M — Pop Musik

• Artist: M
• Title: Pop Musik
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ? – She fell asleep before I could ask.

I’m writing from yet another hotel in Asheville, NC. We close on our new-old house tomorrow morning. This time we brought the kids with us so they can check it out. So far, thumbs up. That said, I did get panhandled three times in as many minutes after leaving a restaurant tonight. I’m not sure if that’s more irritating or funny. This is my fourth near-1000-mile-roundtrip to Asheville in a little over a month.

I’ve always liked this silly song, “Pop Musik.” I played the flipside, “M Factor”, this morning and already I’ve forgotten what it sounds like. That means it’s either completely forgettable, or I’m really tired from driving all day.

Madness — One Step Beyond…

• Artist: Madness
• Title: One Step Beyond…
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1981 ? – Unknown origin.
• Keeper: Yes

Madness in general, and the album “One Step Beyond…” in particular is at the top of everyone’s list of favorite music in our house. Everything on here is a hit in some way. “One Step Beyond”, “Night Boat To Cairo”, “The Prince”, the greatest ska version of “Swan Lake” ever recorded, and my favorite, “Bed & Breakfast Man.” B&B is a complete tease with verse after verse until they finally give up the chorus one glorious time at the very end. Excellent album and we play it all the time. More about Madness.

Joe Jackson – Look Sharp

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Look Sharp
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1980 ? “I know I was in high school…”
• Keeper: Yes

This is Mary’s record. I’ve never thought of myself as a big Joe Jackson fan before, but I do now. This one has the big hits “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” and “Look Sharp.” The last song “Got The Time” was covered by Anthrax in ’90s, but believe me, Joe rocks it just as hard and twice as cool. Everything else here is just as great, if not as well known.