Tag: 1988
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Wall of Voodoo, The Ugly Americans in Australia, 1988 on I.R.S. Records
Live Wall of Voodoo recorded on their 1987 tour in Australia, primarily at The Palace in Melbourne. The cover painting is by Robert Williams (aka Robt. Wms.). This was their last output on I.R.S. and basically the end of their label support – after this things were self-released or reissues. My copy—via Vinyl Destination in…
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Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, 1988 on Geffen
This was an inescapable album in 1988 – not that I was trying to escape it. It was their studio debut and came out of nowhere to go 2x platinum. You could argue they were one-hit wonders with “What I Am,” with its ear-worm chorus (“What I am is what I am / are you…
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Talking Heads, Naked, 1988 on Fly/Sire
Eighth and final studio LP from Talking Heads – talk about going out with a bang! What a great record. They apologized in the liner notes to Minneapolis band The Wallets, who had a popular song called “Totally Nude” that came out in 1986. As a teenager in a Minneapolis that sometimes felt rather provincial…
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Camouflage, Voices & Images, 1988 on Atlantic
Camouflage were a synth-pop trio from Bietigheim-Bissingen in West Germany (near Stuttgart). Voices & Images was their debut album and included “The Great Commandment” which was a hit in Germany and broke through to the US. My copy via Pitchfork Records in Concord NH, has the gold promo stamp and a hype sticker listing the…
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Timbuk 3, Eden Alley, 1988 on I.R.S. Records
Timbuk 3 was the stage name for the duo of Pat MacDonald and Barbara K. MacDonald (nee Barbara Kooyman, aka Barbara K), as it evolved out of Pat MacDonald & The Essentials. They formed in Madison Wisconsin (later relocating to Austin Texas) and put out six albums, of which this was their second. I love…
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13th Floor Elevators, Flivver, 1988 on World Productions of Compact Music
I first heard Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elevators on fourth or fifth generation tape copies from friends in the 80s, but didn’t really come to appreciate them fully until much later. This record, on a bootleg Italian label with releases in the late 80s and early 90s, gathers live performances from The Avalon…
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Cowboy Junkies, The Trinity Session, 1988 on RCA
I could have (and would have) sworn this album was called The Trinity Sessions, plural, but I would have been wrong: it’s singular. (The session was recorded at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto). Fair, since it truly is a singular (in the sense of unique / one of a kind) album. It…
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R.E.M., Green, 1988 on Warner Bros.
R.E.M.’s sixth studio album, which came out my freshman year of college – I believe the last time I saw them live was on the Green tour at Boston Garden in April of ’89. Some of my fellow R.E.M. fans going back to Chronic Town, Murmur, and Reckoning felt like Green was the one where…
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Tom Tom Club, Boom Boom Chi Boom Boom., 1988 (UK)/1989 (US) on Sire.
Tom Tom Club, Boom Boom Chi Boom Boom., 1988 (UK)/1989 (US) on Sire. Via Mystic Disc in Mystic, CT Third LP from Tom Tom Club. This is the US/Canada version which has a different tracklist and cover than the 1988 one from the UK / rotw Highlight is a cover of Femme Fatale with Lou…
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Various Artists, Folkways: A Vision Shared (A Tribute To Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly), 1988 on Columbia.
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 tradition in America. Folk/blues Where else do you get Little Richard and Fishbone covering Rock Island Line? The Springsteen “I Ain’t Got No Home” and Emmylou’s “Hobo’s…
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Ranking Roger, Radical Departure, 1988 on I.R.S. Records
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 Beat, as they are known in the UK) and General Public. via Light of Day Records in Jamaica Plain
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Various Artists, Stay Awake (Various Interpretations of Music From Vintage Disney Films), 1988 on A&M.
Various Artists, Stay Awake (Various Interpretations of Music From Vintage Disney Films), 1988 on A&M. Loved this when it came out in 1988, and I think it’s even cooler now. Tom Waits, Suzanne Vega, Los Lobos, Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe, Aaron Neville, The Replacements, Sinéad O’Connor, Nilsson, James Taylor. via Light of Day Records…
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Patsy Cline, 12 Greatest Hits, 1988 on MCA.
Patsy Cline, 12 Greatest Hits, 1988 on MCA. This collection originally came out as just “Greatest Hits” on Decca in 1967. All of the songs were recorded between 1960 and 1963. Just an amazing collection – the obvious “Crazy” (written by Willie Nelson), “Walkin” After Midnight” and “I Fall To Pieces” but also “She’s Got…
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The Godfathers; Birth, School, Work, Death; 1988 on Epic.
The Godfathers; Birth, School, Work, Death; 1988 on Epic. Peter and Chris Coyne with George Mazur, Kris Dillinore and Mike Gibson. Love the school photos on the inner sleeve. via @deepthoughtsjp
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Crowded House, Temple Of Low Men, 1988 on Capitol.
Crowded House, Temple Of Low Men, 1988 on Capitol. Sophomore album with guitar from Richard Thompson on Sister Madly. Didn’t have the same breakout success as their self-titled debut (with Don’t Dream It’s Over) but did have “Better Be Home Soon”
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The Smithereens, Green Thoughts, 1988 on Capitol.
The Smithereens, Green Thoughts, 1988 on Capitol. While the debut album was “Especially For You,” the track by that name is on this sophomore release, along with “Only A Memory” and “Drown In My Own Tears.” Pat DiNizio’s songwriting and inimitable vocals made The Smithereens a key part of my 80s musical landscape. (He passed…
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Mighty Lemon Drops, World Without End, 1988 on Sire
Mighty Lemon Drops, World Without End, 1988 on Sire. “You cant stop my heart from turning / inside out” Via Music Connection in Manchester NH (yes, from before social distancing started)
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The Church, Starfish, 1988 on Arista
The Church, Starfish, 1988 on Arista. “Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty / sound of their breath fades with the light” This one I’ve had since it came out though I never had the bonus 12″ EP some of the early UK/Europe pressings included