Music Gourmets Presents 60 Years of Great Music - 1984

[Zeeba Neighba]

Man these days can get away from ya! Here we go with another year in our Series.
Welcome to 1984!

Here's the rules:

Each Friday, we'll introduce a new year from 1957 through 2016. Each member selects an album released in that year with a few lines (or more) on why you picked it/enjoy it. Your selection does not have to be the most important release or the most admired release of that year (though it certainly can be), simply an album that grabs you and that you really love.

However, once an album is selected by a member, you must choose a different album.

Together we will compile quite the canon of "Great Music" and, who knows, maybe inspire each other to check out some new artists (or to revisit old forgotten classics).

This week - the albums of 1984

 

[patrikc325]

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire

This is my pick on an early Sunday morning. Bono over Bruce I guess.

 

[Postalboy]

Hoodoo Gurus- Stoneage Romeos

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Los Lobos - How Will The Wolf Survive?

Since a long time ago, one of my favorite bands. Los Lobos got their start playing parties, weddings and the like in East LA, so they developed a nice blend of Rock and traditional Mexican styles.

This, their first LP, is a great introduction to the band. It kicks off with a rocker - Don't Worry Baby; a smooth, almost R&B number - A Matter of Time; a fast Norteno Polka - Corrido #1; and then around and around it goes. The two main singers contrast and give nice variety, one rocking and rough edged, the other smooth. They easily float from electric to acoustic and back. There's no slacking on the arrangements, which are augmented nicely by saxophone and the occasional even-handed accordion. Five stars!

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Replacements - Let It Be



Not as slick as their later records, but showing the heart, the melodies and the energy that the Placemats were known for. Classic album.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Is that the band's nickname or did your autocorrect register a certain disdain?

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Is that the band's nickname or did your autocorrect register a certain disdain?

Nickname coined by fans.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Nickname coined by fans.

Also affectionately known as the 'Mats

 

[axolotl]

Also affectionately known as the 'Mats

The quality disdain is in there before the name goes on.

 

[lpfreak1170]

Lots of great music this year, but an easy choice for me.

Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain

 

[axolotl]

Harold Budd / Brian Eno with Daniel Lanois ~ The Pearl



Look no further. You have found it.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Hoodoo Gurus- Stoneage Romeos

I love this album. Was waiting to see if someone was gonna take my obvious choice then choose this one. Postalboy beat me to it.

 

[Gasoline Daydreams]

Wham! - Make It Big

*a true pop classic album of the 80s

 

[lpfreak1170]

Wham! - Make It Big

*a true pop classic album of the 80s

"Careless Whisper" is one of the greatest songs of the 80s.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

"Careless Whisper" is one of the greatest songs of the 80s.

There's no comfort in the truth

 

[axolotl]

"Careless Whisper" is one of the greatest songs of the 80s

I sure wish you'd hush up about it, already.

 

[JazzyRandy]

Wham! - Make It Big

*a true pop classic album of the 80s

Hear hear! :hammerguy:

 

[JazzyRandy]

Run DMC - Run DMC

Game.Changer.

 

[LeslieC]

Don Henley-Building the Perfect Beast

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.

Some great albums this year that I still play quite frequently - Purple Rain, Stoneage Romeos, and Let It Be
Still with those gone, I'm going to choose an obvious choice for me though not necessarily an obvious choice if it was back in 1985. Certainly the singles off this one (which were ALL over the radio) as well as my NJ locale made me perk my ears up and become interested in Springsteen, but I soon gravitated to his older material. Born in the U.S.A. just seemed too poppy and that wasn't the direction my musical interests were starting to change. In fact, I really enjoyed the albums few non-released tracks more. Over time, though, it's difficult to resists how this album draws you in and how well-crafted the pop numbers are. Of course, not that Springsteen has gone subsequently in like 8 other directions with his music, I realize that this wasn't a sell-out, just another stop on his journey into a wide range of musical styles. Also I'm not more inclined to be impressed (as I've stated many times before) with the power of the 3-minute single in moving the listener. I've also been to a ton of his concerts where many of these songs take on whole new identities. In short, it's a fantastic album!