Tag Archives: 1981

Killing Joke: What’s THIS For…!

Leave a comment

In June 1981, “E.G.” label released “What’s THIS For…!”, the second Killing Joke studio album. It was recorded December 1980 – February 1981, at “Townhouse Studios” in London, and was produced by Nick Launay, Jaz Coleman, Paul Ferguson, Martin Glover, and Geordie Walker.

Personnel:

  • Jaz Coleman– vocals, synthesizer
  • Geordie Walker– guitar
  • Youth– bass guitar
  • Paul Ferguson– vocals, drums

 Track listing:

All tracks are by Jaz Coleman, Paul Ferguson, Martin Glover, and Geordie Walker.

  1. The Fall of Because
  2. Tension
  3. Unspeakable
  4. Butcher
  5. Follow the Leaders
  6. Madness
  7. Who Told You
  8. Exit

Thompson Twins: A Product Of…

Leave a comment

In June 1981, “T Records” label released “A Product of…”, the debut Thompson Twins studio album. It was recorded in April 1981 and was produced by Dennis Bovell, Tom Bailey, Joe Leeway, Chris Bell, Jane Shorter, Peter Dodd, John Roog, and Mike Howlett.

Personnel:

  • Tom Bailey– lead vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion, reeds, mixing
  • Chris Bell – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Peter Dodd – guitar, percussion, saxophone, backing vocals
  • Joe Leeway– congas, percussion, backing vocals
  • John Roog – guitar, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jane Shorter – saxophone, percussion
  • Steve Dewey – engineer, mixing
  • Alan O’Duffy, John Hade – mixing
  • Jonathan Phipps – cover art

Track listing:

All tracks by Tom Bailey, Joe Leeway, Chris Bell, Jane Shorter, Peter Dodd, John Roog, and Mike Howlett, except where noted

  1. When I See You
  2. Politics
  3. Slave Trade
  4. Could Be Her…Could Be You
  5. Make Believe
  6. Don’t Go Away
  7. The Price
  8. Oumma Aularesso (Animal Laugh) – traditional from Sierra Leone; arranged by Tom Bailey
  9. Anything Is Good Enough
  10. A Product Of…
  11. Perfect Game
  12. Vendredi Saint – traditiional Gregorian chant; arranged by Tom Bailey

Pete Townshend: All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes

Leave a comment

On June 14, 1982, “Atco” label released “All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes”, the third Pete Townshend studio album. It was recorded 1981 – 1982, and was produced by Chris Thomas.

Personnel:

  • Pete Townshend– vocals, guitars, keyboards
  • Virginia Astley– piano
  • Tony Butler– bass guitar
  • Peter Hope-Evans– harmonica
  • Mark Brzezicki– drums
  • Simon Phillips– drums
  • Jody Linscott– percussion
  • Chris Stainton– additional keyboards
  • Poli Palmer– tuned percussion
  • John Lewis – Fairlight CMIprogramming
  • Ann Odell – brass arrangement
  • Bill Price– engineer
  • Mark Freegard – engineer assistant
  • Tim Young – mastering
  • Carol Starr – photography
  • Chalkie Davis – photography
  • Michael Spry – photographic prints
  • Ike King – hair
  • Jacqui Lefton – makeup
  • Kenny McDonald – tailor

Track listing:

All tracks by Pete Townshend, except where noted.

  1. Stop Hunting People
  2. The Sea Refuses No River – Pete Townshend, Alan Rogan
  3. Prelude – Pete Townshend, Andy Newman
  4. Face Dances Pt. 2
  5. Exquisitely Bored
  6. Communication
  7. Stardom in Action
  8. Uniforms (Corp d’Espirit)
  9. North Country Girl
  10. Somebody Saved Me (performed by The Who on 1981 album “Face Dances”)
  11. Slit Skirts

Tuxedomoon: Divine

Leave a comment

In May 1982, “Operation Twilight” label released “Divine”, the third Tuxedomoon studio album. It was recorded in 1981, and was produced by Blaine L. Reininger, Peter Dachert and Steven Brown.

Personnel:

  • Blaine L. Reininger – lead vocals, violin, viola, keyboards
  • Steven Brown – lead vocals, saxophone, clarinet, keyboards
  • Peter Dachert (Peter Principle) – lead vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, drum programming, tape
  • Bruce Geduldig – lead vocals, drums
  • Winston Tong – lead vocals, piano
  • Gilles Martin – recording
  • Saskia Lupini – cover art

Track listing:

All tracks by Maurice Béjart.

  1. Mata Hari
  2. Anna Christie
  3. Grand Hotel
  4. Ninotchka
  5. Conquest
  6. Queen Christina
  7. Camille

Jeff Lorber: It’s a Fact

Leave a comment

On May 21, 1982, “Arista” label released “It’s a Fact”, the debut Jeff Lorber studio album. It was recorded September 1981 – January 1982, at “Indigo Ranch Studios” in Malibu, California, and was produced by Jeff Lorber.

Personnel:

  • Jeff Lorber- keyboards, guitar, arranger, conductor
  • Marlon McClain – guitars
  • Nathan East- electric bass guitar
  • John Robinson- drums
  • Greg Walker – vocals
  • Arnold McCuller – vocals
  • Sylvia St. James – vocals
  • Lynne Davis – backing vocals
  • Kenny G(Kenny Gorelick) – soprano and tenor saxophone, flutes
  • Tom Browne – trumpet and flugelhorn
  • Paulinho Da Costa– percussion
  • Pete Christlieb- horn contractor

Track listing:

All tracks by Jeff Lorber.

  1. Tierra Verde
  2. Full Moon
  3. Warm Springs
  4. It’s a Fact
  5. The Magician
  6. Your Love Has Got Me
  7. Delevans
  8. Always There
  9. Above the Clouds

Reggie Lucas

Leave a comment

On May 19, 2018, Reginald Grant Lucas aka Reggie Lucas died aged 65. He was songwriter, musician (guitar) and record producer. As musician he has recorded and performed with Miles Davis, Carlos Garnett, Babatunde Olatunji, Norman Connors, Flora Purim, Lonnie Liston Smith, Hubert Eaves, Roberta Flack, Urszula Dudziak, James Mtume, Gary Bartz, Zbigniew Seifert, John Lee, Gerry Brown and Masabumi Kikuchi. As producer Lucas worked with Madonna, Mtume, Models, Randy Crawford, Rebbie Jackson, Bunny DeBarge, The Four Tops, John Adams, The Weather Girls, Elisa Fiorillo and Nick Scotti. In 1981, Lucas and James Mtume won a “Grammy Award” for “Best R&B Song” for their composition “Never Knew Love Like This Before”, which was performed by Stephanie Mills. As leader, Lucas has recorded two albums.

Peter Frampton: Breaking All the Rules

Leave a comment

On May 14, 1981, “A&M” label released “Breaking All the Rules”, the seventh Peter Frampton studio album. It was recorded 1979 – 1981, at “The Charlie Chaplin Sound Stage”, “A & M Studios”, and was produced by Peter Frampton, David Kershenbaum, Chris Kimsey and Harvey Goldberg.

Personnel:

  • Peter Frampton – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Steve Lukather- guitar
  • Arthur Stead- piano, synthesizer, electric piano, organ, Fender Rhodes
  • John Regan- bass guitar
  • Jeff Porcaro- drums, percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Peter Frampton except where noted.

  1. Dig What I Say
  2. I Don’t Wanna Let You Go
  3. Rise Up – Alessi Brothers
  4. Wasting the Night Away
  5. Going to L.A.
  6. You Kill Me
  7. Friday on My Mind – George Young, Harry Vanda
  8. Lost a Part of You
  9. Breaking All the Rules – Peter Frampton, Keith Reid

Bill Withers

Leave a comment

On March 30, 2020, William Harrison Withers Jr. aka Bill Withers died aged 81. He was singer-songwriter and musician (guitar, keyboards), active from 1970 until 1985. He composed and recorded several major hits, including “Ain’t No Sunshine” (1971), “Grandma’s Hands” (1971), “Use Me” (1972), “Lean on Me” (1972), “Lovely Day” (1977), and “Just the Two of Us” (1980). Withers won three “Grammy Awards” (1971, 1981, 1987), “ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage” award (2006), was inducted into “West Virginia Music Hall of Fame” (2007), was inducted into “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” (2015), and received honorary degree from West Virginia University.

Sparks: Angst in My Pants

Leave a comment

On March 29, 1982, “Atlantic” label released “Angst in My Pants”, the eleventh Sparks studio album. It was recorded in 1981 at “Musicland Studios” in Munich, Germany, and was produced by Mack.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael- vocals
  • Ron Mael- keyboards, synthesizers, cover concept
  • Leslie Bohem- bass guitar, additional backing vocals
  • Bob Haag – guitar, additional backing vocals
  • David Kendrick – drums
  • James Goodwin – synthesizers
  • Mack- engineer, synthesizer programming

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

  1. Angst in My Pants
  2. I Predict
  3. Sextown U.S.A.
  4. Sherlock Holmes
  5. Nicotina
  6. Mickey Mouse
  7. Moustache
  8. Instant Weight Loss
  9. Tarzan and Jane
  10. The Decline and Fall of Me
  11. Eaten by the Monster of Love

After the Fire: Batteries Not Included

Leave a comment

On March 19, 1982, “CBS” label released “Batteries Not Included”, the fourth and final After the Fire album. It was recorded in 1981, at “The Record Plant” in New York City, and was produced by Mack.

Personnel:

  • Andy Piercy – vocals, guitar, bass
  • Peter Banks – keyboards
  • John Russell – guitar
  • Pete King – drums

All tracks by Andy Piercy and Peter Banks, except where noted.

  1. Short Change
  2. Frozen Rivers
  3. Sometimes – Andy Piercy, Peter Banks, John Russell
  4. Sailing Ship
  5. I Don’t Understand Your Love
  6. The Stranger
  7. Rich Boys
  8. Carry Me Home
  9. Dancing in the Shadows
  10. Space Walking
  11. Gina
  12. Stuck in Paris (Nowhere To Go)
  13. Bright Lights