Tag: 1980s
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Chaka Khan, I Feel For You, 1984 on Warner Bros.
I suspect this is where I first heard Chaka Khan and knew I was hearing Chaka Khan. The title track was a massive hit, with Grandmaster Melle Mel (of the Furious Five) rapping “Ch-ch-ch-chaka-chaka-chaka Khan” on the intro. Of course Khan also had made many albums with Rufus (some styled as Rufus featuring Chaka Khan)…
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Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Reactor, 1981 on Reprise
This was the last album for Young & Crazy Horse on Reprise before the five album run on Geffin. Some would consider this a kind of punk or even post-punk (is 1981 too early for post-punk?) version of Neil Young & Crazy Horse. It sometimes gets listed as one of their least successful records—the lyrics…
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Various Artists, Miami Vice (Music From The Television Series), 1985 on MCA
Though I can’t say I actually remember any episodes of the series—I’m sure I watched it—I certainly remember the theme song, which was inescapable. There were multiple soundtrack releases (foreshadowing later franchises like The OC?) from Miami Vice but this was the first and most impactful. The main theme is maybe most memorable, but also…
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Scritti Politti, Cupid & Pysche 85, 1985 on Warner Bros
Second album from UK band Scritti Politti, with their breakout single “Perfect Way.” Originally a lefty punk band (the name being a reference to the writings of Gramsci) they’d gone quite pop by 1985. (The LP came out on Virgin in the UK). One of the other major singles / hits was “Wood Beez (Pray…
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Aretha Franklin, Who’s Zoomin’ Who?, 1985 on Arista
From the 90s (Mazzy Star) back to the 80s: Aretha Franklin’s very eighties Who’s Zoomin’ Who?. She actually put out a number of albums in the 80s, but this is the only one I remember. Look at the glorious 80s neon fashion on that cover. The man on the inner sleeve is Franklin’s father, The…
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Bonnie Raitt, Nick of Time, 1989 on Capitol
Although this was Bonnie Raitt’s big commercial breakthrough—and maybe where I first heard her?—it was actually her tenth studio album. (Later I’d find her back catalogue which has much to recommend in it). It was also her first on Capitol, having been dropped by Warner Bros. It was produced by Don Was (future Blue Note…
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Acoustic Alchemy, Red Dust and Spanish Lace, 1987 on MCA
This was the debut album from Nick Webb and Greg Carmichael, aka Acoustic Alchemy. They’d later be on GRP after MCA acquired the jazz label. Great album that is also fantastic sounding – recorded by Klaus Genuit at Hansahaus (Berlin). My copy—via Residency Records in Salem MA—is a KM Records pressing that included an original…
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Steve Winwood, Back In The High Life, 1986 on Island
This was Winwood’s fourth solo LP and the most commercially successful. Guests include Chaka Khan (on “Higher Love”), James Ingram (on “Finer Things”) and James Taylor (on “Back In The High Life Again”). That’s quite a set of backing vocalists. Nile Rodgers also adds guitar on “Wake Me Up On Judgement Day.” You couldn’t avoid…
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Loudon Wainwright III, I’m Alright, 1985 on Rounder
Loudon Wainwright may be better known at this point as dad to Martha (Wainwright), Rufus (Wainright), and Lucy (Wainwright Roche) but he’s also a prolific musician in his own right, putting out more than two dozen solo albums. This was his ninth album and third on Rounder Records, and was produced by Richard Thompson who…
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Squeeze, Singles: 45’s And Under, 1982 on A&M
This compilation collected Squeeze singles put out on A&M between 1978 and 1982, and become their best selling LP. The UK and US versions differ – with the US version including “If I Didn’t Love You” and the UK version “Labelled With Love.” The lyrics on “Goodbye Girl” also exist in two versions, with some…
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Steve Winwood, Roll With It, 1988 on Virgin
Steve Winwood has had an illustrious and extensive career including having been a key member of the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith. Just having written “Can’t Find My Way Home” would earn him a spot in my pantheon. Roll With It was his fifth solo album and was quite successful commercially, including the…
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The Who, Who’s Greatest Hits, 1983 on MCA
I don’t tend to favor Greatest Hits albums from an artist I’d otherwise collect individual albums from, but picked this up as part of a bundle of records. I love it when an artist puts out a Greatest Hits so early in their career – there’s also a 2009 Greatest Hits album On vinyl, this…
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Paul Simon, One-Trick Pony, 1980 on Warner Bros
Paul Simon’s fifth solo album and first after moving to Warner Bros. from Columbia. Sort of a soundtrack to the same-named film (starring Simon) but with somewhat different versions and tracklist. Some folks think of this as a bit of a commercial low point for Simon, but it’s a great album, including the title cut.…
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Steely Dan, Gaucho, 1980 on MCA
This was the seventh Steely Dan full length and their only one on MCA records, following six on ABC. It would also be their last studio album for ~20 years. Though Keith Jarrett would later sue and be awarded writing credit on the title track here it is still credited just to Becker and Fagan.…
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Bauhaus, Press the Eject and Give Me The Tape, 1982 on Beggars Banquet
Live album from Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, David Haskins, and David J, recorded in London and Liverpool in 1981 and 1982. I always loved this cover – a photo by Eugene Merinov – and the labels with the Bauhaus style faces in black and white. Great set of live versions, including a nine-and-a-half minute “Bela…
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Love and Rockets, Love and Rockets, 1989 on Beggars Banquet.
Although self-titled, this was actually the fourth LP from Love and Rockets, following after Earth Sun Moon. It was also their last for 5 years as they pursued various solo projects. “So Alive” became their biggest hit in the US and made the album their best-selling here. It’s not my absolute favorite—that would be Seventh…
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Depeche Mode, Construction Time Again, 1983 on Sire / Mute / Reprise
This was the third full length from Depeche Mode, originally released in 1983 on Mute, distributed in the US by Sire. Alan Wilder had joined and wrote two of the songs on the album. (Vince Clarke had departed after the debut album). One of my favorites, including “Love, In Itself,” “More Than a Party” and…
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Love and Rockets, Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven, 1985 on Beggars Banquet
Debut album for Love and Rockets, though “Ball of Confusion” preceded it as a single under that band name. I always called this “Seventh Dream of a Teenage Heaven” but clearly it isn’t. Daniel Ash, David J, and Kevin Haskins crafting just a fantastic and new sound here after Bauhaus split in 1983 and after…