• 474 The Teardrop Explodes – Kilimanjaro

    474 The Teardrop Explodes – Kilimanjaro

    In October of 1980 The Teardrop Explodes released their debut album. Deriving influence from the 60s psyche movement and punk, these Liverpudlians made a significant contribution to post-punk and the future of rock music in Britain. Let’s talk The Teardrop Explodes, Kilimanjaro!

  • 473  UB40 – Signing Off

    473 UB40 – Signing Off

    In August of 1980 UB40 released their debut album. Robert Christgau – “Eight black-and-whites from Birmingham who named themselves after the dole card they know so well, they don’t play no ska–they’re songsmiths in a deep reggae groove. They take their time instead of pressing on to the next one, and more than one instrumental…

  • 472 Tom Waits – Heartattack and Vine

    472 Tom Waits – Heartattack and Vine

    In September of 1980 Tom Waits released his 7th studio album. Why it’s in here when Swordfish Trombones is just three short years away, who knows? Let’s talk Tom Waits, Heartattack and Vine!

  • 471 The Jam – Sound Affects

    471 The Jam – Sound Affects

    In late November of 1980 The Jam released their 5th studio album. Taking musical cues from many post-punk luminaries including Gang of Four, Joy Division, and Wire, with drummer Rick Buckler paying special attention to the drums on Off the Wall. It is The Jam’s crowning achievement and truly one for the book. Lets talk…

  • 470 The Undertones – Hypnotised

    470 The Undertones – Hypnotised

    In April of 1980, The Undertones released their second album. Recorded at both Wisseloord Studios in The Netherlands and Eden Studios in London over the course of two months, the band cranked out more of the same material that endeared them so well to John Peel. Lets talk The Undertones, Hypnotised!

  • 469 Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden

    469 Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden

    In April of 1980 Iron Maiden released their debut studio album. Recorded at Kingsway Studio the previous December, the album is a shot across the bow for heavy music. With breakneck speeds, ferocious riffs, anthemic melodies, and the dulcet tones of original singer Paul Di’Anno, the album heralded the arrival of The British New Wave…

  • 468 Joy Division – Closer

    468 Joy Division – Closer

    In July of 1980 Joy Division released their final studio album. Once again produced by Martin Hannett but released two month after the tragic passing of lead singer, Ian Curtis, the album represents a high watermark of the post-punk genre. Lets talk Joy Division, Closer!

  • 467 Talking Heads – Remain in Light

    467 Talking Heads – Remain in Light

    In October of 1980 Talking Heads released their 4th studio album. With Brian Eno back at the helm, the band continues their trajectory as the best group to come out of the CBGB’s scene, and the album deserves every accolade that has been thrown at it. Lets talk Talking Heads, Remain in Light!

  • 466 Circle Jerks – Group Sex

    466 Circle Jerks – Group Sex

    In October of 1980 Circle Jerks released their debut album. With fourteen songs clocking in at just over fifteen minutes, the album is a true classic of the hardcore punk genre. Let’s talk Circle Jerks, Group Sex!

  • 465 Judas Priest – British Steel

    465 Judas Priest – British Steel

    In April of 1980, known hellbent for leather Turbo Lovers, Judas Priest, released their 6th studio album. Taking lyrical cues from AC/DC this time around, the band dropped some of the darker themes featured on their earlier releases, opting for a more party time feel. The record announced the arrival of The New Wave of…

  • 464 Killing Joke – Killing Joke

    464 Killing Joke – Killing Joke

    In October of 1980 Killing Joke released their debut album. “Bass, lead, to tell the killing joke, we mean it man! Total exploitation, no information, anonymity” was the rallying cry posted in Melodie Maker Magazine by keyboardist/singer Jaz Coleman and drummer Paul Fergeson in 1979. With the addition of guitarist Geordie Walker and bassist Youth,…

  • 463 Motörhead – Ace of Spades

    463 Motörhead – Ace of Spades

    In November of 1980 Motörhead released their fourth studio album. Recorded in August and September of the same year, the illustrious producer Vic Maile managed to capture the raw power of the trio all while tightening up their sound. Though the band hated being lumped into The New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the record…

  • 462 Echo & the Bunnymen – Crocodiles

    462 Echo & the Bunnymen – Crocodiles

    In July of 1980 Echo & the Bunnymen released their debut album. Recorded over the course of about three weeks and produced by Bill Drummond, David Balfe, and Ian Broudie, the album is considered one of the finer debut records in the 80s. Let’s talk Echo & the Bunnymen, Crocodiles!

  • 461 The Cure – Seventeen Seconds

    461 The Cure – Seventeen Seconds

    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…

  • 460 The Soft Boys – Underwater Moonlight

    460 The Soft Boys – Underwater Moonlight

    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…

  • 459 Peter Gabriel – Peter Gabriel

    459 Peter Gabriel – Peter Gabriel

    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…

  • 458 The Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

    458 The Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

    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…

  • 457 The Cramps – The Songs the Lord Taught Us

    457 The Cramps – The Songs the Lord Taught Us

    In 1980, The Cramps released their debut studio album. Let’s talk The Cramps, The Songs the Lord Taught Us!

  • 456 AC/DC – Back in Black

    456 AC/DC – Back in Black

    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…

  • 455 Dexys Midnight Runners – Searching for the Young Soul Rebels

    455 Dexys Midnight Runners – Searching for the Young Soul Rebels

    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…

  • 454 Adam and the Ants – Kings of the Wild Frontier

    454 Adam and the Ants – Kings of the Wild Frontier

    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…

  • 453 The Specials – The Specials

    453 The Specials – The Specials

    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…

  • 452 Gary Numan – The Pleasure Principle

    452 Gary Numan – The Pleasure Principle

    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…

  • 451 The Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette

    451 The Damned – Machine Gun Etiquette

    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…