Tag Archives: 1981

Spyro Gyra: Freetime

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In July 1981, “MCA” label released “Freetime”, the fifth Spyro Gyra album. It was recorded in 1981, and was produced by Jay Beckenstein and Richard Calandra.

Personnel:

  • Jay Beckenstein– saxophones, clay flute, percussion
  • Tom Schuman– keyboards
  • Jeremy Wall– keyboards
  • Chet Catallo– guitar
  • John Tropea– guitar
  • Dave Samuels– vibraphone, marimba
  • Eli Konikoff – drums
  • Gerardo Velez– percussion
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Rob Mounsey– synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Richard Tee– keyboards
  • Steve Khan– guitar
  • Will Lee– bass, backing vocals
  • David Darling– cello
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – percussion
  • Valerie Simpson, Casey Cysick– backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Freetime – Tom Schuman, Eli Konikoff
  2. Telluride – Jay Beckenstein
  3. Summer Strut – Jeremy Wall
  4. Elegy for Trane – Jeremy Wall
  5. Pacific Sunrise – Tom Schuman
  6. Amber Dream – Jay Beckenstein
  7. String Soup – Jim Kurzdorfer

Wham: Fantastic

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On July 9, 1983, “Innervision” label released “Fantastic”, the debut Wham! studio album. It was recorded 1981 – 1983, at “Maison Rouge Studios” in London, and was produced by Steve Brown, George Michael and Bob Carter. The album was certified Platinum in New Zealand by  “RMNZ”, and 3 x Platinum in UK by the “BPI”.

Personnel:

  • George Michael – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
  • Robert Ahwai, Andrew Ridgeley – guitar
  • Paul Ridgeley – guitar, shouts
  • Jess Bailey, Bob Carter, Anne Dudley, Tommy Eyre – keyboards
  • Deon Estus, Brad Lang, John McKenzie– bass
  • Andy Duncan – drums, percussion
  • Graham Broad, Trevor Murrell– drums
  • Luis Jardim, Tony Moroni – percussion
  • Baps, Guy Barker, Raoul, Colin Graham, Chris Hunter, Roddy Lorimer, Iain MacKintosh, Ian Ritchie, Paul Cox, Geoff Daley, Martin Drover – horns
  • Jimmy Chambers, George Chandler Linda Hayes, Shirlie Holliman, Tony Jackson, Josie James, Katie Kisson, Stevie Lang, C. Lee, Sylvia Mason – backing vocals
  • Dave Mortimer – shouts
  • Chris Craymer, Janusz Guttner – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by George Michael, except where noted.

  1. Bad Boys
  2. A Ray of Sunshine
  3. Love Machine – Pete Moore, Billy Griffin
  4. Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do) – Michael Andrew Ridgeley
  5. Club Tropicana – Michael Andrew Ridgeley
  6. Nothing Looks the Same in the Light
  7. Come On
  8. Young Guns (Go for It!)

The Alan Parsons Project: Eye In The Sky

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In June 1982, “Arista” label released “Eye in the Sky”, the sixth Alan Parsons Project (The) studio album. It was recorded 1981 – 1982, at “Abbey Road Studios”, and was produced by Alan Parsons.

Personnel:

  • Alan Parsons – vocals, keyboards, Fairlightprogramming
  • David Paton – lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass
  • Ian Bairnson – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Eric Woolfson – lead vocals, keyboards
  • Stuart Elliott – drums, percussion
  • Mel Collins – saxophone
  • Chris Rainbow – lead vocal
  • Lenny Zakatek – lead vocal
  • Dave Terry – lead vocal
  • Colin Blunstone – lead vocal
  • The English Chorale – choir vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson except where noted.

  1. Sirius
  2. Eye in the Sky – Eric Woolfson
  3. Children of the Moon – David Paton
  4. Gemini – Chris Rainbow
  5. Silence and I – Eric Woolfson
  6. You’re Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned – Lenny Zakatek
  7. Psychobabble – Dave Terry
  8. Mammagamma
  9. Step by Step – Lenny Zakatek
  10. Old and Wise – Colin Blunstone

Jon Anderson: Animation

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In June 1982, “Polydor” label released “Animation”, the third Jon Anderson solo album. It was recorded 1981 – 1982, and was produced by Jon Anderson, Neil Kernon and Tony Visconti.

Personnel:

  • Jon Anderson – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Chris Rainbow– vocals
  • Clem Clempson– guitars
  • Billy Kristian – guitar
  • David Sancious– keyboards
  • Dave Lawson – keyboards
  • Ronnie Leahy – keyboards
  • Blue Weaver – keyboards
  • Jack Bruce – bass
  • John Giblin – bass
  • Stefano Cerri – electric bass
  • Simon Phillips– drums, percussions
  • Ian Wallace – drums
  • Morris Pert – percussions
  • Brazil Idiots  – Brazilian percussions
  • Brother James – percussions
  • Delmay String Quartet – strings

Track listing:

All tracks by Jon Anderson.

  1. Olympia
  2. Animation
  3. Surrender
  4. All in a Matter of Time
  5. Unlearning (The Dividing Line)
  6. Boundaries
  7. Pressure Point
  8. Much Better Reason
  9. All Gods Children

Iggy Pop: Party

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In June 1981, “Arista” label released “Party”, the sixth Iggy Pop solo studio album. It was recorded in 1981, at Record Plant Studios, New York City, and was produced by Thom Panunzio and Tommy Boyce.

Personnel:

  • Iggy Pop – vocals
  • Ivan Kral– guitar, keyboards
  • Rob Duprey– guitar
  • Michael Page – bass guitar
  • Dougie Bowne – drums
  • The Uptown Horns – brass
  • Jimmy Whizner – arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Iggy Pop and Ivan Král, except where noted.

  1. Pleasure
  2. Rock and Roll Party
  3. Eggs on Plate
  4. Sincerity
  5. Houston Is Hot Tonight
  6. Pumpin’ for Jill
  7. Happy Man
  8. Bang Bang
  9. Sea of Love – George Khoury, Phil Phillips
  10. Time Won’t Let Me – Tom King, Chet Kelly

Thompson Twins: A Product Of…

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

Personnel:

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

Track listing:

All the tracks by Tom Bailey, Chris Bell, Peter Dodd, Joe Leeway, John Roog and Jane Shorter, 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, arranged by Tom Bailey
  9. Anything Is Good Enough
  10. A Product Of…
  11. Perfect Game
  12. Vendredi Saint – traditiional; arranged by Tom Bailey

 

Pablo Cruise: Reflector

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In July 1981, “A&M” label released “Reflector”, the sixth Pablo Cruise studio album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Record Plant Studios” in Sausalito, California and “Criteria Studios” in Miami, and was produced by Tom Dowd.

Personnel:

  • David Jenkins – vocals, guitars
  • Angelo Rossi – vocals, guitar
  • Cory Lerios – vocals, piano, keyboards
  • John Pierce – vocals, bass
  • Steve Price – drums, percussion
  • Tom Dowd – engineer
  • Steve Klein – engineer assistant

Track listing:

  1. This Time – Cory Lerios
  2. Cool Love – David Jenkins, Cory Lerios, John Pierce
  3. Don’t Let the Magic Disappear – David Jenkins, Cory Lerios
  4. One More Night – David Jenkins, Cory Lerios, John Pierce
  5. Jenny – David Jenkins, Cory Lerios
  6. Slip Away – David Jenkins, Lutz, John Pierce
  7. That’s When – David Jenkins, Cory Lerios
  8. Inside/Outside – Cory Lerios, John Pierce
  9. Paradise (Let Me Take You Into) – David Jenkins, John Pierce
  10. Drums in the Night – David Jenkins, Cory Lerios

The Beat: Wha’ppen?

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In June 1981, “Go Feet” label released “Wha’ppen?”, the second Beat (The) album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Roundhouse Studios” in London, and was produced by Bob Sargeant.

Personnel:

  • Dave Wakeling– vocals, guitar, design
  • Ranking Roger– vocals, design
  • Andy Cox– guitar, design
  • David Steele– bass, design
  • Everett Morton– drums, design
  • Saxa– saxophone, design
  • Dave “Blockhead” Wright – keyboards
  • “Have a Go Bobby” Sargeant – marimba
  • Cedric Myton– extra vocals
  • Dick – steel drum
  • Saltin – trumpet
  • Mark Dearnley– engineer
  • Hunt Emerson – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Dave Wakeling, Ranking Roger, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton and Saxa, except where noted.

  1. Doors of Your Heart – Dave Wakeling, Ranking Roger, Andy Cox, David Steele, Everett Morton, Saxa, Colin Osborne
  2. All Out to Get You
  3. Monkey Murders
  4. I Am Your Flag
  5. French Toast (Soleil Trop Chaud) – Joseph Jefferson
  6. Drowning
  7. Dream Home in NZ
  8. Walk Away
  9. Over and Over
  10. Cheated
  11. Get-a-Job
  12. The Limits We Set

Air Supply: The One That You Love

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In June 1981, “Arista” label released “The One That You Love”, the sixth Air Supply album. It was recorded in 1981, and was produced by Graham Russell, Michael Masser and Harry Maslin.

Personnel:

  • Russell Hitchcock – vocals
  • Graham Russell – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • David Moyse – guitar
  • Rex Goh – guitar, rhythm guitar
  • Dave Green – bass
  • Ralph Cooper – drums
  • Frank Esler Smith – keyboards, conductor, orchestral arrangements
  • Harry Maslin – engineer, mixing
  • Elliott Federman – mastering
  • Ria Lewerke – stylist, cover art direction
  • Howard Fritzson – art direction, design
  • Ray Barber – logo
  • Alpha – photography
  • Stephanie Kika – project coordinator
  • Clive Davis – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Graham Russell, except where noted.

  1. Don’t Turn Me Away
  2. Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) – Michael Masser, Norman Sallitt, Linda Creed
  3. Keeping the Love Alive – Graham Russell, Richard Supa
  4. The One That You Love
  5. This Heart Belongs to Me
  6. Sweet Dreams
  7. I Want to Give It All – Graham Russell, Rex Goh
  8. I’ll Never Get Enough of You – Jeanne Napoli, Gary Portnoy, Judy Quay
  9. Tonight
  10. I’ve Got Your Love – Graham Russell, Clive Davis

Peter Tosh: Wanted Dread & Alive

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In June 1981, “EMI America” label released “Wanted Dread & Alive”, the fifth Peter Tosh album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Dynamic Studios” in Kingston, Jamaica, and was produced by Peter Tosh.

Personnel:

  • Peter Tosh – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion
  • Gwen Guthrie – lead vocals
  • Darryl Thompson – lead guitar
  • Mikey Chung – rhythm guitar
  • Keith Sterling, Robbie Lyn – keyboards
  • Robbie Shakespeare – bass
  • Sly Dunbar – drums
  • Noel “Scully” Simms, Uziah “Sticky” Thompson – percussion
  • Dean Fraser – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Ronald “Nambo” Robinson – trombone
  • Pee Wee – flute
  • Barry Rogers, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff, Lou Marini – horns
  • The Tamlins – backing vocals
  • Geoffrey Chung – recording, mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Peter Tosh except where noted.

  1. Coming in Hot
  2. Nothing But Love – Ella Mitchell, Freddie Harris
  3. Reggae-Mylitis
  4. The Poor Man Feel It
  5. Cold Blood
  6. Wanted Dread & Alive
  7. Rastafari Is
  8. That’s What They Will Do
  9. Fools Die