Tag: 1980s
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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…
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UB40, Rat in the Kitchen, 1986 on A&M
Seventh UB40 full length, on A&M in the US and DEP International / Virgin elsewhere. Love the title track as well as “Sing our Own Song,” with the rallying cry of the African National Congress (“Amandla Awethu”). Got to see them around this time in Minneapolis – what a fantastic live show they put on,…
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Peter Gabriel, So, 1986 on Geffen
One of the foundational albums of my youth – not just the “In Your Eyes” boombox scene from Say Anything, but really every track here. Sounds fantastic on vinyl. Definitely one of my desert island discs, provided I can bring a turntable. In the UK this was issued on Charisma (PG5) and Virgin but in…
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Cyndi Lauper, True Colors, 1986 on Portrait
Second studio LP from Lauper, following the massively successful She’s So Unusual which had already gone four times platinum. Covering “What’s Going On” was, well, a choice. But I love the “Iko Iko” and the originals: the title track still makes me have all the feels, and “Boy Blue” – which was released as a…
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Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Conscious Party, 1988 on Virgin
Third LP from Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, which included Stephen, Sharon and Cedella plus Ziggy, all children of Bob and Rita Marley (who also adds backing vocals). Guests include Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth. Chris Franz and Weymouth also produced. Loved this album when it came out – fairly certain I had a…
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Neil Young and the Shocking Pinks, Everybody’s Rockin’, 1983 on Geffen
Credited (as you can see on the cover and the labels) to Neil Young but also to Neil and the Shocking Pinks, this was Neil’s rockabilly album, with a band assembled just for this purpose. I realize I’m something of a Neil Young completist, but I really enjoy this album, short as it is. My…
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Talking Heads, Remain in Light, 1980 on Sire
Fourth studio LP from Talking Heads, and the third produced by Brian Eno. I’d say the whole Talking Heads discography is “must have,” and this is no exception. Sire has been reissuing all the Talking Heads discography recently on vinyl – the reissues sound great, but I also love an original pressing. My copy—via Worcester…
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R.E.M., We Are Having a Heavenly Time!, 1985 on P.F.M.
Bootleg recording from R.E.M.’s September 26th, 1984 gig at Durham North Carolina’s Page Auditorium (on Duke’s campus). Also available in the Internet Archive – R.E.M. Live – 1984-09-26 Page Auditorium. It was recorded by the mobile unit of Reflection Sound Studios and then bootlegged, with this notation on the rear cover: “This Fan Club album…
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UB40, Labour of Love, 1983 on A&M
Fourth studio LP from UB40 – a collection of covers including their giant hit “Red Red Wine” – but don’t hold that against them. It’s really a fantastic album start to finish. “All of these songs were recorded by reggae artists between 1969 and 1972” – they came to “Red, Red, Wine” not via Neil…
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The Pursuit of Happiness, Love Junk, 1988 on Chrysalis
Debut full length from Canada’s The Pursuit of Happiness, with their big hit “I’m an Adult Now.” Produced by Todd Rundgren and recorded at Utopia in the Hudson Valley. I love their lyrics in particular – “Consciousness Raising as a Social Tool” and “I’m an Adult Now” resonated even when I was 18 but resonate…
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Japan, Japan, 1982 on Epic
Compilation album released (in the US) on Epic in 1982, bringing together most of Tin Drum plus some from Gentlemen Take Polaroids. (Neither of those was formally released in the US until 1994). I’ve got a UK Tin Drum but still looking for a good vinyl copy of Gentlemen. One the best underrated bands of…
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Michelle Shocked, Captain Swing, 1989 on Mercury
This was Shocked’s third LP and the follow up to the massively successful Short Sharp Shocked which came out in 1988. It’s (deliberately) all over the place in genre but wonderful. The “hidden” track is also present on the vinyl – “Russian Roulette” is not listed on the labels but plays after “Must Be Luff.”…