Tag: 1980s
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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.”…
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Public Enemy, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, 1987 on Def Jam
Debut studio album from Public Enemy, recorded at Spectrum City Studios and produced by Bill Stephney (of The Bomb Squad, with co-producers Carl Ryder and Hank Shocklee) with Rick Rubin credited as Executive Producer. Still looking for a good vinyl copy of It Takes a Nation of Millions. Def Jam was distributed by CBS/Columbia (thus…
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David Byrne, Rei Momo, 1989 on Luaka Bop / Sire / WB
David Byrne’s first “solo” album which “transforms and pays tribute to the music of Latin America.” (Solo in the sense of not with Talking heads, but with a ton of talented musicians). The vinyl releases omit three songs that were on the CD – would be a great candidate for a deluxe vinyl reissue 2xLP…
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The League Unlimited Orchestra, Love and Dancing, 1982 on A&M
Remix album by The Human League, released in 1982 on Virgin in the UK, Europe and Canada and on A&M in the US. (Name inspired by Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra). I love the version of “Hard Times” here – mostly instrumental versions, remixed by Martin Rushent. This is another filing oddity – I put…
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Boogie Down Productions, By All Means Necessary, 1988 on Jive
Second album from KRS-One under the Boogie Down Productions moniker, after the 1987 killing of Scott La Rock. Arguably the birth of socially conscious hip-hop, undeniably a key album in it. So, you’re a philosopher? Yes, I think very deeply In about four seconds, a teacher will begin to speak Let us begin, what, where,…
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The Cure, Faith, 1981 on Fiction
The Cure’s third full length, between Seventeen Seconds and Pornography, released in 1981 on Fiction records in the UK, and later in the US on Elektra in 1988. I had this on some form of import – likely a friend made an illegal cassette copy for me – in the mid 80s, but was happy…
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Echo And The Bunnymen, Heaven Up Here, 1981 on Sire/Korova
Second album from Echo & the Bunnymen, produced by Hugh Jones (and the band) and recorded in Wales. It was put out by Korova in the UK and Sire in the US. While Crocodiles didn’t chart in the US this one did. The photo on the cover – taken on the shore in Wales –…
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Joy Division, Substance, 1988 on Factory
Posthumous collection of Joy Division singles put out in 1988 as a 1xLP and reissued in 2015 as a 2xLP by Rhino (a digital remaster). Substance was also used at the title for the New Order singles collection that came out in 1987 (with “1987” added). Still looking for a good clean copy of Unknown…
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Modern English, Mesh & Lace, 1981 on 4AD
Debut album from Modern English on the 4AD label. This wasn’t released in the US formally until the 2012 CD reissue and then 2016 on vinyl. The debut is a bit darker and more derivative of Joy Division than some of the later work but still a really strong collection of songs. I always loved…
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X, See How We Are, 1987 on Elektra
This was the sixth studio album from Exene Cervenka, John Doe, and D.J. Bonebrake, and the first after the departure of Billy Zoom. He was replaced by Dave Alvin and then Tony Gilkyson, both of whom are credited on the LP. Benmont Tench also contributes on the Hammond organ. The standout for me is “4th…
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Bauhaus, 4AD, 1983 on 4AD
Yes, I did save this one for halloween. This was a compilation EP of the singles versions of “Dark Entries,” “Telegram Sam,” and “Terror Couple Kill Colonel.” Love that back cover photo. I was today years old when I realized that John Cale wrote “Rosegarden Funeral of Sores,” the opening triplet of which is burned…
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Everything But The Girl, Idlewild, 1988 on Sire
This was the fourth EBTG album, released in early 1988 on Sire / Blanco y Negro Records. There’s a 2012 double CD reissue with bonuses but that has not been issued on vinyl. (The LP was reissued by Music on Vinyl in 2016 but as a single LP). I love Tracey Thorn and Ben Watts,…
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The Smiths, The World Won’t Listen, 1987 on Rough Trade
This is a compilation album—the second of three—including singles and b-sides from 1985-1987. Most of these tracks also appear on Louder Than Bombs (a 2xLP), but two are different versions and two are edits. Fantastic collection of songs, including “Panic,” “Ask,” “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” “That Joke Isn’t…
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Bruce Hornsby and The Range, The Way It Is, 1986 on RCA Victor
Multi-platinum debut album for Hornsby & the Range, including the title track as well as “Mandolin Rain.” The Range included David Mansfield, George Marinelli, Joe Puerta, and John Molo – Huey Lewis guests on “Down the Road Tonight” and produced three tracks. I imagine some people now know this as the track sampled in 2Pac’s…
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Prince and the Revolution, Live, 2022 on NPG Records
Released in 1985 as a VHS live movie, this was issued on 3xLP vinyl by NPG records in 2022. It was recorded March 30th, 1985, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse NY. Fantastic live set from the Purple Rain era which was also broadcast in Europe as part of Rockpalast. There was also a DVD…
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Marshall Crenshaw, Marshall Crenshaw, 1982 on Warner Bros.
Debut album from Marshall Crenshaw, including the song for which he is best known “Someday, Someway.” The followup sophomore album (Field Day) was produced by Steve Lillywhite but did not do nearly as well, though he did go on to work with T-Bone Burnett and appear in the films Peggy Sue Got Married and La…
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Big Country, The Crossing, 1983 on Mercury
Debut album by Scotland’s Big Country, which charted at number 18 in the US, and contains the song “In a Big Country.” Produced by Steve Lillywhite and recorded in London and Oxford. The opening of that track – “In a Big Country” – is just indelibly etched in my early 80s memory. I’m sure they…
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The Smiths, The Smiths, 1984 on Rough Trade
Masterful debut album by Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce aka The Smiths. Produced by John Porter and recorded at multiple studios in Manchester and London in 1983. Yes, I still listen to The Smiths even if Morrissey is problematic. This is a fantastic debut – not necessarily my favorite single Smiths record,…