Bananarama — The Wild Life

• Artist: Bananarama
• Title: The Wild Life
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: “Used… later at Plan 9.”
• Keeper: Maybe

The pop just keeps comin’. I think I spelled their name right, so many letter ‘A’s to keep track of. I don’t remember either of these Bananarama ditties, “The Wild Life” and “The State I’m In” on the back. I think I like the latter the most. It has a 1960s-Supremes vibe to it. Both of them are sort of middlin’ as far as Bananananananarama tunes go. Sorry, lost count there for a sec. Anyhow, Mary thinks she wants to keep this record.

From looking at the record queue it appears the parade of pop records won’t stop until we get to “E.” Stay tuned.

a-ha — The Sun Always Shines on T.V.

• Artist: a-ha
• Title: The Sun Always Shines on T.V.
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: No information available
• Keeper: No

“It’s not bad, it’s just not super.” That’s from the owner herself, and I think it sums it up. I’m no a-ha historian, but I don’t think “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” was even a hit. The flipside is “Driftwood.” Either one ring any bells?

King — Love and Pride (Body and Sould Mix)

• Artist: King
• Title: Love and Pride (Body and Sould Mix)
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984? – Tower Records in DC
• Keeper: Maybe

I’ve said this before, I think it was the last King record, guess when this was made. I like pop as much as the next guy, well not really but I’m incredibly tolerant of most forms of music, including pop. The main song, “Love and Pride (Body and Sould Mix)” is solid, listenable pop, but the flip side has two really lame filler pieces. If it were up to me this one would be a goner, fo’ sho.

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”?

King — Steps in Time

• Artist: King
• Title: Steps in Time
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 – Tower Records in D.C.

Guess when this record came out? Just look at it. It was 1984. I remember hearing King on a “progressive” or “modern rock” radio station while on a family trip in Los Angeles. It doesn’t sound that progressive or modern now, more like a rocked out version of ’80s pop, or maybe a popped out version of ’80s rock. Anyhow, it’s not bad, but it does nothing for me. “Steps in Time” is Mary’s record and she wants to keep it in case we’re ever drafted to DJ an ’80s dance party down at The Orange Peel. I didn’t make that up.

Jackson 5 — ABC

• Artist: Jackson 5
• Title: ABC
• Year: 1970
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Bought it used sometime in the 1990s

I grew up with the Jackson 5 on the radio, and of course TV too. I was just old enough to remember the hits from the album “ABC.” Overall, it’s a pretty energetic and joyous production, but listening to it is a little bittersweet. It’s hard to believe that Michael would end up so, in a word, strange.

For me, this record is almost a 10, but some of the second side drags it down. That said, my favorite is on that side, “I’ll Bet Ya.” That one was originally by Funkadelic, on their first album I believe, and let me tell you it too is damn good, even though it’s sung an octave lower. Considering who wrote most of the songs on “ABC”, George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, et al and it’s no wonder it’s so good.

A whole lotta info about the Jackson 5 at Wikipedia.

ABC — Alphabet City

• Artist: ABC
• Title: Alphabet City
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it when she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

When I first started playing this record, “Alphabet City”, the other day for the log I thought it was a little dull by ABC standards. But now the hooks are in me, and I’ve definitely enjoyed it. My favorite song is “The Night You Murdered Love.”

I think this might be the last ABC record we have to play. So, it’s high time I included a link to this article about the band at Wikipedia.

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?

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.”

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.