Tag Archives: 1983

The Triffids: Treeless Plain

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In November 1983, “Hot Records” and “Rough Trade” labels released “Treeless Plain”, the debut Triffids (The) album. It was recorded August – September 1983, at “Emerald City Studios” in Sydney, and was produced by Alsy MacDonald, David McComb, Robert McComb, Martyn Casey and Jill Birt.

Personnel:

  • David McComb – lead vocals, guitar, piano
  • Robert McComb – vocals, violin, guitar, saw, keyboards
  • Martyn Casey – vocals, bass
  • Alsy MacDonald – vocals, drums, percussion, hammer
  • Jill Birt– organ
  • Ian Macourt – cello
  • David Angell – viola
  • Nick Mainsbridge – engineer

Track listing:

All songs by David McComb, except where noted.

  1. Red Pony
  2. Branded
  3. My Baby Thinks She’s a Train
  4. Rosevel
  5. I Am a Lonesome Hobo – Bob Dylan
  6. Place in the Sun
  7. Plaything
  8. Old Ghostrider
  9. Hanging Shed
  10. Hell of a Summer
  11. Madeline
  12. Nothing Can Take Your Place

Laurie Anderson: Bright Red

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On October 25, 1984, “Warner Bros” label released “Bright Red”, the fifth Laurie Anderson studio album. It was recorded 1983 – 1984, at “The Lobby” and “Skyline Studios” in New York City and “Westside Studios” in London, and was produced by Brian Eno and Laurie Anderson.

Personnel:

  • Laurie Anderson – vocals, keyboards
  • Brian Eno- treatments, keyboards
  • Marc Ribot– guitar
  • Lou Reed– vocals, guitar
  • Adrian Belew- guitar
  • Gerry Leonard– guitar
  • Greg Cohen– guitar, bass
  • Jamie West-Oram– guitar
  • Arto Lindsay– vocals
  • Peter Scherer – keyboards
  • Guy Klucevsek– accordion
  • Ben Fenner – bass
  • Joey Baron– drums
  • Dougie Browne – drums
  • Cyro Baptista– percussion
  • Kevin Killen – treatments
  • Neil Conti– shaker
  • Phillip Ballou – backing vocals
  • Greg Cohen– music director
  • Kevin Killen – engineer, mixing
  • Joe Ferla – additional basic tracks engineer
  • Ben Fenner – overdubs engineer
  • Alec Head – additional overdubs engineer
  • Hiro Ishihara, Andy Baker, Danton Supple, Miles Green – engineer assistant
  • Bob Ludwig– mastering
  • Yolanda Cuomo – linear notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Laurie Anderson except where noted

Bright Red

  1. Speechless (the Eagle and the Weasel)
  2. Bright Red – additional lyrics from Isaiah
  3. The Puppet Motel – lyrics by Laurie Anderson, music by Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno
  4. Speak My Language
  5. World Without End
  6. Freefall
  7. Muddy River – lyrics by Laurie Anderson, music by Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno

Tightrope

  1. Beautiful Pea Green Boat – additional lyrics from “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear
  2. Love Among the Sailors
  3. Poison – lyrics by Laurie Anderson, music by Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno
  4. In Our Sleep – lyrics by Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, music by Laurie Anderson
  5. Night in Baghdad
  6. Tightrope – lyrics by Laurie Anderson, music by Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno
  7. Same Time Tomorrow

The Lemonheads: Come On Feel The Lemonheads

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On October 12, 1983, “Atlantic” label released “Come on Feel the Lemonheads”, the sixth Lemonheads studio album. It was recorded in 1983, and was produced by The Robb Brothers.

Personnel:

  • Evan Dando- lead vocals, guitar, piano
  • Nic Dalton- bass guitar, backing vocals
  • David Ryan – drums
  • Sneaky Pete Kleinow- steel guitar
  • Julianna Hatfield, Belinda Carlisle, Rick James- backing vocals
  • Tom Morgan- guidance counselor

Track listing:

All tracks by Evan Dando and Tom Morgan, except where noted.

  1. The Great Big No
  2. Into Your Arms – Robyn St. Clare
  3. It’s About Time
  4. Down About It
  5. Paid to Smile – Evan Dando
  6. Big Gay Heart
  7. Style
  8. Rest Assured
  9. Dawn Can’t Decide – Nic Dalton, Evan Dando
  10. I’ll Do It Anyway – Evan Dando
  11. Belinda CarlisleRick James Style
  12. Being Around
  13. Favorite T – Evan Dando
  14. You Can Take It With You – Evan Dando
  15. The Jello Fund – Evan Dando
  16. hidden tracks- Lenny, Noise Parts 1-3, The Amp Went Out, High-Speed Idiot Mode

Roger Daltrey: Parting Should Be Painless

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In February 1984, “Atlantic” label released “Parting Should Be Painless”, the fifth Roger Daltrey studio album. It was recorded in 1983, and was produced by Mike Thorne.

Personnel:

  • Roger Daltrey – lead and backing vocals; harmonica
  • Chris Spedding– guitars
  • Mick Gallagher– keyboards
  • Mike Thorne– synthesizers
  • Norman Watt-Roy– bass guitar
  • Allan Schwartzberg– drums
  • Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone
  • David Tofani – clarinet
  • Robert Medici – marimba
  • Billy Nicholls– backing vocals
  • James Biondolillo – string and horn arrangements
  • Harvey Goldberg, John Brand, Don Wershba, Lincoln Clapp – engineer
  • Graham Hughes – photography

Track listing:

  1. Walking in My Sleep – Jack Green, Leslie Adey
  2. Parting Should Be Painless – Kit Hain
  3. Is There Anybody Out There? – Nicky Chinn, Steve Glen
  4. Would a Stranger Do? – Steve Andrews, Simon Climie
  5. Going Strong – Bryan Ferry
  6. Looking for You – Kit Hain
  7. Somebody Told Me – Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart
  8. One Day – Gerald Milne
  9. How Does the Cold Wind Cry – Colin Towns
  10. Don’t Wait on the Stairs – Steve Swindells

Thompson Twins: Quick Step & Side Kick

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In February 1983, “Arista” label released “Quick Step & Side Kick”, the third Thompson Twins studio album. It was recorded 1982 – 1983, and was produced by Alex Sadkin. The album was certified Platinum in UK by “BPI”.

Personnel:

  • Tom Bailey- vocals, synthesizer, drum programming
  • Alannah Currie– vocals, xylophone, percussion
  • Monte Brown – guitar
  • Joe Leeway– vocals, congas, synthesizer
  • Boris Williams- cymbals
  • Grace Jones- backing vocals
  • Phil Thornalley – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Love On Your Side
  2. Lies
  3. If You Were Here
  4. Judy Do
  5. Tears
  6. Watching
  7. We Are Detective
  8. Kamikaze
  9. Love Lies Bleeding
  10. All Fall Out

Steve Vai: Flex-Able

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In January 1984, “Urantia” label released “Flex-Able”, the debut Steve Vai solo album. It was recorded April–November, 1983, and was produced by Steve Vai.

Personnel:

  • Steve Vai – vocals, electric guitar, synthesizer, bass, guitar, percussion, piano, keyboards, sitar, bells, drum machine, drum programming, engineer, mixing, design
  • Scott Collard – synthesizer, keyboards, Fender Rhodes
  • Paul Lemcke – keyboards
  • Larry Crane – lyre, xylophone, bells, vibraphone
  • Peggy Foster – bass
  • Stuart Hamm– vocals, bass, sound effects
  • Billy James – drums, percussion
  • Chris Frazier– drums
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Pete Zeldman – percussion, drums
  • Greg Degler – clarinet, flute, saxophone
  • Bob Harris (as Irney Rantin) – vocals, trumpet
  • Tommy Mars– vocals, violin, keyboards
  • Laurel Fishman – vocals
  • Suzannah Harris (as Ursula Rayven) – vocals
  • Pia Maiocco– vocals
  • Joe Despagni – sound effects
  • Lill Vai – sound effects
  • John Matousek – mastering
  • Mark Pinske – assistant
  • Aaron Brown – design, illustrations
  • Neil Zlozower – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Vai.

  1. Little Green Men
  2. Viv Woman
  3. Lovers Are Crazy
  4. Salamanders in the Sun
  5. The Boy/Girl Song
  6. The Attitude Song
  7. Call It Sleep
  8. Junkie
  9. Bill’s Private Parts
  10. Next Stop Earth
  11. There’s Something Dead in Here

Minutemen: What Makes A Man Start Fires?

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In January 1983, “SST” label released “What Makes a Man Start Fires?”, the second Minutemen studio album. It was recorded July – August 1982, and was produced by Spot.

Personnel:

  • Boon – lead vocals, guitar
  • Mike Watt- bass, backing vocals
  • George Hurley- drums, oil drums
  • Joe Baiza – additional guitar

Track listing:

  1. Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs – Mike Watt
  2. One Chapter in the Book – Mike Watt
  3. Fake Contest – Mike Watt
  4. Beacon Sighted Through Fog – Mike Watt
  5. Mutiny in Jonestown – Boon, Mike Watt
  6. East Wind/Faith – George Hurley, Mike Watt
  7. Pure Joy – George Hurley, Mike Watt
  8. 99 – George Hurley, Mike Watt
  9. The Anchor – George Hurley, Mike Watt
  10. Sell or Be Sold – Boon, Mike Watt
  11. The Only Minority – Boon, Mike Watt
  12. Split Red – Boon, Mike Watt
  13. Colors – Boon, Mike Watt
  14. Plight – Boon, Mike Watt
  15. The Tin Roof – Mike Watt
  16. Life as a Rehearsal – Mike Watt
  17. This Road – Mike Watt
  18. Polarity – Mike Watt

Bryan Adams: Cuts Like a Knife

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On January 18, 1983, “A&M” label released “Cuts Like a Knife”, the third Bryan Adams studio album. It was recorded August – October 1982, at “Little Mountain Sound” in  Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and was produced by Bob Clearmountain and Bryan Adams.

Personnel:

  • Bryan Adams– vocals, guitars, piano
  • Keith Scott– guitars, backing vocals
  • Tommy Mandel– organ, B-3 organ, synthesizers, piano
  • Dave Taylor– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Mickey Curry– drums
  • Jim Vallance– percussion, electric piano
  • Bruce Allen(credited as “B.A.”) – backing vocals
  • Alfa Anderson – backing vocals
  • Bob Clearmountain (credited as “B.C.”), Davies, L. Frenette, Lou Gramm, M. Simpson – backing vocals
  • Jim Wesley – backing vocals
  • James O’Mara – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance except where noted.

  1. The Only One
  2. Take Me Back
  3. This Time
  4. Straight from the Heart – Bryan Adams, Eric Kagna
  5. Cuts Like a Knife
  6. I’m Ready
  7. What’s It Gonna Be
  8. Don’t Leave Me Lonely – Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance, Eric Carr
  9. Let Him Know
  10. The Best Was Yet to Come

Van Halen: 1984

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On January 9, 1984, “Warner Bros” label released 1984 (stylized as MCMLXXXIV on the album’s cover), sixth Van Halen studio album. It was recorded in 1983, at “5150 Studios” in Studio City, California, and was produced by Ted Templeman. The album cover art was by Margo Nahas.  The album was certified 5 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada’, Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”, and Diamond in US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • David Lee Roth– vocals
  • Eddie Van Halen– guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Alex Van Halen– drums, backing vocals
  • Michael Anthony– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Ken Deane, Donn Landee– engineer
  • Chris Bellman, Gregg Geller – mastering
  • Pete Angelus, Richard Seireeni – art direction
  • Margo Nahas – cover art
  • Pete Angelus – lighting
  • Jo Motta – project coordination
  • Joan Parker – production coordination

Track listing:

All tracks by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, except where noted.

  1. 1984
  2. Jump
  3. Panama
  4. Top Jimmy
  5. Drop Dead Legs
  6. Hot for Teacher
  7. I’ll Wait – Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Michael McDonald
  8. Girl Gone Bad
  9. House of Pain

Joe Cocker

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On December 22, 2014, John Robert “Joe” Cocker, died aged 70. He was musician (harmonica, piano) and singer with unique gritty voice and stage movements. He gained world popularity with his performance of the Beatles song “With a Little Help from My Friends” at  “Woodstock”  and “Isle of Wight” festivals in 1969. Cocker has received several awards, including a 1983 “Grammy Award” for his song “Up Where We Belong”;  2007 a bronze “Sheffield Legends” plaque in his hometown and in 2008 “OBE” at Buckingham Palace for services to music. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at number 97 on its list of the “100 Greatest Singers”.