Category: music
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The Smiths, Strangeways Here We Come, 1987 on Rough Trade.
Fourth (and final) studio album from The Smiths, produced by Stephen Street, Morrissey, and Johnny Marr and recorded at The Wool Hall in Beckington, Somerset. On constant repeat in my late 80s experience. Strangeways was a prison in Manchester (now Manchester Prison) – The Smiths had previously used the Salford Lad’s Club for the cover…
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The Fun Boy Three, The Fun Boy Three, 1982 on Chrysalis
The Fun Boy Three (Terry Hall, Neville Staple, and Lynval Golding) were a spin-off / outgrowth of The Specials. This was their debut, self-titled album with guests Bananarama on four tracks, including a cover of “It Ain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That You Do it),” Also features “The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The…
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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.
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Sting, Bring On The Night, 1986 on A&M
Sting’s first solo live album, a 2xLP set recorded over multiple nights of a tour in 1985. Sting was touring here with Branford Marsalis, Darryl Jones, Kenny Kirkland, Omar Hakim and others – basically a killer jazz band. The band is incredibly tight and the energy of the shows is wonderful – even on songs…
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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…
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Tears for Fears, Songs From The Big Chair, 1985 on Mercury
Sophomore album from Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, following The Hurting. Hard to imagine trying to follow up that record, but this went to number one in the US. “Shout” and “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” fueled that success. They’ve been touring again in support of The Tipping Point but I’ve not managed to…
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Charlie Sexton, Pictures for Pleasure, 1985 on MCA
Sexton was a guitar wunderkind from Austin who was 16 when this came out. A poster of the album cover is seen in Ferris Bueller’s bedroom, and John Hughes used “Beat’s So Lonely” in Some Kind of Wonderful. Sexton would go on to play in Bob Dylan’s band (including on some recordings) and produce other…
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New Order, Confusion (FAC93), 1983 on Factory
This was the sixth single from New Order, put out by Factory in 1983 as a follow up to “Blue Monday.” Produced by and co-written with DJ Arthur Baker, it charted well in the UK – though clearly nothing could match up to the massive success and influence of “Blue Monday.” My copy—via Waterloo Records…
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John Hiatt, Bring the Family, 1987 on A&M
John Hiatt’s eighth studio album and his first on A&M. What a fantastic songwriter! Actually paid for by Demon Records in the UK, but picked up after being completed by A&M in the US. Guests include Ry Cooder (doing harmony vocals on “Have a Little Faith in Me” as well as electric guitar and sitar…
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Pat MacDonald and The Essentials, Essentialist Propaganda, 1983 on Counter-Pop
Pat MacDonald would go on to be one half of Timbuk 3 with his wife Barbara Kooyman, listed here as Barbara K. MacDonald. “Too Much Sex (Not Enough Affection” from this EP also was later on Eden Alley in 1988. Pat MacDonald and The Essentials put out one full length album and this EP, which…
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DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, He’s the DJ, I’m The Rapper, 1988 on Jive
Second album from the duo of Jeffrey Townes (aka DJ Jazzy Jeff) and Will Smith (aka The Fresh Prince), including “Parents Just Don’t Understand” which won the first Best Rap Performance Grammy in 1989. Not sure I even realized this at the time, but their first two albums came out before The Fresh Prince of…
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Foreigner, Foreigner 4, 1981 on Atlantic
Fourth (as the name suggests) full length studio album from Foreigner, who brought together three Brits and three Americans (making half the band at least foreigners wherever they played). Unavoidable on rock radio in the early 80s – “Juke Box Hero,” “Urgent,” and “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” My copy—via Dyno Records in Newburyport…
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Re-Flex, The Politics of Dancing, 1983 on Capitol
Debut album from English new-wave band Re-Flex, on EMI in the UK but Capitol in the US. Produced by John Punter who produced Roxy Music and Japan. Re-Flex formed in Birmingham UK in the early 80s and only put out two albums in the 80s. Clearly the title track on this album is the one…
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The Special AKA, Nelson Mandela, 1984 on Two Tone
Extended version 12″ single from The Specials (Special AKA), produced by Elvis Costello. One of my favorite early 80s ska protest songs. Now dated in its reference but hey – never forget: Mandela was in prison for 27 years but would go on to be the president of South Africa. It’s an amazing story in…
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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…
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Freddie Hubbard and Art Blakey, Feel The Wind, 1989/2023 on Tidal Waves Music
Originally issued in 1989 on Timeless Records out of the Netherlands, this was reissued by Tidal Waves music in 2023. Hubbard and Blakey are joined by Leon Dorsey (bass), Benny Green (piano), and Javon Jackson (tenor sax). The last track swaps Lonnie Plaxico for Dorsey and Mulgrew Miller for Green. Blakey died in 1990 so…
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Neil Young & The Bluenotes, This Note’s For You, 1988 on Reprise
An unusual entry for Neil Young, to be sure, but one of my favorite Neil Young albums post-1980. Later credited just to Neil Young when Harold Melvin (of Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes) threatened legal action. The video for the title track was in heavy rotation on MTV, mocking various kinds of celebrity endorsements. There’s…
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Safety Last, Struck By Love, 1983 on Twin/Tone
This was the first and only full length by Twin/Tone’s Safety Last, following their self-titled EP. On this LP they include Rusty Jones, Gary Louris, Lianne Smith, and Jim Tollefsrud (as “Jimmy T”). Founding members Tim Mauseth and Sprague Hollander left for other projects. Produced by Paul Stark and the band; recorded by Paul Stark…