Van Halen — Fair Warning

Van Halen -- Fair Warning

• Artist: Van Halen
• Title: Fair Warning
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Dunno

I should’ve mentioned this earlier. Ted Templeton’s production work on these records is fantastic. He’s a genius. Anyhow, Van Halen’s “Fair Warning” is excellent and the lead track, “Mean Street”, is possibly my favorite song from all their work. It’s rock and roll perfection, from the guitar solo intro, Dave’s lyrics and singing, the riffs, the bridge, to the slow fade. Other hits and personal faves include “So This Is Love?” and “Unchained.”

And we don’t worry ’bout tomorrow
Cause we’re sick of these four walls
Now what ya think is nothing
Might be something after all

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.

Salem 66 – A Ripping Spin

• Artist: Salem 66
• Title: A Ripping Spin
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Probably when she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.

Live from Hampton, VA. — Uh, well, I tried to like this one. Mary says when she saw Salem 66 play live that the band and the music was exciting. “A Ripping Spin” doesn’t seem that exciting now. It’s not that either of us think it’s bad, they do have an interesting sound. It’s just that considering all the records we have we probably won’t play it again.

R.E.M. — Fables of The Reconstruction

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: Fables of The Reconstruction
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Not sure

This is another R.E.M. record that I just can’t get into even though I think it’s decent music. “Fables of The Reconstruction” has at least two hits, “Driver 8” and “Can’t Get There From Here.” I’ve tried to listen to it a few times over the last couple days, but I always managed to distract myself with other things. Maybe I’m just missing something.

The pictures of the album jacket below may look upside-down, but that’s how it was originally packaged. Trust me, it was oriented correctly. Those guys were just being arty.

The Partridge Family — At Home With Their Greatest Hits

• Artist: The Partridge Family
• Title: At Home With Their Greatest Hits
• Year: 1972
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 3
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Yard sale long time ago
• Keeper: Yes

How did we get so lucky? We have two The Partridge Family records. This one is titled “At Home With Their Greatest Hits.” Why do they have to be “at home”? I’ll admit to almost, almost liking “I Think I Love You”, but most of these “greatest hits” just don’t do it for me. Do we have to keep both of these?

Opal — Happy Nightmare Baby

• Artist: Opal
• Title: Happy Nightmare Baby
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.

The main folks in Opal were David Roback from Rain Parade and Kendra Smith of The Dream Syndicate. Kendra eventually left the band and Hope Sandoval joined Roback to create Mazzy Star. Opal was the record for today, and it’s just a coincidence that I was at my brother’s house tonight and he was playing Mazzy Star. That reminded me how boring that recording is compared to this one. Sure, I like the hit “Fade Into You”, but I like everything on Opal’s “Happy Nightmare Baby.” My favorite is the trippy, riffing, T-Rex-ing album opener, “Rocket Machine.”

New Order — 1981-1982 New Order EP

• Artist: New Order
• Title: 1981-1982 New Order EP
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 ? – Olsson’s in D.C.
• Keeper: Yes

“Factus 8”

It’s hard to know exactly what that means. It doesn’t necessarily mean this five song EP, “1981-1982 New Order”, by New Order is the eighth release by Factory Records. Read more about Factory’s curious numbering system.

This collection of singles is not as synth-heavy as their later stuff. I like it a lot more than I remembered. There are more details here.

Madness — Complete Madness

• Artist: Madness
• Title: Complete Madness
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Dunno

This Madness collection of “16 hit tracks”, titled “Complete Madness”, is, of course, excellent. It’s hard to believe they had so many popular singles so early on, but they sure enough did. I noticed that some of the songs are slightly different from the original album versions. I like every song here, but my faves are “Bed And Breakfast Man” and “Grey Day.”

k.d. lang — Absolute Torch and Twang

• Artist: k.d. lang
• Title: Absolute Torch and Twang
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Not sure
• Acquired: Not sure

k.d. lang won a Grammy for this record, “Absolute Torch and Twang” so you know it’s decent. I can’t tell if I like this or not. I know it’s good music, but it’s not really my thing. My favorite is “Pullin’ Back the Reins”, which is excellent.