Tag: I.R.S. Records

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:…

Let’s Active, Cypress, 1984 on IRS Records

Mitch Easter, Faye Hunter, and Sara Romweber’s debut full-length as Let’s Active, following after the Afoot EP. My copy is UK pressing – “A & M Records Ltd…

The Alarm, Standards, 1990 on IRS

Compilation from IRS records in 1990 – most of the songs you’d expect from their earlier LPs, plus A New South Wales and Happy Christmas (War is Over)….

Go Go’s, Vacation, 1982 on I.R.S. Records

This was the sophomore release, following Beauty and the Beat. Lead off single “Vacation” was an unavoidable hit that summer. Cowriting credit on “He’s So Strange” to Leonard…

Go-Gos, Talk Show, 1984 on I.R.S. Records

Third and final LP of their glorious 80s run, with Head Over Heels and Turn To You. Found my copy at a record fair at Mill No. 5…

Let’s Active, Afoot, 1983 on I.R.S. Records.

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…

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…

Various Artists, Live! for Life, 1986 on I.R.S. Records.

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,…

General Public, . . . All The Rage, 1984 on I.R.S. Records

General Public, . . . All The Rage, 1984 on I.R.S. Records Debut LP for an offshoot of the English Beat (aka The Beat) plus members of Dexy’s…

The Alarm, Knife Edge, 1986 on I.R.S. Records

The Alarm, Knife Edge, 1986 on I.R.S. Records Another 80s 12″ single with B side Caroline Isenberg and two live tracks from BBC Radio One. Via Deep Thoughts,…

R.E.M., Murmur, 1983 on IRS Records.

R.E.M., Murmur, 1983 on IRS Records. Such a brilliant LP from beginning to end – Radio Free Europe but also Perfect Circle, Moral Kiosk, West of Fields. via…

R.E.M., Fables of the Reconstruction / Reconstruction of the Fables, 1985 on I.R.S. Records

R.E.M., Fables of the Reconstruction / Reconstruction of the Fables, 1985 on I.R.S. Records Another favorite from the IRS heyday. One side label is Fables of the Reconstruction,…

R.E.M., Chronic Town, 1982 on I.R.S. Records

R.E.M., Chronic Town, 1982 on I.R.S. Records In honor of delayed tax day, a little REM from the early 80s heyday of I.R.S. Records R.E.M. remain one of…

Go-Gos, Beauty and the Beat, 1981 on I.R.S. Records.

Go-Gos, Beauty and the Beat, 1981 on I.R.S. Records. The Go-Go’s debut – the sound of the early 80s. Our Lips Are Sealed, We Got the Beat ….

Fine Young Cannibals, Self-titled, 1985 on IRS Records.

Fine Young Cannibals, Self-titled, 1985 on IRS Records. Beautiful debut album – Roland Gift joining David Steele and Andy Cox from The English Beat Johnny Come Home, Suspicious…

The Alarm, Strength, 1985 on I.R.S. Records.

The Alarm, Strength, 1985 on I.R.S. Records. Did 15 year-old me even understand the difference between being Welsh (The Alarm), Irish (U2), and Scottish (Big Country)? Probably not,…

The Alarm, Declaration, 1984 on IRS Records.

The Alarm, Declaration, 1984 on IRS Records. Look at that 1984 hair – I think Eddie MacDonald set the bar for my 14 year old attempts at big…

The Alarm, self-titled EP, 1983 on IRS Records.

The Alarm, self-titled EP, 1983 on IRS Records. The Alarm are out on tour in 2020 and Mike Peters is doing a show (Mike Peters Presents The Alarm…