Faves 1983

Favorite Albums By Year: 1983

First car: 1973 Plymouth Duster, sun faded lime green with a straight 6 250. We couldn’t fit the aftermarket stereo cassette deck into the dash [it would have involved cutting the shit out of it and the dash was the same aluminum as the body] so it was bolted on under the ashtray. It could be started by turning the keyswitch even without the key in it. It smelled musty from rain leaking into it. It also turned out to have sawdust in the transmission which was worked on once before finally seizing in my “parking spot” just off of our driveway [basically I was unable to put it into park]. Worst $ 600 [plus whatever the transmission job cost him] my father ever spent.

1. More Fun In the New World – X

Sometime between the summer of 82 and the start of the school year in 1983, I saw X on one of the syndicated afternoon video shows that were popular in the wake of MTV's launching. Apparently, this show also had band playing live because I remember them playing [or miming to] Blue Spark from 1982s Under the Big Black Sun. Anyway, the next year this album turned up in my friend Sanford’'s collection [as well as a really, really good Dead Kennedy's boot called A Skateboard Party and the Butthole Surfers]. But it was X I listened to the most. A three piece no bullshit rock band with Excene Cervenka wailing around in the mix [but in a good way]. For a couple of years I wanted to find a girl singer who couldn't really sing and have my own little X and BE John Doe. Of course I wasn't and I didn't but in not being John Doe, I spared myself from being in the movie Road House, so thank God for that. 

2. The Hurting – Tears For Fears

Completely the opposite of X’s DIY punk ethos. This album is synthesizer dense, clinically depressed and incredibly cold and dark. There are no bright pop / MTV heavy rotation songs like Songs From the Big Chair.  Much like John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band, songwriter Roland Orzabal was also influenced by Arthur Janov’s primal therapy. Again, taking up writing, learning to express myself, my self perceived lack of cool or social redeeming features and physical and  social isolation all probably made this connect even more with me. And as a note, the first CD I bought when I bought my first CD player in 1988.

3. War – U2

U2’s “dry” album [meaning The Edge uses less guitar effects than any other U2 album] and breakthrough. It’s an incredibly powerful record. Larry Mullen’s drumming powers the whole thing to incredible heights. There’s no denying that it’s a very political record. The best comparison I can make is that this is a What’s Going On type record.[Yes, I just compared U2 to Marvin Gaye.]  Only instead of being about Detroit thought the eyes of a black man in 1970, War is a world view from the eyes of Irish Christians in 1982. My friend Marty [a Catholic] used to point out that U2 was the biggest Christian rock band in the world. In “40” [based on the 40^th Psalm] they sing “I waited patiently for the Lord / He inclined and heard my cry / He brought me up out of the pit / Out of the miry clay / I will sing, sing a new song…”  Of course Sunday Bloody Sunday is political as is Seconds anti-nuke stance. Like A Song is a call to arms or at least action: “A generation without name, ripped and torn / Nothing to lose - nothing to gain / Nothing at all / And if you can't help yourself / Well, take a look around you … Angry words won't stop the fight  / Two wrongs won't make it right / A new heart is what I need / Oh God, make it bleed” But like the Stones Street Fighting Man he is just a reporter calling in from the front lines of the world. [“I don't know /How to say what's got to be said  / I don't know if it's black or white / There's others see it red / I don't get the answers right / I'll leave that to you” – Two Hearts Beat As One] The place where refugees dream of new starts and better lives [The Refugee] and tales of those despondent and on the edge [Red Light, Surrender]. They make you think about where you stand and what you stand for, try to unblur the lines, focus the big picture and separate the black and the white from the greys. And you have to hand it to U2 – unlike some bands history shows that they not only talked the talk, they walked the walk when  the cause was just.

4. Pyromania – Def Leppard

As much as I curse Robert John “Mutt” Lange and his obsession for perfection [on Behind the Music, Ric Allen relates a tale of Lang going over his drumming on one song bar by bar to make sure it was in time.] and turning country music into Def Leppard with fiddles by producing his then wife Shania Twain, one has to admit that Pyromania is a masterpiece on the same level as two of Lange’s other monster albums: AC/DC’s Highway To Hell and Back In Black. [For Those About to Rock… SOUNDS great but the songwriting isn’t up to par of the two previous AC/DC albums. An issue that will haunt them to the end of their career.]  Say what you will about the now poor quality of some of those videos [here is Foolin’ in case you’ve forgotten], the songs sound great and fresh even almost 40 years later. For me Photograph will ALWAYS be a turn it up and rock as hard as you can song.

5. Beatitude – Ric Ocasek

So the Cars take a vacation after Shake It Up [although the ever loyal Greg Hawkes appears on this record – and R.J. “Mutt” Lange will produce the next Cars record..sigh], Ric releases his first solo album. There’s some great pop moments [Something To Grab For, I Can’t Wait, Connect Up To Me, A Quick One], a couple of experimental things [Prove, Take A Walk, Sneak Attack, Time Bomb] and the wonderfully dark Jimmy Jimmy. It’s basically a Cars album where Ric sings all the songs.

Faves 1982

Favorite Albums By Year: 1982

1. Pictures At Eleven – Robert Plant

With Jezz Woodruff on keyboards and synthesizers, Robbie Blunt on guitar and special guest Phil Collins on six of the eight songs [yes the Genesis guy plays drums as well! Ex-Rainbow drummer Cozy Powell on the other two cuts], Robert Plant unleashes his first post Zeppelin work. Which is not to say Plant totally abandons his old band, he just basically updates the sound for the 1980s. Slow Dancer channels some of the Indian / Arabic tones of Kashmir. It’s hard to imagine the pressure on Robbie Blunt being compared to Plant’s former guitarist. But while there are similarities – what guitarist can’t say they’re influenced by Jimmy Page? – Blunt manages to find his own ground here. Instead of the blues that Page would have retreated to for a number like Fat Lip, Blunt finds something original for the main riffs. He adds a lovely Flamenco influenced solo on Moonlight In Samosa. Sure Burning Down One Side, Worse Than Detroit or Mystery Title feel like something that might have come on a next Zeppelin record. But who knows how much of this is merely because of Plant’s vocals or how much input Plant had on the music itself? Not that it matters at all, it’s a great record.

2. Spring Session M – Missing Persons

Featuring three members of Frank Zappa’s late 70s band [and vocalist Dale Bozzio appeared on Joe’s Garage and Thing-Fish], Missing Persons Spring Session M is kind of a minimalist New Wave album. By that I mean, there’s just enough instrumentation for the songs to be cohesive but other than Terry Bozzio’s explosive drum work there’s no flash to it. Few solos and nothing flashy or unnecessary. I’m sure Dale Bozzio’s high squeaks and squeals can be nails on a blackboard if you’re not into this album but it was a top 20 album and four charting singles so a lot of people must have found it tolerable. 

3. All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes – Pete Townshend

Had it not been for Kristie Gilbert becoming obsessed with the Who, it’s very likely I woud have missed this record. So thanks, Kristie. Townshend’s solo albums seem more confessional – more personal. One supposes when writing for your own album, one can afford to be more open – writing for “I” instead of The Band. For example in The Sea Refuses No River: “But now I'm like a sewer channel - running lime and scag / Let me get at the master panel - let me at my stack “ …”I have seen a trace of strain / In other's eyes not spoken / I must admit that I enjoyed their pain / But this time it's me that's broken…”  the album itself is a confessional of a man in his mid 30s coming to grips with beating addiction, growing older and the changing relationships. Why would this appeal to me as a 15-16 year old? I think part of it was taking up writing at the time and learning to express myself. Plus I was an Old Soul in a young man’s body. 

4. Long After Dark – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Another one of those albums that not a lot of people seem to like that I do. It doesn’t really have a “hit.”[You Got Lucky appears on “hits” collections but it stalled out at number 20 – making it a top 20 “hit” but barely.] It’s not special, typical TP&tH fare, chock full of hooks, good playing and Tom’s nasal vocals. 

5. Signals –Rush

I have noted before that I want to like Rush more than I do. But I just can’t do those 8, 9, 10 minute songs. So an album where the longest song maxes out at 6 and a half is a Rush album I can get into. Last of the guitars at the front [for a while] as the keyboards became more prominent [for a while]. Subdivisions is my favorite Rush song – really connects with a15 year old [or the 15 year old inside the man] who was not “cool.” “Nowhere is the dreamer or the misfit so alone… Any escape might help to smooth / The unattractive truth / But the suburbs have no charms to soothe / The restless dreams of youth.” 

Also of Note: I have never owned just the EP of R.E.M.’s Chronic Town – I have it as part of the CD of Dead Letter Office. But those five songs are absolutely amazing.

Faves 1981

Favorite Albums By Year: 1981

Moving to Burleson in January – not knowing anyone except my cousins and no one my own age within half a mile. Staring high school in the fall. Thursday Sept 17, my concert cherry is popped, me and Dad an' ELO at TCCC in Fort Worth. [The Michael Stanley Band, dubbed “Kings Of Ohio” by… Steve Ford? opening.]

1. Time – ELO

Yes, Jeff Lynne trying to get away from the orchestral stuff rebranded the band ELO – with Lynne, Richard Tandy on keyboards, Bev Bevan on drums and Kelly Groucutt on bass [although the cello and violin guys still toured with the band. This futuristic fantasy about a guy from 1980 traveling to 2095 is an okay concept but the music here is outstanding.  

2. Modern Times – Jefferson Starship

A rescue from the cut out bin [Canadian copy I think], of course I was familiar with most of the players from my love of Jefferson Airplane. Paul Kantner, Pete Sears, David Frieberg, the multi talented instrumentalist, muttonchop sideburn sporting [in 1981?!?] and song contributing  [with his wife Jeanette] Pete Sears and mercurial guitarist Craig Chaquico still hanging on from 1975, Mickey Thomas on male vocals and drummer Aynsley Dunbar having joined in 1979 and Grace Slick returning from a couple of years of drying out [listed as a gust, she appears only on half of the album]. This is not Jefferson Airplane though – the band had joined the modern world with 1979’s Freedom at Point Zero and continued their harder edged sound on this record. Find Your Way Back and the Thomas / Slick duet Stranger are the couple of tracks that got radio play and appear on compilations. If one can separate this version of Jefferson Starship from the Marty Balin / Grace Slick version, top to bottom it’s a damn good hard rock album from a band of guys mostly on the north side of 30 [and a couple at or near the 4-0 mark]. 

3. Shake It Up – The Cars

The Cars fourth LP is arguably their best simply because it doesn’t contain a total clunker like I’m In Touch With Your World from the debut.  Strikes the fine balance between being accessible [the pop-ish numbers Shake It Up, I’m Not the One, Victim Of Love, Think It Over] and edgy [Cruiser, Since You’re Gone, This Could Be Love].

4. Discipline – King Crimson

Another one of the CDs I borrowed from Tracey Berry was The Compact King Crimson, which contains 5 of the 7 songs from Discipline. [the longer moody piece The Sheltering Sky and Indiscipline are the missing tracks.] Adding the quirky guitar style of Adrian Belew as second guitarist [and vocalist] beside Robert Fripp’s differently quirky musical ideas seemed to work very very well as evidenced by this album and the fact that Belew remained with KC for  over 30 years [with a few hiatuses thrown in].  Highlights are the beautiful Matte Kudasai, the two distinct styles of Belew and Fripp clashing on Frame By Frame and the adventurous title track. 

5. Don’t Say No – Billy Squier

 You know how every few years someone finds the right sound and everyone goes “Wow, is that Led Zeppelin?” Like in 1988 it was that Get It On song by Kingdom Come. Well, this is one of those records – specifically the lead track In the Dark but drummer Bobby Chouinard has John Bonham’s style down cold [see also Too Daze Gone!]. If Led Zeppelin had put something like that on In Through the Out Door [or any of the leftover tracks that appeared on 1982’s Coda] they would have had a real monster on their hands. But alas, the Zep had called it a career a few short months before this record appeared. So into the gap stepped Billy Squier. And this is a monster album. The Stroke is dumb but fun, just overplayed. You’re No Stranger powers along on the same strange beat that powered Achilles Last Stand. Nobody Knows is the unsatisfying acoustic ballad and I Need You feels like filler but the greatness of Lonely Is the Night, My Kinda Lover and the other tracks it’s easy to overlook these flaws.

faves 1980

Favorite Albums By Year: 1980

A new decade. Record of 69 100 degree days in Dallas Fort Worth. Would ride bike to Lake Arlington and you could go out quite a ways on the previously submerged part of Poly Webb Road.  Ask Uncle Darrell about driving through downtown Fort Worth in an RV with no air conditioning. Last year in Arlington – new adventuress in  boredom starting next year…

1. Panorama – The Cars

Again no surprise here given how much a fan of the Cars I am. Have played this album to death and still love it.

2. Making Movies – Dire Straits

While I could go the rest of this lifetime without Sultans Of Swing from their debut, these songs never get old or tiresome. Well, maybe Les Boys would after about three plays in a row. Still, Mark Knopfler and company issue forth seven winning songs and producer Jimmy Iovine [chosen because of Patti Smith’s Because the Night and fresh off Tom Petty’s Damn the Torpedoes] gets it all on the tape. Romeo and Juliet with its immediately recognizable riffs on a resonator guitar [seen on the cover of Brothers In Arms] is one of the best songs in the Dire Straits catalog. 

3. Get Happy!! – Elvis Costello & the Attractions

First of all, it is right that the Attractions should receive full credit as their contributions are as vital to Costello’s records as Costello’s songs. So all hail a man I hate because he makes me want to never pick up a bass again and love for those high speed amazing lines that make me never want to pick up the bass again bassist Bruce Thomas, keyboardist “scene stealing” Steve Nieve [who once saved Oliver’s Army from Armed Forces with a Dancing Queen type piano part] and drummer Pete Thomas. On this one, Costello and the Attractions plop down 20 [!!!] songs of which only three pass the three minute mark. A lot of them take cues from American R & B [Motown, Stax] which Costello had picked up while on the Armed Forces [aka Armed Funk] tour. Doesn’t High Fidelity sound like a lost Supremes backing track? [The Motowm hit factory guys however would NEVER put down lyrics like “Even though the signal's indistinct /And you worry what silly people think.”] Costello also admits that Temptation is “sampled’ from Booker T. & the MGs Time Is Tight. I mean if you’re going to steal, er borrow, “borrow” from the best! Opportunity seems borrowed from the same cloth. But then there are those moments of pure EC&tA: favorites 5ive Gears In Reverse and Beaten To the Punch as well as Riot Act and the sad country-ish Motel Matches.

SIDE NOTE:  When Elvis’ albums were re-remastered in the early 2000s, I painfully put down the dough to rebuy 7 of Elvis’ 11 CBS releases as remastered by Rhino. The bonus with these was Elvis’ great and often witty liner notes. As I read through them I though “Gosh, if he ever writes a book, that is one I would pick up in a heartbeat.” Well lo and behold in 2016 Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink appeared. And it is as good and as informative as I had assumed it would be. If you ever have some time to kill and love Elvis C, check out his Elvis Writes page on The Elvis Costello Wiki. 

4. Glass Houses – Billy Joel

Probably the edgiest, certainly the most rocking Billy Joel album. All four of the first songs on the album were released as singles and charted in the US Top 40: You May Be Right, Sometimes A Fantasy, Don’t Ask Me Why and the chart topping It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me. Don’t hate Billy because he can write insanely catchy songs. But as the people who really listen to the album know, there’s plenty of good tracks left: All For Leyna about an obsessed young man, the dumb but forgivable I Don’t Want To Be Alone Anymore, the new wave feel of Close To the Borderline and the gorgeous ballad C'était Toi (You Were the One.

5. The Pretenders

Sire Records founder Seymour Stein co-opted the term New Wave to try and get the Ramones and Talking Heads played on the radio, [it then came to cover a range of bands who were more experimental and modern and not necessarily based in the blues such as Blondie, Television, Devo, the and Mink DeVille] then IMHO the Pretenders [and the Police] epitomized that term. They have the attitude out of the English punk scene but played music that’s not based on the influences of the Stones and Led Zeppelin. Their debut single Stop Your Sobbing, a cover of the Kinks song, gives a clue as to when Chrissie Hynde picked up great and totally un-Punk melodies that drive Kid [I hear a Dave Edmunds influence on James Honeryman-Scott’s solo] Brass In Pocket [those chiming guitars are as deadly a hook as has ever been laid to tape] and The Phone Call. But when Hynde puts down the accelerator and revs the band up they rock like the best. Some might say that Precious and Tattooed Love Boys have lyrics about things that a “girl” isn’t supposed to talk about. But if that red leather jacket, heavy mascara and pout [but lace gloves] on the album cover didn’t tell you, Chrissie Hynde is NOT a girly girl – but she never lets you forget she’s a Woman. She can charge ahead [and keep you in your place] like the Woman in Precious, be the sympathetic friend [or mother] on Kid and rock like the closing Mystery Achievement – that my friends is a Woman. AND Chrissie Hynde’s vibrato is one of the main reasons I think that women are better singers than men. 

And since I only had 4 really solid favorites in 1979 … [Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ Damn the Torpedoes or Pink Floyd’s The Wall could have been # 5 the list but I felt a half hearted paragraph about a record I don’t really love anymore would be disingenuous.] 

6. Seconds OF Pleasure – Rockpile

Though the members of Rockpile are together on Dave Edmnds’ albums Tracks On Wax 4 [and Repeat When Necessary [and most of Twangin’] and Nick Lowe’s Labour Of Lust, due to contractual situations Seconds of Pleasure is the only release under the Rockpile banner. Anyone familiar with the works of Lowe or Edmunds would be all over this. Second guitarist Billy Bremer adds lead vocals on the great Heart and the cover of You Ain’t Nothin’ But Fine. The CD also includes the four songs from the EP included in only the first pressings, Nick Lowe & Dave Edmunds Sing the Everly Brothers.