This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1991.

Freddie Mercury dies of AIDS
Freddie Mercury dies of AIDS

List of years in music (table)
In radio
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
In television
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
+...
Trent Reznor at Lollapalooza 1991.

Specific locations edit

Specific genres edit

Events edit

Summary edit

Although the year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough, heavy metal was still the dominant form of rock music for the year.[1] Therefore, Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", was not the most popular U.S. album of the year. The most popular album was Metallica's self-titled "black album". Nirvana's success was eventually followed by other grunge bands like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots, as grunge climbed the U.S. charts for the next few years. Its success eventually ended the reign of the glam metal and other hard rock groups that enjoyed massive success in the 1980s like Mötley Crüe, Poison, Warrant, Cinderella, and Ratt, whose sales were still going strong by 1991. Also during the year, the rock band Guns N' Roses's popularity flourished with the release of their albums Use Your Illusion I & Use Your Illusion II, both selling over 15 million copies total. Def Leppard's next album Adrenalize, released in March 1992, would go on to reach multi-platinum status and prove to be the last major commercial success for 1980s hair metal. A Tribe Called Quest's Low End Theory is released this year; it would go on to be considered one of the best hip hop albums of the 1990s. A Tribe Called Quest, along with De La Soul, Dream Warriors, Gang Starr and the Poor Righteous Teachers, help define what comes to be known as alternative rap with important releases this year.

On November 24, Queen front man Freddie Mercury died at home in London due to AIDS complications. Rumors had been circulating that Mercury had AIDS and he confirmed it to the press a day before his death,[2] but the death comes as a shock to millions of fans and the music industry. The remaining members of Queen form the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the following year, a tribute concert is staged in Wembley Stadium. A sell-out crowd in attendance witness the three surviving members reuniting to play along with performances by the likes of David Bowie, Elton John, Guns N' Roses, Def Leppard, Metallica, Annie Lennox, and George Michael.

Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (released as a double A-side with "These Are the Days of Our Lives") goes to number one for the second time in the U.K., which is one of the few times a single has gone to number one in the same version more than once (another example is Chubby Checkers' "The Twist," which was No. 1 in 1960 & 1962). It is also the only time a single has gone to number one more than once on the UK Christmas charts. It has now spent a total of 14 weeks on top of the UK charts.

During the year, Billboard started using Nielsen SoundScan for its sales source for the music charts. Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales data for Nielsen on 1 March 1991. The 25 May issue of Billboard published Billboard 200 and Country Album charts based on SoundScan "piece count data," and the first Hot 100 chart to debut with the system was released on 30 November 1991. Previously, Billboard tracked sales by calling stores across the U.S. and asking about sales – a method that was inherently error-prone and open to outright fraud. Indeed, while transitioning from the calling to tracking methods, the airplay and sales charts (already monitored by Nielsen) and the Hot 100 (then still using the calling system) often did not match (for instance Paula Abdul's "Promise of a New Day" and Roxette's "Fading Like a Flower" reached much higher Hot 100 peaks than their actual sales and airplay would have allowed them to). Although most record company executives conceded that the new method was far more accurate than the old, the chart's volatility and its geographical balance initially caused deep concern, before the change and the market shifts it brought about were accepted across the industry. Tower Records, the country's second-largest retail chain, was originally not included in the sample because its stores are equipped with different technology to measure sales. At first, some industry executives complained that the new system – which relied on high-tech sales measurement rather than store employee estimates – was based on an inadequate sample, one that favored established and mainstream acts over newcomers.

1991 is also the year CCM, or contemporary Christian music, reaches a new peak. Amy Grant, who had already crossed back and forth between CCM and Contemporary Pop in the mid-80s, achieves her first solo No. 1 hit on the pop charts with the hit single "Baby Baby," becoming the first single by a CCM artist to reach No. 1 (despite the fact the song was a pop song and was void of any Christian references). Another single, "That's What Love Is For," would also top the charts, this time in the Adult Contemporary field. Meanwhile, Grant's album Heart In Motion reaches No. 11 on the pop chart and No. 1 on the Christian chart despite its non-religious objective, and quickly becomes a best-seller. Another CCM crossover artist in 1991 is Michael W. Smith, who achieves a Top Ten pop hit with his single "Place In This World." The subsequent album, Go West Young Man, is also a hit. Jon Gibson's hit "Jesus Loves Ya" still holds the record as the longest playing hit single in Christian music history. The track spent eleven weeks at No. 1 and became the top selling CCM single of 1991.[3] Only three artists received more airplay on Christian radio stations in that year other than Gibson; Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and BeBe & CeCe Winans.

The massive success of Garth Brooks in this year sets the stage for the mid-1990s influx of pop-oriented country musicians. In addition, several soon-to-be pivotal bands form or release debuts, including Dave Matthews Band, Live, Phish, Spin Doctors and stoner metal (Kyuss, Sleep, The Obsessed). Massive Attack's Blue Lines, while unique at the time, pioneers the sound that would eventually become known as trip hop. Entombed's Clandestine and Dismember's Like an Ever Flowing Stream are early releases from the Scandinavian metal scene. On the other side of the Atlantic, New York death metal band Suffocation release their debut full-length Effigy of the Forgotten, often considered one of the most influential extreme metal albums ever recorded. Trance music rises to prominence in the underground dance scene of Frankfurt, Germany, pioneered by such producers as Dance 2 Trance and Resistance D. U2 release their seventh album Achtung Baby, considered by many of their fans to be their best album. Metallica also release their most commercially successful self-titled album, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers break through to the mainstream with their critically and commercially acclaimed Blood Sugar Sex Magik. R.E.M. release their massive commercial breakthrough album Out of Time. 1991 also brought us the revolutionary Sailing the Seas of Cheese, the first release of a Primus album on a major label. When it came to music, 1991 was one of the most successful years of the 1990s.

January–March edit

April–June edit

July–September edit

October–December edit

Also in 1991 edit

Bands formed edit

Bands disbanded edit

Bands reformed edit

Albums released edit

January–March edit

Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
8 Fly Me Courageous Drivin N Cryin -
13 Soulside Journey Darkthrone Debut
15 Eight Track Stomp Chickasaw Mudd Puppies -
A Little Ain't Enough David Lee Roth -
Quik Is the Name DJ Quik Debut
Step In the Arena Gang Starr -
This Is an EP Release Digital Underground -
16 2nd Wind Todd Rundgren -
21 1916 Motörhead -
The Soul Cages Sting -
22 Into the Light Gloria Estefan -
24 Tyranny (For You) Front 242 US
29 The Singles Collection The Specials Compilation
Native Son Judybats -
Candy Carol Book of Love -
Divinyls Divinyls -
Doubt Jesus Jones -
Glad 'N Greasy Beat Farmers -
Mo' Ritmo Gerardo Debut
Party Mix!/Mesopotamia The B-52's Re-issue with remixes
When You're a Boy Susanna Hoffs -
Uncle Anesthesia Screaming Trees -
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
4 Innuendo Queen -
Everybody's Angel Tanita Tikaram -
Solid Ball of Rock Saxon -
5 International Pop Overthrow Material Issue -
11 Coolin' at the Playground Ya Know! Another Bad Creation Debut
12 Cresta The Hollow Men US
Marc Cohn Marc Cohn -
Saigon Kick Saigon Kick -
15 8-Way Santa Tad
18 Heaven's Open Mike Oldfield -
19 Green Mind Dinosaur Jr. -
Ink The Fixx -
The Name Above the Title John Wesley Harding -
Night Ride Home Joni Mitchell -
Road Apples The Tragically Hip US
Young Black Teenagers Young Black Teenagers Debut
20 The Last Days of Pompeii Nova Mob -
Lo Flux Tube OLD
Piouhgd Butthole Surfers -
26 Hooked Great White -
? Different World Uriah Heep -
Recurring Spacemen 3 US
M
A
R
C
H
4 Kill Uncle Morrissey -
Ex:el 808 State -
Peggy Suicide Julian Cope UK; 7 May in US; Double Album
Ray Frazier Chorus-
The White Room The KLF -
5 Dollars & Sex The Escape Club -
New Jack City Various Artists Soundtrack
Heart in Motion Amy Grant -
Time for a Witness The Feelies -
Truly Blessed Teddy Pendergrass -
6 Extremely Live Vanilla Ice Live
12 Cereal Killers Too Much Joy -
Freakshow BulletBoys -
Free Rick Astley -
Live Hardcore Worldwide Boogie Down Productions Live
Mind Funk Mind Funk -
Out of Time R.E.M. -
The Real Ramona Throwing Muses -
Unreal World The Godfathers US
15 Goat The Jesus Lizard -
Love's Secret Domain Coil US
18 Outland Gary Numan -
Gothic Paradise Lost -
Capitol Collectors Series Jo Stafford -
Greatest Hits Eurythmics US
19 Bag-a-Trix Whodini -
Chill of an Early Fall George Strait -
Make Way for the Motherlode Yo-Yo -
Prince of the Deep Water The Blessing -
21 Checkin' Out the Ghosts Kim Carnes Japan
25 Joyride Roxette -
Vagabond Heart Rod Stewart -
Now! That's What I Call Music 19 Various Artists Compilation
26 Black and White The BoDeans -
The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991 Bob Dylan Box Set
The Human Factor Metal Church -
Lean Into It Mr. Big -
No Warning Dave Wakeling US
Places I Have Never Been Willie Nile -
Ribbed NOFX -
Strength Enuff Z'nuff -
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Various Artists Soundtrack
27 Good-bye My Loneliness Zard -
Spiderland Slint -
? Dance to the Holy Man The Silencers -
In the Kingdom Whitecross -
The Infidel Doubting Thomas Debut

April–June edit

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
1 King of the Jews Oxbow -
School of Fish School of Fish -
2 Arise Sepultura -
Mama Said Lenny Kravitz -
Mane Attraction White Lion -
Word of Mouth Mike + The Mechanics -
8 Blue Lines Massive Attack Debut
Flashpoint The Rolling Stones Live +2 new studio tracks
Real Life Simple Minds -
9 The Ghosts That Haunt Me Crash Test Dummies -
True Love Pat Benatar -
L'Autre... Mylène Farmer -
15 Brotherhood The Doobie Brothers -
One from the Vault Grateful Dead Live
The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld The Orb -
16 Alanis Alanis Morissette Debut
Auberge Chris Rea -
The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life Frank Zappa 2 discs; Live
LaTour LaTour Debut
Ripe Banderas US
Temple of the Dog Temple of the Dog -
The Way to Salvation King Missile -
22 Hoodoo Alison Moyet -
Shift-Work The Fall -
23 13 Engines 13 Engines US
And Now the Legacy Begins Dream Warriors US
Flyin' the Flannel Firehose -
Kinky Hoodoo Gurus US
Ordinary Average Guy Joe Walsh -
The Reality of My Surroundings Fishbone -
Renegade Charlie Daniels -
Time, Love & Tenderness Michael Bolton -
26 Power of Love Luther Vandross -
29 Whirlpool Chapterhouse -
Space I'm In The Candyskins -
30 Birdland Birdland US
Cooleyhighharmony Boyz II Men Debut
Laughter & Lust Joe Jackson -
Fred Schneider Fred Schneider Re-issue
Spartacus The Farm Debut
Union Yes -
Why Do Birds Sing? Violent Femmes -
? The Drill Wire
The Young Gods Play Kurt Weill The Young Gods -
M
A
Y
2 Blessed Are the Sick Morbid Angel -
3 Bullhead Melvins -
6 Legenda Armia -
7 5,000,000 Dread Zeppelin -
The Best of The Waterboys 81–90 The Waterboys US
Friendly Fa$cism Consolidated -
Hard at Play Huey Lewis and the News -
Peggy Suicide Julian Cope US
Schubert Dip EMF -
Star Time James Brown Box Set
Sugar Tax Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark -
Terminator X & The Valley of the Jeep Beets Terminator X -
13 De La Soul Is Dead De La Soul -
Pop Life Bananarama UK
Positively Phranc Phranc -
14 Don't Rock the Jukebox Alan Jackson -
God Fodder Ned's Atomic Dustbin -
The Maria Dimension The Legendary Pink Dots -
Mighty Like a Rose Elvis Costello -
O.G. Original Gangster Ice-T -
Sailing the Seas of Cheese Primus -
Spellbound Paula Abdul -
What Comes Around Goes Around Tuff -
Yerself Is Steam Mercury Rev -
17 Whispers Thomas Anders -
20 Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) Paul McCartney Live acoustic
21 Pink Bubbles Go Ape Helloween -
Slinky Milltown Brothers US
22 Shadow Thief of the Sun Zoviet France -
24 Seal Seal Debut
25 Virtual Rabbit Susumu Hirasawa -
27 Seamonsters The Wedding Present -
Shahbaaz Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn -
28 Electronic Electronic -
Forever My Lady Jodeci Debut
Gish The Smashing Pumpkins Debut
Jungle Fever Stevie Wonder Soundtrack
Like an Ever Flowing Stream Dismember -
Never Loved Elvis The Wonder Stuff -
Niggaz4Life N.W.A -
? Contradictions Collapse Meshuggah Debut
Grippe Jawbox -
Rumor and Sigh Richard Thompson -
J
U
N
E
3 Love and Kisses Dannii Minogue UK
4 Back on the Bus, Y'all Indigo Girls Live
Funke, Funke Wisdom Kool Moe Dee -
Make a Jazz Noise Here Frank Zappa Live
6 White Light From the Mouth of Infinity Swans -
10 Fellow Hoodlums Deacon Blue -
11 Slow, Deep and Hard Type O Negative -
Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 Lynyrd Skynyrd -
The Mix Kraftwerk -
Owl Nathalie Archangel -
Prime of My Life Phyllis Hyman -
Slave to the Grind Skid Row -
Superstition Siouxsie and the Banshees -
Unforgettable... with Love Natalie Cole -
Warm Your Heart Aaron Neville -
14 Unusual Heat Foreigner -
You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 Frank Zappa 2 discs; Live
18 Love Hurts Cher -
Derelicts of Dialect 3rd Bass -
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Van Halen -
Turtle Soup The Mock Turtles US
24 Baby Yello -
Holidays in Eden Marillion -
25 All Souled Out Pete Rock & CL Smooth EP
Attack of the Killer B's Anthrax Rarities album
Electric Landlady Kirsty MacColl -
Fireball Zone Ric Ocasek -
Hollywood Vampires L.A. Guns -
Luck of the Draw Bonnie Raitt -
Surprise Crystal Waters -
29 Twilight of the Gods Bathory -
Solace Sarah McLachlan -
? The Forest David Byrne -
The Tea Party The Tea Party Debut
United States of Islam Muslimgauze -

July–September edit

Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
1 To Mother Babes in Toyland EP
13-Point Program to Destroy America The Nation of Ulysses -
1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours Green Day Compilation
Butchered at Birth Cannibal Corpse -
Psycho Surgery Tourniquet -
Pure Poverty Poor Righteous Teachers -
The Sky is Falling and I Want My Mommy Jello Biafra & Nomeansno
Tumor Circus Tumor Circus Debut
Victory Gardens John & Mary US
The World as Best as I Remember It, Volume One Rich Mullins -
2 Different Lifestyles BeBe & CeCe Winans -
Dying Young: Original Soundtrack Album Various Artists Soundtrack
A Future Without a Past... Leaders of the New School -
Hey Stoopid Alice Cooper -
Into the Great Wide Open Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers -
Peaceful Journey Heavy D & the Boyz -
The Ruler's Back Slick Rick -
Shades of Two Worlds The Allman Brothers Band -
Trisha Yearwood Trisha Yearwood -
We Can't Be Stopped Geto Boys -
3 Am I Cool or What? Various Artists Soundtrack
9 Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey: Music from the Motion Picture Various Artists Soundtrack
Boyz n the Hood Various Artists Soundtrack
Forbidden Places Meat Puppets -
James James US
Starcaster Head Candy Debut
When Love Comes Down Jimi Jamison Debut
Woodface Crowded House -
15 Babyteeth Therapy? -
16 Biscuits Living Colour EP
The Globe Big Audio Dynamite II -
Straight Checkn 'Em Compton's Most Wanted -
Vocally Pimpin' Above the Law -
22 Frequencies LFO Debut
23 Breaking Atoms Main Source -
C.M.B. Color Me Badd -
Circa Mary's Danish -
Emotional Hooligan Gary Clail US
Homebase DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince -
João João Gilberto -
Music for the People Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch -
Play Squeeze -
26 Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge Mudhoney -
Praise the Lard Pig -
30 Day 1 Robbie Nevil -
Jah Kingdom Burning Spear -
Widespread Panic Widespread Panic -
World Outside The Psychedelic Furs -
? Steady Diet of Nothing Fugazi -
Slavestate Godflesh EP
A
U
G
U
S
T
5 Brainstorm Young MC -
6 1000 Smiling Knuckles Skin Yard -
Ask the Ages Sonny Sharrock -
Harem Scarem Harem Scarem -
Madra Miranda Sex Garden -
Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience P.M. Dawn -
Perspex Island Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians -
12 Metallica Metallica -
Mental Vortex Coroner -
13 Brand New Man Brooks & Dunn Debut
Cypress Hill Cypress Hill Debut
Mr. Bungle Mr. Bungle Debut
16 III Sebadoh -
19 Strangeitude Ozric Tentacles -
20 The Comfort Zone Vanessa L. Williams -
Help Yourself Julian Lennon US
Honey Lingers Voice of the Beehive US
Little Magnets Versus the Bubble of Babble Transvision Vamp -
Notorious Joan Jett and the Blackhearts -
Pocket Full of Kryptonite Spin Doctors -
23 Mistaken Identity Donna Summer -
Paradise Lost Cirith Ungol -
27 Leisure Blur Debut
Aces Suzy Bogguss -
Altered State Altered State Debut
Backlash Bad English -
Big Shot in the Dark Timbuk3 -
fear Toad the Wet Sprocket -
The Fire Inside Bob Seger -
I Need a Haircut Biz Markie -
Lovescape Neil Diamond
The Prodigal Stranger Procol Harum -
Ten Pearl Jam Debut
? Scrabbling at the Lock The Ex & Tom Cora -
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
2 Guaranteed Level 42 -
Catfish Rising Jethro Tull -
Just for a Day Slowdive -
Tin Machine II Tin Machine -
3 Roll the Bones Rush -
Horrorscope Overkill -
Nature of a Sista Queen Latifah -
Naughty by Nature Naughty by Nature -
Ratt & Roll 81–91 Ratt Greatest Hits
Travelers and Thieves Blues Traveler -
9 On Every Street Dire Straits -
10 Abort Tribe -
Blow Up The Smithereens -
The Force Behind the Power Diana Ross -
Leap of Faith Kenny Loggins -
Psychotic Supper Tesla -
Ropin' the Wind Garth Brooks -
Showstoppers Barry Manilow -
16 Foxbase Alpha Saint Etienne [9]
Laughing Stock Talk Talk -
Wings of Joy Cranes Debut
17 Use Your Illusion I Guns N' Roses -
Use Your Illusion II Guns N' Roses -
No More Tears Ozzy Osbourne US
Emotions Mariah Carey -
Pretty on the Inside Hole -
Act Like You Know MC Lyte -
Ain't a Damn Thang Changed WC and the Maad Circle -
Best O' Boingo Oingo Boingo -
Don't Try This at Home Billy Bragg -
Still Feel Gone Uncle Tupelo -
19 Mad Mad World Tom Cochrane Canada; released in US in Feb '92
20 The Pod Ween -
23 Decade of Decadence Mötley Crüe Compilation
Screamadelica Primal Scream -
Sigh No More Gamma Ray -
Shake Me Up Little Feat -
Trompe le Monde Pixies -
Wretch Kyuss -
24 Nevermind Nirvana -
Blood Sugar Sex Magik Red Hot Chili Peppers -
Waking Up the Neighbours Bryan Adams -
Ceremony The Cult -
Curtis Stigers Curtis Stigers Debut
Face the Nation Kid 'n Play -
Hymns to the Silence Van Morrison -
The Low End Theory A Tribe Called Quest -
Prove You Wrong Prong -
Queer Thompson Twins -
Rock the House Live! Heart Live
Rock 'til You Drop Status Quo -
30 Stars Simply Red -
Ebbhead Nitzer Ebb -
Orbital Orbital Debut[9]
Raise Swervedriver -
Storyville Robbie Robertson -
? Live Train to Heartbreak Station Cinderella Live
Meridian Monks of Doom -
The Ghost Sonata Tuxedomoon -
Late Night Grande Hotel Nanci Griffith -
This Year's Girl Pizzicato Five -
Tribal Voice Yothu Yindi -

October–December edit

Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
1 Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black Public Enemy -
Diamonds and Pearls Prince & The New Power Generation -
For My Broken Heart Reba McEntire -
The Greatest Hits Cheap Trick Greatest Hits
Scamboogery Scatterbrain -
White Noise Cop Shoot Cop -
3 Everclear American Music Club -
4 Streets: A Rock Opera Savatage -
Welcome to My Dream MC 900 Ft. Jesus -
7 Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio Paul McCartney -
8 Badmotorfinger Soundgarden -
Cool as Ice Vanilla Ice Soundtrack
Miscellaneous T They Might Be Giants B-Sides & Remixes
Mr. Scarface Is Back Scarface Solo Debut
To Whom It May Concern... Freestyle Fellowship Debut
Whenever We Wanted John Mellencamp -
9 The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious Grooves Infectious Grooves -
14 The First Letter Wire -
Let's Get to It Kylie Minogue -
Live Your Life Be Free Belinda Carlisle -
15 As Ugly as They Wanna Be Ugly Kid Joe -
Chorus Erasure -
Mr. Bad Example Warren Zevon -
Private Line Gerald LeVert -
Vinyl Dramarama -
17 The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth Skyclad -
22 Beauty and the Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Various Artists -
Dondestan Robert Wyatt -
Effigy of the Forgotten Suffocation -
Girlfriend Matthew Sweet -
Human Death -
I Wish My Brother George Was Here Del the Funky Homosapien Debut
Mississippi Lad Teddy Edwards -
Pennywise Pennywise -
Second Coming Shotgun Messiah -
Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin Various Artists Tribute album
Weld Neil Young Live; initially packaged with Arc CD
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing Black Sheep Debut
Wound Skin Chamber Debut
28 Greatest Hits II Queen Compilation
Rush Street Richard Marx -
29 Death Certificate Ice Cube -
Organized Konfusion Organized Konfusion Debut
Parallels Fates Warning -
Pearl of Great Price Will Debut
Prince of Darkness Big Daddy Kane -
Too Legit to Quit Hammer -
30 Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious Carcass -
No Pocky for Kitty Superchunk -
? Cold World Godflesh EP
McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt Half Man Half Biscuit -
For Keeps The Field Mice -
Like Never Before Taj Mahal -
Penny Century The Clouds Debut
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
1 Infrared Roses Grateful Dead Live Compilation
Mule Bone Taj Mahal -
4 0 + 2 = 1 Nomeansno -
Bandwagonesque Teenage Fanclub -
Discography, The Complete Singles Collection Pet Shop Boys -
Loveless My Bloody Valentine -
Shepherd Moons Enya -
5 Blind Corrosion of Conformity -
Paul Simon's Concert in the Park Paul Simon Live
The Sky Is Crying Stevie Ray Vaughan Recorded 1984–'89
11 We Can't Dance Genesis -
Night of the Stormrider Iced Earth UK
Bitterblue Bonnie Tyler -
Essential Divinyls Greatest Hits
Live Baby Live INXS Live
Wall of Hits Slade Compilation
12 2Pacalypse Now 2Pac Debut
80–85 Bad Religion Compilation
Angel Rat Voivod -
Clandestine Entombed -
For the Boys Bette Midler Soundtrack
In Celebration of Life Yanni -
Real Love Lisa Stansfield -
Sticks and Stones Tracy Lawrence -
Swallow This Live Poison 2 discs; Live
18 Achtung Baby U2 -
Now That's What I Call Music! 20 Various Artists Compilation
19 Beckology Jeff Beck Box Set
Cool Hand Lōc Tone Lōc -
Inner Child Shanice -
Pandora's Box Aerosmith Box Set
Romance Luis Miguel -
T.E.V.I.N. Tevin Campbell Debut
26 Dangerous Michael Jackson -
Hook: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack John Williams -
Keep It Comin' Keith Sweat -
Ricky Martin Ricky Martin -
? Brown Grotus Debut
Every Man and Woman Is a Star Ultramarine -
No Jive Nazareth -
Sadisfaction Gregorian -
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
3 Affairs of the Heart Jody Watley -
6 Forest of Equilibrium Cathedral -
Spine of God Monster Magnet -
10 Until the End of the World Various Artists -
12 Lovelyville Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 -
15 V Legião Urbana -
17 Kerplunk Green Day LP Vinyl USA Release
25 Mō Sagasanai Zard -
31 Juice Various Artists Soundtrack
Mental Jewelry Live Debut

Release date unknown edit

Biggest hit singles edit

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1991.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1 Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do it For You 1991   UK 1 – Jun 1991, US BB 1 of 1991, US CashBox 1 of 1991, Holland 1 – Jul 1991, Sweden 1 – Aug 1991, Austria 1 – Aug 1991, Switzerland 1 – Jul 1991, Norway 1 – Jul 1991, Poland 1 – Jul 1991, Germany 1 – Jan 1992, Republic of Ireland 1 – Jul 1991, New Zealand 1 for 8 weeks Aug 1991, Australia 1 for 11 weeks Oct 1991, US BB 3 of 1991, Australia 3 of 1991, POP 3 of 1991, Europe 5 of the 1990s, TOTP 6, Global 7 (10 M sold) – 1991, Italy 9 of 1991, Germany 9 of the 1990s, Scrobulate 30 of ballad, Virgin 60, Party 70 of 2007, RYM 73 of 1991, Poland 96 of all time, OzNet 121, Belgium 150 of all time
2 Michael Jackson Black or White 1991   UK 1 – Nov 1991, US BB 1 of 1991, Sweden 1 – Nov 1991, Switzerland 1 – Nov 1991, Norway 1 – Nov 1991, Poland 1 – Nov 1991, Republic of Ireland 1 – Nov 1991, New Zealand 1 for 8 weeks Nov 1991, Australia 1 for 8 weeks Feb 1992, Austria 2 – Nov 1991, Germany 2 – Jan 1992, Holland 3 – Nov 1991, Italy 3 of 1991, US BB 19 of 1991, POP 19 of 1991, Australia 24 of 1992, US CashBox 29 of 1992, RYM 96 of 1991, Germany 115 of the 1990s
3 Roxette Joyride 1991   US BB 1 of 1991, Holland 1 – Mar 1991, Sweden 1 – Mar 1991, Austria 1 – Mar 1991, Switzerland 1 – Mar 1991, Norway 1 – Mar 1991, Germany 1 – Mar 1991, Australia 1 for 3 weeks Jul 1991, Poland 3 – Apr 1991, UK 4 – Mar 1991, France 7 – Apr 1991, Australia 13 of 1991, Italy 24 of 1991, Germany 24 of the 1990s, US CashBox 33 of 1991, US BB 35 of 1991, POP 37 of 1991
4 Scorpions Wind of Change 1990   Holland 1 – Apr 1991, Sweden 1 – Mar 1991, Austria 1 – Jun 1991, Switzerland 1 – Feb 1991, Norway 1 – Apr 1991, Poland 1 – Mar 1991, Germany 1 of the 1990s, Germany 1 – Apr 1991, UK 2 – Sep 1991, US BB 4 of 1991, Scrobulate 9 of ballad, France 10 – Dec 1990, US BB 24 of 1991, Europe 26 of the 1990s, POP 26 of 1991, RYM 142 of 1990
5 R.E.M. Losing My Religion 1991   Holland 1 – Mar 1991, Poland 1 – Apr 1991, Europe 1 of the 1990s, US BB 4 of 1991, Norway 4 – Jun 1991, Sweden 5 – Mar 1991, RYM 5 of 1991, Austria 7 – Aug 1991, Switzerland 11 – Oct 1991, Belgium 12 of all time, UK 19 – Mar 1991, US BB 28 of 1991, Virgin 30, US CashBox 39 of 1991, 39 in 2FM list, Poland 44 of all time, Acclaimed 44, POP 61 of 1991, Scrobulate 69 of rock, Italy 70 of 1991, OzNet 90, WXPN 106, RIAA 143, Rolling Stone 169

Top 40 Chart hit singles edit

Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) US UK Highest chart position Other Chart Performance(s)
"3 a.m. Eternal" The KLF January 1991 5 1 1 (Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom) See chart performance entry
"À nos actes manqués" Fredericks Goldman Jones 1991 n/a n/a 1 (Québec) 1 (France [Airplay Chart [AM & FM Stations]) - 2 (France) - 11 (Europe [European Airplay Top 50]) - 17 (Europe [Eurochart Hot 100])
"The Actor" Michael Learns to Rock November 1991 n/a n/a 1 (Indonesia, Norway) 4 (Denmark) - 7 (Sweden) - 32 (Switzerland) - 54 (Europe)
"Addams Groove" MC Hammer December 1991 7 4 4 (Ireland, United Kingdom) See chart performance entry
"Alive" Pearl Jam July 1991 n/a 16 9 (Australia) 13 (Ireland) - 13 (Netherlands [Dutch top 40]) - 16 (Belgium) - 15 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock) - 18 (U.S. Billboard Alternative Airplay) - 19 (Netherlands [Single Top 100]) - 20 (New Zealand) - 44 (Germany)
"All the Man That I Need" Whitney Houston January 1991 1 13 1 (Canada, Cuba, United States) See chart performance entry
"All This Time" Sting January 1991 5 22 1 (Canada) See chart performance entry
"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" (reissue) Monty Python September 1991 n/a 3 1 (Ireland) See chart performance entry
"Always There" Incognito & Jocelyn Brown July 1991 n/a 6 2 (Luxembourg, Netherlands [Single Top 100]) See chart performance entry
"Angelina" P.S.Y. 1991 n/a n/a 9 (France) 13 (France [Airplay Chart - AM Stations] - 49 (Europe)
"Any Dream Will Do" Jason Donovan June 1991 n/a 1 1 (Ireland, United Kingdom) See chart performance entry

Other Chart hit singles edit

Notable singles edit

Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Other Chart Performance(s)
"Don't Go Now" Ratcat April 1991 1 (Australia)
"Losing My Religion" R.E.M. February 1991 See chart performance entry
"Man in the Box" Alice in Chains January 1991 18 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock)
"Planet of Sound" Pixies May 1991 n/a
"Safe from Harm" Massive Attack May 1991 See chart performance entry
"Sexuality" Billy Bragg September 1991 2 (U.S. Billboard Alternative Airplay) - 27 (UK Singles Chart)
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" Nirvana September 1991 See chart performance entry
"To Here Knows When" My Bloody Valentine February 1991 29 (UK Singles Chart)
"Treaty" Yothu Yindi June 1991 See chart performance entry
"Unfinished Sympathy" Massive Attack February 1991 See chart performance entry
"Vapour Trail" Ride April 1991 n/a
"When You Sleep" My Bloody Valentine November 1991 n/a

Other Notable singles edit

Top best albums of the year edit

All albums have been named albums of the year for their hits in the charts.[10] '

  1. NirvanaNevermind
  2. Pearl JamTen
  3. My Bloody ValentineLoveless
  4. U2Achtung Baby
  5. Red Hot Chili PeppersBlood Sugar Sex Magik
  6. MetallicaMetallica
  7. Primal ScreamScreamadelica
  8. SlintSpiderland
  9. A Tribe Called QuestThe Low End Theory
  10. Massive AttackBlue Lines
  11. Talk TalkLaughing Stock

Published popular music edit

Classical music edit

Opera edit

Jazz edit

Musical theater edit

Musical films edit

Births edit

Deaths edit

Awards edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Morgenstein, Mark. "'Nevermind,' never again?". CNN. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  2. ^ Myers, Paul (25 November 1991). "Queen star dies after Aids statement". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  3. ^ Love Education, 5 June 1997, ASIN B000008P2A
  4. ^ Randall Rothenberg (21 March 1991). "Michael Jackson Gets Thriller of Deal To Stay With Sony". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Slacker Radio Featured". Slacker Radio. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  6. ^ RIAA.com Diamond Certified Albums Archived 18 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Top Pop Catalog". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 April 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  8. ^ Holston, Mark (1 September 1995). "Ageless Romance with Bolero". Américas. Organization of American States. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  9. ^ a b Richards, Sam (16 September 2016). "Was September 1991 the best month ever for albums?". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Best albums of 1991". besteveralbums. 2005. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  11. ^ Delilah Grace (8 November 2011). Pixie Lott. Omnibus Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-85712-722-8.
  12. ^ Mark Russell (29 April 2014). K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution. Tuttle Publishing. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-4629-1411-1.
  13. ^ "MC Davo Biografia, historia y legado musical". buenamusica.com.
  14. ^ Sakurada Dori's Official Blog Profile (in Japanese), archived from the original on 3 March 2009, retrieved 16 April 2009
  15. ^ "Freddie Mercury | Biography, Parents, Songs, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 9 January 2022.