But Drake has once again flipped the script. ICEMAN came, alongside MAID OF HONOUR and HABIBTI, a surprise trifecta of projects which proved why he’s one of the most unique in the game.
But which other artists have been bold and benevolent enough to release more than one LP on the same day? Let’s take a look back at some famous examples.
Bruce Springsteen – Lucky Town and Human Touch
In 1992, The Boss took matters into his own hands, releasing Lucky Town and Human Touch on the same day. The double drop meant Bruce fanatics were treated to 24 tracks overall and, less than a week later, Bruce secured the Official Charts ‘one-two’, as Human Touch secured the Number 1 spot, and Lucky Town took the runner-up position. A move which clearly paid off!
Tom Waits – Alice and Bloody Money
Waits has built a legacy from his gritty, shamanistic views on life’s underbelly, which encompasses an eclectic mix of genres, delivered through his intriguingly-haunting vocals.
The American unveiled a double release back in 2002. Known for his love of theatre, Waits delivered both Alice and Blood Money (originally titled Woyzeck) as two separate scores.
Evocative, intriguing and incredibly divergent of each other, Alice peaked inside the Top 20 while Blood Money landed at Number 21.
Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion I & II
At the peak of their powers, the LA rock massive dropped two of their most acclaimed releases on the same day.
Use Your Illusion I and II came three years after their last LP and, with so much golden material shimmering in their palms, two projects seemed like the only viable option.
Tracks including Live and Let Die, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, November Rain, You Could Be Mine and more represented intense maturity and growth on what is considered the greatest double drop of all time.
Similar to Bruce, GNR occupied both first and second place, as Use Your Illusion II took the Number 1 spot, with Use Your Illusion I came in just behind.
Prince – Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum
Prince did what he wanted, when he wanted. A man never devoid of genius, he practically had the keys to unlock whichever musical door he desired.
2014 saw Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum enter the fold, with the former securing a Top 10 finish and the latter gaining a Top 20.
KISS – Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss
The chaotic cohort have never been one to conform to society’s expectations, and 1978 was no different. KISS‘s popularity was already palpable, so what could they do next?
Well, they gave free reign to each band member, allowing each to record their own solo material. An education in rock ‘n’ roll which harks back to the glory days of full-on experimental craziness.
Although none of these LPs charted in the UK, it seemed refreshing to allow the quartet to explore their own musical corridors, taking paths that resulted in four completely different bodies of material, all blessing record stores in the same 24 hours.
Plastic Ono Band – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band
The love between John Lennon and Yoko Ono also translated to the two sharing the same band.
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band came on December 11 1970; Lennon’s an exploration of his mind together with familiar pop melodies, Yoko’s very much divulged into the expressionistic, dada-esque sound only really become appreciated in the modern day.
See other artists to release albums on the same day with their corresponding charting positions:
Bright Eyes (2005) – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (23) and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn (43)
Insane Clown Posse (2000) – Bizaar (N/A) and Bizzar (N/A)
Frank Zappa (1981)– Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar (N/A) and Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar Some More (N/A).
