Tag: 1980s
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Modern English, After the Snow, 1982 on Sire
This was Modern English’s second album, following Mesh & Lace, and had the massive hit “I Melt With You” which I think was so iconic in the early 80s. Doesn’t always fare well in reviews – Melt With You is definitely the stand out on the album, but I actually really like the whole thing.…
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Various Artists, Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture, 1984 on Columbia
So in 1984 I’d have thought myself too cool for the Footloose soundtrack: Kenny Logins and Deniece Williams? But I also would have secretly loved it (as I do now unashamedly): the title track, Let’s Hear It For The Boy, Holding Out For A Hero, Dancing In The Sheets, and Almost Paradise. My copy via…
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INXS, Listen Like Thieves, 1985 on Atlantic
This was INXS’ fifth studio album, but had their first US breakthrough hit with “What You Need.” Recorded at Rhinoceros in Sydney and produced by Chris Thomas. Includes “This Time” and “Listen Like Thieves” which are also great. My copy via Beverly Coin & Jewelry in Beverly MA.
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Dead or Alive, Youthquake, 1985 on Epic
Dead or Alive sometimes get put in the one hit wonder category, based on the massive success of “You Spin Me Round” but this is really a great record. I had the 12″ single of “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)” when it came out, but didn’t find the full LP until recently –…
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R.E.M., Green, 1988 on Warner Bros.
R.E.M.’s sixth studio album, which came out my freshman year of college – I believe the last time I saw them live was on the Green tour at Boston Garden in April of ’89. Some of my fellow R.E.M. fans going back to Chronic Town, Murmur, and Reckoning felt like Green was the one where…
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R.E.M., reckoning, 1984 on IRS
R.E.M.’s second full length LP (following Murmur – Chronic Town was just an EP) and the best album titled Reckoning to come out in the 80s (the second best being the Grateful Dead’s acoustic Reckoning). To be fair there isn’t really an R.E.M. album I don’t love, but this is one of my favorites –…
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Bronski Beat, Truthdate Doubledare, 1986 on MCA Records
This was Bronski Beat’s second full lengthy, after the mega success of The Age of Consent – and the first after Jimmy Somerville departed (to form the Communards). “Hit That Perfect Beat” was the big single. Despite Somerville’s departure (he was replaced by John Foster), it’s much in the same vein. I still really like…
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R.E.M., Document, 1987 on IRS Records
Their last full-length on IRS before making the jump to Warner Bros, capping really a perfect run from 1982 (Chronic Town) to 1987. The “No. 5” on the cover and opposite table of contents on the rear refers to this being the fifth album. (I love many of the albums after the move to the…
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Spandau Ballet, True, 1983 on Chrysalis
Spandau Ballet’s third album and major breakout – with Steve Norman on Sax adding to the New Romantic sound. The title single was unavoidable in the early 80s, and got overplayed but it’s really a wonderful album to play through. My copy via Beverly Coin & Jewel
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Thompson Twins, In the Name of Love, 1982 on Arista
This was the first Thompson Twins album in the US – a compilation of two tracks from 1981’s A Product Of . . . (their debut album in the UK) and 8 tracks from their followup 1982 album Set. Set was produced by Steve Lillywhite and had Alannah Currie replacing Jane Shorter who was on…
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Herb Ellis, At Montreux, 1980 on Concord Jazz (CJ-116)
Recorded live by Mountain Studios at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland July 1979. With: Produced by Carl Jefferson, who founded Concord Records (as well as the Concord Summer Festival in Concord CA) and sold it in 1994. My copy via Beverly Coin & Jewel.
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Willie Nelson, Always On My Mind, 1982 on Columbia.
I had always thought that “Always on My Mind” was a much older song than 1982 – and it turns out it is. It was recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972 – but Willie’s take didn’t come out until 1982. The album also includes Willie’s takes on “Do Right, Do Right Woman,” “A Whiter Shade…
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Billy Bragg, Brewing Up With Billy Bragg, 1984 on CD Presents
Billy Bragg’s sophomore full length, subtitled “a puckish satire on contemporary mores.” This was released on Go! Discs in the UK but David Ferguson‘s CD Presents in the US. CD Presents started as a promotions company organizing West Coast shows for PiL. My copy, which I found at Academy Records in New York, includes a…
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Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Almost Blue, 1981 on Columbia
Recorded in Nashville, this is Costello’s covers album of country greats – including Hank Williams and George Jones. I love Costello in his Americana / roots / country incarnations, and I love cover records, so this is among my favorites from him. My copy via Academy Records in New York City.
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Depeche Mode, Speak & Spell: The 12″ Singles, 2018 on Mute
Reissued box of singles by Rhino / Sire / Mute. The singles: “Dreaming of Me,” “New Life,” and “Just Can’t Get Enough” all came out in 1981, the same year as Speak & Spell the band’s debut album. This reissue from 2018 also includes a flexi-disc with “Sometimes I Wish I Was Dead” (which was…
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Let’s Active, Cypress, 1984 on IRS Records
Mitch Easter, Faye Hunter, and Sara Romweber’s debut full-length as Let’s Active, following after the Afoot EP. My copy is UK pressing – “A & M Records Ltd are the exclusive licensees for the UK. Made in England” on the label – but still has the IRS logo. Hunter and Romweber would both move on…
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Bob Marley & The Wailers, Legend (The Best Of Bob Marley & The Wailers), 1984 on Island Records.
This was required listening and a mandatory part of any healthy CD collecting heading into college in the 80s. It didn’t matter what musical subculture you came from, this was the lingua franca. I went on to many other Marley albums and deeper knowledge of Reggae and Caribbean music, but this was the one everyone…
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Stray Cats, Stray Cats / Pin Up, 1981 on Arista
This was their debut album – after forming in NY they moved to the UK and this was first released there in early 1981. It wasn’t released in the US until after Built for Speed, which included six of the tracks from this debut. Produced by Dave Edmunds and the band. The cover and spine…