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.
Tag Archives: 1981
Sparks: Angst in My Pants
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.
- Angst in My Pants
- I Predict
- Sextown U.S.A.
- Sherlock Holmes
- Nicotina
- Mickey Mouse
- Moustache
- Instant Weight Loss
- Tarzan and Jane
- The Decline and Fall of Me
- Eaten by the Monster of Love
After the Fire: Batteries Not Included
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.
- Short Change
- Frozen Rivers
- Sometimes – Andy Piercy, Peter Banks, John Russell
- Sailing Ship
- I Don’t Understand Your Love
- The Stranger
- Rich Boys
- Carry Me Home
- Dancing in the Shadows
- Space Walking
- Gina
- Stuck in Paris (Nowhere To Go)
- Bright Lights
Graham Parker: Another Grey Area
On March 15, 1982, “RCA” label released “Another Grey Area”, the sixth Graham Parker album, his first solo album without his regular band, The Rumour. It was recorded in 1981, at “Record Plant” in New York City, and was produced by Jack Douglas and Graham Parker.
Personnel:
- Graham Parker – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
- Nicky Hopkins– acoustic piano
- George Small – keyboards, ondioline
- Hugh McCracken– electric guitars, harmonica
- David Brown – electric guitars
- Doug Stegmeyer– bass
- Michael Braun – drums
- Kurt McGettric – flute, baritone saxophone
- Jim Clouse – saxophones
- Paul Prestopino – banjo
- Jack Douglas– percussion
- Krystal Davis, Karen Lawrence, Eric Troyer, Fred Hostetler – backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Graham Parker.
- Temporary Beauty
- Another Grey Area
- No More Excuses
- Dark Side of the Bright Lights
- Can’t Waste a Minute
- Big Fat Zero
- You Hit the Spot
- It’s All Worth Nothing Alone
- Crying for Attention
- Thankless Task
- Fear Not
Leb i Sol: Beskonačno
On February 17, 1981, “PGP RTB” label released “Beskonačno”, the fourth Leb i Sol studio album. It was recorded in 1980, and was produced by Josip Boček.
Personnel:
- Vlatko Stefanovski– vocals, guitars
- Bodan Arsovski – bass guitar
- Garabet Tavitijan – drums
- Stjepko Gut – flugelhorn
- Tahir Durkalić – recording engineer
- Grčev Miroslav – design
- Lazo Plavevski – photography
- Ivo Veljanov – photography
Track listing:
- Hars – Garabet Tavitijan
- Skakavac – Bodan Arsovski
- Živa rana – lyrics by Goran Stefanovski, music by Vlatko Stefanovski
- Ajde sonce zajde – traditional, arranged by Vlatko Stefanovski, Bodan Arsovski, Garabet Tavitijan
- Beli mrak – lyrics by Goran Stefanovski, music by Vlatko Stefanovski
- Neplaćena struja – Garabet Tavitijan
- U tom je stvar – Bodan Arsovski
- Stomačne vijuge – Vlatko Stefanovski
- Kasno popodne – Garabet Tavitijan
Leb i Sol: Sledovanje
On December 23, 1981, “PGP RTB” label released “Sledovanje”, the fifth Leb I Sol studio album. It was recorded in November 1981, at “M2 Studio” in RT Skopje, Macedonia, and was produced by Vlatko Stefanovski, Bodan Arsovski, Dragoljub Đuričić and Tahir Duraklić.
Personnel:
- Vlatko Stefanovski – vocal, guitars, arrangements
- Bodan Arsovski – bass guitar, arrangements
- Dragoljub Đuričić – drums, arrangements
- Amazonke (Mimi, Jana, Zane, Sanja, Eli) – backing vocals
- Tahir Duraklić – recording
- Braco Zafirovski – engineer assistant
- Miroslav Grčev, Lazo Planevksi – design
- Jordan Živovski – photography
Track listing:
- Lokomobila – Bodan Arsovski
- Pazi da paziš – lyrics by Goran Stefanovski, music by Vlatko Stefanovski
- Mirko – Vlatko Stefanovski
- Nosim tvoj žig – lyrics by Goran Stefanovski, music by Vlatko Stefanovski
- Mile pop Jordanov – traditional
- Let u mestu – lyrics by Goran Stefanovski, music by Bodan Arsovski
- Miris juga – Bodan Arsovski
- Njena sena – lyrics by Goran Stefanovski, music by Vlatko Stefanovski
- Hvala na svemu – lyrics by Goran Stefanovski, music by Vlatko Stefanovski
- Oda radosti – Vlatko Stefanovski, Bodan Arsovski
10cc: Ten Out of 10
On November 27, 1981, “Warner Bros” label released “Ten Out of 10”, the eighth 10cc studio album. It was recorded in 1981, and was produced by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman.
Personnel:
- Eric Stewart– lead vocals, synthesiser, guitars, bass, slide guitar, pianos, percussion, synthesiser strings, rock snare
- Graham Gouldman– lead vocals, bass, guitars, percussion, double bass, sitar
- Rick Fenn– guitars, fretless bass, backing vocals
- Vic Emerson– Synclavier, string synthesiser, piano, electric piano, bass
- Paul Burgess– drums, percussion
- Marc Jordan– organ, piano, backing vocals, electric piano
- Lenni Crookes– sax
- Simon Phillips– drums
- Keith Bessey– maracas
- Andrew Gold– vocals, bass, guitar, piano, electric piano, synthesiser, vocoder, percussion
Track listing:
- Don’t Ask – Graham Gouldman
- Overdraft in Overdrive – Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman
- Don’t Turn Me Away – Eric Stewart
- Memories – Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman
- Notell Hotel – Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman
- Les Nouveaux Riches – Eric Stewart
- Action Man in a Motown Suit – Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman
- Listen With Your Eyes – Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman
- Lying Here With You – Graham Gouldman
- Survivor – Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart
AC/DC: For Those About to Rock
On November 23, 1981, “Albert” label released “For Those About to Rock” (We Salute You), the eight Australian and the seventh international AC/DC album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Mobile One Studios” in Paris, “HIS Studios”, and was produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange. The album was certified 5 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, Platinum in France by “SNEP”, Platinum in Switzerland by “IFPI” and 4 Platinum in US by “RIAA”.
Personnel:
- Brian Johnson– lead vocals
- Angus Young– lead guitar
- Malcolm Young– rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Cliff Williams– bass guitar, backing vocals
- Phil Rudd– drums, percussion
Track listing:
All tracks by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson.
- For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
- Put the Finger on You
- Let’s Get Up
- Inject the Venom
- Snowballeed
- Evil Walks
- O.D,
- Breaking the Rules
- Night of the Long Knives
- Spellbound
Adam And The Ants: Prince Charming
On November 14, 1981, “CBS” label released “Prince Charming”, the third Adam and the Ants album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Air Studios” in London, and was produced by Chris Hughes.
Personnel:
- Adam Ant– vocals, bass, harmonica
- Marco Pirroni– guitar
- Gary Tibbs– bass
- Merrick– drums, acoustic guitar
- Terry Lee Miall – drums
- Ross Cullum – engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by Adam Ant and Marco Pirroni.
- Scorpios
- Picasso Visita el Planeta de los Simios
- Prince Charming
- Five Guns West
- That Voodoo!
- Stand and Deliver
- Mile-High Club
- Ant Rap
- Mowhok
- E.X.
- The Lost Hawaiians (unlisted track)
Buggles: Adventures in Modern Recording
On November 11, 1981, “Carrere Records” label released “Adventures in Modern Recording”, the second Buggles studio album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Sarm East Studios” in London, and was produced by Trevor Horn, Geoff Downes and John Sinclair.
Personnel:
- Geoff Downes– keyboards, drum programming
- Trevor Horn– vocals, bass, guitar, drum programming
- John Sinclair – vocals, drum programming, cymbals, guitar
- Simon Darlow – keyboards, guitar
- Chris Squire– sound effects
- Anne Dudley– keyboards
- Luís Jardim– percussion
- Bruce Woolley– vocals
- Danny Schogger, Rod Thompson – keyboards
- Gary Langan, Julian Mendelsohn – engineer
- Stuart Bruce – engineer assistant
- Rory Kee – illustrator
- Glenn Travis Associates – design
Track listing:
- Adventures in Modern Recording – Simon Darlow, Trevor Horn, Bruce Woolley
- Beatnik – Trevor Horn
- Vermillion Sands – Geoff Downes, Trevor Horn
- I Am a Camera – Geoff Downes, Trevor Horn
- On TV – Trevor Horn, Bruce Wooley, Rodney Thompson
- Inner City – Simon Darlow, Trevor Horn
- Lenny – Geoff Downes, Trevor Horn
- Rainbow Warrior – Simon Darlow, Trevor Horn, John Sinclair
- Adventures in Modern Recording (reprise) – Simon Darlow, Trevor Horn, Bruce Woolley
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