1001 Album Club

In June of 1984 Prince released his 6th studio album. This time around The Revolution not only got credit on the album but actually played their instruments. It is the most commercially successful record he would ever make, spawning five singles and selling over 25,000,000 copies worldwide. Let’s talk Prince, Purple Rain!

In January of 1984 Van Halen released their 6th studio album. Though some in the band disagreed, Eddie Van Halen’s decision to throw off the shackles of pure guitar rock and embrace the synthesizer as a lead instrument proved to be both a bold and wise move, as it would get them to the top of the Billboard Singles Charts and eventually go on to sell over ten million copies. Though it would be their last with Diamond Dave on vocals, it would prove to be the best output they would ever produce. Let’s talk Van Halen, 1984!

In April of 1983 Minor Threat released their only studio album. Clocking in just north of twenty one minutes over the course of nine tracks, the album is a blisteringly fast DC hardcore assault with some surprising pop hooks peppered in. It is single-handedly responsibly for the straight edge movement, which in turn makes it responsible for that time I (Rob) got kicked in the head for smoking a cigarette at an Avail show fourteen years post the record’s release (A story I would have told had I been on this episode). Let’s talk Minor Threat, Out of Step!

In November of 1984 Cocteau Twins released their 3rd studio album. Recorded in August and September of the same year, the record is a departure from their post punk roots and is one of the finest dream pop records ever pressed to wax. Let’s talk Cocteau Twins, Treasure!

In July of 1984 Sade released their debut album. Recorded over six weeks at Power Plant Studios with Robin Millar helming the board, the record would go on to spawn four singles, win Best British Album at the Brit Awards, and sell over ten million copies, making it the best selling album by a British female vocalist for twenty four years. Let’s talk Sade, Diamond Life!

In March of 1984 Run DMC released their debut album. Breaking down the genre to it’s bare bones, the group opted to keep the beats tighter and rhymes harder than anyone had done yet. The results? The first rap album to hit gold status, the creation of the rap/rock genre, and the opening salvo of hip hop’s rise to cultural dominance. Let’s talk Run DMC, Run DMC!

In October of 1984 Frankie Goes to Hollywood released their debut studio album. Spanning four sides, and with producer Trevor Horn flexing complete control over the final product, the album is a testament to 80s excess. Let’s talk Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Welcome to The Pleasure Dome!

In October of 1983 Culture Club released their second studio album. Preceded by their smash hit Karma Chameleon, the record would go on to sell over ten million copies worldwide and became a touchstone of 80s pop music. Let’s talk Culture Club, Colour by Numbers!

In April of 1984 Meat Puppets released their second studio album. Gone are the hardcore roots of the band, opting to embrace their love of psych, country, and just a touch of thrash. The results? One of the finest recording of the 1980s and another feather in the cap of SST. Let’s talk Meat Puppets, Meat Puppets II!

In February of 1983 U2 released their 3rd studio album. It was the most overtly political musical statement to date by the band, with Sunday Bloody Sunday to this day being considered one of the best protest songs ever written. The album would finally unseat Thriller from the number one spot on the UK charts and many tracks are still staples of their live show. Lets talk U2, War!

In January of 1983 Eurythmics released their second studio album. It became the record that broke them out on both sides of the pond. Let’s talk Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)!

In late March of 1983 ZZ Top released their eighth studio album. Every dang track is a stone cold classic and the album would go on to achieve diamond sales status. But is it really a Billy Gibbons solo record in disguise? Let’s talk ZZ Top, Eliminator!

In February of 1983 Echo and the Bunnymen released their 3rd studio album. Though initially panned by critics the album would go on to be their best selling to date and eventually reach gold status in sales. It’s also maybe there best record? Let’s talk Echo and the Bunnymen, Porcupine!

In November of 1983 Paul Simon released his 6th studio album. Entering into his fourth decade, Paul found himself in a rut. His vanity movie project One-Trick Pony was a commercial flop, the reunion concert with former band mate showed just why they broke up in the first place, and his pending divorce from Carrie Fisher was an open wound. What’s a sad middle aged man to do? Write a song about cars we guess? Let’s talk Paul Simon, Hearts & Bones!

In October of 1983 Cyndi Lauper released her debut album. The album is a pop masterpiece and has gone on to sell over 16 million copies worldwide. Let’s talk Cyndi Lauper, She’s So Unusual!

In May of 1983 Hanoi Rocks released their fourth studio album. These Finnish street urchins w/ the help of ex-Mott The Hoople alum Dale Griffen and Peter Watts production, made Glam Metal a thing and inspired the Sunset Strip crowd to step up their game. Let’s talk Hanoi Rocks, Back to Mystery City!

In April of 1984 The Blue Nile released their debut album. Linn Electronics had a conundrum, the hi-fi equipment they made was just too good to demo previously recorded artists. Their solution was to start a record label and give three art school kids studio time. Let’s talk The Blue Nile, A Walk Across the Rooftops!

In October of 1983 The The released their debut album. NME’s Don Johnson: “In days when the pop song has been reduced to the reiteration of catch-phrases, Matt Johnson flexes a rare literary flair. More importantly he has the command of music’s immense possibilities to carry them through without self-indulgence. Ignore this LP if you must, but you’ll be ignoring one of the year’s rare heart-stopping moments.” Lets talk The The, Soul Mining!

In January of 1983 Def Leppard released their 3rd studio album. With engineering wizard Mutt Lange having complete control over the writing and recording, over the course of 10 grueling months in 1982 the band would create an otherworldly sounding record that set the high watermark for all hard rock to come. Let’s talk Def Leppard, Pyromania!

In May of 1983 British taste maker, Malcolm McLaren, released this album. It is the very definition of cultural appropriation but incidentally maybe started a trend that eventually led to the west caring about apartheid? Let’s talk Malcolm McLaren, Duck Rock!

In April of 1983 Violent Femmes released their debut album. The record has been included on many a critics best of the 80s list and would go on to sell over a million copies. The tunes aren’t bad either. Lets talk Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes!