Debbie Harry - KooKoo (35th anniversary)

Today (July 27th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of KooKoo, the first solo studio album from Debbie Harry. This 1981 release scored very well on the charts, going to number 24 in Norway, number 17 in both Canada and New Zealand, number 7 in Sweden and number 6 in the UK. In the US, it spent twelve weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 25.

For my full album review, please click here.

For more from Debbie and Blondie, please click here.

Diana Ross - Diana

Today (May 22nd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Diana, the tenth solo studio album from Motown legend Diana Ross. Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of Chic wrote all the tracks, performed on them, and produced the record. The result was Ross' biggest seller to date. The Platinum seller hit number 33 in Japan, number 17 in Australia, number 12 in the UK, number 8 in Canada, number 5 in Germany, number 4 in the Netherlands, and number 1 in Sweden. Here in the US, it spent fifty-two weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a peak at number 2, and it went to number 1 on the US Billboard R&B Album chart (a spot it held for eight weeks).

Madonna - Like a Virgin

On November 12th of 1984, Madonna followed up her debut release with the chart-crunching Like a Virgin. This album went to number 22 in Denmark, number 6 in Norway, number 5 in France, number 3 in Austria, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland, number 2 in Australia and Japan, and number 1 in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the UK. Here in the US, it spent an amazing one-hundred and eight weeks on the Billboard Album chart, topping out at number 1. Today, we’ll give it a listen in honor of its thirtieth anniversary.

Diana Ross - Swept Away

This week (September 13th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Swept Away, the fifteenth solo studio album from Motown legend Diana Ross. This Gold seller went to number 78 in Australia, number 40 in the UK, number 37 in Canada, number 32 in Japan, number 22 in Germany, and number 10 in the Netherlands and Sweden. Here in the US, it spent forty-five weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 26, and also went to number 7 on the Billboard R&B chart.

Sister Sledge - We Are Family

In 1978, the R&B siblings of Kathy, Debbie, Joni and Kim Sledge were paired with Chic super-producers Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. The result was pure gold. This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of We Are Family, the third studio album from Sister Sledge. The 1979 Platinum seller hit number 45 in New Zealand, number 37 in Australia, number 33 in the Netherlands, number 7 in the UK, number 4 in Canada, number 3 on the US Billboard Album chart (with thirty three weeks on the chart), and number 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Nile Rodgers - Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove

Earlier this year (in March) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove, the first solo album by singer-songwriter-producer Nile Rodgers. Joining him on the record were Chic alum Bernard Edwards (bass), Tony Thompson (drums), Jeremy Steele (guitar), Raymond Jones (piano), Rob Sabino (keyboards) and numerous backing vocalists.

Chic - Believer

Tomorrow (November 14th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Believer, the seventh studio album from Chic. It charted at number 14 in the Netherlands. This was the group’s final album on the Atlantic Records label and the final featuring the classic line-up (Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards, Alfa Anderson, Luci Martin and Tony Thompson). Assisting Chic on the record were Rob Sabino (on keyboards) and Brenda White, Fonzi Thornton and Curtis King (all on vocals).

Paul Simon - Heart and Bones

Today (November 4th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Heart and Bones, the sixth solo studio album from Paul Simon. This one reached number 99 in Australia, number 51 in Germany, number 35 on the US Billboard Album chart, number 34 in the UK, number 19 in France, number 14 in the Netherlands, number 11 in Sweden and number 3 in Norway.

David Bowie - Let's Dance

After a few years break from recording (Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) was released in the fall of 1980 - click here for that review), David Bowie returned to the studio to work on his fifteenth album. Today (April 14th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of 1983‘s Let’s Dance.

Debbie Harry - KooKoo

Happy sixty-seventh birthday today (July 1st) to American singer-songwriter and actress Debbie Harry.

On July 27th, 1981, the famed lead singer of the new-wave rock band Blondie put out her first solo album KooKoo. This release scored very well on the charts, going to number 24 in Norway, number 17 in both Canada and New Zealand, number 7 in Sweden and number 6 in the UK. In the US, it went all the way to number 25 on the Billboard Album charts.

Stacy Lattisaw - Let Me Be Your Angel

Happy forty-fifth birthday today (November 25th) to American R&B, dance and gospel singer Stacy Lattisaw.

Recording her first album Young and in Love at age twelve, the following year in 1980 she released her second Let Me Be Your Angel This record went to number 44 on the US Billboard 200 album charts and number 9 on the Billboard R&B charts. It also generated a trio of singles.