- Artist: Madonna
- Title: Madonna
- Year: 1983
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: ?
- Keeper: Yes
I gotta remember to check the inner sleeves when I take these pics. There’s a large pic of Madonna on the inside cover sporting a look that screams 1980s, a look she popularized as much as anyone I can think of.
If you haven’t heard this in a good while you might be surprised how nasal her voice is on this self-titled debut record. Speaking of surprises, this album has only eight songs, but some of them are on the long side. I’m not a huge fan a Madonna, but as is often the case the world doesn’t agree with me. I will say that it’s solid pop, and come on, who doesn’t like “Holiday”?
U2 -- Under a Blood Red Sky
- Artist: U2
- Title: Under a Blood Red Sky
- Year: 1983
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 9
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1985 – Used, from Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
“Under a Blood Red Sky” is a great live record by U2. Mary gives it a rating of “9″ even though she thinks Bono enjoys signing a little too much(?). Based on the enthusiastic-sounding crowd I think these guys will be big one day. I just know it.
You can read more about this record at Wikipedia.
Talking Heads -- Speaking in Tongues
- Artist: Talking Heads
- Title: Speaking in Tongues
- Year: 1983
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 9
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: Not sure
Oooo! I forgot how good this album is. I also forgot how many legitimate hits were on “Speaking in Tongues.” I remember hearing at least three songs on the radio, “Burning Down The House”, “Girlfriend Is Better”, and “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody).” I’m probably forgetting another one or two. My favorite is the mid-tempo funky grinder “Swamp.”
I was in highschool when this record came out, and my entire family went to see the Talking Heads on this tour. And as if that isn’t cool enough, we didn’t all go together. I went with my friends, my brother with his, and my mom with a guy some people know as “Mr. Cool”, others call him “Big”, but I call him “Dad.” Of course, I had to have a concert shirt, but the only one available was a sleeveless yellow number with the art from the album cover. Yeah, I bought it. I had the shirt, but it was just too “new wave” looking, even then, even for me, and I don’t think I ever wore it.
- Artist: Joe Jackson
- Title: Breaking Us in Two
- Year: 1983
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: She doesn’t know.
Smooth jazz, less talk… Stay tuned to FM 1-0-whatever…
Just kidding. But this 12 inch single of “Breaking Us in Two” is a smooth ballad sort of thing. I do like it, despite the odds. The flip has “El Blanco” and “T.V. Age.” “Breaking” was on the “Night and Day” album and “El Blanco” is the Spanish version of the original album track “Target.” The last song is extended version of “T.V. Age”, also from the same album.
You can do your own fact checking at The Joe Jackson Archive.
- Artist: Bad Brains
- Title: Rock For Light
- Year: 1983
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 10
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: Not sure.
- Keeper: Yes
Again, my favorite band ever, Bad Brains. This “Rock For Light” album has always confused me. A lot of the songs are re-recorded versions of stuff from their earlier self-titled release on ROIR Records. At the time ROIR Records was actually a cassette-only label. I used to have that “record” on cassette, but now I can’t find it. For some reason “Rock For Light” is mostly made up of songs from that cassette and the rare “I and I Survive” EP I’ve already posted.
Bad Brains — there has never been, and never will be another band like them. “Rock For Light” at Wikipedia.
