Urban75 Album of the Year 1981
- Thread starter belboid
- Start date
Spandex
A crazy bulbous punchbag of sound
Paul Di'Anno's last album as vocalist. The songs perhaps aren't quite as strong as their debut, but the production and musicianship is a step towards the world conquering behemoth Maiden became. And everything they did in the 80s is amongst the best metal ever.
Def Leppard's massive stadium ready melodies meant they were destined to become the huge band they became with their next album.
Ronnie James Dio's second album on vocals continues Sabbath's early 80s renaissance.
By any objective measure Motley Crüe are terrible - terrible musicians and terrible people - but they're terrible in a grotesquely interesting way. They make up for lack of ability with enthusiasm and the world would be a more boring place if they had never existed.
Spandex
A crazy bulbous punchbag of sound
Electronic Circus - Direct Lines
A 7" rather than an album, but as that's the entire recorded output of this act and this is one of my favourite songs, I'm posting it anyway.
Formed by Gary Numan's keyboard player Chris Payne (who also co-wrote Visage's Fade to Grey) and featuring the vocals of Penny Heathcote (who only ever recorded this and one other 7" as part of unremembered punk band Corvettes in 1980) it's a beautiful and haunting piece of cold war synthpop. It did no business and that was that, but because it's amazing it has endured and thanks to the internet it's now something of a cult classic. If I play it once I usually go back and play it again straight away because it's that good.
A 7" rather than an album, but as that's the entire recorded output of this act and this is one of my favourite songs, I'm posting it anyway.
Formed by Gary Numan's keyboard player Chris Payne (who also co-wrote Visage's Fade to Grey) and featuring the vocals of Penny Heathcote (who only ever recorded this and one other 7" as part of unremembered punk band Corvettes in 1980) it's a beautiful and haunting piece of cold war synthpop. It did no business and that was that, but because it's amazing it has endured and thanks to the internet it's now something of a cult classic. If I play it once I usually go back and play it again straight away because it's that good.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Simple Minds - Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call . Pretty much unfashionable to admit liking Simple Minds these days but the first four albums were great attempts at fusing Bowie/ Roxy Music influences with new wave slightly Tuetonic synth pop. I remember buying both albums in one promotional package which was a bargain even for what is a sprawling collection of uneven quality with song titles that read like crossword puzzle clues . However, relistening to it there is some excellent stuff on it if you like this sort of stuff, which I do. If they had finished their career here without becoming the over bloated vacuous monstrosity they became it would be worthy of a glowing reappraisal.
cloudyday
caput mortuum
Steve Hillage on production duties.
Indeliblelink
\......👁&👁......./
One of my favourite Gil Scott-Heron albums - Reflections
Dr. Furface
One small step for me
I loved Rip, Rig and Panic's debut album God. Formed by former Pop Groupers Gareth Sager, Bruce Smith and Mark Springer with Neneh Cherry and Sean Oliver, it's post-punky funky jazz really stood out at the time and I reckon it still sounds fantastic. Neneh's dad Don Cherry and Ari Up were also involved. It's an eclectic mix but for me Springer's wonderful piano piece The Blue, Blue Third is the highlight.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
I love Springer's piano bits . Have you ever listened to the Swans and Turtles album that he did with Sarah Sarhandi ?
Dr. Furface
One small step for me
No, but I will now, cheers
Indeliblelink
\......👁&👁......./
Some very polished sounding disco from Gino Soccio - "Closer", Chic/Nile Rodgers sounding basslines going on here.
ska invita
back on the other side
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
Spandex
A crazy bulbous punchbag of sound
From wiki:
It was released in November 1981 in Australia on Missing Link as an eight-track mini-album. It was subsequently released in the UK on Rough Trade Records, an independent music record label (Missing Link's UK distributors) in February 1982, as a 12-track album.
So I guess it depends which version you're voting for.
ska invita
back on the other side
What's your soul pick(s)?
marty21
One on one? You're crazy.
Maybe controversial, Hall & Oates.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
I am going to have to go through all these EPs and mini albums to see if they’re acceptable, but this one is definitely fine year wise.
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
Believe me, that is not the one that’s controversial.
ska invita
back on the other side
Some to check out
Brit Funk LPs
www.discogs.com
..has got London Town on it
www.discogs.com
...has got Help Me Out on it
www.discogs.com
has Walking Into Sunshine on it
probably some other good rarer brtifunk LPs out there
Disco/boogie on Prelude theres
www.discogs.com
...has got I Hear Music In The Streets on it - a pretty solid set
www.discogs.com
Luther Vandross on BVs
talking of Luther
www.discogs.com
includes Never Too Much and that epic version of A House Is Not A Home
Brit Funk LPs
Light Of The World - Remixed
Explore songs, recommendations, and other album details for Remixed by Light Of The World. Compare different versions and buy them all on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
Beggar & Co. - Monument
Explore songs, recommendations, and other album details for Monument by Beggar & Co.. Compare different versions and buy them all on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
Central Line - Breaking Point
Explore songs, recommendations, and other album details for Breaking Point by Central Line. Compare different versions and buy them all on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
probably some other good rarer brtifunk LPs out there
Disco/boogie on Prelude theres
Unlimited Touch - Unlimited Touch
View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1981 Vinyl release of "Unlimited Touch" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
Hi-Gloss - Hi-Gloss
Explore songs, recommendations, and other album details for Hi-Gloss by Hi-Gloss. Compare different versions and buy them all on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
talking of Luther
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
Explore songs, recommendations, and other album details for Never Too Much by Luther Vandross. Compare different versions and buy them all on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
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marty21
One on one? You're crazy.
I was 16 ffsAccording to Discogs he himself did eight albums in 1981, and another three with the likes of Tubby, Jammy and Yabby U.
ska invita
back on the other side
.
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