Laura Branigan - Hold Me

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Hold Me, the fourth studio album from Laura Branigan. This 1985 record hit number 75 in Japan, number 71 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a fifteen week total time on the chart), number 64 in the UK, number 43 in Canada, number31 in Germany, number 12 in Norway, number 10 in Switzerland, and number 7 in Sweden.

Ghostbusters (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Saturday.

In June of 1984, a comedy film about a group of parapsychologists-turned-ghost-hunters hit the big screen. Ghostbusters became a huge box office success and a part of pop culture history.

The film's soundtrack (which spent thirty-four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 6) sported a big line-up that included Ray Parker Jr., the Bus Boys, Laura Branigan, the Thompson Twins, Air Supply and more.

Click here for my full review.

Laura Branigan - Self Control

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Self Control, the third studio album from Laura Branigan. This multi-platinum album went to number 48 in the Netherlands, number 38 in New Zealand, number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (with forty-five weeks total on the chart), number 16 in Australia and the UK, number 13 in Canada, number 5 in Germany and Sweden, number 3 in Norway, and number 2 in Switzerland.

Flashdance (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Matinee Monday.

Thirty years ago today (April 15th), we were treated to more than just a tax deadline here in the US. That day in 1983 was the day that Flashdance hit theatres. To celebrate, let's revisit the chart-topping soundtrack from that film - click here for my review of that album.

Laura Branigan - Branigan 2

Following a year after her self-titled 1982 debut (click here for that review), American singer Laura Branigan returned to the charts with the aptly titled Branigan 2 on March 14th of 1983. The album reached number 46 in Canada, number 30 in Australia, number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 11 in New Zealand.

Laura Branigan - Branigan

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the debut album from American singer-songwriter Laura Branigan. In March of 1982, Branigan hit the charts and did well in the US (number 34 on the Billboard Hot 200), Canada (number 14) and Australia (number 50).

Ghostbusters (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

In June of 1984, a comedy film about a group of parapsychologists-turned-ghost-hunters hit the big screen. Written by and starring Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis and featuring Billy Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts and Rick Moranis, Ghostbusters became a huge box office success and a part of pop culture history. The film's special effects, quotable lines and iconic logo (seen above on the album cover) created the foundation of a franchise that would continue on for decades in the form of sequels, an animated TV series, toys, video games, comic books and more. I remember seeing it in the theatres on first run. I was back in my western New York hometown on summer break between my freshman and sophomore years of college, working by day in the freezers of the local ice cream manufacturing plant so that I could earn enough money to buy the Chevette off of my parents (my first car).

Flashdance (soundtrack)

Welcome back to "Soundtrack Sunday".

The 80's was known for producing a number of popular film soundtracks that climbed up the charts. And in 1983, one of those albums was the soundtrack to Flashdance, the story of female welder at a steel mill (played by Jennifer Beals) who aspired to be a professional dancer. The film opened in theatres on April 15th of that year.