Tag: 1987
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Ike Quebec, Easy Living, 1987 on Blue Note
Though this was first released / issued by Blue Note in 1987, it was actually recorded in 1962 at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in New Jersey, and represents that early 60s jazz era. It was originally going to be issued as BST-84103 – but the tracks on side one did ultimately make it on Blue…
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Various Artists, A Very Special Christmas, 1987 on A&M
Long before Maria’s “All I Want For Christmas” came this wonderful compilation to benefit Special Olympics International with a whos-who of mid-late 80s artists covering holiday songs: This is holiday music I can get behind – though Christmas in Hollis does have a certain earworm quality I still love it. Artwork by Keith Haring, of…
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Sinéad O’Connor, The Lion and the Cobra, 1987 on Chrysalis / Ensign
This was Sinéad’s debut album and is still just astonishingly great. The spoken word intro in gaelic by Enya before “Never Get Old” is Psalm 91: For He will give His angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee upon their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against…
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Screaming Blue Messiahs, Bikini Red, 1987 on Elektra
Bill Carter and the Screaming Blue Messiahs put out four major label studio albums in the 80s – this was the third, in 1987. Some great and funny songwriting here: “I Wanna Be a Flinstone” and “Jesus Chrysler Drives a Dodge” as well as “I Can Speak American.” Power rock trio of Carter on guitar…
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Sonny Boy Williamson, The Real Folk Blues, 1966 on Chess
This album was first released in the UK in 1965 as In Memorium, (Williamson died in May of 1965). In the US it was retitled to The Real Folk Blues and released in 1966. Later reissues have appeared with either title in different regions. This is one of my favorite blues albums of all time…
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The Communards, Red, 1987 on London / MCA
The Communards were a duo of Jimmy Somerville (formerly of Bronski Beat) and Richard Coles, a classically trained musician. They put out only two albums: a self-titled debut and this followup. I’ve actually got both a Canadian pressing (white cover with red letters) and a US pressing (red cover with white letters) of this LP.…
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Midnight Oil, Diesel and Dust, 1987 on CBS / Columbia
Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, and Martin Rotsey are the core of Midnight Oil, the politically earnest band from down under. This was their sixth full length (the band started all the way back in the 70s and released their self-titled debut in 1978), but it was their breakout album in the US, with…
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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, while Norman Cook went on to form Beats International (and also was Fatboy Slim). The Housemartins were Christian Socialists from Hull (in the UK, not Massachusetts), which…
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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: “We do sountracks, a virtuous compost, Being a Compendium Of Oddities Collared and B-sides compiled.” “Voice of Harold” was a completely different vocal improvised over the track…
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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 cover and opposite table of contents on the rear refers to this being the fifth album. (I love many of the albums after the move to the…
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The Silencers, A Letter From St. Paul, 1987 on RCA Victor (US).
The Silencers, A Letter From St. Paul, 1987 on RCA Victor (US). That’s St. Paul as in Minneapolis, not the Apostle. Loved the local Minnesota reference from a hip Scottish band – really solid debut LP all around.
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Camper Van Beethoven, Vampire Can Mating Oven, 1987 on Pitch-a-Tent Records.
Camper Van Beethoven, Vampire Can Mating Oven, 1987 on Pitch-a-Tent Records. Early EP including a cover of Photograph (the Ringo Starr solo song cowritten with George Harrison)
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Thompson Twins, Close to the Bone, 1987 on Arista.
Thompson Twins, Close to the Bone, 1987 on Arista. Later Thompson Twins without Joe Leeway
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U2, Et Tu, Bono?, 1987 on Rockwell & Good.
U2, Et Tu, Bono?, 1987 on Rockwell & Good. Bootleg of some TV appearances from ’86 and “87 – Old Grey Whistle Test, TV GaGa, Late Late Show, Sing Song For the Tube. Track list on the cover doesn’t exactly match the audio Found this one in an antique store in Westerly RI
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The Long Ryders, Two Fisted Tales, 1987 on Island.
The Long Ryders, Two Fisted Tales, 1987 on Island. Picked up this copy at Island Music on Matha’s Vineyard – great late 80s country rock garage LP
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Hooters, One Way Home, 1987 on Columbia.
Hooters, One Way Home, 1987 on Columbia. The band’s name is not related to the, uh, “theme” restaurant (or its referents0 but to the Melodica. Third LP – hard to follow after Nervous Night that was 2x platinum – though they did have a hit single in Europe (Satellite) off this album. They’re a more…
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Art of Noise, Re-Works of Art of Noise, 1987 on Chrysalis.
Art of Noise, Re-Works of Art of Noise, 1987 on Chrysalis. Three extended tracks and three live versions from Hammersmith Odeon.
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U2, With or Without You, 1987 on Island.
U2, With or Without You, 1987 on Island. 12″ single with Luminous Times (Hold on to Love) and Walk to the Water. I love U2 b-sides from this era – many later collected on other later releases