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578 Paul Simon – Graceland
In August of 1986 Paul Simon released is seventh solo studio album. Following the commercial flop that was Hearts & Bones and his recent divorce from Carrie Fisher, Paul found himself in a deep depression. A bootleg cassette of South African street music got him excited about music again and the rest is history. Let’s…
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577 Throwing Muses – Throwing Muses
In September of 1986 Throwing Muses released their debut album. It was the first record by and American group to be released on the British 4AD Label (paving the way for The Pixies just a few years later). Allmusic review: “A startling collision of punk energy, folky melodicism, and Kristin Hersh’s mercurial voice and lyrics…puts…
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576 Slayer – Reign in Blood
In October of 1986 Slayer released their 3rd studio album. The first of their albums to be produced by Rick Rubin (who’s production made the music palatable to the non-initiated), the record is a sonic assault that cannot be denied. Hail Satan & lets talk Slayer, Reign In Blood!
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575 Sonic Youth – EVOL
In May of 1986 Sonic Youth released their 3rd full length studio album. It was their first on SST and the first to include new drummer, Steve Shelley. The album marks where the band introduced pop elements to their cacophonous racket. Lets talk Sonic Youth, EVOL!
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574 Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet
MP3 Audio [47 MB]DownloadShow URL Slippery When Wet is the third studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on August 18, 1986, by Mercury Records in North America and Vertigo Records internationally. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, with recording sessions between January and July 1986 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver.…
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573 Megadeth – Peace Sells… but who’s Buying
MP3 Audio [35 MB]DownloadShow URL Peace Sells… but who’s Buying? is the second studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 19, 1986, through Capitol Records. The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 82 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US and number 40 on the UK Albums…
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572 Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring
In February of 1986, Talk Talk released their 3rd studio album. The album represents the cutoff of their earlier synth pop roots and the movement to more improvised works. It was their highest charting non-compilation release, peaking at number 8 in the UK and stayed their for 21 weeks. Let’s talk Talk Talk, The Colour…
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571 Billy Bragg – Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
In September of 1986 Billy Bragg released his 3rd studio album. Its beautiful, it is very of its time and sadly still, ours. Let’s talk Billy Bragg, Talking with the Taxman About Poetry!
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570 Nanci Griffith – The Last of the True Believers
MP3 Audio [35 MB]DownloadShow URL
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569 The The – Infected
MP3 Audio [47 MB]DownloadShow URL
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568 Metallica – Master of Puppets
In March of 1986 Metallica released their 3rd studio album. With no radio play whatsoever, Thrash has hit the mainstream. Let’s talk Metallica, Master of Puppets!
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567 Beastie Boy – Licensed to Ill
In November of 1986 the Beastie Boys released their debut album. It’s the shot heard round the world. In one fell swoop, three Jewish teenagers and their producer kicked the proverbial doors in to the suburban market and took hip hop to the masses; changing our shared musical landscape, forever. Lets talk Beastie Boys, Licensed…
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566 Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock
In December of 1986 Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force released a collection of singles. The song “Planet Rock” was one of the earliest hits of the hip hop music genre, remains one of its pioneering recordings & was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine at #240 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs…
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565 Elvis Costello – Blood and Chocolate
In September of 1986 Elvis Costello released his 11th studio album. The man doesn’t know how to write bad songs. Let’s talk Elvis Costello, Blood & Chocolate!
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564 Scritti Politti – Cupid & Psyche 85
In June of 1985 Scritti Politti released their second studio album. To this day it remains the band’s best selling album, peaking at number five on the UK charts and spawning three top 20 hits in the UK. Let’s talk Scritti Politti, Cupid & Psyche!
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563 Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Don’t Stand Me Down
MP3 Audio [43 MB]DownloadShow URL Don’t Stand Me Down is the third studio album by English pop band Dexys Midnight Runners, released in September 1985 by Mercury Records. The album was released three years after their second album, the internationally successful Too-Rye-Ay. At the time, Dexys’ lineup had been pared down from ten members to…
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562 Simply Red – Picture Book
In October of 1985 Simply Red released their debut album. It would go on to dominate the charts worldwide, achieving platinum sales status in six countries. Let’s talk Simply Red, Picture Book!
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561 New Order – Low-Life
In May of 1985 New Order released their 3rd studio album. Scholars maintain that the record solidified the band’s divorce from post punk and their full embrace of dance rock. Lets talk New Order, Low – Life!
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560 The Jesus and Mary Chain – Psychocandy
MP3 Audio [41 MB]DownloadShow URL The Jesus and Mary Chain’s debut album, Psychocandy, is considered to be one of the most influential albums of all time. Released in 1985, the album helped to define the shoegaze genre, characterized by its use of distorted guitars, feedback, and lush melodies. Surprisingly Psychocandy was a critical and commercial…
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559 Tom Waits – Rain Dogs
MP3 Audio [48 MB]DownloadShow URL Tom Waits continues his transition that was started in Swordfishtrombones with his 9th outing Rain Dogs in 1985. Some call it his best work and a pivotal move from the singer songwriter’s previous material before he leans into the cathartic carnival barker of bone machine and beyond. What do you…
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558 The Smiths – Meat Is Murder
MP3 Audio [49 MB]DownloadShow URL The Smiths’ second album, Meat Is Murder, was released in 1985 and quickly became one of the most controversial albums of the decade. The album’s title track, a staunchly anti-meat anthem, was banned by the BBC, and the album itself was met with mixed reviews. However, over the years, Meat…
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557 Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
MP3 Audio [54 MB]DownloadShow URL We recorded this episode in the fall of 2021 without a clue that In 2022, “Running Up That Hill” would received renewed attention when it was featured in the fourth season of the Netflix series Stranger Things released May 27, 2022. Its appearance led to the song’s resurgence on charts around the…
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556 The Pogues – Rum Sodomy and the Lash
In August of 1985 The Pogues released their sophomore album. It was produced by Elvis Costello and recorded at Elephant Studios in Wapping, London. Of the recording process itself, Costello had this to say: “I saw my task was to capture them in their dilapidated glory before some more professional producer fucked them up.” Let’s…
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555 Suzanne Vega – Suzanne Vega
In May of 1985 Suzanne Vega released her debut album. Gary Kenton: “Vega can get a bit pretentious, but what singer-songwriter worth a damn doesn’t? Its the price you pay for taking risks. Suzanne Vega is a flattering and very substantial introduction.” Let’s talk Suzanne Vega, Suzanne Vega!