Taking Care of Business is an album by American jazz-funk/soulsters the Ted Coleman Band, released in 1980 on JSR Records. “Due Consideration” is marked by rising/falling 3rds within a two-chord (G/Cm) verse sequence. An octave bassline/hi-hat slide accents the chordal arc (E♭/Dm/Gm) of the bridge. The verse theme is reimagined with an enveloped guitar solo, […]
Dai Primitivi All’Elettronica is an album by Italian avant-garde combo Futuro Antico, recorded in July 1980 and released a decade later on Casal Gajardo Records. The album crosses experimental drone music with electronic minimalism and percussive maximalism. It was recorded two months after their self-pressed eponymous cassette. “Piano Synt” starts with sparkling piano filigree on […]
Airplay is the sole album by the namesake project of producers/composers Jay Graydon and David Foster, recorded with assorted LA studio musicians. Released in 1980 on RCA, the album consists of 10 collaborative originals, two of which had recently been cut by associated acts Earth, Wind & Fire (“After the Love Is Gone”) and the […]
The Age of Plastic is the first of two albums by The Buggles, the studio project of Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. Released in January 1980 on Island Records, the release was preceded by the duo’s version of “Video Killed the Radio Star” — co-written with departed third-wheel Bruce Woolley, who concurrently recorded the song […]
Group 87 is the first of two albums by the namesake American studio-based supergroup. Released in 1980, the album finds the studio trio augmented by drumming virtuoso Terry Bozzio and Austrian producer/musician Peter Wolf. Tracklist: A1. Future of the City A2. Magnificent Clockworks A3. Frontiers 1856 A4. Sublime Feline B1. The Bedouin B2. While […]
Peter Gabriel — aka the “melting face” album — is the third consecutive self-titled solo album from Peter Gabriel. The album was issued in 1980 by Geffen after having been rejected by the artist’s longtime label Atlantic. Stylistically, the songs experiment with the buzzy, trebly sonorities of the day. Percussive ethno sounds course through “No […]
The Affectionate Punch is a 1980 album by Scottish duo The Associates. Joining the team of Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine for this debut offering is Cure frontman Robert Smith, who sings backup vocals on the chordally scrambled title-track. Sporting a clean, refined, and vocally suave sound reflective of the duo’s image, the album is […]
Argybargy is the third album by English New Wave band Squeeze, released in 1980 on A&M. Tracklist: A1. “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)” (4:00) A2. “Another Nail in My Heart” (2:55) A3. “Separate Beds” (3:20) A4. “Misadventure” (2:54) A5. “I Think I’m Go Go” (4:16) B1. “If I Didn’t Love You” (4:10) B2. “Farfisa Beat” […]
British Steel is the sixth studio album by English metal band Judas Priest, released in 1980 on Columbia. Tracklist: A1. “Rapid Fire” (4:08) A2. “Metal Gods” (4:00) A3. “Breaking the Law” (2:35) A4. “Grinder” (3:58) A5. “United” (3:35) B1. “You Don’t Have to Be Old to Be Wise” (5:04) B2. “Living After Midnight” (3:31) B3. […]
Closer is the second and final proper album by Mancunian mood rockers Joy Division, released in July 1980 on Factory Records. The release was foreshadowed by the death of frontman Ian Curtis, who committed suicide in May of that year. Tracklist: A1. “Atrocity Exhibition” (6:04) A2. “Isolation” (2:53) A3. “Passover” (4:46) A4. “Colony” (3:55) A5. “A […]
Square 1 is the lone album by English New Wave/art-punk foursome The Edge, released in 1980 on Hurricane Records. Tracklist: A1. “Edge Theme” A2. “Weekend Return” A3. “Wallflowers” A4. “Winning Streak” A5. “Isn’t It Strange?” A6. “Hanging Man” B1. “From the 17th” B2. “I Give Up” B3. “Let Go” B4. “Take Off” B5. “Here and […]
Making Movies is the third album by English band Dire Straits, released in 1980 on Vertigo/Warner Bros. Tracklist: A1. “Tunnel of Love” (8:09) A2. “Romeo and Juliet” (5:47) A3. “Skateaway” (6:32) B1. “Expresso Love” (5:17) B2. “Hand in Hand” (4:50) B3. “Solid Rock” (3:18) B4. “Les Boys” (4:07) Credits: Mark Knopfler — vocals, guitar, writer, […]
The Black Album is the fourth album by English rockers The Damned, originally released as a triple-sided studio/quarter-live double-LP in 1980 on Chiswick. Outside the UK, the first record in the set was released as a single album. Tracklist: A1. “Wait for the Blackout” (3:57) A2. “Lively Arts” (2:59) A3. “Silly Kids Games” (2:35) A4. […]
Seventeen Seconds is the second album by English New Wave/mood rockers The Cure, released in 1980 on Fiction/Polydor. Tracklist: A1. “A Reflection” (2:08) A2. “Play for Today” (3:41) A3. “Secrets” (3:20) A4. “In Your House” (4:07) A5. “Three” (2:34) B1. “The Final Sound” (0:52) B2. “A Forest” (5:55)* B3. “M” (3:03) B4. “At Night” (5:54) […]
Sandinista is the fourth album by English rock/reggae band The Clash, released in 1980 as a triple-LP set on CBS/Epic. Tracklist: A1. “The Magnificent Seven” (5:31) A2. “Hitsville U.K.” (4:22) A3. “Junco Partner” (4:52) A4. “Ivan Meets G.I. Joe” (3:05) A5. “The Leader” (1:42) A6. “Something About England” (3:42) B1. “Rebel Waltz” (3:25) B2. “Look […]
Génération Sans Futur is the third album by French avant-garde/chamber-rock ensemble Art Zoyd, released in 1980 on Atem. “La Ville” Droning cello/viola and low-volume chants paced by the lowest D note on the piano…. Nocturnal, foreboding vibe… tense up occurs around 2:40 with throbbing one-note bass figure in D… aggressive yet faint chanting… frantic piano/viola […]
Контрасты [Contrasts] is an album by Russian jazz-rock ensemble Allegro, released in 1980 on Мелодия (Melodiya). Tracklist: A1. “Волжские напевы” (7:17) A2. “В народном духе” (10:45) В. “Контрасты (Концертино в 3-х частях)” (19:04) — Часть 1 — Часть 2 — Часть 3 Credits: Виктор Двоскин 〈Victor Dvoskin〉 — bass Виктор Епанешников 〈Victor Epaneshnikov〉 — drums […]
Drift Up to Space is the second album by American jazz-funk combo Ambiance, released in 1980 on Da Mon. Tracklist: A1. “Drift Up to Space” (6:00) A2. “Freedom” (4:00) A3. “Ironti” (5:20) A4. “Simsamayaland” (5:00) B1. “Devika” (8:00) B2. “Just by Chance” (5:10) B3. “IO/IO” (6:53) Credits: Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Larry Knight Alto […]
Take a Little Rhythm is the first of two albums by Scottish art-pop musician/songwriter Ali Thomson, released in 1980 on A&M. Tracklist: A1. “Fools’ Society” (4:25) A2. “Take a Little Rhythm” (3:26) A3. “Saturday Heartbreaker” (4:19) A4. “We Were All in Love” (4:12) A5. “African Queen” (4:55) B1. “Live Every Minute” (3:45) B2. “Jamie” (4:33) […]
Live is the third album of original material by German jazz-rock combo Alcatraz, self-released in 1980 with the catalog number LMP 002. Tracklist: A1. “Unfug” (2:56) A2. “Samba Pardon” (9:15) A3. “Heinos Beerdigung” (5:48) A4. “Wock im Watt” (4:27) B1. “Alcaseltsam” (11:38) B2. “Arabische Nächte” (5:59) B3. “Trockeneis zum Frühstück” (4:32) Credits: Ralf Twellmann — […]
