Various Artists, Atomic Cafe: Radioactive Rock ‘n Roll, Blues, Country & Gospel, 1982 on Rounder Records. Soundtrack to a 1982 documentary The Atomic Cafe – songs inspired by…
Billy Bragg, Talking With the Taxman About Poetry, 1986 on Elektra. Title comes from a Mayakovsky poem printed on the inner liner – I appreciate much more now…
The Robert Cray Band, False Accusations, 1985 on Hightone Records. Third studio LP and the second on Hightone (after Bad Influence) – before signing to Mercury.
Hooters, Amore, 1983 on Antenna Records. If you know The Hooters, it’s likely from “All You Zombies,” or “And We Danced” which were on heavy MTV rotation in…
Let’s Active, Afoot, 1983 on I.R.S. Records. Mitch Easter may be more famous for his production work with R.E.M. and others, but Let’s Active was also a great…
Various Artists, Folkways: A Vision Shared (A Tribute To Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly), 1988 on Columbia. Great tribute album that was part of my introduction to the progressive…
Paul Simon, Graceland, 1986 on Warner Bros. Gotta be in my top 20 albums of all time. The tremendously talented Paul Simon and an equally talented group of…
Ranking Roger, Radical Departure, 1988 on I.R.S. Records First solo album from Roger Charley (1963-2019) aka Ranking Roger, who was part of the English Beat (or just The…
Tunde Mabadu, Viva Disco, 2018 on Mr. Bongo. Originally released by Afrodisia (which was started by Decca West Africa) in Nigeria in 1980, reissued by Mr. Bongo in…
Pretenders, Extended Play, 1981 on Sire. Label’s a bit off center on this one (see photos). Extended Play came out six months before Pretenders II, but had Message…
Various Artists, Live! for Life, 1986 on I.R.S. Records. Benefit album for the AMC Cancer Research Center in Denver- executive producer Miles Copeland (brother of Stewart and Ian,…
The Blasters, The Blasters, 1981 on Slash. Their second album but first on Slash records- Border Radio, American Music, Marie Marie. via Residency Records, Salem MA
Bob Dylan, Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 1980-1985, released 2021 on Columbia / Third Man Records edition. Great 4xLP boxset of outtakes, live versions,…
Talking Heads, Little Creatures, 1985 on Sire. I do not believe there is a weak record in the Talking Heads discography. This gem from ’85 included And She…