Tag: 1980s
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The Dream Syndicate, The Dream Syndicate (Self-Titled), 1982 on Down There Records / Enigma
Another band associated with the Paisely Underground / Paisely Punk movement of the early 80s, Dream Syndicate were Steve Wynn, Kendra Smith, Dennis Duck, and Karl Precoda. This was their debut EP on Wynn’s own Down There Records label before they signed to Slash in 1982. My copy, via a private sale, is on red…
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The Three O’Clock, Baroque Hoedown, 1982 on Lolita / Frontier
The Three O’Clock were part of the so-called paisley punk scene in the early eighties, on Frontier records – after changing their name from Salvation Army under threat of legal action. Baroque Hoedown was their debut release under the new name. This copy, via a private sale, is a French pressing on Lolita – with…
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Love and Rockets, Earth • Sun • Moon, 1987 on Beggars Banquet / Big Time
Released on Beggars Banquet in the UK and Big Time in the US, this was the third full length from Daniel Ash, David J, and Kevin Haskins aka Love and Rockets. Love “No New Tale To Tell” from this LP but really all of what they put out. Hard to find the 80s pressings in…
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The Smiths, Hatful of Hollow, 1984 on Rough Trade
Another (like The World Won’t Listen) compilation album from The Smiths, including some BBC sessions plus other singles and B-sides. Came out in 1984 in the UK but was not released until 1993 in the US (instead Sire released Louder than Bombs for the US market). This LP includes “How Soon is Now?” as the…
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Depeche Mode, Black Celebration, 1986 on Mute/Sire
Fifth studio LP from Depeche Mode, released by Mute in the UK and Sire in the US, and recorded in Berlin and London. One of my favorite Depeche Mode albums of all time, starting with “Black Celebration” all the way through “But Not Tonight.” Core Depeche Mode lineup of Alan Wilder, Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan,…
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The Smiths, The Queen is Dead, 1986 on Rough Trade
Third studio LP from The Smiths, following Meat is Murder. This might have been the first Smiths LP I had, with “Frankly, Mr. Shankly,” “Cemetry Gates,” and “Bigmouth Strikes Again” permanently etched in my brain. Love the Salford Lads Club photo from the inside of the gatefold. My copy—via Crossroads Music in Portland OR—is a…
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Echo & The Bunnymen, With Our Best Suits On, 2024 on Dear Boss.
Said to have been recorded live in Gothenburg, Sweden on April 24th, 1985 and purportedly broadcast on FM radio., though Setlist.fm has them in Gothenburg on the 25th of April. Dear Boss. (with the period included) is a label focused on putting out radio broadcasts from the EU based on EU copyright law (and sometimes…
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Neil Young, Hawks & Doves, 1980 on Reprise
Eleventh studio album (following Rust Never Sleeps) from Neil Young, with one side collecting things recorded throughout the 70s and the second half from 1980 sessions specific to the album. Young is joined by Levon Helm, Tim Drummond, and Tom Scribner on Side 1, and by Greg Thomas, Dennis Belfield, Ben Keith, and Rufus Thibodeux…
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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…