Run D.M.C. – Goatless

Run D.M.C., Run D.M.C., 1984 on Profile

Run D.M.C.‘s debut album on Profile, a NY area hip-hop label that was distributed by Arista, who would later reissue it. It was produced by Russell SImmons and Larry Smith, and recorded at Greene St. Recording in Soho.

Note the credit on the rear jacket to “Music by Orange Krush” – that’s Larry Smith and his Oberheim DMX drum machine.

What a profound debut – with “Hard Times” and “It’s Like That” ushering in a new style, it became a landmark in early hip-hop.

My copy, via A1 Records in NYC, is a repressing from the mid-late 80s based on the 1775 Broadway address for Profile Records in the rim text.

Fediverse reactions

May 14, 2025

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:

The Pointer Sisters – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Eurythmics – Winter Wonderland
Whitney Houston – Do You Hear What I Hear
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band – Merry Christmas Baby
The Pretenders – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
John Cougar Mellencamp – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Sting – Gabriel’s Message
Run-DMC – Christmas in Hollis
U2 – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Madonna – Santa Baby
Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band – The Little Drummer Boy
Bryan Adams – Run Rudolph Run
Bon Jovi – Back Door Santa
Alison Moyet – The Coventry Carol
Stevie Nicks – Silent Night

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 course.

My copy via Beverly Coin & Jewelry. Different versions exist with black vs gold lettering on the cover, and with green/red on different side labels.

December 12, 2024

Run D.M.C., Raising Hell, 1986 on Profile

My copy is a 2017 reissue by Get On Down

Run D.M.C.’s third album,, produced by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin – the first Platinum and multiplatinum hip hop album. Walk this way, You Be Illin’, It’s Tricky, so many key songs.

Via Soundtracks, in Beverly MA