Tag: 1980s
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a-ha, Hunting High And Low (The Early Alternate Mixes), 2019 on Rhino / Warner
a-ha, Hunting High And Low (The Early Alternate Mixes), 2019 on Rhino / Warner The original Hunting High And Low was 1985. Yes, this is the album kicked off by “Take On Me,” which has become an 80s cliche – but the band was (and is) way more talented than just that song – if…
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David Bowie, Scary Monsters, 1980 on RCA Victor.
David Bowie, Scary Monsters, 1980 on RCA Victor. Bowie working with Tony Visconti, guests include Robert Fripp, Pete Townshend, Carlos Alomar, Andy Clark Transitional album between the Berlin Trilogy and Let’s Dance. (I know some folks think of it as his last great album, and see LD as a falling off – I don’t, but…
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The Jam, Snap!, 1983 on Polydor.
The Jam, Snap!, 1983 on Polydor. Greatest hits collection released just after The Jam disbanded and Paul Weller went on to form The Style Council
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ZZ Top, Eliminator, 1983 on Warner Bros. Records.
ZZ Top, Eliminator, 1983 on Warner Bros. Records. My intro to ZZ Top, following which I went back and got all those that had been released before. Sharp Dressed Man, Gimme All Your Lovin, Legs, Got Me Under Pressure
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ABC, The Lexicon of Love, 1982 on Mercury
ABC, The Lexicon of Love, 1982 on Mercury (in the UK it came out first on Neutron). Shoot That Poison Arrow, The Look of Love – debut album from Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, David Palmer et al. Produced by Trevor Horn.
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Crowded House, Temple Of Low Men, 1988 on Capitol.
Crowded House, Temple Of Low Men, 1988 on Capitol. Sophomore album with guitar from Richard Thompson on Sister Madly. Didn’t have the same breakout success as their self-titled debut (with Don’t Dream It’s Over) but did have “Better Be Home Soon”
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New Music Seminar Sampler, 1982 on Columbia.
New Music Seminar Sampler, 1982 on Columbia. Great collection connected to an annual NYC event (1980-1995, relaunched in 2009). Dave Edmunds, Men At Work, Nina Hagen, Translator, Romeo Void – solid early eighties stuff. (Looks like newmusicseminar.com is now a dead url though)
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Jesus and Mary Chain, Psychocandy, 1985 on Reprise / Blanco y Negro
Jesus and Mary Chain, Psychocandy, 1985 on Reprise / Blanco y Negro William Reid and Jim Reid What a profoundly impactful and cool album this was – sweet music with heavy distortion – loved it all then and still do
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Robbie Robertson, Self-titled, 1987 on Geffen.
Robbie Robertson, Self-titled, 1987 on Geffen. Great solo debut from Robbie Robertson of The Band, with appearances by The BoDeans, U2, and Peter Gabriel Co-produced by Robertson and Daniel Lanois You may remember “Somewhere Down The Crazy River”
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Everything But the Girl, Love Not Money, 1986 on Sire
Everything But the Girl, Love Not Money, 1986 on Sire (in the US, Blanco y Negro in the UK) Huge fan of Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt – love everything on this album. US version has 2 further tracks, “Heaven Help Me” and “Kid” which were not on the UK release
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The Alarm, Strength, 1985 on I.R.S. Records.
The Alarm, Strength, 1985 on I.R.S. Records. Did 15 year-old me even understand the difference between being Welsh (The Alarm), Irish (U2), and Scottish (Big Country)? Probably not, but they were all pretty darnn cool.
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The Replacements, Pleased To Meet Me, 1987 on Sire.
The Replacements, Pleased To Meet Me, 1987 on Sire. This copy is a Rhino 2020 reissue on translucent blue vinyl. Recorded in between the departure of Bob Stinson and the arrival of Slim Dunlop in late 1986 early 1987. Love the mix of styles on this record, with Skyway and Nightclub Jitters alongside Shooting Dirty…
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David Sylvian, Secrets of the Beehive, 1987 on Virgin
David Sylvian, Secrets of the Beehive, 1987 on Virgin The third in a trio of brilliant post-Japan solo albums with Brilliant Trees (1984) and Gone to Earth (1986) with Ryuichi Sakamoto All three were reissued in 2019 on 180g vinyl (see davidsylvian.com) but this one is a 1987 pressing. Via Mystery Train Records in Gloucester…
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Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Punch the Clock, 1983 on Columbia
Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Punch the Clock, 1983 on Columbia Everyday I Write the Book, Shipbuilding, King of Thieves – classic Elvis Costello I would have had no idea back then what a lifelong fan I’d become through all the variations, bands, genres, etc. Declan MacManus is a very talented dude.
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The Del Fuegos, The Longest Day, 1984 on Slash Records
The Del Fuegos, The Longest Day, 1984 on Slash Records My favorite Del Fuegos album: Back Seat Nothing, Have You Forgotten, Missing You. Both Dan Zanes and Warren Zanes have gone on to great things They had a reunion benefit show in 2011 at the Paradise which I alas missed
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The Smithereens, Especially For You, 1986 on Enigma
The Smithereens, Especially For You, 1986 on Enigma Blood and Roses, Behind the Wall of Sleep, Strangers When We Meet. After this album was a hit they released an album (Green Thoughts) with a song titled Especially for You which is confusing as that song it isn’t on this album.
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Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, The Message, 1982 on Sugar Hill Records.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, The Message, 1982 on Sugar Hill Records. My intro to socially conscious hip-hop, circa 1982. “It’s like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under”
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Terence Trent D’Arby, Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D’Arby, 1987 on Columbia Records.
Terence Trent DArby, Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D’Arby, 1987 on Columbia Records. One of the gems of the later 80s – I think every note of this album is perfect. Still sounds current but also fits into that decade. D’Arby is now known as Sanada Francesco Maitreya