JANIS IAN
BETWEEN THE LINES
1975-COLUMBIA
Produced By BROOKS ARTHUR
1. When The Party's Over
2. At Seventeen
3. From Me To You
4. Bright Lights And Promises
5. In The Winter
6. Water Colors
7. Between The Lines
8. The Come On
9. Light A Light
10. Tea & Sympathy
11. Lover's Lullaby
After Janis Ian first burst on the scene as a child prodigy in 1967, she promptly disappeared. Her comeback was this 1975 album, a stunningly beautiful and mature collection of songs. The big hit was "At Seventeen", one of the more honest and perfect products of the singer-songwriter movement. But there's a lot more to offer here. It's not perfect, but it's still a great work. Ian's voice is warm and intelligent, as are her lyrics. It's a pleasant listen all the way through. This showed that Ian was truly an artist to watch for in the future.
Janis Ian has had a spotty career, but when she does release an album, it's rarely a disappointment. Between The Lines is an important album of its time, and one of her finest.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN
1978-COLUMBIA
Produced By JON LANDAU & BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
1. Badlands
2. Adam Raised A Cain
3. Something In The Night
4. Candy's Room
5. Racing In The Street
6. The Promised Land
7. Factory
8. Streets Of Fire
9. Prove It All Night
10. Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Born To Run was the sax album, and The River was the keyboard album. Darkness On The Edge Of Town is the guitar album. Not even Bruce Springsteen could top Darkness, his 4th album. If you don't like The Boss, then you've never listened to this. What could be Springsteen's finest album is also one of the best albums of the 70's. Filled with angst and tension and unbelieveably great songs, Darkness is simply amazing. Bruce snarls his way through all ten songs, and shows that he's also one hell of an underrated lead guitarist. Max Weinberg also shows, particularly on "Candy's Room", why he deserves mention as one of rock's greatest drummers.
If you haven't already (and I know some of you have...many times), put this album on when you're home alone. Crank it up as loud as you can...and just listen. You will be blown away. Lyrically, musically, songwriting, playing...it's all here. This is a masterpiece.
"Tonight I'll be on that hill 'cause I can't stop
I'll be on that hill with everything I've got
Lives on the line where dreams are found & lost
I'll be there on time and I'll pay the cost
For wanting things that can only be found
In the darkness on the edge of town"
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
LIVING COLOUR
VIVID
1988-EPIC
Produced By ED STASIUM & MICK JAGGER
1. Cult Of Personality
2. I Want To Know
3. Middle Man
4. Desperate People
5. Open Letter (To A Landlord)
6. Funny Vibe
7. Memories Can't Wait
8. Broken Hearts
9. Glamour Boys
10. What's Your Favorite Color? (Theme Song)
11. Which Way To America?
Living Colour was discovered by Mick Jagger, who produced their demo, a song on this album, and sang backups on "Glamour Boys". But it wasn't the Jagger connection that made this band huge. It was the first song of their first album, Vivid. "Cult Of Personality" soared onto the airwaves and made believers of us all. And for good reason. Vernon Reid, a jazz trained guitarist, unleashed one of the mightiest riffs of the decade, and Corey Glover's vocals brought it all home. The rest of Vivid is very good as well, and even though this is not their best album ("Time's Up" is better), it's certainly their best known, and the one that put them on the map.
Vivid is loaded. Excellent songs are everywhere, including "Glamour Boys", "I Want To Know", and "What's Your Favorite Color?", but just that riff on "Cult Of Personality" makes this worth having.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
SONIC YOUTH
DAYDREAM NATION
1988-GEFFEN
Produced By SONIC YOUTH & NICHOLAS SANSANO
1. Teen Age Riot
2. Silver Rocket
3. The Sprawl
4. 'Cross The Breeze
5. Eric's Trip
6. Total Trash
7. Hey Joni
8. Providence
9. Candle
10. Rain King
11. Kissability
12. Trilogy
Sonic Youth has been around since 1982, but they hit their peak between 1987 and 1988. Daydream Nation, on the heels of the excellent Sister, is a long, complicated and excellent swirl of guitar madness. The music moves in a solitary theme, giving it a cohesiveness that the band sometimes lacks on other releases. It's loud, full of noise, and a classic. Although Sonic Youth isn't for everyone, this has to be a favorite of even non believers. The guitars wail, and the back and forth vocals of Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon only add to the greatness of this set of songs. If Sonic Youth is a band that you can stand, this should be the one album you definitely have.
The band has been up and down since then, ever changing and sometimes delving into the downright weird (Ciccone Youth...a collection of Madonna covers!). But they are an important band, and quite listenable if you catch them during this period of time.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
TOM PETTY
FULL MOON FEVER
1989-MCA
Produced By JEFF LYNNE
1. Free Fallin'
2. I Won't Back Down
3. Love Is A Long Road
4. A Face In The Crowd
5. Runnin' Down A Dream
6. Feel A Whole Lot Better
7. Yer So Bad
8. Depending On You
9. The Apartment Song
10. Alright For Now
11. A Mind With A Heart Of Its Own
12. Zombie Zoo
I think at some point, everyone has owned this album. Recorded during the short career of the Traveling Wilburys, Petty's debut solo album features all but one of them...only Bob Dylan is missing. ELO leader Jeff Lynne contributes heavily with production, bass, and songwriting. Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench are also present. The songs are catchy and memorable, and Petty sounds like he is truly having fun. "Free Fallin'", "I Won't Back Down", and "Runnin' Down A Dream" are the highlights, but don't sleep on "The Apartment Song" and "A Mind With A Heart Of Its Own", either. Overall, a solid effort from Petty & friends.
Roy Orbison makes an appearance on "Zombie Zoo", recorded before his death but released afterwards. George Harrison plays on "I Won't Back Down".
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
DARYL HALL
SACRED SONGS
1979-BUDDHA
Produced By ROBERT FRIPP
1. Sacred Songs
2. Something In 4/4 Time
3. Babs And Babs
4. Urban Landscape
5. NYCNY
6. The Farther Away I Am
7. Why Was It So Easy
8. Don't Leave Me Alone With Her
9. Survive
10. Without Tears
Bonus Tracks
11. You Burn Me Up I'm A Cigarette
12. North Star
Maybe the most unlikely album in the history of rock. Hall & Oates frontman Daryl Hall teamed up for his debut solo album with...Robert Fripp? The King Crimson genius produced and played all of the guitars on this album, and it has long been well sought after by collectors. It was released to a resounding commercial thud, but don't let that fool you. There's not a single hint of "Sara Smile" or "Rich Girl" or "One On One" here. Hall and Fripp team up for scorching rockers, experimental songs, and soulful pieces that Hall & Oates never dreamed of. "Something In 4/4 Time" and "You Burn Me I'm A Cigarette" are fast, loud, guitar driven punk. But the thing that, of course, carries this is Hall's voice. Even so far outside of the norm, he proves that he has the pipes to pull off whatever he wants to. And that's what this is.
The two bonus tracks are pulled from Fripp's album Exposure. This is an album that every rock star should make...step outside of your comfort zone and just do what's in your heart. And that's exactly what Hall does here. It's a truly great album.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
PRINCE
THE HITS/THE B-SIDES
1993-PAISLEY PARK
Produced By PRINCE
DISC 1
1. When Doves Cry
2. Pop Life
3. Soft And Wet
4. I Feel For You
5. Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
6. When You Were Mine
7. Uptown
8. Let's Go Crazy
9. 1999
10. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
11. Nothing Compares 2 U
12. Adore
13. Pink Cashmere
14. Alphabet St.
15. Sign 'O' The Times
16. Thieves In The Temple
17. Diamonds And Pearls
18. 7
DISC 2
1. Controversy
2. Dirty Mind
3. I Wanna Be Your Lover
4. Head
5. Do Me, Baby
6. Delirious
7. Little Red Corvette
8. I Would Die 4 U
9. Raspberry Beret
10. If I Was Your Girlfriend
11. Kiss
12. Peach
13. U Got The Look
14. Sexy M.F.
15. Gett Off
16. Cream
17. Pope
18. Purple Rain
DISC 3
1. Hello
2. 200 Balloons
3. Escape
4. Gotta Stop (Messin' About)
5. Horny Toad
6. Feel U Up
7. Girl
8. I Love U In Me
9. Erotic City
10. Shockadelica
11. Irresistable Bitch
12. Scarlet Pussy
13. La, La, La, He, He, Hee
14. She's Always In My Hair
15. 17 Days
16. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore
17. Another Lonely Christmas
18. God
19. 4 The Tears In Your Eyes
20. Power Fantastic
This should be the motherlode for Prince fans...3 discs, 56 songs, all of them excellent proof that this guy was maybe the most talented guy on the planet. But there are some negatives. There is no order to the songs...chronological would be nice: instead, it's all over the map. And several songs are radio friendly shortened versions. Cut a small handfull and give us full versions of songs like "1999" and "When Doves Cry".
On the plus side, there are songs here you'll never get anywhere else. And his own take on songs he gave to others, including "Nothing Compares 2 U" and "Erotic City". It's a sprawling collection of great songs...no one else could pull off a collection like this. And the liner notes are excellent as well. It's very good, but you're always better off with the original albums. This will work at a party, though.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
SPORTS
1983-CHRYSALIS
Produced By HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
1. The Heart Of Rock & Roll
2. Heart And Soul
3. Bad Is Bad
4. I Want A New Drug
5. Walking On A Thin Line
6. Finally Found A Home
7. If This Is It
8. You Crack Me Up
9. Honky Tonk Blues
If you've never heard Sports, you obviously weren't alive in 1983. For a brief time, Lewis was everywhere, with his hit single from Back To The Future, and this mega million selling disc. The hits were everywhere, and the MTV generation ate it up. 5 singles got heavy airtime, and for a minute, it seemed like Huey Lewis was going to take over the world. "The Heart Of Rock & Roll", "Heart And Soul", "Walking On A Thin Line", "If This Is It", and especially "I Want A New Drug" were on every radio station, in every car, and at every party. The News was actually a pretty good band, and Lewis' pop chops made for a perfect vehicle to stardom. The rest is decent filler, except for the desecration of Hank Williams' "Honky Tonk Blues".
Sports has gotten a bit thinner and cheesier with every passing year. The hits weren't really held up by much, and Lewis' quick fall from grace ("Hip To Be Square") hasn't helped. Now, it's more of a curiosity than anything else...did you guys really listen to this stuff in the 80's? Yep. We sure did.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
BURNING SPEAR
DRY & HEAVY
1977-MANGO
Produced By WINSTON RODNEY
1. Any River
2. The Sun
3. It's A Long Way Around
4. I W.I.N.
5. Throw Down Your Arms
6. Dry & Heavy
7. Wailing
8. Black Disciples
9. Shout It Out
The late seventies were a time of musical change...punk, disco, and the arrival to the mainstream of some really great reggae music. It was political, spiritual, and powerfully musical. Unlike the watered down "smoke weed" reggae of later years, Burning Spear was a leading light in the genre. Dry & Heavy was their 5th album, so they were already established in the reggae community. Led by Winston Rodney, the songs are powerful Rastafarian messages...but they also sound really great.
The album is a highlight as a whole. Every song is excellent, well written, and expertly played. The entire Burning Spear catalog is great, and Dry & Heavy stands up as strong as any of them. Rodney still performs as Burning Spear...an important act in the legacy of reggae.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
BJORK
DEBUT
1993-ELEKTRA
Produced By BJORK & NELLEE HOOPER
1. Human Behaviour
2. Crying
3. Venus As A Boy
4. There's More to Life Than This
5. Like Someone In Love
6. Big Time Sensuality
7. One Day
8. Aeroplane
9. Come To Me
10. Violently Happy
11. The Anchor Song
It's everyone's favorite Icelandic pixie, Bjork. This is her debut (hence the name) album after the breakup of her band, The Sugarcubes, and it paved the way for her ongoing and pretty successful career as the poster girl for the avant garde. The music is jazz oriented and different, but not so much as to make it unlistenable. In fact, she manages to make it intelligent and danceable at the same time. Her future work would follow in the footsteps of Debut, a concept she would later improve on. But this is still a pretty solid debut.
Highlights include "Human Behaviour", "Violently Happy" and "Big Time Sensibility". It's surprisingly listenable, and it's held up surprisingly well. Definitely not for everyone, but if it works for you, it will work just fine.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
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