Tag Archives: 1981

Stray Cats: Same

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In February 1981, “Arista” label released self-titled, debut Stray Cats album. It was recorded 1980 – 1981, and was produced by Dave Edmunds. The album song “Rock This Town” was listed by “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as one of the songs that shaped rock and roll.

Personnel:

  • Brian Setzer – vocals, guitar
  • Lee Rocker- bass
  • Slim Jim Phantom- drums
  • Gary Barnacle- saxophone
  • Gavin Cochrane – photography

Track listing:

  1. Runaway Boys – Brian Setzer, Jim McDonnell
  2. Fishnet Stockings – Brian Setzer
  3. Ubangi Stomp – Charles Underwood
  4. Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie – George Motola, Ricky Page
  5. Storm the Embassy – Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom
  6. Rock This Town – Brian Setzer
  7. Rumble in Brighton – Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom
  8. Stray Cat Blues – Brian Setzer
  9. Crawl Up and Die – Brian Feli, Jim Feli
  10. Double Talkin’ Baby – Danny Wolfe
  11. My One Desire – Dorsey Burnette
  12. Wild Saophone – Roy Montrell, John Marascalo, Robert Blackwell

Boa: Same

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On January 21, 1982, “Suzy” label released the self-titled, debut Boa album. It was recorded in 1981, and was produced by Tinnie Varga.

Personnel:

  • Mladen Puljiz – vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, strings
  • Slavko Remenarić – guitar
  • Damir Košpić – bass, backing vocals
  • Igor Šoštarić – drums, percussion
  • Gunnar Bylinn – percussion
  • Tinnie Varga – backing vocals, recording
  • Zoran Bodrožić – artwork
  • Dražen Kalenić – photography

Track listing:

  1. Milion – music by Mladen Puljiz, Slavko Remenarić, Igor Šoštarić and Damir Košpić, lyrics by Slavko Remenarić
  2. Stol – music by Mladen Puljiz, lyrics by Slavko Remenarić
  3. Davni trag – music by Mladen Puliz, lyrics by Slavko Remenarić
  4. Noćne sjene – music by Mladen Puljiz, Slavko Remenarić, Igor Šoštarić and Damir Košpić, lyrics by Slavko Remenarić
  5. Melodrama – music by Mladen Puljiz, lyrics by Ž. Marković
  6. Živjeti od mraka – music by Mladen Puljiz, lyrics by Slavko Remenarić
  7. Na nišanu – music by Mladen Puljiz, lyrics by Slavko Remenarić
  8. Sela Gore – music by Mladen Puljiz, lyrics by Slavko Remenarić
  9. Pored Zida – music by Mladen Puljiz, lyrics by Slavko Remenarić, Ž. Marković

B. B. King: There Must Be a Better World Somewhere

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In January 1981, “MCA” label released “There Must Be a Better World Somewhere” the twenty seventh B. B. King studio album. It was recorded in 1980, and was produced by Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack. The album won “Grammy Award” for “Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording”.

Personnel:

  • B. B. King- vocals, guitar
  • Hugh McCracken- guitar
  • Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack- keyboards
  • Wilbur Bascomb- bass guitar
  • Bernard “Pretty” Purdie- drums
  • Hank Crawford- alto saxophone
  • David “Fathead” Newman- tenor saxophone
  • Ronald E. Cuber- baritone saxophone
  • Waymon Reed- trumpet
  • Tom Malone- trombone
  • Charlie Miller – trumpet
  • Donny Gerrard, Vennette Gloud, Carmen Twillie- backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Doc Pomus and Dr. John; except where noted.

  1. The Victim
  2. More, More, More – Hugh McCracken, Jay Hirsh
  3. You’re Going with Me
  4. Life Ain’t Nothing But a Party
  5. Born Again Human
  6. There Must Be a Better World Somewhere

Frank Zappa: Meets The Mothers Of Invention

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On November 21, 1985, “Barking Pumpkin” label released “Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention”, the 44th Frank Zappa album. It was recorded November 1981–September 1985, at “UMRK”, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, Synclavier
  • Johnny “Guitar” Watson – vocals, guitar
  • Ike Willis– vocals, guitar
  • Ray White– vocals, guitar
  • Bobby Martin – vocals, keyboards
  • Steve Vai– guitar
  • Tommy Mars – keyboards
  • Scott Thunes– bass
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Ed Mann – percussion
  • Moon Zappa– vocals
  • Dweezil Zappa– vocals
  • John Danforth– voice excerpts
  • Ernest Hollings– voice excerpts
  • Paul S. Trible, Jr.– voice excerpts
  • Paula Hawkins– voice excerpts
  • James Exon– voice excerpts
  • Al Gore– voice excerpts
  • Tipper Gore– voice excerpts
  • Bob Stone – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. We’re Turning Again
  2. Alien Orifice
  3. Yo Cats – Frank Zappa, Tommy Mars
  4. What’s New in Baltimore?
  5. Little Beige Sambo
  6. Porn Wars
  7. Aerobics in Bondage

Joan Jett: I Love Rock ‘n Roll

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On November 23,  1981, “Boardwalk” label released “I Love Rock ‘n Roll”, the second  Joan Jett studio album. It was recorded June – September 1981, at “Kingdom Sound Studios” and “Soundworks Studios” in New York, and was produced by Kenny Laguna and Ritchie Cordell. It was the first album to feature her backing band The Blackhearts. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”, and Platinum in the US by “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Joan Jett– vocals, guitar
  • Ricky Byrd – guitar
  • Eric Ambel– guitar
  • Gary Ryan – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Lee Crystal – drums
  • Will “Dub” Jones– vocals
  • The Coasters– backing vocals
  • Glen Kolotkin – engineer, associate producer
  • Gerry Gabinelli – engineer
  • Stew Romain – mastering

Track listing:

  1. I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll – Alan Merrill, Jake Hooker
  2. (I’m Gonna) Run Away – Joan Jett, Kenny Laguna
  3. Love is Pain – Joan Jett
  4. Nag – Arthur Cher
  5. Crimson and Clover – Tommy James, Peter Lucia jr.
  6. Victim of Circumstance – Joan Jett, Kenny Laguna
  7. Bits and Pieces – Dave Clark, Mike Smith
  8. Be Straight – Joan Jett, Greg Kihn, Kenny laguna
  9. You’re Too Possessive – Joan Jett
  10. Little Drummer Boy – Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone

Earth, Wind & Fire: Raise!

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On November 14, 1981, “CBS” label released “Raise!”, the eleventh Earth, Wind & Fire album. It was recorded May 1981, at “ARC/George Massenburg Studio” in Los Angeles and “Sunset Sounds Recording Studio” in Hollywood, and was produced by Maurice White. The album was certified Platinum in the US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Maurice White – lead and backing vocals, drums, kalimba
  • Phillip Bailey – lead and backing vocals, percussion, co-producer
  • Johnny Graham, Roland Bautista – guitar
  • Billy Meyers, David Foster, Wayne Vaughn – keyboards
  • Larry Dunn – piano, synthesizer, production assistant
  • Verdine White – bass, production assistant
  • Fred White – drums, percussion
  • Tom Saviano – saxophone
  • Andrew Woolfolk – tenor saxophone
  • Michael Boddicker – synthesizer, vocoder
  • Bill Reichenbach, Charles Loper, Dick Hyde, George Bohanon, Lew McCreary, Louis Satterfield – trombone
  • Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Larry G. Hall, Michael Harris, Oscar Brashear, Rahmlee Michael Davis – trumpet
  • Anton Sen, Arkady Shindelman, Arnold Belnick, Betty LaMagna, Brian Leonard, Denyse Buffum, Endre Granat, Haim Shtrum, Henry Ferber, Irving Geller, Jerome Reisler, John Wittenbert, Mari Tsumura Botnick, Marvin Limonick, Myra Kestenbaum, Nathan Ross, Norman Leonard, Reginald Hill, Ronald Folsom, Sheldon Sanov, Thomas Buffum, William Hymanson, William Kurasch – violin
  • Alan DeVeritch, Allan Harshman, Gareth Nuttycombe, Pamela Goldsmith, Virginia Majewski – viola
  • Frederick Seykora, Jerome Kessler, Larry Corbett, Mary Louise Zeyen, Paula Hochhalter, Selene Burford – cello
  • Billy Meyers, Jerry Hey – horns arrangements
  • David Foster, Billy Meyers – string arrangements
  • Pluto, Beloyd Taylor, Ralph Johnson – backing vocals
  • Assa Drori, James Getzoff – concertmaster
  • Ken Fowler, Ron Pendragon, Tom Perry – engineer
  • Stephen McManus – engineer assistant
  • Mick Guzauski, Tom Perry – mixing
  • Mick Guzauski – design, art conception, engineer
  • Roger Carpenter – art direction, design
  • Shusei Nagaoka – illustration

Track listing:

  1. Let’s Groove – Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White
  2. Lady Sun – Beloyd Taylor
  3. My Love – Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White
  4. Evolution Orange – David Foster, O’Byrne, Maurice White
  5. Kalimba Tree – Maurice White
  6. You Are a Winner – Beloyd Taylor
  7. I’ve Had Enough – Philip Bailey, Greg Phillinganes, Brenda Russell
  8. Wanna Be With You – Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White
  9. The Changing Times – Beloyd Taylor

New Order: Movement

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On November 13, 1981, “Factory” label released “Movement”, the debut New Order studio album. It was recorded April – May 1981, at Strawberry, Stockport, and was produced by Martin Hannett.

Personnel:

  • Bernard Sumner– vocals, guitars, melodica, synthesizers and programming
  • Peter Hook– vocals, 4- and 6-stringed bass
  • Gillian Gilbert– synthesizers and programming, guitars, spoken words
  • Stephen Morris– drums, synthesizers, programming
  • Chris Nagle – engineer
  • John and Flood– engineer assistant
  • Peter Saville – design (based on a poster by the Italian futurist Fortunato Depero)

Track listing:

All tracks by Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris, except where noted.

  1. Dreams Never End
  2. Truth
  3. Senses
  4. Chosen Time
  5. ICB
  6. The Him
  7. Doubts Even here
  8. Denial

Japan: Tin Drum

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tin-drum

On November 13, 1981, “Virgin” label released “Tin Drum”, the fifth and final Japan studio album. It was recorded in 1981, and was produced by Steve Nye, David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Steve Jansen, and Richard Barbieri.

Personnel:

  • David Sylvian– vocals, guitar, keyboard, keyboard programming, tapes, cover concept
  • Mick Karn– fretless bass guitar, African flute, dida
  • Steve Jansen– acoustic drums, electronic drums, keyboard percussion
  • Richard Barbieri– keyboard, keyboard programming, tapes
  • Simon House– violin
  • Yuka Fujii – backing vocals
  • Steve Nye– engineer
  • Phil Bodger – engineer assistant
  • Steve Joule – design
  • Fin Costello – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by David Sylvian, except where noted.

  1. The Art of Parties
  2. Talking Drum
  3. Ghosts
  4. Canton – Steve Jansen, David Sylvian
  5. Still Life in Mobile Homes
  6. Visions of China – Steve Jansen, David Sylvian
  7. Sons of Pioneers – Mick Karn, David Sylvian
  8. Cantonese Boy

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark: Architecture & Morality

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omd

On November 8, 1981, “Dindisc” label released “Architecture & Morality”, the third Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album. It was recorded 1980–1981, at “The Gramophone Suite” in Liverpool and “The Manor Studio” in, Shipton-on-Cherwell, and was produced by Paul Humphreys, Andy McCluskey, Malcolm Holmes,  Martin Cooper, Richard Manwaring and Richard Manwaring .

Personnel:

  • Paul Humphreys– vocals, synthesizers, piano,  mellotron,  acoustic  and electronic percussion, organ, rhythm programming, radios, melodica
  • Andy McCluskey– vocals, synthesizers, mellotron, guitar, bass, rhythm programming, acoustic and electronic percussion, reed horns, organ
  • Malcolm Holmes– drums, electronic and acoustic percussion,  bass synthesizer
  • Martin Cooper– saxophone

Track listing:

All tracks by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, except where noted.

  1. The New Stone Age – Andy McCluskey
  2. She’s Leaving
  3. Souvenir – Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper
  4. Sealand
  5. Joan of Arc – Andy McCluskey
  6. Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans) – Andy McCluskey
  7. Architecture and Morality
  8. Georgia
  9. The Beginning and the End