the Boomtown Rats - In the Long Grass

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of In the Long Grass, the sixth and final studio album from the Boomtown Rats. It spent four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 188. It also charted at number 80 in Canada.

Jefferson Starship - Nuclear Furniture

Today (May 30th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Nuclear Furniture, eighth and final studio album from Jefferson Starship (they would later reform under the name of just Starship). It spent twenty-three weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 28.

Tina Turner - Private Dancer (30th anniversary)

Today (May 29th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Private Dancer, the smash hit 1984 album from Tina Turner. This record spent an incredible one hundred and six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 3.

Click here for my full review.

The Fat Boys - Fat Boys

This week (May 29th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Fat Boys, the debut album from rap trio known as the Fat Boys. The guys were Prince Markie Dee (Mark Morales), the Human Beat Box (Darren Robinson) and Kool Rock-Ski (Damon Wimbley). They started out under the name of Disco 3, then the Original Fat Boys, and finally just the Fat Boys. This album spent forty weeks on the US Billboard Chart, peaking at number 48. It also went to number 6 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Kick Axe - Vices

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Vices, the debut album from the Canadian heavy metal band Kick Axe. Formed in Saskatchewan, the line-up included George Criston (lead vocals), Larry Gillstrom (guitars and backing vocals), Raymond Harvey (guitars and backing vocals), Victor Langen (bass and backing vocals) and Brian Gillstrom (drums and backing vocals). The 1984 album spent fifteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 126.

Face To Face - Face To Face

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from Face To Face. Hailing from Boston, the band was made up of Laurie Sargent (vocals), Stuart Kimball (guitar, vocals and keyboards), Angelo Petraglia (guitar and keyboards), John Ryder (bass), and Billy Beard (drums). The band appeared in the film Streets of Fire as well. Face To Face spent two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 139.

Spandau Ballet - Parade

Today (May 25th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Parade, the fourth studio album from Spandau Ballet. Here in the US, it spent sixteen weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 50. Around the world, it went to number 38 in Greece, number 9 in Sweden and Switzerland, number 8 in New Zealand, number 7 in Germany and Norway, number 2 in the UK, and number 1 in Italy and the Netherlands.

LaToya Jackson - Heart Don't Lie

This months marks the thirtieth anniversary of Heart Don't Lie, the third studio album from LaToya Jackson. It spent six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 149.

KISS - Dynasty (35th anniversary)

Today (May 23rd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Dynasty, the seventh studio album from KISS. This Platinum seller spent twenty-five weeks in 1979 on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 9.

Click here for my full review.

Smokey Robinson - Where's There Smoke...

Today (May 22nd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Where There's Smoke..., the ninth solo album from Motown legend Smokey Robinson. This 1979 release spent forty-seven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 17. It also went to number 8 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Red Rider - Breaking Curfew

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Breaking Curfew, the fourth studio album from the Canadian rock band Red Rider. It spent eight weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 137.

Blancmange - Mange Tout

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Mange Tout, the second studio album from the British synth duo of Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, better known as Blancmange. The 1984 release went to number 46 in New Zealand, number 41 in Canada, number 28 in Germany, number 16 in the Netherlands, and number 8 in the UK. Here in the US, it spent three weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 204.

The 2014 Detroit Metro Comic Con

This weekend my son and I attended our first ever Motor City Comic Con (we just moved up to Michigan last month). The show was celebrating its twenty-fifth year. Here are some highlights, thoughts and pictures.

Everything But the Girl - Eden

This month thirtieth anniversary of Eden, the debut album from the British band Everything But the Girl. The 1984 release went to number 14 in the UK.

The core of the band consisted of Tracey Thorn (vocals and guitar) and Ben Watt (vocals, organ, and piano). Assisting them on the record were Simon Booth (guitar), Bosco De Oliveira (percussion), Charles Hayward (drums), Dick Pearce (flugelhorn), Nigel Nash (tenor saxophone) and Pete King (alto saxophone).

Hank Williams Jr. - Major Moves

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Major Moves, the Platinum selling 1984 release from Hank Williams Jr. It spent nineteen weeks on the US Billboard album chart, peaking at number 100. It also went to number 20 on the Canadian Country chart and number 1 on the US Billboard Country chart.

Lee Greenwood - You've Got a Good Love Comin'

Today (May 17th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of You've Got a Good Love Comin', the third studio album from Lee Greenwood. It spent twenty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 150. It also went to number 15 on the Canadian Country chart and number 6 on the US Billboard Country chart.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand the Weather

Yesterday (May 15th) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Couldn't Stand the Weather, the second studio album from rock-blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. This 1984 release followed his solo debut Texas Flood (click here for that review), and it spent thirty-eight weeks on the US Billboard Album chart where it peaked at number 31.

Michael Jackson - Farewell My Summer Love

Today (May 15th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Farewell My Summer Love, a release of previously "lost" tracks from Michael Jackson. This album did very well in the UK where it charted at number 9 and became a Platinum seller. It also hit number 94 in Canada, number 90 in Australia, number 50 in New Zealand, number 47 in the Netherlands and number 40 in Germany. Here in the US, it spent fifteen weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 46.

Chicago - Chicago 17 (30th anniversary)

Today (May 14th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Chicago 17, the seventeenth studio album from Chicago. It spent seventy-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 4.

For my full review, click here.

the Psychedelic Furs - Mirror Moves

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Mirror Moves, the fourth studio album from the Psychedelic Furs. World-wide, it went number 92 in Australia, number 26 in Sweden, number 16 in Canada, number 15 in the UK and number 5 in New Zealand. Here in the US, it spent twenty-seven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 43.

INXS - The Swing

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Swing, the fourth studio album from INXS. It spent twenty-eight on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 52. It also charted at number 27 in Canada and number 1 in Australia. It was listed at number 56 in the book 100 Best Australian Albums.

The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Three Imaginary Boys, the debut album from the Cure. This 1979 record went to number 140 in France, number 44 in the UK and number 37 in New Zealand.

Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry

Today (May 10th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Stay Hungry, the third studio album from Twisted Sister. This multi-Platinum seller spent fifty-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 15. It also reached number 34 in the UK, number 11 in Norway, number 10 in New Zealand, and number 3 in Sweden.

Chris de Burgh - Man on the Line

This week (May 9th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Man on the Line, the seventh studio album from Chris de Burgh. Following his 1982 release The Getaway (click here for that review), this 1984 release spent nineteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 69. It also went to number 11 in the UK, and number 1 in both Germany and Switzerland.

Echo and the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain (30th anniversary)

Today (May 8th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Ocean Rain, the fourth studio album from Echo and the Bunneymen. This 1984 release spent eleven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 87.

Click here for my full review.

Human League - Hysteria (30th anniversary)

Today (May 7th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Hysteria, the fourth studio album from Human League. The record spent thirteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 62.

Click here for my full review.

Eurogliders - This Island

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of This Island, the second studio album from the Australian band Eurogliders. It spent eleven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 140. In their home country, it went all the way to number 4.

Boney M. - Ten Thousand Lightyears

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Ten Thousand Lightyears, the seventh studio album from the German-produced Jamaican vocal group Boney M. This 1984 release went to number 23 in Germany. The group at this point featured singers Liz Mitchell, Marcia Barrett, Frank Farian and Reggie Tsiboe.

Bruce Cockburn - Stealing Fire

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Stealing Fire, the thirteenth studio album from Canadian folk-rock singer Bruce Cockburn. It spent thirty-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 74.

Electric Light Orchestra - Discovery (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Discovery, the eighth studio album from the Electric Light Orchestra. The album spent thirty-five weeks in 1979 on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 5.

Click here for my full review.

Al Stewart - Russians and Americans

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Russians and Americans, the tenth studio album from Scottish singer-songwriter Al Stewart. It went to number 83 on the UK charts. The track listing of side one of this 1984 album differed slightly from the UK to the US releases. I will give the review of the US order listing today.

Joe Cocker - Civilized Man

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Civilized Man, the ninth studio album from British singer Joe Cocker. It went to number 100 in the UK and spent nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 133.