“Weird Al” Yankovic - “Weird Al” Yankovic In 3-D

Following his 1983 self-titled debut album (click here for that review), Weird Al Yankovic returned to record stores again with his sophomore effort In 3-D. That 1984 release celebrates its thirtieth anniversary today (February 28th). The certified-Platinum album went to number 61 in Australia, number 17 on the US Billboard Album chart (with twenty-three weeks total on the chart) and number 16 in Canada.

Queen - The Works

Today (February 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Works, the eleventh studio album from Queen. This 1984 release went to number 23 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a twenty week total run on the chart), number 22 in Canada, number 14 in France, number 12 in Australia, number 9 in New Zealand, number 7 in Japan and number 4 in Italy. It went to number 3 in Sweden and West Germany, number 2 in Austria, Norway and the UK, and number 1 in the Netherlands.

Modern English - Ricochet Days

This week (February 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Ricochet Days, the third studio album from Modern English. This 1984 release spent twelve weeks total on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 93. In the band’s native UK, it went all the way to number 5 on the charts.

Dead Can Dance - Dead Can Dance

This week (February 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from the Australian band Dead Can Dance. Unlike some of their later albums, this one featured a mix of post-punk and gothic rock sounds. The album was not released in the US until March of 1994.

Nik Kershaw - Human Racing (30th anniversary)

Today (February 24th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Human Racing, the debut album from UK singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw.

Click here for my full album review.

Europe - Wings of Tomorrow

Following their self-titled 1983 debut (click here for that review), Europe returned in 1984 with Wings of Tomorrow. It charted at number 20 in their native Sweden. Today (February 24th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of that release.

Martin's 100 Favorite Albums of 1983

A month or so ago, I gave you all a Christmas present which was my ranking of my 100 favorite albums from 1982 (click here for that post).

Seeing as today is my birthday, I thought I would give you all an extra post - my 100 favorite albums from 1983. 1983 is one of my favorite years for music, as evidenced by the nearly 1800 songs on my iPod from that year alone.

Bee Gees - Children of the World

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday. Today also happens to be my forty-ninth birthday, so to celebrate I am pulling out another album from the Bee Gees’ catalog.

Between 1975’s Main Course (click here for that review) and 1977’s Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (click here)came September of 1976’s Children of the World. The Platinum selling album, their twelfth internationally, went to number 36 in the Netherlands, number 23 on the US Billboard R&B chart, number 16 in Australia, number 8 on the US Billboard Album chart (sixty-three weeks total on the chart), number 6 in New Zealand, and number 3 in Canada.

Suzi Quatro - If You Knew Suzi… (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

Today (February 22nd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of If You Knew Suzi…, the sixth studio album from Suzi Quatro. This 1979 release peaked at number 37 on the US Billboard Album chart.

For my full review of the record, please click here.

Julian Cope - World Shut Your Mouth

Following the break-up of the band Teardrop Explodes, English singer-songwriter Julian Cope started working on a solo album. The result was World Shut Your Mouth which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this month. The 1984 release peaked at number 40 on the UK charts.

The Smiths - The Smiths

Today (February 20th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from the Smiths. This 1984 release only got to number 150 on the US Billboard Album chart (with eleven weeks total on the chart). It did however, climb to number 77 in Australia, number 65 in Canada, number 44 in Sweden, number 28 in the Netherlands, number 9 in New Zealand and number 2 in the UK (with thirty-three weeks total on that chart).

Black Flag - My War

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of My War, the second full length studio album from the American hardcore punk band Black Flag. Hailing from Southern California, the group consisted of Henry Rollins (vocals), Greg Ginn (guitar), Dale Nixon (bass), and Bill Stevenson (drums).

April Wine - Animal Grace

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Animal Grace, the eleventh studio album from the Canadian rock band April Wine. As the last studio album that the group would record in the 80’s (they broke up until 1992), this 1984 release went to number 62 on the US Billboard Album chart (as part of a twelve week total chart run) and number 34 in Canada.

Elder Scrolls Online: My First Impressions

I had the opportunity to participate in a beta test weekend (Feb. 7th through 10th) as part of the stress testing for the upcoming Elder Scrolls Online MMO RPG (massively, multi-player online role-playing game). This posting will give you all an overview plus my first impressions of the game.

M+M - Mystery Walk

With the release of their 1984 album Mystery Walk, the Canadian new-wave band Martha and the Muffins officially switched over to the name of M + M. The band was now a duo of Martha Johnson (guitar, keyboards and vocals), and Mark Gane (guitar, keyboards and vocals) along with a number of studio musicians. It spent four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 163 (their highest US showing ever). In their native Canada, it went to number 56.

Tony Carey - Some Tough City

In the late 70's, American born singer-songwriter Tony Carey was a keyboardist for Rainbow. In the early 80's, he began working on solo projects. This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Some Tough City, the third of his solo studio albums. It spent twenty four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 60.

Cheap Trick - Cheap Trick At Budokan

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Cheap Trick At Budokan, the first live album from the American rock band Cheap Trick. It was taken from the April 28th and 30th shows from 1978 in Japan (with 12,000 screaming fans in attendance at each show) and released world-wide in February of 1979.

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).

Thompson Twins - Into the Gap (30th anniversary)

After much success with their previous release Quick Step and Side Kick (click here for that review), the Thompson Twins moved on to their fourth studio album Into the Gap on February 13th of 1984. The album
had multi-platinum sales, reaching number 1 in the UK and number 10 on the US Billboard Album charts.

Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of this favorite record of mine. For my complete review of this album, click here.

Thomas Dolby - The Flat Earth

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Flat Earth, the second studio album from Thomas Dolby. It spent eighteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 35. It also went to number 14 in the UK.

Golden Earring - N.E.W.S.

Today (February 11th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of N.E.W.S., the seventeenth studio album from Golden Earring. This one peaked at number 107 on the US Billboard Album chart, yet it went all the way to number 1 in the Netherlands from where the band hailed.

Talk Talk - It's My Life

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of It's My Life, the second studio album from the English band Talk Talk. Following on the heels of their 1982 debut The Party's Over (click here for that review), this 1984 record further helped expose them to the world. It went to number 59 in Canada, number 49 in Sweden, number 42 on the US Billboard Album chart, number 35 in the UK, number 27 in New Zealand, number 12 in France, number 10 in Italy, number 4 in Germany, number 3 in the Netherlands (with a total of sixty-four weeks on that chart) and number 2 in Switzerland.

Amy Grant - Straight Ahead

As fitting for a Sunday, today we are going to get a little bit spiritual on the blog. This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Straight Ahead, the seventh studio album from American singer Amy Grant. This one went to number 133 on the US Billboard Album chart and number 1 on the US Billboard Christian Album chart; it held the latter top spot for sixty-one straight weeks. It also won the Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year.

Missing Persons - Rhyme & Reason

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Rhyme & Reason, the second studio album from Missing Persons. This 1984 release spent sixteen weeks total on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 43.

Alan Parsons Project - Ammonia Avenue

Today (February 7th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Ammonia Avenue, the seventh studio album from the Alan Parsons Project. This 1984 release went to number 29 in Canada, number 24 in the UK, number 15 on the US Billboard Album Chart (it spent twenty-six weeks on the chart), number 8 in Sweden, number 5 in Austria and Norway, and number 1 in Germany and Switzerland.

Simple Minds - Sparkle in the Rain

Today (February 6th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Sparkle in the Rain, the sixth studio album from the Scottish band Simple Minds. Following New Gold Dream from the previous year (click here for that review), this 1984 release went to number 64 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a twenty-four week stay on the chart), number 19 in Switzerland, number 17 in France, number 15 in Australia, number 2 in the Netherlands and Sweden, and number 1 in New Zealand and the UK.

Roger Daltrey - Parting Should Be Painless

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Parting Should Be Painless, the fifth solo studio album from Roger Daltrey. It stalled at number 102 on the US Billboard Album chart back in 1984.

Bee Gees - Spirits Having Flown (35th anniversary)

Today (February 5th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Spirits Having Flown, the fifteenth studio album from the Bee Gees. The 1979 album was certified Platinum in both the US and the UK. Chart-wise, it went to number 1 in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the UK. In the US, it peaked at number 9 on the Billboard R&B charts and number 1 on the Billboard Album chart.

This is another of my favorite albums from the 1970's. Click here to read my full review.

Madness - Keep Moving

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Keep Moving, the fifth studio album from the British band Madness. It hit number 109 on the US Billboard Album chart (with eight weeks total on the chart) and number 6 in the UK. The US and Canadian version of this 1984 release swapped out two tracks for two others and rearranged the order. For today's review, I will be going with the original UK release order.

Ted Nugent - Penetrator

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Penetrator, the eighth studio album from American rocker Ted Nugent. This 1984 release peaked at number 56 on the US Billboard Album chart (with fifteen weeks on the chart total). Joining Nugent's guitars were Bad Company's Brian Howe (lead vocals), the Door's Doug Lubahn (bass), and from Billy Squier's band Alan St. Jon (keyboards) and Bobby Chouinard (drums). Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band also provided some percussion and sequencing.

The Alarm - Declaration (30th anniversary)

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Declaration, the first full-length studio album from the Alarm.

For my full review of this 1984 release, please click here.

Shannon - Let the Music Play

Today (February 1st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Let the Music Play, the debut album from free-stylist Shannon. Born Brenda Shannon Greene in Washington, D.C., she was involved with the New York Jazz Ensemble before starting her recording career. This 1984 release went to number 52 in the UK, number 50 in New Zealand, number 47 in the Netherlands, number 35 in Germany, number 32 on the US Billboard Album chart (thirty seven weeks on the chart), number 30 in Switzerland, number 29 in Canada, and number 11 on the US Billboard R&B chart (thirty two weeks on the chart).