Honeymoon Suite - Honeymoon Suite

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from Honeymoon Suite. It spent seventeen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 60. In Canada, it climbed all the way to number 38.

The band included Ray Coburn (keyboards and vocals), Dermot Gehan (lead guitar and vocals), Johnny Dee (lead vocals and guitar), Gary Lalonde (bass and vocals) and Dave Betts (drums).

Special AKA - In the Studio

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of In the Studio, the third album from English ska band the Specials which charted at number 34 in the UK.

Violent Femmes - Hallowed Ground

A year after their self-titled debut album (click here for my review of that 1983 release), the Violent Femmes (Gordon Gano, Brian Richie and Victor DeLorenzo) returned to the studio to record Hallowed Ground. Release thirty years ago this month, today we'll take a look at this record which charted at number 56 in Australia.

Mike Oldfield - Discovery

This week (June 25th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Discovery, the ninth studio album from English progressive-rock musician Mike Oldfield. The 1984 album charted at number 47 in New Zealand, number 15 in the UK, number 3 in Austria, Norway and Sweden, number 2 in the Netherlands, and number 1 in Germany and Switzerland.

Assisting Oldfield on the record were Maggie Reilly and Barry Palmer on vocals, and producer Simon Phillips on Tama Drums.

Icehouse - Sidewalk

Today (June 26th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Sidewalk, the third studio album from the Australian band Icehouse. The 1984 release charted at number 39 in Germany and number 8 in Australia.

Performing on the record were Iva Davies (guitar, vocals, oboe, synthesizer and drum programming), Robert Kreschmer (guitar and backing vocals), John Lloyd (drums and backing vocals), Guy Pratt (bass and backing vocals), Andy Qunta (keyboards), and Joe Camilleri (saxophone).

Purple Rain (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Today (June 25th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Purple Rain, the sixth studio album from Prince and the soundtrack to the 1984 film of the same name. The record spent seventy-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, including twenty-four weeks at the number 1 spot.

Click here for my full album review.

For the many blog posts that include music by Prince, click here.

Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales

Today (June 24th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Morbid Tales, the debut album from the Swiss metal band Celtic Frost. The band initially included Tom Gabriel Fischer (guitars and vocals), Martin Eric Ain (bass) and Stephen Priestly (drums). Additional performer on the 1984 record included Horst Mueller (vocals), Hertha Ohling (vocals) and Oswald Spengler (violin).

Sheila E - the Glamorous Life (30th anniversary)

Today (June 23rd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Glamorous Life, the debut album from Sheila E. The 1984 release spent forty-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 28.

Click here for my full review.

For more albums featuring Sheila E., click here.

The Main Event (soundtrack) (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of The Main Event. It started Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal, and it was one of the top grossing films of 1979.

Click here for my full review of the soundtrack album, which spent eighteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 20.

Mick Taylor - Mick Taylor

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

Today (June 21st) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of Mick Taylor, the self-titled solo debut album from the former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor. The 1979 release spent five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 119.

Elton John - Breaking Hearts

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Breaking Hearts, the eighteenth studio album from Elton John. This 1984 release went to number 54 in Japan, number 11 in Sweden, number 10 in Canada, number 7 in Norway, number 5 in Germany and Spain, number 4 in Austria, number 2 in New Zealand and the UK, and number 1 in Australia and Switzerland. Here in the US, it spent thirty-four weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 20.

Glenn Frey - The Allnighter

Today (June 19th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Allnighter, the second solo studio album from Glenn Frey. This 1984 release spent sixty-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 22. It also went to number 57 in Canada, number 40 in Sweden and number 31 in the UK.

Rod Stewart - Camouflage

Today (June 18th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Camouflage, the thirteenth studio album from Rod Stewart. The 1984 release charted at number 34 in Australia, number 31 in Canada, number 17 in Japan, number 16 in Norway, number 13 in the Netherlands, number 8 in the UK, number 7 in Sweden, and number 6 in Germany. Here in the US, it spent thirty-five weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 18.

Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Goodbye Cruel World

This week (June 18th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Goodbye Cruel World, the ninth studio album from Elvis Costello (the eighth with the Attractions). This 1984 release hit number 53 in Australia, number 52 in Japan, number 32 in New Zealand, number 20 in Sweden and number 10 in the UK. In the US, it spent twenty-one weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 35.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - From Her to Eternity

This week (June 18th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of From Her to Eternity, the debut album from the Australian group Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The record peaked at number 40 in the UK. The title is a play on title of the 1951 novel From Here To Eternity.

John Waite - No Brakes

Today (June 15th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of No Brakes, the second studio album from John Waite, the former lead singer the bands Bad English and the Babys. In his native UK, it went to number 64. Here in the US it spent forty-three weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 10.

Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

Tomorrow (June 15th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Unknown Pleasures, the debut album from the UK band Joy Division. The group consisted of Ian Curtis (lead vocals), Bernard Sumner (guitar and keyboard), Peter Hook (bass and vocals) and Stephen Morris (drums). This 1979 release went to number 82 in Australia, number 71 in the UK and number 1 in New Zealand.

The Cars - Candy-O

Today (June 13th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Candy-O, the second studio album from the Cars. The 1979 release spent sixty-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 3. It also hit number 30 in the UK, number 7 in Australia, number 6 in New Zealand, and number 4 in Canada.

A Taste of Honey - Another Taste

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Another Taste, the second studio album from A Taste of Honey. This 1979 release spent thirteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 59. It also hit number 26 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

The band included Hazel Payne (guitar and lead vocals), Janice Johnson (bass and lead vocals), Perry Kibble (keyboards) and Donald Johnson (drums).

The Knack - Get the Knack

Today (June 11th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Get the Knack, the 1979 debut album from the Knack. The album spent forty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, including five weeks at the number 1 spot. It also went to number 65 in the UK, number 1 in Australia, and number 1 (for six weeks) in Canada.

The roster of the band included Doug Fieger (guitar and lead vocals), Berton Averre (guitar), Bruce Gary (drums) and Prescott Niles (bass).

Eddy Grant - Going For Broke

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Going For Broke, the eighth studio album from Eddy Grant. The 1984 release spent seventeen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 64.

Eurythmics - Touch Dance

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Touch Dance, a remix album by the Eurythmics. The four tracks came from their 1983 album Touch (click here for that review). They were turned into dance versions by John "Jellybean" Benitez and Francois Kevorkian, both prominent in the New York City club scene. It went to number 1 in the UK; here in the US it spent eleven weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 115.

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Hyaena

Today (June 8th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Hyaena, the sixth studio album from Siouxsie and the Banshees. This 1984 release went to number 98 in Australia, number 50 in Sweden, number 18 in New Zealand and number 15 in the UK. Here in the US, it spent seven weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 157.

The Cure's Robert Smith joined the band for this album, playing guitar and keyboards.

Ghostbusters (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Saturday.

In June of 1984, a comedy film about a group of parapsychologists-turned-ghost-hunters hit the big screen. Ghostbusters became a huge box office success and a part of pop culture history.

The film's soundtrack (which spent thirty-four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 6) sported a big line-up that included Ray Parker Jr., the Bus Boys, Laura Branigan, the Thompson Twins, Air Supply and more.

Click here for my full review.

Nick Lowe - Nick Lowe & His Cowboy Outfit

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Nick Lowe & His Cowboy Outfit, the fifth studio album from Nick Lowe. This 1984 release spent twelve weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 113.

Rank and File - Long Gone Dead

Following their 1982 debut, Rank and File returned to the studio for their next work. The result was 1984's Long Gone Dead which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this month. It spent three weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 201.

Bruce Springsteen - Born In the U.S.A. (30th anniversary)

Today (June 4th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Born in the U.S.A., the seventh studio album from Bruce Springsteen. This monster hit album spent a total of one-hundred thirty-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, including seven weeks at the number 1 spot.

Click here for my full review of this 1984 classic.

the Waterboys - A Pagan Place

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of A Pagan Place, the second studio album from the Waterboys. After their self-titled debut a year prior (click here for my review of The Waterboys), this 1984 release went to number 100 in the UK and number 40 in New Zealand.

Beat Street (soundtrack) volume 1

Welcome to another edition of Matinee Monday.

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Beat Street, the 1984 drama that centered on the New York City hip hop culture. It focused on the lives of breakdancing, DJing and graffiti artists. The cast included Rae Dawn Chong, Guy Davis, and Saundra Santiago.

The film itself did not do well (it bought in about $16 million), but it did generate a soundtrack which spent twenty-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 14, and went to number 10 on the US Billboard R&B chart. The music was popular enough that a second volume would be released later that year.

Icon - Icon

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled Icon from the Arizona metal band of the same name. The group consisted of Stephen Clifford (vocals), Dan Wexler (guitar), Tracy Wallach (bass and vocals), John Aquillino (guitar) and Pat Dixon (drums). The album spent two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 190.

Streets of Fire (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

In June of 1984, a film hit the theatres that had dreams of being a big blockbuster but failed to gross enough to cover its original budget. The soundtrack of Streets of Fire, however, sported a big line up - from the Blasters to the Fixx, Jim Steinman to Dan Hartman, and so many. It spent twenty-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 32.

Click here for the full album review.