Tag: 1980sPage 1 of 23

Too Much Joy, Son of Sam I Am, 1988 on Alias

This was the second full length from Scarsdale New York’s Too Much Joy. I didn’t actually know them in the 80s so picked this up a bit on…

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…

Cowboy Junkies, Misguided Angel, 1989 on RCA

Margo, Peter, and MIchael Timmons with Alan Anton were Cowboy Junkies. This EP came out alongside the Trinity Session album, with the lead single “Misguided Angel” from that…

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…

The Power Station, Some Like It Hot And The Heat is On (12″), 1985 on Capitol

The Power Station were a kind of supergroup, pairing Andy & John Taylor (Duran Duran) with Tony Thompson (Chic) and Robert Palmer (who was later replaced by Michael…

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…

a-ha, Hunting High and Low, 1985 on Warner Bros.

Debut album from Norway’s a-ha, fronted by Morten Harket, with Magne Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar-Savoy. “Take On Me” with its animated video is the song everyone knows, but there’s…

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…

Indigo Girls, Indigo Girls, 1989 on Epic

Sophomore album from Amy Ray and Emily Sallers, with their massive breakout hit “Closer To Fine.” Michael Stipe guests on “Kid Fears” and Hothouse Flowers guest on multiple…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…