Songs in the Key of Life in a series of concert dates in the U.S. and Canada. The start of the tour coincided with the 38th anniversary of the release of "Songs in the Key of Life". Highly anticipated, the album surpassed all commercial expectations. It debuted at number 1 on the "Billboard" Pop Albums Chart on October 8, 1976, becoming only the third album in history to achieve that feat and the first by an American artist (after British singer/composer Elton John's albums "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" and "Rock of the Westies", both in 1975). In Canada, the album achieved the same
Nigel Olsson original American tours and confesses that he still gets nervous before going on stage. In 1971, Olsson produced and released his debut solo album "Nigel Olsson's Drum Orchestra and Chorus" on Uni Records; featuring Murray and Hookfoot guitarist Caleb Quaye, who had played on John's early albums. Olsson also teamed up with the Liverpool trio, The Big Three, for their reunion album "Resurrection" (1973). In May 1975, Olsson and Murray were dismissed from John's band following the release of "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy," which, upon release, entered the charts at #1. Olsson's second solo album, "Nigel Olsson",