Tag: 1980s
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The Robert Cray Band, False Accusations, 1985 on Hightone Records.
The Robert Cray Band, False Accusations, 1985 on Hightone Records. Third studio LP and the second on Hightone (after Bad Influence) – before signing to Mercury.
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Hooters, Amore, 1983 on Antenna Records.
Hooters, Amore, 1983 on Antenna Records. If you know The Hooters, it’s likely from “All You Zombies,” or “And We Danced” which were on heavy MTV rotation in the early eighties. This was their debut LP on an independent Philadelphia label – with original bassist Rob Miller, who died before their major label debut Nervous…
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Queen Latifah, All Hail the Queen, 1989 on Tommy Boy.
Queen Latifah, All Hail the Queen, 1989 on Tommy Boy. My copy is a 2018 reissue via Vinyl Me, Please on splatter vinyl Powerful debut album from Dana Owens, who is still a force to be reckoned with. De La Soul and Prince Paul guest on “Mama Gave Birth To Soul Children”
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Let’s Active, Afoot, 1983 on I.R.S. Records.
Let’s Active, Afoot, 1983 on I.R.S. Records. Mitch Easter may be more famous for his production work with R.E.M. and others, but Let’s Active was also a great band. Their first gig was opening for R.E.M. at the 688 Club in Atlanta in 1981
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Various Artists, Folkways: A Vision Shared (A Tribute To Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly), 1988 on Columbia.
Various Artists, Folkways: A Vision Shared (A Tribute To Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly), 1988 on Columbia. Great tribute album that was part of my introduction to the progressive tradition in America. Folk/blues Where else do you get Little Richard and Fishbone covering Rock Island Line? The Springsteen “I Ain’t Got No Home” and Emmylou’s “Hobo’s…
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Yazoo, Upstairs At Eric’s, 1982 on Mute
Yazoo, Upstairs At Eric’s, 1982 on Mute My copy s a UK pressing, thus the Yazoo instead of Yaz, as the US Sire pressings had it. Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode cofounder) and Alison Moyet – such a fantastic album. “Only You” and “Don’t Go” on a debut LP?
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Paul Simon, Graceland, 1986 on Warner Bros.
Paul Simon, Graceland, 1986 on Warner Bros. Gotta be in my top 20 albums of all time. The tremendously talented Paul Simon and an equally talented group of South Africa. musicians and singers, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Youssou N’Dour Still know every word and every note – rare to find this LP in good…
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Magic Slim & The Teardrops, Raw Magic, 1982 on Alligator Records.
Magic Slim & The Teardrops, Raw Magic, 1982 on Alligator Records. These days my rule is if I find an Alligator Records LP from them 70s or 80s that I don’t have I should just buy it Morris Holt aka Magic Slim passed in 2013 and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in…
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Ranking Roger, Radical Departure, 1988 on I.R.S. Records
Ranking Roger, Radical Departure, 1988 on I.R.S. Records First solo album from Roger Charley (1963-2019) aka Ranking Roger, who was part of the English Beat (or just The Beat, as they are known in the UK) and General Public. via Light of Day Records in Jamaica Plain
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Tunde Mabadu, Viva Disco, 2018 on Mr. Bongo.
Tunde Mabadu, Viva Disco, 2018 on Mr. Bongo. Originally released by Afrodisia (which was started by Decca West Africa) in Nigeria in 1980, reissued by Mr. Bongo in 2018. Great recording and pressing – afrofunk Disco
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Pretenders, Extended Play, 1981 on Sire.
Pretenders, Extended Play, 1981 on Sire. Label’s a bit off center on this one (see photos). Extended Play came out six months before Pretenders II, but had Message of Love and Talk of the Town plus a live version of Precious from their debut album via Residency Records, Salem MA
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Various Artists, Live! for Life, 1986 on I.R.S. Records.
Various Artists, Live! for Life, 1986 on I.R.S. Records. Benefit album for the AMC Cancer Research Center in Denver- executive producer Miles Copeland (brother of Stewart and Ian, founder of IRS Records). Great mid-80s (mostly) live compilation – not a single concert but a collection of unreleased tracks via Soundtracks, Beverly MA
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The Blasters, The Blasters, 1981 on Slash.
The Blasters, The Blasters, 1981 on Slash. Their second album but first on Slash records- Border Radio, American Music, Marie Marie. via Residency Records, Salem MA
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Bob Dylan, Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 1980-1985, released 2021 on Columbia / Third Man Records edition.
Bob Dylan, Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 1980-1985, released 2021 on Columbia / Third Man Records edition. Great 4xLP boxset of outtakes, live versions, demos etc, from the era of Infidels. Lots of Mark Knopfler, Mick Taylor, Sly and Robbie, some Danny Kortchmar, Benmont Tench, Jim Keltner – great band. Backing…
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Talking Heads, Little Creatures, 1985 on Sire.
Talking Heads, Little Creatures, 1985 on Sire. I do not believe there is a weak record in the Talking Heads discography. This gem from ’85 included And She Was, Stay Up Late, and Road To Nowhere via Soundtracks in Beverly MA
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Jimmy Cliff, The Power and the Glory, 1983 on Columbia.
Jimmy Cliff, The Power and the Glory, 1983 on Columbia. Mid 80s reggae from the great James Chambers OM, aka Jimmy Cliff.
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R.E.M., Life’s Rich Pageant, 1986 on I.R.S.
R.E.M., Life’s Rich Pageant, 1986 on I.R.S. Key soundtrack to my high school years – fourth full length from Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Bill Berry, and Mike Mills. Fall on Me, Cuyahoga, Swan Swan H, even the closer which is a cover of a 1969 Clique single – not a bad note on this LP…
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Mighty Sparrow, The Greatest, 1982 on Charlie’s Records.
Mighty Sparrow, The Greatest, 1982 on Charlie’s Records. Marketed and distributed by Smokey Joe Productions, with BWIA Sunjet Reunion Club logos. Great calypso LP – Capitalism Gone Mad, Prophet of Doom, Margarita. “If you tell them the economy is no longer in full bloom / then you become a prophet of doom”