Tag: 1980sPage 3 of 18

The Housemartins, The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death, 1987 on Elektra

On this record the Housemartins were Norman Cook, Dave Hemingway, Stan Cullimore, Pete Wingfield, and P.D. (Paul) Heaton. Heaton & Hemingway went on to form The Beautiful South,…

Cowboy Junkies, The Trinity Session, 1988 on RCA

I could have (and would have) sworn this album was called The Trinity Sessions, plural, but I would have been wrong: it’s singular. (The session was recorded at…

Gang Starr, No More Mr. Nice Guy, 1989 on Wild Pitch Records

Houton’s DJ Premier and Boston’s Guru as a Brooklyn based hip hop duo, sometimes credited as the originators of jazz rap / jazz hip hop. “Words I Manifest”…

R.E.M., Dead Letter Office, 1987 on IRS Records

Divded into a “Post” side and a “Script” side, this was one of my favorite R.E.M. releases of the 80s, with the unofficial subtitle from the rear cover:…

Modern English, After the Snow, 1982 on Sire

This was Modern English’s second album, following Mesh & Lace, and had the massive hit “I Melt With You” which I think was so iconic in the early…

Various Artists, Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture, 1984 on Columbia

So in 1984 I’d have thought myself too cool for the Footloose soundtrack: Kenny Logins and Deniece Williams? But I also would have secretly loved it (as I…

INXS, Listen Like Thieves, 1985 on Atlantic

This was INXS’ fifth studio album, but had their first US breakthrough hit with “What You Need.” Recorded at Rhinoceros in Sydney and produced by Chris Thomas. Includes…

Dead or Alive, Youthquake, 1985 on Epic

Dead or Alive sometimes get put in the one hit wonder category, based on the massive success of “You Spin Me Round” but this is really a great…

R.E.M., Green, 1988 on Warner Bros.

R.E.M.’s sixth studio album, which came out my freshman year of college – I believe the last time I saw them live was on the Green tour at…

R.E.M., reckoning, 1984 on IRS

R.E.M.’s second full length LP (following Murmur – Chronic Town was just an EP) and the best album titled Reckoning to come out in the 80s (the second…

Bronski Beat, Truthdate Doubledare, 1986 on MCA Records

This was Bronski Beat’s second full lengthy, after the mega success of The Age of Consent – and the first after Jimmy Somerville departed (to form the Communards)….

R.E.M., Document, 1987 on IRS Records

Their last full-length on IRS before making the jump to Warner Bros, capping really a perfect run from 1982 (Chronic Town) to 1987. The “No. 5” on the…

Spandau Ballet, True, 1983 on Chrysalis

Spandau Ballet’s third album and major breakout – with Steve Norman on Sax adding to the New Romantic sound. The title single was unavoidable in the early 80s,…

Thompson Twins, In the Name of Love, 1982 on Arista

This was the first Thompson Twins album in the US – a compilation of two tracks from 1981’s A Product Of . . . (their debut album in…

Herb Ellis, At Montreux, 1980 on Concord Jazz (CJ-116)

Recorded live by Mountain Studios at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland July 1979. With: Produced by Carl Jefferson, who founded Concord Records (as well as the Concord…

Willie Nelson, Always On My Mind, 1982 on Columbia.

I had always thought that “Always on My Mind” was a much older song than 1982 – and it turns out it is. It was recorded by Brenda…

Billy Bragg, Brewing Up With Billy Bragg, 1984 on CD Presents

Billy Bragg’s sophomore full length, subtitled “a puckish satire on contemporary mores.” This was released on Go! Discs in the UK but David Ferguson‘s CD Presents in the…

Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Almost Blue, 1981 on Columbia

Recorded in Nashville, this is Costello’s covers album of country greats – including Hank Williams and George Jones. I love Costello in his Americana / roots / country…

Depeche Mode, Speak & Spell: The 12″ Singles, 2018 on Mute

Reissued box of singles by Rhino / Sire / Mute. The singles: “Dreaming of Me,” “New Life,” and “Just Can’t Get Enough” all came out in 1981, the…

Let’s Active, Cypress, 1984 on IRS Records

Mitch Easter, Faye Hunter, and Sara Romweber’s debut full-length as Let’s Active, following after the Afoot EP. My copy is UK pressing – “A & M Records Ltd…