Tag: 1980
-
Klark Kent, Klark Kent, 1980 on I.R.S. Records
Debut solo album from Klark Kent, a psuedonym for Stewart Copeland of The Police. Released on 10-inch vinyl but with a 12″ die-cut sleeve so that it fits alongside full-size LPs. Not sure why the name is misspelled on the label as Klerk Kant—maybe copyright issues with the owners of Clark Kent aka Superman? But…
-
The B-52’s, Party Mix!, 1981 on Warner Bros.
This EP came out after both the debut self-titled and Wild Planet, and features three songs from each, remixed (as a “Party Remix” by Daniel Coulombe, Steven Stanley, and Paul Wexler and mixed into one long track per-side (cross-faded). Who can resist an album called Party Mix! from the ultimate party band? My copy—via Big…
-
The Specials, More Specials, 1980 on Two-Tone
Second album from Coventry’s own The Specials, with Jerry Dammer, Sir Horace Gentleman, John Bradbury, Dick Cuthell, Roddy Radiation, Lynval Golding, Rico Rodrigues, Neville Staples and Terry Hall. Several members of the Go-Go’s join for backing vocals: Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, and Jane Wiedlin (who would co-write “Our Lips Are Sealed” with Hall). My copy—via…
-
The Cars, Panorama, 1980 on Elektra
This was the third studio LP from Boston band The Cars, situated between Candy-O and Shake It Up. Includes “Touch and Go.” An underappreciated album in The Cars’ discography: seen by critics as a let down and not as commercial successful as the one before or after. I like it though – more experimental, more…
-
U2; Another Time, Another Place: Live at the Marquee London 1980, 2015 on Island
2×10″ album originally produced exclusively for u2.com subscribers – fantastic find if you can get it for a reasonable price. I’m not as much of a fan of side 4, a spoken word interview – but the live set is cracker. They played the Marquee Club seven times in 1980 (per u2tours.com) – this set…
-
Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Get Happy!!, 1980 on Columbia
Yes, that’s “Get Happy!!” with not one but two exclamation marks. Fourth Costello studio LP and the third with The Attractions, following after Armed Forces. More influence here from R&B, soul, and even Ska. My copy—via the Vinyl Vault in Littleton MA—is a Pitman pressing with (like most releases of this LP) the sides reversed…
-
Neil Young, Hawks & Doves, 1980 on Reprise
Eleventh studio album (following Rust Never Sleeps) from Neil Young, with one side collecting things recorded throughout the 70s and the second half from 1980 sessions specific to the album. Young is joined by Levon Helm, Tim Drummond, and Tom Scribner on Side 1, and by Greg Thomas, Dennis Belfield, Ben Keith, and Rufus Thibodeux…
-
Madness, Baggy Trousers, 2022 on BMG
While the original single “Baggy Trousers” came out in 1980 on Stiff Records, this 2022 six song EP is the first 12″ version. It was released for Record Store Day 2022 on 180g vinyl by BMG / Union Square Music. Six generously proportioned tracks together for the first time This includes a French cabaret style…
-
Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington: Song Book One, 1980 on Pablo Today
First of two records of Sarah Vaughan doing Duke Ellington songs recorded in 1979 and released in 1980 (there is a Song Book Two, also released in 1980). Produced by Norman Granz, and engineered by Val Valentin and Bob Simpson. Supporting artists include Waymon Reed (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Frank Foster (tenor sax), Frank…
-
Count Basie and Oscar Peterson, Night Rider, 1980 on Pablo
One of my favorite Pablo records, bringing together two legends: Count Basie and Oscar Peterson, with support from Louis Bellson and John Heard. Produced by Norman Granz and engineered by Val Valentin, with liner notes by Nat Hentoff. Basie plays organ on “Memories of You” and Peterson plays electric piano on “Blues for Pamela.” The…
-
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 other material from Rockpile’s repertoire would come out under the name of Dave Edmunds or Nick Lowe solo albums. The whole constellation of Nick Lowe / Dave…
-
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 (who replaced founding drummer Bill Gibson, who went on to be in Huey Lewis and the News). This was out of print for a long time but…
-
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. Sire has been reissuing all the Talking Heads discography recently on vinyl – the reissues sound great, but I also love an original pressing. My copy—via Worcester…
-
Billy Joel, Glass Houses, 1980 on Columbia / Family Productions
Billy Joel’s 7th studio album, produced by Phil Ramone. The house on the cover is was Joel’s own home in Cove Neck, Long Island. A harder rocking Billy Joel here, with “You May Be Right,” “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me,” and “Don’t Ask Me Why” – lots of big hits – a Billboard…
-
Peter Gabriel, Ein Deutsches Album, 1980 on Charisma
This is the German language version of the third album Gabriel put out as self-titled (“Peter Gabriel”) but popularly known as Peter Gabriel III or “Melt” – listed in this case as Ein Deutsches Album (a German album). The songs: I love alternate language versions of albums and wish more people did them. My copy—via…
-
Dire Straits, Making Movies, 1980 on Warner Brothers
Released on Vertigo in the UK but Warner Bros in the US, this was the third full-length from Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits. Produced by Jimmy Iovine and Mark Knopfler. David Knopfler left the band during the recording of the album and reportedly Mark re-recorded all this guitar parts. There was a box set of…
-
The Robert Cray Band, Who’s Been Talkin’, 1980 on Tomato
Debut album from Robert Cray and band (Curtis Salgado, Richard Cousins, and Dave Olson). Tomato was a NY based indie label started in the late 70s by Kevin Eggers, who also released albums by Albert King, Townes Van Zandt, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and John Cage (among others). My copy—via Antone’s Records in Austin TX—is an original…
-
Bauhaus, In The Flat Field, 1980 on 4AD
Debut album from Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, David Jay, and Kevin Haskins aka Bauhaus. Bauhaus and its many spinoffs (Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets, Dali’s Car) are among my favorite musical lineages. They’d released “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” as a single in 1979 on Small Wonder records, but this debut came out on 4AD which…