KISW - Celebrating 40 Years of Rock

Heart

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Album: Dreamboat Annie Year: 1976 Label: Mushroom/Capitol website

Dreamboat Annie was first released in Canada in 1975, where it sold 30,000 copies in its first few months. It was then released on Valentine's Day of 1976 in the US and was played by Seattle stations KISW and KZOK. It then promptly sold another 25,000 copies in the local area. “Crazy On You", “Magic Man” and “Dreamboat Annie” are all singles from the Dreamboat Annie album.

Heart

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Album: Dog & Butterfly Year: 1978 Label: Portrait/Epic website

Dog & Butterfly is the fourth studio album by Heart. The album was the "proper" successor to 1977's hit Little Queen in terms of musical development and direction and yielded two hit singles, "Straight On" and "Dog & Butterfly". Side one was the "Dog" side, and was the more "rocking" side as compared to side two, the "Butterfly" side, which contained all ballads.

KISS

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Album: Alive! Year: 1975 Label: Casablanca website

Alive! is considered KISS's breakthrough, as well as a landmark for live albums. The double-disc set is comprised of live versions of selected tracks from their first three studio albums, Kiss, Hotter Than Hell, and Dressed to Kill. The record featured recordings from concerts in Wildwood, New Jersey, Cleveland, Ohio and Davenport, Iowa. The album features the Top 20 hit "Rock and Roll All Nite".

Led Zeppelin

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Album: Led Zeppelin III Year: 1970 Label: Atlantic website

Led Zeppelin III was composed largely at a remote cottage in Wales known as Bron-Yr-Aur. This work had a greater emphasis on folk and acoustic sounds, and it has been said to represent a maturing of the band's music. Led Zeppelin III surprised many fans and critics, though upon its release, the album received rather indifferent reviews. Although it is not one of the highest sellers in Led Zeppelin's catalogue, Led Zeppelin III is now praised, and acknowledged as an important milestone in the band's history.

Led Zeppelin

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Album: Led Zeppelin IV Year: 1971 Label: Atlantic website

Led Zeppelin IV is the first of their albums to reach #1 in both the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1999, it was certified 12 times platinum by the RIAA for sales in excess of 12 million copies. With elements of blues and folk music, it also shows the band's evolving musical style of blues-derived material and their guitar and riff-based sound. It is one of the band's heaviest albums. Following its initial reception, it has been recognized by writers and music critics as one of the greatest and most influential rock albums ever recorded.

Led Zeppelin

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Album: Houses of the Holy Year: 1973 Label: Atlantic website

Houses of The Holy is the fifth studio album by Led Zeppelin. The album title is dedicated to their fans who appeared at venues which they dubbed "Houses of the Holy". It was the first Led Zeppelin album that was not officially titled after the band and the first of their albums to feature completely original material. Houses of The Holy has sold over 11 million copies in the US alone.

Led Zeppelin

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Album: Physical Graffiti Year: 1975 Label: Swan Song website

Physical Graffiti is the sixth studio album by Led Zeppelin. It is a double album which was released in February of 1975. Recording sessions for the album were initially disrupted because John Paul Jones was considering leaving the band. They wrote and recorded eight songs, the combined length of which stretched the album beyond the typical length of an LP. This prompted the band to make Physical Graffitti a double album. The album is certified 16 times platinum and has come to be regarded as one of Led Zeppelin's defining works.

Led Zeppelin

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Album: In Through the Out Door Year: 1979 Label: Swan Song website

In Through the Out Door was recorded over a three week period in November and December of 1978 at ABBA's Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden and released by Swan Song Records on August 15, 1979. In Through the Out Door was the last release from the band before the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980. It was their sixth and final release to reach the top of the charts in America.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

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Album: Second Helping Year: 1974 Label: MCA website

Second Helping was the band's second album and featured its biggest hit single, "Sweet Home Alabama", which was Skynyrd's answer to two Neil Young songs, "Southern Man" and "Alabama". "Sweet Home Alabama" reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August of 1974. This was the first Lynyrd Skynyrd album to feature the band's trademark triple guitar attack.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

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Album: Street Survivors Year: 1977 Label: MCA website

Street Survivors is the fifth studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd, released October 17, 1977. The LP is the sole Skynyrd studio recording by guitarist Steve Gaines and the last Skynyrd album recorded by original members Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins. Just three days after the album's release, the band's chartered airplane crashed en route to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, killing the pilot, co-pilot, the group's assistant road-manager and three band members (Van Zant, Gaines, and Steve's older sister, backup singer Cassie Gaines), and severely injuring most who survived the crash. The album peaked at #5 on the charts as did the singles "What's Your Name" and "That Smell."