lived at the core of his songwriting.
Creedence Clearwater Revival • Green River
Released 3 August 1969 · 57th anniversary
John Fogerty famously recorded the iconic guitar tones for this record using a Rickenbacker through a Kustom amplifier, creating a signature swamp-rock sound that defined the band's peak. The title track draws directly from his childhood memories of summer vacations at Putah Creek in California, grounding the music in a deep sense of place.
Released in 1969, the album captures the raw, stripped-back energy of a group that favored short, punchy songs over the sprawling psychedelic jams popular at the time. It remains a masterclass in economy, blending folk and country sensibilities into a tight, infectious rock package that feels just as urgent today as it did decades ago.
Talking Heads • Fear Of Music
Released 3 August 1979 · 47th anniversary
Paranoia never sounded quite this danceable before Brian Eno stepped in to help shape these twitchy, rhythmic explorations. The band traded their earlier, sparser sound for a dense, claustrophobic atmosphere that feels like a nervous breakdown happening on a disco floor.
Recorded during the height of the late seventies New York art-punk scene, the production leans heavily into repetitive, hypnotic grooves and jagged guitar textures. It captures a distinct sense of urban anxiety, perfectly mirroring the tension of a city on the brink of change.
Michael McDonald • If That's What It Takes
Released 3 August 1982 · 44th anniversary
Heartbreak and soulful piano ballads take center stage here, anchored by one of the most recognizable voices in AOR history. The lead single remains a definitive anthem for anyone who has ever wrestled with the sting of a fading relationship.
This collection captures the peak of the early 80s polished pop-soul sound, featuring tight arrangements and impeccable studio production. It is a quintessential record for fans of the sophisticated, radio-ready songwriting that defined the decade.
C2C • Tetra
Released 3 August 2012 · 14th anniversary
Four world champion DJs combined their turntable wizardry to create this expansive, genre-defying masterpiece. It remains a rare example of how technical scratch culture can evolve into accessible, hook-driven pop music without losing its rhythmic edge.
French electronic production from the early 2010s defines the sound, blending heavy funk samples with crisp, modern hip-hop beats. The record captures a unique moment where underground crate-digging aesthetics met polished mainstream accessibility.
Also on this day

Johannes Brahms, Berliner Philharmoniker, Eugen Jochum • Sinfonie Nr. 2 D-dur Op. 73
Released 3 August 1951 · 75th anniversary

Johann Sebastian Bach, Elisabeth Höngen, Heinz Schnauffer, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Fritz Lehmann, Walther Ludwig, Ilse Brix-Meinert, Gustav Scheck, Hermann Töttcher, August Wenzinger, Renate Noll • Vergnügte Ruh', Beliebte Seelenlust, BWV 170 / Meine Seele Rühmt Und Preist, BWV 189
Released 3 August 1951 · 75th anniversary

Bud Powell • The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 3 - Bud!
Released 3 August 1957 · 69th anniversary

Milly • Stramilano
Released 3 August 1964 · 62nd anniversary

Engelbert Humperdinck • A Man Without Love
Released 3 August 1968 · 58th anniversary
Canned Heat • Future Blues
Released 3 August 1970 · 56th anniversary

Stevie Wonder • Innervisions
Released 3 August 1973 · 53rd anniversary

Sonny Rollins • Easy Living
Released 3 August 1977 · 49th anniversary

The Dells • New Beginnings
Released 3 August 1978 · 48th anniversary

Randy Newman • Born Again
Released 3 August 1979 · 47th anniversary

Toyah • Sheep Farming In Barnet
Released 3 August 1979 · 47th anniversary

Ike Yard • Ike Yard
Released 3 August 1982 · 44th anniversary
Tané Cain • Tané Cain
Released 3 August 1982 · 44th anniversary

Ted Nugent • Nugent
Released 3 August 1982 · 44th anniversary
Chuck Mangione • Disguise
Released 3 August 1984 · 42nd anniversary
Kleeer • Seeekret
Released 3 August 1985 · 41st anniversary

Johannes Brahms, Maurizio Pollini, Claudio Abbado, Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker • Klavierkonzert = Piano Concerto No.2
Released 3 August 1987 · 39th anniversary

Giuseppe Verdi, Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala, Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala, Claudio Abbado • Choruses And Ballet Music
Released 3 August 1987 · 39th anniversary

Def Leppard • Hysteria
Released 3 August 1987 · 39th anniversary

Ravindra Jain • Marte Dam Tak
Released 3 August 1987 · 39th anniversary
How to track album anniversaries in your collection
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