Tag: 1983
-
INXS, Shabooh Shoobah Rarities, 2023 on Petrol / ATCO / Atlantic
Shabooh Shoobah was the third full-length from INXS, and I believe the first with real international distribution (WEA). The big single was “Don’t Change” which was a top 20 hit in the US. This rarities release includes 4 songs live from the US Festival and a couple of extended mixes. Fan reception was mixed as…
-
Depeche Mode, Construction Time Again, 1983 on Sire / Mute / Reprise
This was the third full length from Depeche Mode, originally released in 1983 on Mute, distributed in the US by Sire. Alan Wilder had joined and wrote two of the songs on the album. (Vince Clarke had departed after the debut album). One of my favorites, including “Love, In Itself,” “More Than a Party” and…
-
Mose Allison, Back Country Suite, 1957 on Prestige
Mose Allison’s debut album, recorded at Van Gelder’s studio in Hackensack in March 1957, with Taylor La Fargue (bass) and Frank Isola (drums). Largely instrumental. The song titled here just “Blues” was later recorded on Live at Leeds by the Who as “Young Man Blues”: Well a young man ain’t got nothing in the world…
-
U2, Two Hearts Beat As One, 12″ Single, 1983 on Island
This has long been one of my favorite U2 songs whether in this “Club Version” or the Francois Kevorkian remix or the original. I love the photo here of the lads out in a wheat field. My copy—via Music DNA in Methuen MA—is a UK pressing 12″ 45 rpm on the vibrant Island labels.
-
U2, Live “Under a Blood Red Sky, ” 1983 on Island
I always thought of this as recorded at Red Rocks in Colorado, but with additional tracks from the Orpheum in Boston (“11 O’Clock Tick Tock”) and Rockpalast in Germany (all of Side B, “I Will Follow”). There was a live video – Live at Red Rocks: Under A Blood Red Sky, which was the full…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Cyndi Lauper, She’s So Unusual, 1983 on Portrait
Lauper’s debut solo album, She’s So Unusual had four top-five singles: “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” “Time After Time,” “She Bop,” and “All Through The Night.” A number of the songs were covers – “Money Changes Everything” by The Brains, “When You Were Mine” by Prince, “All Through The Night” by Jules Shear, and…
-
Billy Joel, An Innocent Man, 1983 on Columbia / Family Productions
Billy Joel’s ninth studio LP, with the title track, “Uptown Girl,” and “The Longest Time” as big hits. Toots Thielemans joins on harmonica on “Leave a Tender Moment Alone.” Some people might put Billy Joel in the “guilty pleasures” column – I probably did in 1983 – but I’ve really come to appreciate him. Guess…
-
Thomas Dolby, Blinded By Science, 1983 on Harvest.
An EP or “Mini LP” by Dolby with the 12″ single versions of songs from The Golden Age of Wireless. The version of “Airwaves” here (5:20) is the full length version as opposed to the 3:35 version that appeared on the US version of album. My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a US pressing on…
-
New Order, Confusion (FAC93), 1983 on Factory
This was the sixth single from New Order, put out by Factory in 1983 as a follow up to “Blue Monday.” Produced by and co-written with DJ Arthur Baker, it charted well in the UK – though clearly nothing could match up to the massive success and influence of “Blue Monday.” My copy—via Waterloo Records…
-
Pat MacDonald and The Essentials, Essentialist Propaganda, 1983 on Counter-Pop
Pat MacDonald would go on to be one half of Timbuk 3 with his wife Barbara Kooyman, listed here as Barbara K. MacDonald. “Too Much Sex (Not Enough Affection” from this EP also was later on Eden Alley in 1988. Pat MacDonald and The Essentials put out one full length album and this EP, which…