Tag: 1980s
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Various Artists, Flashdance (Original Soundtrack From the Motion Picture), 1983 on Casablanca
Various Artists, Flashdance (Original Soundtrack From the Motion Picture), 1983 on Casablanca One of the must have soundtracks of 80s cinema (alongside Footloose and The Breakfast Club). “She’s a maniac, maniac on the floor / and she’s dancing like she’s never danced before . . .” Sometime when I dance like I’ve never danced before…
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Carmen McRae, Zoot Sims, Paul West, and Jimmy Madison, Europa Jazz, 1981 on Europa Jazz.
Carmen McRae, Zoot Sims, Paul West, and Jimmy Madison, Europa Jazz, 1981 on Europa Jazz. Recorded in 1974, released in 1981 on an Italian label – there is a whole series of live recordings on this label. This one was also released in 1974 as “Ms. Jazz” by Carmen McRae on Groove Merchant Via Antiques…
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Pretenders, Pretenders, 1980 on Sire
Pretenders, Pretenders, 1980 on Sire Debut album – “This album has a longer running time than most average LPs, therefore to achieve maximum effect PLAY THIS ALBUM LOUD” Great first album by from Akron Ohio and the UK
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Cats Can Fly, Self-Titled, 1986 on Epic.
Cats Can Fly, Self-Titled, 1986 on Epic. Major label debut (and only release) by Ontario’s own Cats Can Fly. Top 40 hits for “Flipping to the A Side” and “Lies Are Gonna Get Ya.” Look at that 80s hair and style, eh? Via Music Connection in Manchester NH
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Run-D..M.C, King of Rock, 1985 on Profile Records
Run-D..M.C, King of Rock, 1985 on Profile Records Darryl McDaniels, Joseph Simmons, and Jason Mizell, straight out of Hollis Queens to the King of Rock @kingdmc @rundmc @jammasterjay @revwon
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The Suburbs, Credit In Heaven, 1981 on Twin/Tone.
The Suburbs, Credit In Heaven, 1981 on Twin/Tone. The Suburbs’ second studio LP, with Music For Boys, Girl Ache, Tape Your Wife To The Ceiling. Produced by Paul Stark, one of the co-founders of Twin/Tone. Solid early 80s MNPLS rock – was issued on CD in 2001 but has not been reissued on vinyl
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Tones on Tail, The Album Pop, 1984 on PVC.
Tones on Tail, The Album Pop, 1984 on PVC. This is the US version of what in the UK was just called Pop, with three songs from the album (“The Never Never (Is Forever),” “Performancr,” and “Slender Fungus”) replaced by songs that had been released as singles (“Twist,” “Go!,” and “Christian Says”). The UK version…
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Fine Young Cannibals, Self-titled, 1985 on IRS Records.
Fine Young Cannibals, Self-titled, 1985 on IRS Records. Beautiful debut album – Roland Gift joining David Steele and Andy Cox from The English Beat Johnny Come Home, Suspicious Minds, Move To Work – quite the debut.
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Eurythmics, Touch Dance, 1984 on RCA.
Eurythmics, Touch Dance, 1984 on RCA. Remixes of four tracks from the album Touch, by Jellybean Benitez and Francois Kerkorkian- 4 with vocals on the A side and 3 instrumentals on the B side Paint a Rumour is one of my favorite lesser known Eurythmics tracks and the remix of Regrets is great
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U2, Wide Awake in America, 1985 on Island Records.
U2, Wide Awake in America, 1985 on Island Records. My copy is the 2018 remaster & reissue by UMC I always thought of this as sort of a transitional EP between Unforgettable Fire and Joshua Tree. Repressing sounds fantastic.
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Simply Red, Men and Women, 1987 on Elektra.
Simply Red, Men and Women, 1987 on Elektra. Follow up to Picture Book, with “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye,” “I Won’t Feel Bad,” and “The Right Thing,.” Didn’t get as much airplay and promotion as their debut but really a solid second album.
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ZZ Top, El Loco. 1981 on Warner Brothers.
ZZ Top, El Loco. 1981 on Warner Brothers. I think this was my first exposure to ZZ Top – love the grooves
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Dr. John, Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack, 1981 on Clean Cuts.
Dr. John, Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack, 1981 on Clean Cuts. Dr. John used “Mac Rebennack” for his writing credits (or Mac Rebennack used Dr. John for some of his performing credits, if you prefer). Either way, this is Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. On solo piano. And no, he was not a medical doctor. Neither…
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Human League, Lebanon, 1984 on Virgin.
Human League, Lebanon, 1984 on Virgin. 12″ single with an extended Lebanon om the A side and “Thirteen” plus an instrumental version on the B side EMI Records pressing from the UK
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U2, The Unforgettable Fire, 1984 on Island
U2, The Unforgettable Fire, 1984 on Island Soundtrack to much of my adolescence – big shift for the band after Boy->October->War and Under a Blood Red Sky Produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois with a more atmospheric / ambient rich sound.
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Beastie Boys, Licensed to Ill, 1986 on Def Jam / Columbia.
Beastie Boys, Licensed to Ill, 1986 on Def Jam / Columbia. Mine’s a 2016 reissue (30th anniversary) 180g on Def Jam / UMG Reissue sounds great – No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Brass Monkey, Fight For Your Right Via Record Exchange, Salem MA
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Various Artists, Life In The European Theatre, 1981 on WEA.
Various Artists, Life In The European Theatre, 1981 on WEA. Apparently a UK pressing – the US version opted for “theater” in the title, and subbed The Doors’ “Peace Frog” in for Ian Drury and the Blockheads. (I say apparently because this version has none of the country-specific price codes or rights societies that other…
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Tom Tom Club, Self-Titled, 1981 on Sire.
Tom Tom Club, Self-Titled, 1981 on Sire. Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz side project from Talking Heads
