Madonna — Madonna

• 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

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

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.

Joe Jackson — Breaking Us in Two

• 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.

Bad Brains — Rock For Light

• 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.

Various Artists — Slash: The Early Sessions

Various Artists -- Slash: The Early Sessions

• Artist: Various Artists
• Title: Slash: The Early Sessions
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Olsson’s in Georgetown, DC.
• Keeper: Yes

Good ol’ Slash Records. This is a compilation of music from some of the great bands on Slash from 1979-1983. The presence of The Blasters and X (two songs each) is what pushes this rating up to 8. Another tasty bit is Fear’s “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones.” From the lyrics on that song, and others, it’s hard to tell if they’re homosexuals, homophobes, or just having fun making uptight people mad. Fear was always good for a little controversy.

Here’s a funny story about Fear’s appearance on Saturday Night Live, at Wikipedia.

Artists include:

• The Blasters
• Gun Club
• Rank and File
• Violent Femmes
• X
• Fear
• Germs
• The Dream Syndicate

Madness – Madness

• Artist: Madness
• Title: Madness
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Kempmill Records in Springfield, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

I’m not sure what the deal is with this self-titled Madness album. Mary thinks it was a US-only release that the label put out after the single “Our House” was a hit everywhere else. Before that tune nobody in the US knew who Madness were. Nobody, except the cool kids that is. It includes songs from their first four records. Anyhow, I couldn’t find any info about it on the official Madness site or Wikipedia’s page about Madness.

I like everything on this record, but I think my favorite is “Grey Day.” The piano, bass and concert chimes together sound so heavy.

“Madness is all in the mind.”

Billy Idol — Rebel Yell

• Artist: Billy Idol
• Title: Rebel Yell
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1983 — No idea.
• Keeper: Yes

I admit that I think the title track “Rebel Yell” is a great pop song, probably Billy Idol’s best. The rest of the album is not so exciting, except for Steve Stevens excellent guitar work. I read an interview with Stevens in Guitar Player magazine back in the 1980s. He said people were always asking him to “do the raygun Steve”, and everyone wanted to know how he did it. The raygun was some killer effect/trick that he did twice in the song “Rebel Yell.” Steve didn’t want to say exactly how to do it. As I remember it, he thought it was kind of lame for people to just copy it and said people should just experiment and come up with their own stuff. I agree, but you can tell me Steve. Seriously.

Echo and The Bunnymen — The Sound of Echo EP

• Artist: Echo and The Bunnymen
• Title: The Sound of Echo EP
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: She’s not around to tell me right now…
• Keeper: Yes

I am distraught, people. Dih-straught. When I went looking for the third Echo and The Bunnymen album “Porcupine” it was nowhere to be found. How could this happen?! I would usually blame this kinda thing on my little brother, but we’re getting too old for that. So, I have no idea what happened to it. In its place tonight we have an oddball EP. There is no title anywhere on the record, but I have found sites that refer to it as “The Sound of Echo.” The five songs here are from different albums.

“Never Stop” – Songs to Learn and Sing (Which came out later)
“Rescue” – Crocodiles
“The Cutter” – Porcupine
“Back of Love” – Porcupine
“Do It Clean (Live)” – Originally released on Crocodiles

There isn’t even a proper release year on the disk or packaging. I’ve read it was 1984. Maybe it was put out to hype the band, generate buzz, etc. before “Ocean Rain” was released later that year. Anyhow, it’s all good. It seems rare-ish. I’m still crushed that “Porcupine” is missing though.

U2 — War

U2 -- War

• Artist: U2
• Title: War
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy / Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

This was the most excited I ever was about getting a U2 album. I remember buying “War” and The Ramones’ “Subterranen Jungle” on the same day. The guy at the store made a point to tell me how good the U2 record was, but he didn’t seem interested in The Ramones at all. He had a serious mullet; that’s all I’m saying.

I got to see U2 on the War tour. It was at the smallish (2500 seats?) Chrysler Hall. After the success of this record they would only play big joints. Pylon was the opening act and I really enjoyed their show despite some morons who had to keep heckling the somewhat overweight singer.