- Blog
- Profile
- Homepage
-
Figures, In a Chalk Circle, 1985 on Twin/Tone
On this release, Figures was Jeff Waryan, Jay Peck, Steve Brantseg, and Steve Fjelstad. (There’s an earlier LP credited to Jeff Waryan solo that is titled Figures). Waryan was also in Fingerprints and supported many other area bands at the time. An underappreciated Twin/Tone band from the 80s. My copy—via Cheapo Records in Minneapolis MN—includes…
-
Steve Earle, Someday, 1987 on MCA
12-inch single with a presskit from 1987 – after the March 1986 release of Guitar Town. This was the second single from the debut album – including a live cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “State Trooper.” My copy—via the Record Exchange in Salem MA—also included a one page Rolling Stone feature on Earle, but not I’m…
-
Maria McKee, Maria McKee, 1989 on Geffen
This was the debut solo album from the lead singer of Lone Justice. She’s joined here by Richard Thompson and Marc Ribot on guitar and Steve Wickham on fiddle. She’d go on to record six more solo records and some live recordings – but I don’t think any of them did very well in the…
-
The Replacements, Hootenanny, 1983 on Twin/Tone
Sophomore album from Minneapolis favorite sons The Replacements. A wonderfully messy record that’s sort of all over the place (rockabilly, blues, country and punk) but still works. The transition from the wistful “Within Your Reach” ( “I can’t live without your touch / die within your reach”) to the surf-punk of “Buck Hill” sort of…
-
The English Beat, What is Beat?, 1983 on I.R.S. Records
This is the North American version of this release (as evidenced by the “English”) which collected a number of singles, remixes, and live tracks as well as a number of tracks from the first three English Beat albums, serving as a kind of “best of” in the US. There’s a 2xLP version with a different…
-
The Waterboys, This is the Sea, 1985 on Ensign / Chrysalis
This was the third studio album from The Waterboys, produced by Mike Scott and Karl Wallinger with John Brand and Mick Glossop. Includes one of my favorite Waterboys songs “The Whole of the Moon” but the entire album is wonderful. It’s a bit hard to see in the photos but the Waterboys emblem / logo…
-
Talking Heads, Speaking in Tongues, 1983 on Sire
This was the fifth Talking Heads LP, produced by Talking Heads themselves rather than Brian Eno. It was the tour for this album which became Stop Making Sense, including their only US top 10 hit “Burning Down The House.” What a killer album. In addition to “Burning Down The House” you’ve got “Making Flippy Floppy,”…
-
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…
-
The Replacements, Tim, 1985 on Sire
This was The Replacements’ fourth studio LP and their first on major label Sire as opposed to Twin/Tone. It was also the last with Bob Stinson. It’s one of my favorite albums of all time: “Kiss Me On The Bus,” “Waitress in the Sky,” “Bastards of Young,” “Swingin Party,” and “Here Comes a Regular” are…
-
The English Beat, Special Beat Service, 1982 on IRS
On this release the spine uses the name “The Beat” but uses “The English Beat” on the cover and labels so as not to conflict with Paul Collin’s The Beat. This was their third LP and last under the original configuration – they’d show up later as The Beat featuring Ranking Roger and then The…
-
The Replacements, “Stink”, 1982 on Twin/Tone
This EP aka The Replacements – Stink (“Kids Don’t Follow” Plus Seven) came out in 1982, following the release of Sorry Ma. I always thought it was their first release. Opens with the infamous “This is the Minneapolis Police, the party’s over . . . if you all just grab your stuff and leave there…
-
X, Los Angeles, 1980 on Slash
Debut LP from John Doe, Exene Cervenka, DJ Bonebrake and Billy Zoom. Produced (as were the next three X albums) by The Door’s keyboardist Ray Manzarek. I was just mentioning Slash! records earlier this week – “Los Angeles” was a cut on the Slash! sampler Early Sessions and that was my intro to the band.…
-
Billy Bragg, Help Save The Youth of America (Live and Dubious), 1988 on Elektra
Billy Bragg live six song EP released to encourage US youth to vote in the 1988 presidential election. Includes “Chile, Your Waters Run Red Through Soweto” (written by Bernice Johnson Reagon of Sweet Honey in the Rock) and “There is Power In a Union.” Remember, when you elect a President, you are electing President for…
-
The Special AKA, In The Studio, 1984 on Chrysalis / 2 Tone
This was the third album from The Specials, and the only LP under the name Special AKA (early on the band had used The Special A.K.A. as well). The lineup changed quite a bit from the original Specials, after the departure of Neville Staple, Terry Hall, and Lynval Golding (who would form Fun Boy Three).…
-
The Police, Zenyatta Mondatta, 1980 on A&M
Third album in the brilliant opening set of LPs from Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers. Side one opens with “Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” “Driven To Tears,” and “When The World is Running Down, You Make The Best of What’s Still Around” – what a sequence! There’s such a tight and interesting rhythm…
-
Los Lobos, By the Light of the Moon, 1987 on Slash Records
Los Lobos’ follow on record to How Will The Wolf Survive?. which was produced by T-Bone Burnett. I love the Slash! records catalog from the 80s – great Americana tinged but contemporary music – and this is no exception. My copy—via Slipped Disc at a record fair at Mill No. 5—is an Allied pressing from…
-
The Robert Cray Band, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, 1988 on Mercury
Fifth full length from Robert Cray and co – sometimes referred to as The Robert Cray Band, other places just Robert Cray from the 1980s. This was their second major label record (on Mercury following Hightone and Tomato). It was not as successful as Strong Persuader which preceded it but there are some great songs…
-
Sade, Stronger Than Pride, 1988 on Epic
Third studio LP from the group Sade, named after singer Sade Adu and including (on this LP) Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale, and Paul Denman. What a fantastic run they had in the 80s and early 90s: Diamond LIfe, Promise, Stronger Than Pride, and Love Deluxe are all fantastic. I could just put “Turn My Back…