Ongoing series of 'On this day in Music History' favourites and in some cases like this, 'bought when they came out'
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BEHIND THE GROOVES: a music blog by Jeff Harris

On this day in music history: March 1, 1993 - “If Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?”, the debut album by The Cranberries is released. Produced by Stephen Street, it is recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland and Surrey Sound Studios in Leatherhead, Surrey, UK from Mid 1992 - Early 1993. Originally formed in 1989 as The Cranberry Saw Us by brothers Noel (guitar) and Mike Hogan (bass) with their friends Fergal Lawler (drums) and Niall Quinn (vocals), the first line up lasts barely a year before Quinn leaves the band. Advertising in a local newspaper for a new singer, the ad is answered by an aspiring eighteen year old singer named Dolores O'Riordan. Immediately impressed with her voice, O'Riordan is asked to join the band. Changing their name to The Cranberries, with the help of Xeric Studios owner Pearse Gilmore, the band record a three track demo EP. Titled “Nothing Left At All” it is released on cassette, selling a mere 300 copies. The band record a second demo which includes early versions of “Linger” and “Dreams” is sent out to various UK record labels. The demo attracts attention from the UK music press and label executives, touching off a bidding war. The Cranberries are signed to Island Records by legendary A&R man and producer Denny Cordell (Joe Cocker, The Move, Procol Harum, Leon Russell, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) in 1992. After an abortive first start at recording their first album with their manager/producer Gilmore, he is fired and they start over again. They are then paired with producer Stephen Street, best known for his work with The Smiths and Blur. The Cranberries unique sound, combining Celtic influenced melodies with pop, modern rock and topped by Dolores O'Riordan’s immediately distinctive voice, is not an immediate hit with the public. With “Dreams” being released as the first single in September of 1992, it nor the album itself when it’s released six months later to minimal response. “Linger” is issued as the follow up, and it flops also. It’s only after touring as the opening act for Britpop band Suede that it gives The Cranberries the wide exposure they need. When their album is released in the US, it also gets off to a slow start with Island initially shipping only 18,000 copies. “Linger” (#8 Pop) is released a second time and takes off on modern rock, then mainstream pop radio. “Dreams” (#14 Pop Airplay, #42 Pop, #15 Modern Rock) is reissued also, helping propel the album to multi-platinum status and turning the shy young Irish band into unlikely pop stars. It is remastered and reissued in 2002 as “Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can’t We? (The Complete Sessions 1991-1993)”, featuring five additional bonus tracks including remixes and non album B-sides. “If Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?” peaks at number eighteen on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 5x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.