Tag: 1980s
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Bob Dylan, Down in the Groove, 1988 on Columbia
Eighties Dylan – 25th studio LP featuring a mix or originals and covers, with guests including Randy Jackson (yes, from American Idol and Name That Tune, and Journey), Steve Jordan, Danny Kortchmar, Sly & Robbie, Mark Knopfler, Alan Clark, Kip Winger, Ron Wood, Clapton, Bob Weir, Brent Mydland, Jerry Garcia, and many more. Recorded over…
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Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson, Poncho & Lefty, 1983 on Epic
Another Willie Nelson duet album, this one from 1983 with fellow “outlaw” Merle Haggard with title track from Townes Van Zandt. Great collection of songs, including Nelson’s own “Opportunity to Cry,” the title track, and the pairing of “Reasons to Quit” with “No Reason to Quit.” My copy—via Electric Fetus in Minneapolis MN—is a Columbia…
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Fleetwood Mac, Jumping At Shadows, 1985 on Varrick
This release is also known as Live in Boston, and first surfaced in the mid-80s. It is labelled as “Live in Boston 1969” but it was actually recorded at The Boston Tea Party (which used to be at 15 Lansdowne Street, where the House of Blues Boston now sits) in February 1970. It was professionally…
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The Housemartins, Me and the Farmer, 1987 on Go! Discs
Released as a 12″ single from The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death, including the b-side of the 7″ single “I Bit My Lip” but also “He Will Find You Out” and “Step Outside.” Norman Cook (who later became Fatboy Slim among many aliases), Dave Hemingway (also later in The Beautiful South), Stan Cullimore, and…
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The Smiths, Meat is Murder, 1985 on Rough Trade / Sire
Released on Rough Trade in the UK and Sire in the US, this was the second studio album from the Smiths. The US version of the LP included “How Soon is Now?” which did not appear on the UK edition. but was issued as a single. The version I knew growing up was the US…
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Everything But The Girl, Night and Day, 1982 on Cherry Red
Another one that originally came out as a single in the early eighties (1982) but was reissued in 2022 on Record Store Day, in this case with the same three tracks (“Feeling Dizzy” and “On My Mind” on the b-side) but as a 12″ 45rpm record. I’m a massive fan of EBTG so was super…
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Madness, Baggy Trousers, 2022 on BMG
While the original single “Baggy Trousers” came out in 1980 on Stiff Records, this 2022 six song EP is the first 12″ version. It was released for Record Store Day 2022 on 180g vinyl by BMG / Union Square Music. Six generously proportioned tracks together for the first time This includes a French cabaret style…
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Bruce Cockburn, The Trouble With Normal, 1983 on True North
Cockburn’s 13th (I think) studio album, as he transitioned from old school folkie into new wave / alternative with more electric guitar and synthesizers but carrying forward the same politics and attitude. (“The trouble with normal is that it always gets worse”). True North was an independent Canadian label founded by Bernie Finkelstein (who gets…
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Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington: Song Book One, 1980 on Pablo Today
First of two records of Sarah Vaughan doing Duke Ellington songs recorded in 1979 and released in 1980 (there is a Song Book Two, also released in 1980). Produced by Norman Granz, and engineered by Val Valentin and Bob Simpson. Supporting artists include Waymon Reed (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Frank Foster (tenor sax), Frank…
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Count Basie and Oscar Peterson, Night Rider, 1980 on Pablo
One of my favorite Pablo records, bringing together two legends: Count Basie and Oscar Peterson, with support from Louis Bellson and John Heard. Produced by Norman Granz and engineered by Val Valentin, with liner notes by Nat Hentoff. Basie plays organ on “Memories of You” and Peterson plays electric piano on “Blues for Pamela.” The…
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Weird Al Yankovic, Dare To Be Stupid, 1985 on Scotti Bros.
This was the third studio LP from Weird Al, produced by Rick Derringer. Mixture of paradoes and “style parodies” which don’t copy specific songs but a generalized look and feel – like “Dare to be Stupid” which is in the style of Devo. Apparently he approached Prince about doing a parody of “When Doves Cry”…
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Mose Allison, Middle Class White Boy, 1982 on Elektra Musician
First of two Mose Allison LPs out on Elektra Musician (the other was Lessons in Living) and (per the jacket notes) the 19th Mose Allison album. Allison plays Yamaha electric piano as well as traditional acoustic piano. Allison is supported by Joe Farrell (tenor sax, flute), Phil Upchurch (guitar), Putter Smith (bass), John Dentz (drums),…
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Rockpile, Seconds of Pleasure, 1980 on Columbia
This is Rockpile’s one and only studio album released under their name in 1980. The band includes Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams – though other material from Rockpile’s repertoire would come out under the name of Dave Edmunds or Nick Lowe solo albums. The whole constellation of Nick Lowe / Dave…
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Mose Allison, Lessons in Living, 1983 on Elektra Musician
Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival July 21st, 1982 with Jack Bruce (bass), Billy Cobham (drums), Lou Donaldson (alto sax), and Eric Gale (guitar) joining Allison. Elektra Musician was a jazz oriented subsidiary of Elektra/Asylum, and started in 1982 – it was absorbed into Nonesuch in 1994. My copy—via Aux 33 Tours in Montréal…
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SVT, Extended Play, 1980 on 415 Records
San Francisco / Bay Area new wave / rock band including Jack Casady and (my former colleague) Nick Buck (from Hot Tuna) with Brian Marnell and Paul Zahl (who replaced founding drummer Bill Gibson, who went on to be in Huey Lewis and the News). This was out of print for a long time but…
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Chet Baker, Sings Again, 1986 on Timeless
Recorded in October 1985 in Monster Holland, this was released on the Timeless label. Baker is joined by Michel Graillier (piano), Ricardo Del Fra (bass), and John Engels (drums). That means it was recorded after Baker’s “re-emergence” at the Free Jazz Festival in Rio in September 1985. The dedication is “Thanks to Peter Huijts, without…
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The Smithereens, 11, 1989 on Enigma/Capitol
Third studio full-length from New Jersey’s own The Smithereens: Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, and Mike Mesaros. Belinda Carlisle guests on “Blue Period” and Maria Vidal adds background vocals on “A Girl Like You.” Apparently the title is inspired by Spinal Tap and Ocean’s 11, but there are only 10 songs. These 10 go…
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Randy Newman, Trouble in Paradise, 1983 on Warner Bros.
Seventh studio album for satirist/songwriter Randy Newman, including “I Love L.A.” and “The Blues” which was a duet with Paul Simon. Produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman and recorded in North Hollywood. My copy—via the Worcester Record Riot—is an Allied pressing from 1983 with the “lined” WB labels and inner liner. Its got an…