The Seattle Grunge "Invasion" and Billboard's new charting method made 1991 the most influential year of the decade!

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Events that shaped Album Rock during that year

The "Seattle Sound" Goes National

During most of the 1980's, a "commercialized" sound dominated Rock music. In 1991, this shifted dramatically, as the Seattle · based "grunge" sound emerged on the national rock scene! It returned Rock to a simpler sound, harkening to Rock's roots. Grunge derived its name from a loud, raspy sound, a sort · of middle ground between hard rock and heavy metal. Grunge emerged as the most influential style in Rock of the entire decade! The three pioneering bands who brought it national attention were Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice In Chains.

Nirvana

Nirvana is regarded by Rock historians as one of the most influential bands of the entire Rock era - a generation · defining group! Led by lead singer Kurt Cobain, Nirvana exploded on the scene in late 1991 and throughout 1992 with their first national hit album Nevermind churning out songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are, In Bloom, and Lithium to enormous popularity among fans. The Grunge "revolution" was well underway!





Photo courtesy of theconversation.com

Smells Like Teen Spirit
by Nirvana

Come As You Are
by Nirvana

In Bloom
by Nirvana

Lithium
by Nirvana

Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube

Pearl Jam

In terms of their influence and popularity with fans, Pearl Jam ranks right up with Nirvana as a genre · defining band in the Grunge world. Led by frontman Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam's first album to achieve national success, Ten, was released late in the year, and over the next year, produced the hits Alive, Even Flow, Jeremy, and Black. Pearl Jam would remain one of Rock's most popular bands throughout the remainder of the decade!





Photo courtesy of grayflannelsuit.net

Alive
by Pearl Jam

Even Flow
by Pearl Jam

Jeremy
by Pearl Jam

Black
by Pearl Jam

Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube

Alice In Chains

Although not as influential as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains got a slight head start over the other two bands, as they released their first successful album Facelift in 1990. That success was a little slow in coming, as sales and airplay languished for the first few months. In early 1991, the album got a boost from MTV as they added Man In A Box to their regular playlist, helping the popularity of Facelift take off! Their style differed somewhat from that of their Seattle counterparts. It might best be described as a "wavy", raspy sound that fared well with Rock fans over the years. Pundits credit frontman Jerry Cantrell for developing their unique musical style.

Photo courtesy of classicrockreview.com
Video courtesy of YouTube

By mid · decade, Grunge evolved into Post · Grunge, spawning more new successful bands as the 1990's progressed! Stay tuned...


SoundScan Revolutionizes Billboard Charts

To most of us, it happened behind the scenes, but inside the music industry, it was revolutionary! In its May 25th issue, Billboard began using Neilsen's (a firm that takes data for radio and TV ratings) SoundScan system for compiling data for its weekly Billboard 200 album chart, and began using the system on all of its charts, including the Modern Rock chart, starting with the November 23rd issue. Prior to 1991, staff at Billboard called up radio station and record store managers to find out what albums and singles were selling and/or most popular. With SoundScan, a computerized system logged cash register sales and barcode scans at the various record stores across the country, with data stored in a national database. Billboard would then compile its weekly charts based on the SoundScan data.[1]

The new computerized system worked much more efficiently. First, it freed up staff at Billboard from making numerous phone calls to stores and radio stations. Second, it eliminated behind · the · scenes corruption of sales figures due to store manager bias and any payola schemes happening in the industry. SoundScan offered an accurate measure of an album or single's true popularity.[2]

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All rock tracks listed on Billboard Magazine's Top Rock Tracks chart that year.

Title Artist Peak Date Of Entry
My Head's In Mississippi ZZ Top # 1 see 1990 list for chart entry date
If You Needed Somebody Bad Company # 2 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Telephone Song Vaughan Brothers # 3 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Hard To Handle The Black Crowes # 1 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Signs Tesla # 2 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Disappear INXS # 6 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Shelter Me Cinderella # 5 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Moneytalks AC/DC # 3 see 1990 list for chart entry date
It's Love Kings X # 6 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Tease Me, Please Me The Scorpions # 8 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Runaway Damn Yankees # 9 see 1990 list for chart entry date
You're Amazing Robert Palmer # 5 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Righteous Eric Johnson # 8 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Just The Way It Is, Baby The Rembrandts # 13 see 1990 list for chart entry date
One And Only Man Steve Winwood # 1 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Full Circle The Jeff Healey Band # 16 see 1990 list for chart entry date
For You The Outfield # 13 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Real Real Gone Van Morrison # 18 see 1990 list for chart entry date
I Saw Red Warrant # 14 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Give It Up ZZ Top # 2 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Let Me Love You Too Tommy Conwell # 21 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Love Can Make You Blind Every Mother's Nightmare # 22 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Still Got The Blues Gary Moore # 9 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Miles Away Winger # 14 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Big Lie Rik Emmett # 22 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Inside Out The Traveling Wilburys # 16 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Remember My Name House Of Lords # 20 see 1990 list for chart entry date
She's My Baby The Traveling Wilburys # 2 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Best I Can Queensryche # 28 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Been Caught Stealing Jane's Addiction # 29 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Spend My Life Slaughter # 28 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Consequences The Robert Cray Band # 32 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Candy Iggy Pop With Kate Pierson # 30 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Wicked Sensation Lynch Mob # 31 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Prodigal Blues Billy Idol # 35 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Over And Over Neil Young & Crazy Horse # 33 see 1990 list for chart entry date
It Ain't Over Yet Allman Brothers Band # 26 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Something To Believe In Poison # 5 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Fire In The Basement Deep Purple # 20 1991-01-05
The Road The Alarm # 16 see 1990 list for chart entry date
The Only One I Know The Charlatans UK # 37 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Mama Help Me Edie Brickell and New Bohemians # 26 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Love That Never Dies The Byrds # 14 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Cliffs Of Dover Eric Johnson # 5 see 1990 list for chart entry date
High Enough Damn Yankees # 2 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Another Deal Goes Down Steve Winwood # 10 1991-01-05
After The Rain Nelson # 39 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Can't Find My Way Home House Of Lords # 10 see 1990 list for chart entry date
Givin' Yourself Away Ratt # 39 1991-01-05
New York Minute Don Henley # 50 1991-01-05
All This Time Sting # 1 1991-01-19
A Lil' Ain't Enough David Lee Roth # 3 1991-01-19
King Of The Hill Roger McGuinn # 2 1991-01-19
The Ballad Of Jenny Ledge Toy Matinee # 23 1991-01-19
Don't Believe Her Scorpions # 13 1991-01-19
I'll Never Let You Go Steelheart # 24 1991-01-19
She Talks To Angels The Black Crowes # 1 1991-01-19
Easy Come, Easy Go Winger # 17 1991-01-19
Don't Treat Me Bad Firehouse # 16 1991-01-19
Headlong Queen # 3 1991-01-26
Rocket O' Love The Knack # 9 1991-01-26
Silent Lucidity Queensryche # 1 1991-01-26
Wicked Game Chris Isaak # 10 1991-01-26
Bitter Tears INXS # 4 1991-02-02
Love Rears Its Ugly Head Living Colour # 28 1991-02-02
Beggars & Thieves Beggars & Thieves # 38 1991-02-02
River Of Love Lynch Mob # 19 1991-02-02
Ride The Wind Poison # 25 1991-02-09
The Soul Cages Sting # 7 1991-02-09
Good Texan Vaughan Brothers # 18 1991-02-09
Fly Me Courageous Drivin' N' Cryin' # 19 1991-02-09
One In A Million Trixter # 33 1991-02-09
Til I Am Myself Again Blue Rodeo # 37 1991-02-09
How Much Is Enough The Fixx # 11 1991-02-16
Stranger Stranger Bad Company # 9 1991-02-16
Heartbreak Station Cinderella # 10 1991-02-16
How Long Can A Man Be Strong Jeff Healey Band # 34 1991-02-16
Movin' On Gary Moore # 30 1991-02-16
Burning Timber The Rembrandts # 36 1991-02-16
Call It Rock N' Roll Great White # 4 1991-02-23
Uncle Tom's Cabin Warrant # 19 1991-02-23
Saved By Love Rik Emmett # 16 1991-02-23
In Your Arms Little Caesar # 35 1991-02-23
Pretender Cry Wolf # 46 1991-02-23
If You Don't Start Drinkin' George Thorogood # 5 1991-03-02
Valentine Nils Lofgren # 37 1991-03-02
Bad Reputation Damn Yankees # 31 1991-03-02
More Than Words Extreme # 12 1991-03-02
I Do You Kingofthehill # 39 1991-03-02
Temptation The Box # 49 1991-03-02
Highwire Rolling Stones # 1 1991-03-09
Losing My Religion R.E.M. # 1 1991-03-09
Are You Ready AC/DC # 16 1991-03-09
Sensible Shoes David Lee Roth # 6 1991-03-09
Wilbury Twist Traveling Wilburys # 46 1991-03-09
Decision Or Collision ZZ Top # 14 1991-03-09
Laying Down The Law The Law # 2 1991-03-16
Rhythm Of My Heart Rod Stewart # 13 1991-03-16
Innuendo Queen # 17 1991-03-16
Paradise Tesla # 28 1991-03-16
Trademark Eric Johnson # 7 1991-03-16
See The Lighs Simple Minds # 10 1991-03-23
Dedication Thin Lizzy # 22 1991-03-23
I Touch Myself Divinyls # 35 1991-03-23
Love To Burn Neil Young & Crazy Horse # 49 1991-03-23
She Goes Down Billy Squier # 4 1991-03-30
Word Of Mouth Mike + The Mechanics # 30 1991-03-30
Someone To Love Roger McGuinn # 12 1991-03-30
Payin' The Cost To Be The Boss Pat Benatar # 17 1991-04-06
Walking In Memphis Marc Cohn # 7 1991-04-06
Right Here, Right Now Jesus Jones # 7 1991-04-06
Wind Of Change Scorpions # 2 1991-04-06
More Than Ever Nelson # 44 1991-04-06
Dangerous The Doobie Brothers # 2 1991-04-13
Dirty Love Thunder # 10 1991-04-13
Man In The Box Alice In Chains # 18 1991-04-13
Three Pistols The Tragically Hip # 43 1991-04-13
Black, White And Blood Red Bodeans # 34 1991-04-13
Heaven Help The Lonely Willie Nile # 16 1991-04-13
Lift Me Up Yes # 1 1991-04-20
Love Don't Come Easy White Lion # 24 1991-04-20
Don't Make Me Dream About You Chris Isaak # 39 1991-04-20
Green·Tinted Sixties Mind Mr. Big # 33 1991-04-20
Mad About You Slaughter # 37 1991-04-20
Couple Days Off Huey Lewis & The News # 3 1991-04-27
Part Of You, Part Of Me Glenn Frey # 9 1991-04-27
Black Money Vinnie James # 13 1991-04-27
Mother's Eyes Enuff Z'Nuff # 17 1991-04-27
All The Way From Memphis Contraband # 12 1991-04-27
Ordinary Average Guy Joe Walsh # 3 1991-05-04
The Obvious Song Joe Jackson # 28 1991-05-04
Always On The Run Lenny Kravitz # 40 1991-05-04
Rebel Heart Rod Stewart # 17 1991-05-04
Desert Moon Great White # 16 1991-05-11
Raw The Alarm # 29 1991-05-11
Forever Young Tyketto # 39 1991-05-11
Seeing Things The Black Crowes # 2 1991-05-11
Texarkana R.E.M. # 7 1991-05-18
Blood On The Bricks Aldo Nova # 14 1991-05-18
Hello Little Girl George Thorogood # 15 1991-05-18
Why Should I Cry For You? Sting # 32 1991-05-18
Been Your Fool Tattoo Rodeo # 20 1991-05-18
Bertha Los Lobos # 37 1991-05-18
Hang On St. Christopher Bulletboys # 22 1991-05-25
Everybody Loves Eileen Steelheart # 34 1991-05-25
The Other Side Of Summer Elvis Costello # 40 1991-05-25
Seducer Saraya # 41 1991-05-25
Jet City Woman Queensryche # 6 1991-05-25
Sex Drive Rolling Stones # 40 1991-05-25
None Of It Matters Blackeyed Susan # 44 1991-06-01
Set Me In Motion Bruce Hornsby & The Range # 26 1991-06-01
Poundcake Van Halen # 1 1991-06-08
Smokestack Lightning Lynard Skynard 1991 # 2 1991-06-08
I Can't Live With You Queen # 28 1991-06-08
3 Strange Days School Of Fish # 12 1991-06-08
All The Time In The World Junkyard # 24 1991-06-08
The More Things Change Cinderella # 41 1991-06-08
Miss You In A Heartbeat The Law # 38 1991-06-08
Build A Fire Drivin' N' Cryin' # 15 1991-06-08
Monkey Business Skid Row # 13 1991-06-15
Oh Well Joe Jackson # 25 1991-06-15
Tell The Truth David Lee Roth # 39 1991-06-15
Learning To Fly Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers # 1 1991-06-22
Lowdown And Dirty Foreigner # 4 1991-06-22
The Sound Of Your Voice 38 Special # 2 1991-06-22
Hole Hearted Extreme # 2 1991-06-22
Say It With Love The Moody Blues # 22 1991-06-22
Something To Talk About Bonnie Raitt # 12 1991-06-22
Facts Of Life Billy Squier # 37 1991-06-22
Saving My Heart Yes # 9 1991-06-22
You Could Be Mine Guns N' Roses # 3 1991-06-29
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You Bryan Adams # 10 1991-06-29
Hey Stoopid Alice Cooper # 13 1991-06-29
Rockaway Ric Ocasek # 11 1991-06-29
Runaround Van Halen # 1 1991-06-29
Right Now Van Halen # 2 1991-06-29
Stand By Love Simple Minds # 42 1991-06-29
End Of The Line Allman Brothers Band # 2 1991-07-06
Build Me Up Huey Lewis & The News # 27 1991-07-06
Rollin' On The Doobie Brothers # 12 1991-07-06
Top Of The World Van Halen # 1 1991-07-06
Apple Pie White Trash # 39 1991-07-06
Kiss My Love Goodbye L.A. Guns # 16 1991-07-06
Silver Thunderbird Marc Cohn # 22 1991-07-06
Out In The Cold Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers # 1 1991-07-13
Sign Of The Storm The Eric Gales Band # 9 1991-07-13
Blind Faith Warrant # 39 1991-07-13
Shiny Happy People R.E.M. # 8 1991-07-13
All Of A Sudden Joe Walsh # 13 1991-07-20
Girl Money Kix # 26 1991-07-20
Power Windows Billy Falcon # 19 1991-07-20
Shout It Out Slaughter # 40 1991-07-20
Face The Music RTZ # 5 1991-07-27
Twist Of The Knife The Fabulous Thunderbirds # 7 1991-07-27
Drinking Again Neverland # 41 1991-07-27
Living With The Law Chris Whitley # 28 1991-07-27
A Wall I Must Climb Michael McDermott # 34 1991-08-03
God Gave Rock And Roll To You Kiss # 21 1991-08-03
Seasons Tyketto # 25 1991-08-03
Nobody Said It Was Easy The Four Horsemen # 16 1991-08-03
If I Say Kingofthehill # 37 1991-08-03
Keeping The Faith Lynard Skynard 1991 # 10 1991-08-10
All Our Dreams Are Sold Procol Harum # 29 1991-08-10
Enter Sandman Metallica # 10 1991-08-17
Illustrated Man Johnny Winter # 36 1991-08-17
Cry To Myself Flies On Fire # 38 1991-08-17
Lone Star Stuart Hamm # 39 1991-08-17
Satisfied Squeeze # 49 1991-08-17
The Real Love Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band # 4 1991-08-24
Walk Through Fire Bad Company # 14 1991-08-24
Listen Julian Lennon # 31 1991-08-24
Make It Easy Yes # 36 1991-08-24
Until My Dying Day Thunder # 42 1991-08-24
I'll Fight For You Foreigner # 42 1991-08-24
I Would Have Waited Forever Yes # 49 1991-08-24
Medicine Man Aldo Nova # 43 1991-08-24
Sometimes It's A Bitch Stevie Nicks # 7 1991-08-31
Straight To Your Heart Bad English # 9 1991-08-31
This Is Not Love Jethro Tull # 14 1991-08-31
Ballad Of Youth Richie Sambora # 13 1991-08-31
One Shot Tin Machine # 17 1991-08-31
Send Me An Angel Scorpions # 8 1991-08-31
Man In The Moon The Scream # 25 1991-08-31
Dreamline Rush # 1 1991-09-07
Calling Elvis Dire Straits # 3 1991-09-07
Primal Scream Motley Crue # 21 1991-09-07
Edison's Medicine Tesla # 20 1991-09-07
Shake Me Up Little Feat # 14 1991-09-07
Top Of The Pops The Smithereens # 19 1991-09-07
Can't Stop This Thing We Started Bryan Adams # 2 1991-09-14
Heaven In The Back Seat Eddie Money # 6 1991-09-14
Sea Of Sorrow Alice In Chains # 27 1991-09-14
Don't Cry Guns N' Roses # 3 1991-09-21
Wild Hearted Son The Cult # 12 1991-09-21
No More Tears Ozzy Osbourne # 10 1991-09-21
The Fire Inside Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band # 6 1991-09-21
Heavy Fuel Dire Straits # 1 1991-09-21
Backlash Joan Jett & The Blackhearts # 40 1991-09-21
Rebel To Rebel 38 Special # 30 1991-09-21
Into The Great Wide Open Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers # 4 1991-09-21
November Rain Guns N' Roses # 15 1991-09-28
I've Got A Lot To Learn About Love The Storm # 6 1991-09-28
Live And Let Die Guns N' Roses # 20 1991-09-28
Rush Big Audio Dynamite II # 40 1991-09-28
You're So Strange Kik Tracee # 47 1991-09-28
Bad Rain Allman Brothers Band # 42 1991-09-28
Get A Leg Up John Mellencamp # 1 1991-10-05
What About Now Robbie Robertson # 15 1991-10-05
There's Another Side RTZ # 19 1991-10-05
Another Rainy Night (Without You) Queensryche # 7 1991-10-05
I Want You Shadow King # 22 1991-10-05
Home For Better Days Dillinger # 45 1991-10-05
Slow Ride Bonnie Raitt # 28 1991-10-05
You're The Voice Heart # 20 1991-10-12
Love's A Loaded Gun Alice Cooper # 31 1991-10-12
To Be With You Mr. Big # 19 1991-10-12
Radio Song R.E.M. # 43 1991-10-12
Movin' On Up Primal Scream # 28 1991-10-19
Roll The Bones Rush # 9 1991-10-19
The Innocent Drivin' N' Cryin' # 30 1991-10-19
Big Sky Country Chris Whitley # 36 1991-10-19
Watch Yourself Eric Clapton # 21 1991-10-19
The Fly U2 # 2 1991-10-26
It's Been A Long Time Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes # 22 1991-10-26
Get The Funk Out Extreme # 34 1991-10-26
Why Must I Always Explain Van Morrison # 43 1991-10-26
No Son Of Mine Genesis # 3 1991-11-02
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting The Who # 8 1991-11-02
Smells Like Teen Spirit Nirvana # 7 1991-11-02
The Unforgiven Metallica # 10 1991-11-02
Shot Of Poison Lita Ford # 21 1991-11-02
Pretzel Logic Donald Fagen/The New York Rock & Soul Revue # 17 1991-11-02
Love & Happiness John Mellencamp # 5 1991-11-02
The Sky Is Crying Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble # 2 1991-11-09
Shining Star INXS # 14 1991-11-09
Wild On The Run Tall Stories # 22 1991-11-09
Helter Skelter Aerosmith # 21 1991-11-16
Call It What You Want Tesla # 19 1991-11-16
Rockin' Is Ma Business The Four Horsemen # 38 1991-11-16
All She Wrote Firehouse # 25 1991-11-16
Tell Me When Did Things Go So Wrong The Smithereens # 28 1991-11-16
She Takes My Breath Away Eddie Money # 5 1991-11-16
In Heaven McQueen Street # 32 1991-11-23
Mysterious Ways U2 # 1 1991-11-30
Take A Chance Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band # 10 1991-11-30
Ghost Of A Chance Rush # 2 1991-11-30
Love Walked In Thunder # 31 1991-11-30
Some Lie 4 Love L.A. Guns # 48 1991-11-30
There Will Never Be Another Tonight Bryan Adams # 6 1991-12-07
I Can't Dance Genesis # 2 1991-12-07
Sweet Emotion Aerosmith # 36 1991-12-07
Wasted Time Skid Row # 30 1991-12-14
Mama I'm Coming Home Ozzy Osbourne # 2 1991-12-14
Home Sweet Home Motley Crue # 41 1991-12-14
Kings Highway Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers # 4 1991-12-21
Did Ya The Kinks # 48 1991-12-21
Jesus He Knows Me Genesis # 24 1991-12-21

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References
1. Harvilla, Rob. "How SoundScan Changed Everything We Knew About Popular Music" The Ringer.com, 25 May 2021, https://www.theringer.com/music/2021/5/25/22452539/soundscan-billboard-charts-streaming-numbers. Accessed 29 October 2022.
2. ibid.