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.

Thompson Twins - Here's To Future Days (30th anniversary)

Today (September 17th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Here's To Future Days, the sxith studio album from the Thompson Twins. It spent a total of thirty-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 20.

For my full review, click here.

For even more from the Thompson Twins, 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).

Mick Jagger - She's The Boss (30th anniversary)

Tomorrow (February 19th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of She’s The Boss, the first solo album Mick Jagger did away from the Rolling Stones. The 1985 record was a Platinum seller, spending eleven weeks on the UK charts where it peaked at number 6 and twenty-nine weeks on the US Billboard Hot 200 where it peaked at number 13.

For more on this album, click here.

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.

The Honeydrippers - The Honeydrippers Vol. 1 (30th anniversary)

Today (September 24th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of The Honeydrippers Vol. 1, the sole EP release from Jimmy Page and Robert Plant's off-shoot project as the Honeydrippers. The record spent thirty-one weeks total on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 4.

For my full review, click here.

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.

Laurie Anderson - Mister Heartbreak

Today (February 14th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Mister Heartbreak, the second studio album from Laurie Anderson. The 1984 release charted at number 93 in the UK and number 60 on the US Billboard Album chart (nineteen weeks total on the 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.

Nona Hendryx - Nona

Before moving off to a solo career, Nona Hendryx was one third of the R&B girl-group Labelle. In the mid-1970’s she went solo and released a number of records. One of them, 1983’s Nona celebrated its thirtieth anniversary back in March of this year. Her second solo studio album, it climbed to number 83 on the US Billboard Album chart and number 25 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

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.

Chic - C 'est Chic (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

Today (August 11th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of C 'est Chic, the second studio album from the R&B band Chic.

Please click here for my full track by track review of this disco classic.

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.

Mick Jagger - She's The Boss

Happy sixty-ninth birthday today (July 26th) to English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor Mick Jagger.

On February 19th, 1985, Jagger released She’s The Boss, his first solo album away from the Rolling Stones. The record was a Platinum seller, spending eleven weeks on the UK charts where it peaked at number 6 and twenty-nine weeks on the US Billboard Hot 200 where it peaked at number 13.

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.

Thompson Twins - Here's to Future Days

Happy birthday this week (November 15) to London born Joe Leeway, multi-instrumentalist member of the Thompson Twins.

Building upon the success of the previous two albums Quick Step and Side Kick and Into the Gap (reviewed here and here respectively), the Thompson Twins continued their run with the 1985 release Here's to Future Days. Released on September 17th of 1980, the album reached number 5 on the UK charts and number 20 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a thirty-five week run total). It was also a Platinum seller in Canada. The incomparable Nile Rodgers co-produced this one with Tom Bailey.

The Honeydrippers - The Honeydrippers Vol. 1

In the early 1980‘s, lead singer Robert Plant took breaks from his hard rocking for the legendary band Led Zeppelin to play some more classic rhythm and blues music in a group called the Honeydrippers. The band included fellow Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, former Yardbird member Jeff Beck and some other musicians.