Sunday, August 31, 2014

The Cult - Dreamtime

September marks the thirtieth anniversary of Dreamtime, the debut album from British band the Cult. The band included Ian Asbury (vocals), Billy Duffy (guitar), Jamie Stewart (bass and backing vocals) and Nigel Preston (drums). This 1984 release went to number 46 in Sweden and number 21 in the UK.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Black Flag - Family Man

Celebrating its thirtieth anniversary is Family Man, the third full length studio album from Black Flag. The record was broken into two parts thematically; the first side featured spoken word tracks by Henry Rollins while the second side was mostly instrumentals.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Dave Edmunds - Riff Raff

Celebrating its thirtieth anniversary is Riff Raff, the 1984 release from Dave Edmunds. Just like his previous album Information (click here for that review), this one was also co-produced by Edmunds with Jeff Lynne. The album, however, only spent four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 140.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

The Woman In Red (soundtrack)

Today (August 28th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of The Woman In Red, the soundtrack album for the film of the same name. The romantic comedy, starring Gene Wilder, Charles Grodin, Gilda Radner and Kelly LeBrock in her screen debut, was an adaptation of a 1976 French film called Pardon Mon Affaire.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Alan Parsons Project - Eve

Today (August 27th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Eve, the fourth studio album from the Alan Parsons Project. This 1979 release went to number 74 in the UK, number 10 in both Canada and Sweden, number 6 in Norway, number 2 in Austria, and number 1 in Germany. Here in the US, it spent twenty-seven weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 13.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The Everly Brothers - EB 84

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of EB 84, the first studio album from Don and Phil Everly after an eleven year hiatus. This 1984 release went to number 90 in Canada, number 38 on the US Billboard Album chart (with seventeen weeks total on the chart), number 36 in the UK and number 24 on the US Billboard Country chart.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Mtume - You, Me and He

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of You, Me and He, the fourth studio album from the R&B/funk band Mtume. The roster of the group at the time included James Mtume (vocals and keyboards), Tawantha Agee (vocals), Raymond Jackson (bass), Philip Field (keyboards), Ed Moore (guitar) and Leslie Ming (drums).

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Beat Street (soundtrack) volume 2

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

A few months back I gave a review of the first volume of music from the movie Beat Street (click here for that review). Today, we are back with volume two of music from the motion picture that hit record stores in September of 1984. This one spent nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 137. It also climbed to number 47 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Frank Zappa - Boulez Conducts Zappa: the Perfect Stranger

Today (August 23rd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Boulez Conducts Zappa: the Perfect Stranger. The album brings together experimental rocker Frank Zappa with the French composer Pierre Boulez.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Krokus - The Blitz

Today (August 22nd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Blitz, the eighth studio album by the Swiss rock band Krokus. The album spent twenty-seven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 31. It also went to number 83 in Canada, number 55 in Germany, number 27 in Sweden and number 6 in Switzerland.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Men Without Hats - Folk of the 80's (Part III)

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Folk of the 80’s (Part III), the second studio album from the Canadian band Men Without Hats. The 1984 release spent four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 127.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming

Today (August 20th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Slow Train Coming, the nineteenth studio album from Bob Dylan. It was his first release after becoming a born-again Christian, and the songs reflect many of those religious viewpoints. It was ranked number 16 in the Contemporary Christian Music Presents: the 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music book in 2001. The multi-Platinum album spent twenty-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 3. It also hit number 2 in the UK and number 1 in Australia.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Nazareth - The Catch

Next month marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Catch, the fifteenth studio album from the Scottish rock band Nazareth. This 1984 release climbed to number 60 in Germany and number 12 in Norway.

Monday, August 18, 2014

the Go-Betweens - Spring Hill Fair

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Spring Hill Fair, the third studio album from the Australian independent rock band the Go-Betweens. In 1984, the band included Robert Forster (vocals and guitar), Grant McLennan (vocals and guitar), Lindy Morrison (drums and backing vocals), and Robert Vickers (bass). Additional musicians on the record included Graeme Pleeth (keyboards), Denis Gautier (trumpet), Marc Fontana (saxophone) and Ana da Silva (backing vocals).

Sunday, August 17, 2014

W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P.

Today (August 17th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of W.A.S.P., the self-titled debut album from the Los Angeles heavy metal band. The record spent thirty-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 74.

The band included Blackie Lawless (lead vocals and bass), Chris Holmes (guitar), Randy Piper (guitar and backing vocals) and Tony Richards (drums and backing vocals).

Saturday, August 16, 2014

S.O.S. Band - Just the Way You Like It

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Just the Way You Like It, the fifth studio album from the S.O.S. Band. As with their previous album, this one also was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This 1984 release hit number 60 on the US Billboard Album chart, with a twenty-seven week total stay, number 44 in Germany, number 33 in the Netherlands, number 29 in the UK and number 6 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door

Today (August 15th) is the thirty-fifth anniversary of In Through the Out Door, the eighth studio album from Led Zeppelin. This multi-Platinum selling 1979 album spent seven weeks at the number 1 spot on the US Billboard Album chart, with a forty-one week run on the chart total. It also went to number 28 in Germany, number 20 in Austria and the Netherlands, number 17 in Sweden, number 14 in Norway, number 7 in France, number 5 in Spain, number 3 in Australia, number 2 in Japan, and number 1 in Canada, New Zealand and the UK.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Frank Sinatra - L.A. Is My Lady

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of L.A. Is My Lady, the final solo album from the legendary Frank Sinatra. This 1984 release, produced and arranged by Quincy Jones, spent thirteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart where it peaked at number 58. It also went to number 41 in the UK and number 8 on the US Billboard Jazz chart.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Chicago - Chicago 13

Today (August 13th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Chicago 13, the eleventh studio album and thirteenth overall album (if you include live and compilations) from Chicago. This one spent ten weeks in 1979 on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 21. It also peaked at number 21 in Canada.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The Fixx - Phantoms

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Phantoms, the third studio album from British new-wave band the Fixx. Here in the US, it spent twenty-nine weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 19. It went to number 18 in Canada.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Zebra - No Tellin' Lies

Zebra is a hard rock band that formed in the mid-70’s in New Orleans, Louisiana. The group consisted of Randy Jackson (guitar and lead vocals), Felix Hanemann (bass, keyboards and vocals) and Guy Gelso (drums and vocals). After a number of years doing covers, the band was signed to Atlantic Records. This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of No Tellin’ Lies, their second studio album. It spent eleven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 84.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

The Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Today (August 10th) is the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This 1984 release spent eight weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 201. The band at the time included Flea (bass), Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Cliff Martinez (drums) and Jack Sherman (guitar); this would be Sherman‘s only album with the group.

Michael Jackson - Off The Wall (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

Today (August 10th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Off The Wall, the smash hit album by Michael Jackson. This Grammy winning release spent a total of one hundred and seventy weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at the number 3 spot.

For my full review, please click here.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Rick James - Reflections

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday… sort of.

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Reflections, the first greatest hits compilation album from Rick James. This 1984 release spent eighteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 41. It also went to number 10 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Dennis DeYoung - Desert Moon

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Desert Moon, the debut solo album from former Styx front man Dennis DeYoung. It spent twenty-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 29.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

A Flock of Seagulls - The Story of a Young Heart

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Story of a Young Heart, the third studio album from A Flock of Seagulls. This was also the last album by the group to feature the original line up; guitarist Paul Reynolds left the band shortly after the album came out. The 1984 release spent ten weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 66. It also went to number 36 in New Zealand, number 32 in Canada, number 31 in Germany and number 30 in the UK.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Hanoi Rocks - Two Steps From the Move

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Two Steps From the Move, the fourth studio album from the Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks. It was the final album recorded before the death of drummer Razzle in a car accident near the end of 1984.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Brothers Johnson - Out of Control

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Out of Control, the sixth studio album from the Brothers Johnson. George and Louis Johnson split back in 1982 to pursue solo careers but they reunited for this one. The 1984 release went to number 91 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a total of eleven weeks on the chart) and number 20 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Slayer - Haunting the Chapel

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Haunting the Chapel, a three-song extended play album from the American thrash metal band Slayer. It was the follow up to the group’s 1983 debut album Show No Mercy.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Talking Heads - Fear of Music

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

Today (August 3rd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Fear of Music, the third studio album from Talking Heads. This 1979 release, co-produced with Brian Eno, spent thirty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 21. It also went to number 35 in Australia, number 33 in the UK, number 27 in Canada and number 11 in New Zealand.

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Peter Wolf - Lights Out (30th anniversary)

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Lights Out, the first solo album from Peter Wolf. It spent twenty-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 24.

For my full review, please click here.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Sparks - Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat, the thirteenth studio album from Sparks. It spent four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 202.