Tag: 1980s
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Stephane Grappelli / David Grisman, Live, 1981 on Warner Brothers.
Great combo of two talented musicians: Grappelli on Violin and Grisman on Mandolin. Recorded at the Berkelee Center for the Performing Arts in Boston. Misty, Sweet Georgia Brown, and Satin Doll. My copy found at Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA
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Leon Redbone, Mystery Man, 1982 on Accord
Redbones’s fifth LP, and his first (and only) on Accord. There’s not much detail on the source of the material – likely recorded in the early 70s, maybe as a bootleg direct from the PA or for radio broadcast? My copy is the 1982 pressing, but this was reissued in 2021 on white vinyl by…
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Go Go’s, Vacation, 1982 on I.R.S. Records
This was the sophomore release, following Beauty and the Beat. Lead off single “Vacation” was an unavoidable hit that summer. Cowriting credit on “He’s So Strange” to Leonard Phillips from The Dickies and Catie Curtis – otherwise Carlisle, Caffey, Schock, Wiedlin, Valentine. Found my copy at Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA.
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The Beatles, Rare Beatles, 1982 on Phoenix Records
One in a series of releases recorded in the early 60s in Hamburg. These were recorded by Ted Taylor in April 1961 – while Ringo was not yet a full-time member he was sitting in for Pete Best that night. Picked up this copy at Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA
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Translator, No Time Like Now, 1983 on Columbia / 415 Records
Second LP from San Francisco based Translator, most well known for the single “Everywhere That I’m Not” (which was on their debut album in ’82). “Un-Alone” is probably the best known from this LP. Many of the members of Translator (Larry Dekker, Steve Baron, Dave Scheff, Robert Darlington) are still active as solo artists or…
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Go-Gos, Talk Show, 1984 on I.R.S. Records
Third and final LP of their glorious 80s run, with Head Over Heels and Turn To You. Found my copy at a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell.
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The Silencers, A Letter From St. Paul, 1987 on RCA Victor (US).
The Silencers, A Letter From St. Paul, 1987 on RCA Victor (US). That’s St. Paul as in Minneapolis, not the Apostle. Loved the local Minnesota reference from a hip Scottish band – really solid debut LP all around.
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The Woodentops, Wooden Foot Cops On The Highway, 1988 on Columbia / Rough Trade.
The Woodentops, Wooden Foot Cops On The Highway, 1988 on Columbia / Rough Trade. Second LP from UK band with Bernie Worrell joining on Clavinet
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Pylon, Gyrate, 1980 on DB Records.
Pylon, Gyrate, 1980 on DB Records. 2020 reissue on New West. Debut album of hugely influential Athens GA post punk band – I came to them via R.E.M.
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Camper Van Beethoven, Vampire Can Mating Oven, 1987 on Pitch-a-Tent Records.
Camper Van Beethoven, Vampire Can Mating Oven, 1987 on Pitch-a-Tent Records. Early EP including a cover of Photograph (the Ringo Starr solo song cowritten with George Harrison)
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The Cure, Pornogrqphy, 1982 on Fiction.
The Cure, Pornogrqphy, 1982 on Fiction. This copy is a 2015 Rhino reissue on 180g vinyl. Fourth stydio album from The Cure – tail end of the gloomy / goth era, leading up to the Top and Head On The Door.
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10,000 Maniacs, The Wishing Chair, 1985 on Elektra.
10,000 Maniacs, The Wishing Chair, 1985 on Elektra. Will always love Natalie Merchant’s voice and style – this was their third full length and first on a major label ( the first two were on Mark Records). Lineup with Steven Gustafson, Jerry Augustyniak, Robert Buck, John Lombardo, Dennis Drew and Merchant, produced by Joe Boyd.…
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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, 1980 on Virgin in the US, Dindisc in the UK.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, 1980 on Virgin in the US, Dindisc in the UK. The US version was released in 1987 so between 1980 and then you’d have to get an import. Yes, kids, they used to make different releases in different countries. Not to be confused with the…
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Thompson Twins, Close to the Bone, 1987 on Arista.
Thompson Twins, Close to the Bone, 1987 on Arista. Later Thompson Twins without Joe Leeway
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The Cure, The Top, 1984 on Sire / Fiction.
The Cure, The Top, 1984 on Sire / Fiction. US version on Sire label. Hard core devotee of 80s Cure. No longer have the hair for the full on goth look but it is still in my heart. Via Mill No 5 record fair
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U2, Et Tu, Bono?, 1987 on Rockwell & Good.
U2, Et Tu, Bono?, 1987 on Rockwell & Good. Bootleg of some TV appearances from ’86 and “87 – Old Grey Whistle Test, TV GaGa, Late Late Show, Sing Song For the Tube. Track list on the cover doesn’t exactly match the audio Found this one in an antique store in Westerly RI
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Thomas Dolby, The Golden Age of Wireless, 1983 on Capitol
Thomas Dolby, The Golden Age of Wireless, 1983 on Capitol The album originally came out in 1982, but was reissued a number of times – this is a 1983 version with “She Blinded Me With Science” as the lead track Miscredit to T. Kerr for cowriting She Blinded Me With Science – should have been…
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Tom Tom Club, Boom Boom Chi Boom Boom., 1988 (UK)/1989 (US) on Sire.
Tom Tom Club, Boom Boom Chi Boom Boom., 1988 (UK)/1989 (US) on Sire. Via Mystic Disc in Mystic, CT Third LP from Tom Tom Club. This is the US/Canada version which has a different tracklist and cover than the 1988 one from the UK / rotw Highlight is a cover of Femme Fatale with Lou…