Tag: 1980sPage 1 of 25

Rockpile, Seconds of Pleasure, 1980 on Columbia

This is Rockpile’s one and only studio album released under their name in 1980. The band includes Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams – though…

Mose Allison, Lessons in Living, 1983 on Elektra Musician

Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival July 21st, 1982 with Jack Bruce (bass), Billy Cobham (drums), Lou Donaldson (alto sax), and Eric Gale (guitar) joining Allison. Elektra…

SVT, Extended Play, 1980 on 415 Records

San Francisco / Bay Area new wave / rock band including Jack Casady and (my former colleague) Nick Buck (from Hot Tuna) with Brian Marnell and Paul Zahl…

Chet Baker, Sings Again, 1986 on Timeless

Recorded in October 1985 in Monster Holland, this was released on the Timeless label. Baker is joined by Michel Graillier (piano), Ricardo Del Fra (bass), and John Engels…

The Smithereens, 11, 1989 on Enigma/Capitol

Third studio full-length from New Jersey’s own The Smithereens: Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, and Mike Mesaros. Belinda Carlisle guests on “Blue Period” and Maria Vidal adds…

Randy Newman, Trouble in Paradise, 1983 on Warner Bros.

Seventh studio album for satirist/songwriter Randy Newman, including “I Love L.A.” and “The Blues” which was a duet with Paul Simon. Produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman…

UB40, Rat in the Kitchen, 1986 on A&M

Seventh UB40 full length, on A&M in the US and DEP International / Virgin elsewhere. Love the title track as well as “Sing our Own Song,” with the…

Peter Gabriel, So, 1986 on Geffen

One of the foundational albums of my youth – not just the “In Your Eyes” boombox scene from Say Anything, but really every track here. Sounds fantastic on…

Cyndi Lauper, True Colors, 1986 on Portrait

Second studio LP from Lauper, following the massively successful She’s So Unusual which had already gone four times platinum. Covering “What’s Going On” was, well, a choice. But…

Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Conscious Party, 1988 on Virgin

Third LP from Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, which included Stephen, Sharon and Cedella plus Ziggy, all children of Bob and Rita Marley (who also adds backing…

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…

Talking Heads, Remain in Light, 1980 on Sire

Fourth studio LP from Talking Heads, and the third produced by Brian Eno. I’d say the whole Talking Heads discography is “must have,” and this is no exception….

R.E.M., We Are Having a Heavenly Time!, 1985 on P.F.M.

Bootleg recording from R.E.M.’s September 26th, 1984 gig at Durham North Carolina’s Page Auditorium (on Duke’s campus). Also available in the Internet Archive – R.E.M. Live – 1984-09-26…

UB40, Labour of Love, 1983 on A&M

Fourth studio LP from UB40 – a collection of covers including their giant hit “Red Red Wine” – but don’t hold that against them. It’s really a fantastic…

The Pursuit of Happiness, Love Junk, 1988 on Chrysalis

Debut full length from Canada’s The Pursuit of Happiness, with their big hit “I’m an Adult Now.” Produced by Todd Rundgren and recorded at Utopia in the Hudson…

Japan, Japan, 1982 on Epic

Compilation album released (in the US) on Epic in 1982, bringing together most of Tin Drum plus some from Gentlemen Take Polaroids. (Neither of those was formally released…

Michelle Shocked, Captain Swing, 1989 on Mercury

This was Shocked’s third LP and the follow up to the massively successful Short Sharp Shocked which came out in 1988. It’s (deliberately) all over the place in…

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…

David Byrne, Rei Momo, 1989 on Luaka Bop / Sire / WB

David Byrne’s first “solo” album which “transforms and pays tribute to the music of Latin America.” (Solo in the sense of not with Talking heads, but with a…

The League Unlimited Orchestra, Love and Dancing, 1982 on A&M

Remix album by The Human League, released in 1982 on Virgin in the UK, Europe and Canada and on A&M in the US. (Name inspired by Barry White’s…