A Podcast of Album Discussions
In April of 1980 known sad bois from West Sussex, The Cure, released their second studio album.
Due to being cash strapped, the record was recorded and mixed down in seven days with the band pulling 16 – 17 hour per, with the majority of the songs being conceived and written by lead singer Robert Smith in his parent’s house on a Hammond organ.
The album has gone on to be considered a pioneering example of gothic rock and an harbinger of the gloom to come.
Lets talk The Cure, Seventeen Seconds!
On June 28th of 1980 The Soft Boys released their 2nd studio album.
Recorded in parts during June of 79, and from January to June of 80 on both 4 and 8 track recorders for the low price of £600, the album hearkens back to the psychedelia of the 60s but with its feet firmly planted in the post-punk of it’s day.
Though not a commercial success upon it’s release,the album’s influence and legacy cannot be overstated (we see you, R.E.M).
Lets talk The Soft Boys, Underwater Moonlight!
In May of 1980, former Genesis alum Peter Gabriel released his third self-titled record.
Known by informally as Melt, (due to the altered Polaroid photo of Gabriel with half of his face melting off) the album became his first commercial breakthrough as a solo artist, showing him to be a true innovator and one of the finest musical artists of his day.
Let’s talk Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel!
In September of 1980 The Dead Kennedys released their debut album.
The stench of Reagan looms on the horizon, Jerry Brown is coming for your uncool niece, Harvey Milk’s assassin only gets 7 years in prison (but serves less than that) and the threat of global nuclear holocaust is at an all time high, whats a bunch of angry leftist punks to do?
Write a masterpiece of American Hardcore, that’s what.
Lets talk The Dead Kennedys, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables!
In 1980, The Cramps released their debut studio album.
Let’s talk The Cramps, The Songs the Lord Taught Us!
In July of 1980 AC/DC released their 7th studio album.
Following the tragic passing of front-man Bon Scott in February, the band decided to keep on going and brought on Brian Johnson as the new singer.
With Mutt Lange back as engineer, they defied all the odds by making one of the definitive rock albums of the 80s that would eventually go on to be certified 25x platinum stateside.
Let’s talk AC/DC, Back in Black!
In July of 1980 Dexys Midnight Runners released their debut album.
After disbanding his punk band, Kevin Rowland had a vision; to combine the urgency of punk rock with the Northern Soul scene. To quote Kevin himself:
“I’m going to do what I really want to do: form a great group. We’ll wear great clothes and make soulful music.”
Two outta three ain’t bad.
Let’s talk Dexys Midnight Runners, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels!
In November 1980 Adam & The Ants released their second studio album.
After getting his backing band stolen from him by Malcolm McLaren to form Bow Wow Wow, Adam went back into the studio armed with one Marc Pirroni on guitar and as a new writing partner.
The results? The pirate look became a very real thing in 1981.
Let’s talk Adam & the Ants, Kings of the Wild Frontier!
In October of 1979 The Specials released their debut album.
Produced by Elvis Costello and released on keyboardist Jerry Dammers 2 tone record label, the album was an anti-racist shot across the bow for disaffected youth in England, just as the country’s ugly right-wing turn and rise of Thatcher were taking hold.
Let’s talk The Specials, The Specials!
In September of 1979 Gary Numan released his debut solo album.
By the time Tubeway Army had released Replicas but before it hit #1 on the UK album charts, Numan had dropped the electric guitar all together, hired drummer Cedric Sharpley and keyboardist Chris Payne, and got started recording under his stage name.
Released just six months after Replicas, it would prove to be his second #1 UK album in the same year.
Let’s talk Gary Numan, The Pleasure Principle!
In November of 1979 The Damned released their third studio album.
The album is the first with the new lineup after the ouster of Brian James and Lu Edmunds. Dave Vanian is still on vocals, Captain Sensible now on the guitar, Rat Scabbies is back on drums and the new kid on the block, Algy Ward, taking up bass guitar.
We think its great.
Lets talk The Damned, Machine Gun Etiquette!
In August of 1979, Michael Jackson released his 5th studio album.
It was the first album released for Jackson on Epic following his departure from Motown. The album is also the first with Quincy Jones at the helm, whom Jackson had met on the film set of The Wiz.
It is considered a classic of the disco era and possibly his greatest record.
Let’s talk Michael Jackson, Off the Wall!
In November of 1979 Public Image Ltd released their sophomore album.
The album is a departure and giant leap forward from the debut. Lyrically it is less cringe, the rhythm section is on point, and the guitar work and tone shaped post punk to come.
The packaging ain’t too shabby, either.
Lets talk PiL, Metal Box!
In November of 1979 Pink Floyd released their 11th studio album.
What do you do when your tax dodging investment scheme goes tits up and find yourselves on the hook for an 83% tax liability of which you have no way to pay?
You call Bob Ezrin to turn your nightmare concept record about a sad, rich, rock star into a coherent masterpiece, that’s what.
Let’s talk Pink Floyd, The Wall!
In October of 1979 Fleetwood Mac released their 12th studio album.
Following the colossal success of Rumors the band opted to build their own studio to record the next album. A ten month cocaine binge and 20 songs later, the band released what was at the time the most expensive album ever made.
The double LP had a sticker shock price of $16.00 (which in 2022 monies equates to $63.72), only spent nine months on the Billboard charts, and was considered a failure by Warner Bros.
Let’s talks Fleetwood Mac, Tusk!
In February of 1979, power pop legends Cheap Trick released their breakthrough live album.
Recorded live at Nippon Budokan (originally constructed for the 1964 Olympics to host judo competitions) on the 28th & 30th of April 1978, the album captures one of the finest live acts of the day in their prime and catapulted the band from opener to headliners almost over night.
Let’s talk Cheap Trick, at Budokan!
In September of 1979 Gang of Four released their debut album.
Call it dance-punk, call it art-punk, or call it post-punk but just don’t call it late to dinner! This record is an important one in the shaping of the future of rock music.
Lets talk Gang of Four, Entertainment!
In June of 1979 Neil Young & Crazy Horse released Rust Never Sleeps.
Borrowing the Gerald Casale & Mark Mothersbaugh advertisement slogan for RustO-leum as the title, Young applied the philosophy to avoiding complacency with writing and putting on more progressive live shows.
The album is one of Young’s finest and is certainly a must listen.
Let’s talk Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Rust Never Sleeps!
In January of 1979 Elvis Costello released his 3rd studio album.
With Nick Lowe back at the helm, the album marks an end point to Costello’s “angry persona” and is as lyrically dark as he ever got, with many a fascist imagery and heartbreak weaving their way through an album absolutely sticky sweet with pop goodness.
Let’s talk Elvis Costello, Armed Forces!
In September of 1979, The Slits released their debut studio album.
Recorded over ten weeks time at Ridge Farm Studios, the album is ground zero for the beginnings of what would happen in Olympia, WA ten years later.
It’s influence is still being felt today and is (rightly so) considered by many a critic to be one of the best albums of all time.
Lets talk The Slits, Cut!
In November of 1979 Marian Faithfull released her 7th studio album.
The album is a comeback and also her masterpiece, following Marina’s trials and tribulations with anorexia, drug addiction, and homelessness.
Let’s talk Marian Faithfull, Broken English!
In November of 1979 Japan released their 3rd studio album.
Finding themselves floundering as a Glam act, the band decided to take a different musical path.
Teaming up with famed Italian synth pioneer Giorgio Moroder for the single, “Life in Tokyo” and subsequently dismissing him for a full length record; the band decided to give it a go with their manager (Simon Napier-Bell) and then, eventually, John Punter (who had worked with Roxy Music in the past).
The results more or less birthed the New Romantic movement, for better or for worse.
Let’s talk Japan, Quiet Life!
In December of 1979, The Clash released one of the only double records worth talking about.
Recorded over 3 months at Wessex South Studios w/ producer Guy Stevens, the album is a testament to the band’s talent and is truly one of the best records ever put to wax.
Let’s talk The Clash, London Calling!
May of 1979, known ruddy cheeked little scamps, The Undertones, released their debut album.
Recorded by Roger Béchirian in less than four weeks, the album stands as a testament to teenage angst, with its whip smart pop punk harmonies and counterpoints being considered amongst the best of the 70s and most certainly one of the finest punk albums of its day.
Let’s talk The Undertones – The Undertones!