Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Junk Culture

Today (April 30th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Junk Culture, the fifth studio album from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Across the globe, it charted at number 32 in Germany and number 9 in the Netherlands and the UK. Here in the US, it spent six weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 182.

Roger Waters - The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking

This week (April 30th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, the first solo studio album from Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters. The album went to number 14 in New Zealand, number 13 in the UK, number 12 in Switzerland, number 4 in Norway, and number 3 in Sweden. Here in the US it spent eighteen weeks on the Billboard Album chart where it peaked at number 31.

Chris Rea - Wired to the Moon

This months marks the thirtieth anniversary of Wired to the Moon, the sixth studio album from British singer Chris Rea. The 1984 release went to number 35 in the UK, number 25 in the Netherlands, number 17 in Germany and number 13 in Sweden.

Dead Or Alive - Sophisticated Boom Boom (30th anniversary)

Today (April 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Sophisticated Boom Boom, the debut album from the UK dance band Dead Or Alive.

Click here for my full review of the album.

New England - New England

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from the New York City based rock band New England. New England spent seventeen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart during 1979, peaking at number 50. The group featured John Fannon on vocals and guitar, Jimmy Waldo on keyboards, Gary Shea on bass and Hirish Gardner on drums. Paul Stanley of KISS helped produce the album.

Donna Summer - Bad Girls

Today (April 25th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Bad Girls, the double-record seventh studio album from Donna Summer. It spent forty-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, including six weeks at the number 1 spot. It also reached number 24 in the Netherlands, number 23 in the UK, number 9 in Japan, number 7 in Germany, number 6 in Australia, number 3 in Norway, New Zealand and Sweden, and number 1 in Canada and on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Change - Change of Heart

Change was an Italian-American dance music group formed by Jacques Fred Petrus and Mauro Malavasi. The two oversaw a studio band with a revolving roster of musicians and singers. This week (April 23rd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Change of Heart, the fifth album from the group. It spent fifteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 102. It also went to number 34 in the UK, number 24 in the Netherlands and number 15 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

ABBA - Voulez-Vous (35th anniversary)

Today (April 23rd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Voulez-Vous, the sixth studio album from the Swedish pop group ABBA.

Click here to read my full review of the album.

The Cure - The Top

Today (April 22nd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Top, the fifth studio album from the Cure. Here in the US, it spent four weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 180. Around the globe, it did much better; it went to number 55 in Australia, number 31 in Sweden, number 23 in New Zealand, number 12 in the Netherlands and number 10 in the UK.

Bananarama - Bananarama

Today (April 21st) marks the thirtieth anniversary Bananarama, the self-titled second studio album from the British pop trio of Sarah Dallin, Keren Woodward and Siobhan Fahley. It charted at number 99 in Australia, number 45 in Germany, number 16 in the UK and number 9 in Switzerland. Here in the US, it spent thirty-six weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 30.

Amy Grant - My Father's Eyes

Today (April 20th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of My Father's Eyes, the second album from the then-eighteen-year-old Christian singer Amy Grant. This 1979 release went to number 2 on the US Billboard Inspirational Album chart.

Ultravox - Lament

Today (April 19th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Lament, the seventh studio album from Ultravox. This 1984 release charted at number 41 in Australia, number 24 in the Netherlands, number 10 in Norway, number 8 in Sweden and the UK and number 7 in New Zealand. Here in the US, it spent nine weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 115.

Jermaine Jackson - Jermaine Jackson/Dynamite

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Jermaine Jackson, the tenth self-titled solo album from the R&B singer. In the international markets, it was released under the title of Dynamite. The album went to number 57 in the UK, number 38 in New Zealand, number 27 in Sweden and number 21 in the Netherlands. Here in the US, it spent forty-nine weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 19, and also went to number 13 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Lou Reed - New Sensations

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of New Sensations, the thirteenth solo album from the late Lou Reed. The 1984 release went to number 92 in the UK and spent thirty-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 56.

Saxon - Crusader

Saxon is an English heavy metal band formed in 1976. By the time Crusader, their sixth studio album, was released in 1984 the line up included Billy Byford (vocals), Graham Oliver (guitar), Paul Quinn (guitar), Steve Dawson (bass), and Nigel Glocker (drums). Today (April 16th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of that release.

Nona Hendryx - The Art of Defense

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Art of Defense, the third studio album from Nona Hendryx. It spent seven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart in 1984, peaking at number 167.

Slade - Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply, the North American release of Slade's tenth studio album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome (click here for that review). In the US, it spent twenty-three weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 23. In Canada, it spent thirty weeks on the chart, reaching number 26.

Book Review: Pressed Pennies

As teenagers, Rick and Abby grew up as friends and eventually fell in love. Yet, fate caused their paths to part. Both eventually married others, but neither of those relationships worked out. Years later, the two are re-united but one thing stands in the way of their happiness - Abby's nine year old daughter Paige. Can Rick win over the young girl's heart as he has that of her mother?

Barry White - The Message Is Love

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Message of Love, the tenth studio album from R&B singer Barry White. This 1979 release spent nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 67. It also went to number 14 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Rush - Grace Under Pressure

Today (April 12th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Grace Under Pressure, the tenth studio album from Canadian rockers Rush. The 1984 release went to number 43 in Germany, number 27 in the Netherlands, number 18 in Sweden, number 14 in Finland, number 5 in the UK and number 1 in Canada. Here in the US, it spent twenty-seven weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 10.

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.

Steve Perry - Street Talk

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Street Talk, the solo debut album from Journey front man Steve Perry. It spent sixty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 12. It also went to number 59 in the UK.

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

Today (April 9th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Reckoning, the second studio album from R.E.M.

Click here for my full review of the album.

Nena - 99 Luftballons

Today (April 8th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of 99 Luftballons, a compilation album from the German rock band Nena. Drawing from the band's first two releases (1983's Nena which I reviewed here and ? (Fragezeichen) from earlier in 1984, this album split evenly with tracks in English and German. It spent fourteen weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 27.

Evelyn "Champagn" King - Music Box

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Music Box, the second studio album from R&B singer Evelyn "Champagne" King. This 1979 release hit number 45 in Canada and number 12 on the US Billboard R&B charts. It also spent seventeen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 35.

Rick Springfield - Hard to Hold

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

This month (April 6th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Hard to Hold, a 1984 musical drama starring Rick Springfield, Patti Hansen and Tom Scott. Many of the songs from the film, performed by Springfield, appeared on the soundtrack album. The record went to number 87 in Australia and number 29 in Canada. Here in the US, it spent thirty-six on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 16.

Spinal Tap - This Is Spinal Tap (soundtrack)

March of 1984 saw the release of This Is Spinal Tap, an American rock music mocumentary from director Rob Reiner. It chronicled the career of the fictional heavy metal rock band Spinal Tap. The band roster was David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) on lead vocals and guitar, Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) on lead guitar, mandolin and vocals, Viv Savage (David Kaff) on keyboards and vocals, Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) on bass and vocals, and Mick Shrimpton (Ric Parnell) on drums. Harlan Collins played synthesizer and Jon Sinclair played keyboards on the album as well.

Journey - Evolution

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

Today (April 5th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Evolution, the fifth studio album from the American rock band Journey. This 1979 release spent ninety-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 20. It also charted at number 100 in the UK, number 70 in Japan, number 37 in Canada, and number 36 in Sweden.

Styx - Caught in the Act

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Caught in the Act, the first live album from Styx. The 1984 double-album spent fifteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 31. It also reached number 44 in the UK.

Ramones - It's Alive

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of It's Alive, the appropriately named 1979 live studio album from the Ramones. Recorded at London's Rainbow Theatre on December 21st of 1977, the double-album charted at number 38 in Sweden and number 27 in the UK.

Raydio - Rock On

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Rock On, the second studio album from Raydio. The 1979 release spent thirty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 45; it also went to number 65 in Australia, number 42 in Canada and number 4 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

As the cover shows, the predominant forces in the group were Ray Parker Jr. and Arnell Charmichael. The duo had an assist by a number of additional studio musicians as well.

Foxy - Hot Numbers

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Hot Numbers, the third studio album from the Latin R&B group Foxy who hailed from Miami, Florida. This 1979 album spent sixteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 29. It also went to number 10 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Foxy was Ish Ledesma (guitar and vocals), Richard Puente (percussion), Charlie Murciano (keyboards), Arnold Paseiro (bass) and Joe Galdo (drums). The group also had some additional help with horns and backing vocals on the album.