Tag: Carrollton GA

  • Julian Lennon, The Secret Value of Daydreaming, 1986 on Atlantic

    Julian Lennon, The Secret Value of Daydreaming, 1986 on Atlantic

    This was Julian Lennon’s sophomore album, following Valotte. Billy Joel joins on piano on “You Get What You Want.” It was recorded at Compass Point in the Bahamas and produced by Phil Ramone (who also produced his debut). Was startled to see the twin towers on the inner sleeve so close to the 25th anniversary…

  • Chaka Khan, I Feel For You, 1984 on Warner Bros.

    Chaka Khan, I Feel For You, 1984 on Warner Bros.

    I suspect this is where I first heard Chaka Khan and knew I was hearing Chaka Khan. The title track was a massive hit, with Grandmaster Melle Mel (of the Furious Five) rapping “Ch-ch-ch-chaka-chaka-chaka Khan” on the intro. Of course Khan also had made many albums with Rufus (some styled as Rufus featuring Chaka Khan)…

  • Bruce Springsteen, Born in the USA, 1984 on Columbia

    Bruce Springsteen, Born in the USA, 1984 on Columbia

    Having recently seen Deliver Me From Nowhere, which covers the period where Springsteen wrote and recorded Nebraska, it was interesting to come back to this album, which included some of the songs that came out of that era but did not fit that record. It was so unavoidable, and so associated (so much for any…

  • Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson, Poncho & Lefty, 1983 on Epic

    Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson, Poncho & Lefty, 1983 on Epic

    Another Willie Nelson duet album, this one from 1983 with fellow “outlaw” Merle Haggard with title track from Townes Van Zandt. Great collection of songs, including Nelson’s own “Opportunity to Cry,” the title track, and the pairing of “Reasons to Quit” with “No Reason to Quit.” My copy—via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN—is a Columbia…

  • Neil Young and the Shocking Pinks, Everybody’s Rockin’, 1983 on Geffen

    Neil Young and the Shocking Pinks, Everybody’s Rockin’, 1983 on Geffen

    Credited (as you can see on the cover and the labels) to Neil Young but also to Neil and the Shocking Pinks, this was Neil’s rockabilly album, with a band assembled just for this purpose. I realize I’m something of a Neil Young completist, but I really enjoy this album, short as it is. My…

  • Public Enemy, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, 1987 on Def Jam

    Public Enemy, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, 1987 on Def Jam

    Debut studio album from Public Enemy, recorded at Spectrum City Studios and produced by Bill Stephney (of The Bomb Squad, with co-producers Carl Ryder and Hank Shocklee) with Rick Rubin credited as Executive Producer. Still looking for a good vinyl copy of It Takes a Nation of Millions. Def Jam was distributed by CBS/Columbia (thus…

  • Billy Joel, An Innocent Man, 1983 on Columbia / Family Productions

    Billy Joel, An Innocent Man, 1983 on Columbia / Family Productions

    Billy Joel’s ninth studio LP, with the title track, “Uptown Girl,” and “The Longest Time” as big hits. Toots Thielemans joins on harmonica on “Leave a Tender Moment Alone.” Some people might put Billy Joel in the “guilty pleasures” column – I probably did in 1983 – but I’ve really come to appreciate him. Guess…

  • Fine Young Cannibals, The Raw & The Cooked, 1988 on IRS Records / MCA

    Fine Young Cannibals, The Raw & The Cooked, 1988 on IRS Records / MCA

    This was the second Fine Young Cannibals album following their self-titled debut. Roland Gift on vocals with the rhythm section of Andy Cox and David Steele (formerly of The Beat aka The English Beat). Many of the songs on the LP had already appeared on film soundtracks including three from the Barry Levinson film Tin…

  • Bob Dylan, Oh Mercy, 1989 on Columbia

    Bob Dylan, Oh Mercy, 1989 on Columbia

    Dylan’s 26th studio album, produced by Daniel Lanois and recorded in New Orleans. “Political World,” “Where Teardrops Fall,” and “Everything is Broken” make a great opening trio on side 1 – but really a great album overall. My copy—via Waterloo Records in Austin TX—is a Carrollton GA pressing with original inner sleeve from 1989.