Willie Nelson with Waylon Jennings - Take It to the Limit

Happy eightieth birthday today (April 30th) to Willie Nelson.

This month also marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Take It to the Limit, the third studio album that Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings released together as a team. The record went to number 3 on the US Billboard Country chart and crossed over to number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 200.

The tracks break down with duets by the two men on the odd tracks, while the even ones are Nelson performing solo.

Valley Girl (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Matinee Monday.

Thirty years ago today (April 29th) was the release of Valley Girl, a romantic comedy that re-imagined the tale of Romeo and Juliet in modern times. It also featured a fantastic new-wave soundtrack (so, like, ohmygod...click here for that totally bitchin' review).

The Replacements - Hootenanny

This week (April 29th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Hootenanny, the second studio album from the Replacements. The cover art for the album was done in homage to the 1963 Crestview Records compilation of folk music also entitled Hootenanny.

The line-up for the Minneapolis band at the time included Chris Mars on drums, Bob Stinson on lead guitar, Tommy Stinson on bass, and Paul Westerberg on vocals and guitar.

The B-52's - Whammy!

Today (April 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Whammy!, the third full-length studio album from the B-52’s. It charted at number 97 in Australia, number 42 in New Zealand, number 33 in the UK, and number 29 in Sweden and on the US Billboard Hot 200.

Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of Shadow Dancing, the second studio album from Andy Gibb.

For the complete review of this 1978 album, please click here.

"Weird Al" Yankovic - "Weird Al" Yankovic (30th anniversary)

Today (April 26th) is a milestone day in comedy. Thirty years ago marked the release of the debut album from "Weird Al" Yankovic. Armed with an accordion and a sense of wordplay, he totally reinvented the genre of music parodies for a whole new generation.

Click here for my full review of Al's debut album.

Mary Jane Girls - Mary Jane Girls

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of the self-titled debut album from the Mary Jane Girls. The project came together when Rick James wanted to get his former background singer Joanne “Jo Jo” McDuffie a recording contract with Motown. The label wanted a girl group project, so James concocted the Mary Jane Girls.

Barbra Streisand - Guilty

Happy seventy-first birthday today (April 24th) to singer, actress, writer, producer, director Barbra Joan Streisand. Over her career, to date, she has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, five Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and a Peabody Award.

Today we will look at one of my favorite albums by this American musical legend, September of 1980’s Guilty.

Carlos Santana - Havana Moon

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Havana Moon, the third solo release from Mexican-American rock guitarist Carlos Santana. It charted at number 84 in the UK, number 32 in Australia, number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 16 in the Netherlands, and number 6 in Norway and Sweden.

Heart - Magazine

Today (April 22nd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of Magazine, the fourth studio album by the rock band Heart. The album actually had an unauthorized original mix put out in 1977 by their first label Mushroom Records; Ann and Nancy Wilson recovered the rights to the record and reworked it for an official release a year later.

Ringo Starr - Bad Boy

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

Today (April 21st) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the UK release of Bad Boy, the seventh solo studio album from drummer-singer Ringo Starr. The US release would come later in the year on June 16th of 1978.

The album peaked at number 129 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 98 in Australia.

Rick James - Come Get It!

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

Today (April 20th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Come Get It!, the debut album from Rick James and the Stone City Band. This Platinum seller from 1978 reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 3 on the US Billboard R&B charts.

Dave Edmunds - Information

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Information, Welsh rocker Dave Edmund’s second solo album on the Arista label from 1983. It charted at number 92 in the UK and number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 200.

Included up top is the cover of the US vinyl release. Later on, I have included the cover of the European version of the record.

Sister Sledge - Bet Cha Say That to All the Girls

A little more than a year after their 1982 release The Sisters (click here for that review), Debbie, Joni, Kathy and Kim Sledge returned to the charts with their seventh studio album Bet Cha Say That to All the Girls. This Sister Sledge album stalled at number 169 on the US Billboard Hot 200 yet climbed to number 35 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Today we will look at this 1983 album as part of its thirtieth anniversary.

OXO - OXO

In 1983, four musicians (three from Orlando, one from Los Angelos) got together to form the dance-rock band OXO. The group was made up of Ish “Angel” Ledesma (former lead singer of Foxy), Orlando Nuñez (guitar), Frank Garcia (bass) and Freddy Alwag (drums).

The group put on out one album in April of 1983 entitled OXO before they broke up a year or so later. That makes it a very rare album, only available on vinyl. Thanks to the Internet, today we will give this one a spin in honor of its thirtieth anniversary.

Aztec Camera - High Land, Hard Rain

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of High Land, Hard Rain, the debut album from the Scottish group Aztec Camera. It charted at number 154 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 22 in the UK. The line-up for the band at the time was Roddy Frame (vocals, guitar and harmonica), Bernie Clark (piano and organ), Campbell Owens (bass) and Dave Ruffy (drums).

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.

Grease (soundtrack) (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

Today (April 14th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of the soundtrack from Grease, the Hollywood big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical.

If you have not already done so, please click here to read my review of this soundtrack album.

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.

R.E.M. - Murmur (30th anniversary)

Today (April 13th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Murmur, the debut album from R.E.M.

This is a classic alternative album that first grew popular on the college radio music scene of 1983. Click here for my complete review of the album.

Madness - Madness

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Madness, a self-titled, US exclusive compilation album from the British ska-pop band. The goal was to take advantage of the popularity the group was having with one of their singles that was popular on MTV at the time. Seeing as how the record rose to number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 200, this was a good move for the label to make at the time.

The dozen tracks were taken from the earlier albums by Madness, most which were unavailable in US record stores without some kind of specialty import ordering.

Cameo - Style

Today (April 11th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Style, the ninth studio album from R&B/funk band Cameo. Following a little more than a year after their previous release Alligator Woman (click here for that review), this 1983 record charted at number 53 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 14 on the US Billboard R&B charts.

Savatage - Sirens

The American heavy metal band Savatage was formed by Florida brothers Criss (guitars) and Jon (vocals) Olivia in the late 1970’s. Joining them were bassist Keith Collins and drummer Steve Wacholz. This week (April 11th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Sirens, their first studio album.

I decided to go with the original vinyl cover, since I do things old-school here on the blog. The later 1985 vinyl re-release and 1988 CD release have a more elven/fantasy type drawing to it that seems like a cross between The Hobbit and Lord of the Flies (see below).

Red Rockers - Good As Gold

This week (April 8th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Good As Gold, the second full-length album from the New Orleans natives Red Rockers. The line-up of the group changed slightly prior to this album as Jim Reilly came on board as the new drummer. The rest of the quartet was founders John Thomas Griffith (rhythm guitar and vocals), James Singletary (lead guitar) and Darren Hill (bass).

Heaven 17 - The Luxury Gap

Today (April 8th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of The Luxury Gap, the second studio album from UK synth pop group Heaven 17. This Platinum seller reached number 72 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 20 in the Netherlands, number 18 in France, number 17 in Sweden, number 11 in New Zealand, number 7 in Germany and number 4 in the UK.

Prince - For You

Today (April 7th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of For You, the debut album of Minneapolis mega-musician Prince. At age 19, he composed, arranged and produced the entire album. He also played all the instruments on the record. It peaked at number 163 on the US Billboard Hot 200.

Hot Chocolate - Going Through the Motions

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday. Today (April 6th) we want to wish a very happy sixty-sixth birthday to Tony Connor, the drummer for the UK R&B band Hot Chocolate.

In 1979, the group released Going Through the Motions, their fifth studio album. It charted at number 112 on the US Billboard Hot 200. The line-up at the time included Errol Brown (vocals), Connor (drums), Larry Ferguson (keyboards), Harvey Hensley (guitar), and Pat Olive (congas and bass).

Fastway - Fastway

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from the UK heavy metal band Fastway. The band was formed by guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke (formerly of Motörhead) and bassist Pete Way (formerly of UFO). They added drummer Jerry Shirley (formerly of Humble Pie) and singer Dave King. However, before they began recording 1983’s Fastway, Way abandoned the project; the group brought in session bassist Mick Feat to do the record.

Bonnie Tyler - Faster Than the Speed of Night

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the UK release of Faster Than the Speed of Night, the fifth studio album from Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler (the US release would follow in September of 1983). This Platinum seller was produced by Jim Steinman and was nominated for two American Music Awards (Favorite Rock/Pop Female Artist and Favorite Rock/Pop Single) and two Grammy Awards (Best Pop Vocal Performance Female and Best Rock Vocal Performance Female).

Roman Holliday - Roman Holliday EP

In the early 1980’s, the British band Roman Holliday formed. The line-up consisted of Steve Lambert (vocals), Brian Bonhomme (guitar and vocals), Simon Cohen (drums), Adrian York (piano), Jon Durno (bass), John Eacott (trumpet) and Rob Lambert (saxophone).

Before their first full album was released in the late Spring of 1983, the group put out a five song EP simply titled Roman Holliday; it peaked at number 142 on the US Billboard Hot 200. Today, we'll take a look at this one in honor of its thirtieth anniversary. Combining a mixture of pop and swing, they brought a lot of fun to the music scene.

Michael Bolton - Michael Bolton

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of the self-titled studio album Michael Bolton. This Gold selling record, which peaked at number 89 on the US Billboard Hot 200, was the third studio album from the American singer. His first two, Michael Bolotin from 1975 and Everyday of My Life from 1976, were recorded under his birth name and garnered very little chart action.

Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes (30th anniversary)

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the debut album from Wisconsin's Violent Femmes.

If you missed reading this one in the early days of my blog, you can click here for my complete review of Violent Femmes.