Tag: 1980s
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Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, If You Leave (extended version), 1986 on A&M.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, If You Leave (extended version), 1986 on A&M. Another song that was on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack – clearly John Hughes films provided (or echoed?) much of the music of my teenage years.
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Suzanne Vega, self-titled, 1985 on A&M
Suzanne Vega, self-titled, 1985 on A&M Her debut album – already such strong songwriting and performance style – Marlene on the Wall, The Queen and the Soldier, Undertow. I think I first became really aware of her via “Left of Center” which was in Pretty in Pink but led me back to this debut record.
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The Breakfast Club, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1985 on A&M.
The Breakfast Club, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1985 on A&M. One of the movies I’ve seen the most in my life (alongside Princess Bride and Stop Making Sense). “Each one of us is a Brain, and an Athelete, and a Basket Case . . . a Princess, and a Criminal . . .”
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Los Lobos, How Will The Wolf Survive?, 1984 on Slash Records.
Los Lobos, How Will The Wolf Survive?, 1984 on Slash Records. The major label debut from East LA’s Los Lobos – this copy is the 180g remastered 2018 edition manufactured and marketed by Rhino, and it sounds great
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Fishbone, In Your Face, 1986 on Columbia
Fishbone, In Your Face, 1986 on Columbia Studio debut LP (after the Fishbone EP) “You act this way when problems arise” Via Academy Records, NYC
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Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band, Live / 1975-85, released 1986 on Columbia.
Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band, Live / 1975-85, released 1986 on Columbia. 5 LP box set, recorded at Meadowlands, Giants Stadium, Nassau Coliseum, Winterland, The Roxy, and Arizona State University. Great collection showing their prowess as a live band. I’ve never seen Bruce live in person (as opposed to video or recordings) but hope…
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Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Dig Yourself, 1985 on Rounder
Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Dig Yourself, 1985 on Roiunder Their second album. Turns out Barrence is a local and I run into him frequently at The Record Exchange (the Salem MA one) (or did, pre-social-distancing) but I’ve had this since the 80s. I believe “dig yourself” was their biggest charting hit, but the whole…
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The Del Fuegos, Stand Up, 1987 on Slash Records.
The Del Fuegos, Stand Up, 1987 on Slash Records. Note the cutout on the back that lets you stand up the album cover.
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The Blue Up?, Now, 1987 on Susstones Records
The Blue Up?, Now, 1987 on Susstones Records Minneapolis based group fronted by (later) video performance artist @anavoog (nee Rachael Olson). They went on to record an album for Columbia in 1995. I’ve had this since it came out in 87.
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B-52s, Whammy!, 1983 on Warner Bros.
B-52s, Whammy!, 1983 on Warner Bros. My social distancing practice includes lots of listening to vinyl and obsessive-compulsively editing discogs entries. Don’t judge.
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Fishbone, self-titled EP, 1985 on Columbia.
Fishbone, self-titled EP, 1985 on Columbia. A little ska party today, including U.G.L.Y. and of course “Party at Ground Zero” Via Academy Records NYC
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Echo & The Bunnymen, Songs to Learn & Sing, 1985 on Sire / Korova
Echo & The Bunnymen, Songs to Learn & Sing, 1985 on Sire / Korova Compilation of previously released songs other than “Bring on the Dancing Horses” One of my favorite LPs of the 80s: Rescue, Do It Clean, The Cutter. The Killing Moon.
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Screaming Blue Messiahs, Gun Shy, 1986 on Elektra.
Screaming Blue Messiahs, Gun Shy, 1986 on Elektra. “I wonder just how long we’ll be / out in the wild blue yonder” Excellent first full-length of rockabilly-punk-Americana craziness Via Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis MO
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Mighty Lemon Drops, World Without End, 1988 on Sire
Mighty Lemon Drops, World Without End, 1988 on Sire. “You cant stop my heart from turning / inside out” Via Music Connection in Manchester NH (yes, from before social distancing started)
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The Church, Starfish, 1988 on Arista
The Church, Starfish, 1988 on Arista. “Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty / sound of their breath fades with the light” This one I’ve had since it came out though I never had the bonus 12″ EP some of the early UK/Europe pressings included
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The English Beat, Wha’ppen, 1981 on Sire.
The English Beat (or as they were known in the UK, The Beat), Wha’ppen, 1981 on Sire. Went through a mod phase in the early eighties – you just can’t go wrong with the English Beat This album cover makes an appearance in Sam Mendes’ film Empire of Light
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Trio, 1987 on Warner Bros.
Trio, 1987 on Warner Bros. Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt. This is one of those albums I was probably too “cool” for when it came out, but learned to appreciate later. Note the paper cutout dolls on the original paper inner sleeve Via Planet Records in Cambridge MA.
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Boiled in Lead, From the Ladle to the Grave, 1989 on Atomic Theory.
Boiled in Lead, From the Ladle to the Grave, 1989 on Atomic Theory. Minneapolos based band doing Celtic, folk, world music. Oh, the microorganism . . . Feels apt for this era