Y&T - In Rock We Trust

Y&T (also known as Yesterday & Today) is an American hard rock band that was formed in Oakland, California, in the mid-70’s. In 1984, they released their sixth studio album In Rock We Trust which hit number 33 in the UK and number 46 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a seventeen week total time on that chart).

Stephen Stills - Right By You

Today (July 30th) is the thirtieth anniversary of Right By You, the sixth solo studio album from Stephen Stills. The record spent twelve weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 75.

Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Double Nickels on the Dime, the third studio album from the American punk trio Minutemen. The California band consisted of D. Boon (vocals and guitar), Mike Watt (bass and vocals), and George Hurley (drums and vocals). Additional musicians on the record included Joe Baiza (guitar), John Rocknowski (guitar) and Dirk Vandenberg (guitar).

Metallica - Ride the Lightning

Yesterday (July 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Ride the Lightning, the second studio album from Metallica. This multi-Platinum seller went to number 87 in the UK, number 78 in Switzerland, number 40 in Norway, number 38 in Australia, number 32 in New Zealand, number 22 in Sweden and number 9 in Finland. Here in the US, it spent fifty weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 100.

Quiet Riot - Conditional Critical

Following their smash 1983 album Mental Health (click here for that review), the Los Angeles heavy metal band Quiet Riot returned to the studio to record their fourth studio album. The result was 1984’s Condition Critical which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary today (July 27th).

Lita Ford - Dancin' on the Edge

Following her 1983 solo debut Out for Blood (click here for that review), Lita Ford returned to the studio to make Dancin’ on the Edge. This 1984 release spent sixteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 66. It also hit number 96 in the UK.

Scandal - The Warrior

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Warrior, the only full length album from Scandal from the 80’s. After the promotional tour ended, Patty Smyth left the group and the rest disbanded until 2004. Fueled by a hit single, this one spent forty-one weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 17.

the Dream Syndicate - Medicine Show

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Medicine Show, the second studio album the California alternative-rock band the Dream Syndicate. The group’s line-up included Steve Wynn (guitar and vocals), Karl Precoda (lead and rhythm guitars), Dennis Duck (drums) and Dave Provost (bass). Additional musicians on this record included Tom Zvoncheck (piano and organ), Sid Griffen, Stephen McCarthy, Paul Mandl and Gavin Blair (all four on backing vocals).

Sammy Hagar - VOA

Today (July 23rd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of VOA, the eighth solo studio album from Sammy Hagar and the last one he did prior to joining Van Halen. The Platinum seller spent thirty-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 32.

Commodores - Midnight Magic

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Midnight Magic, the seventh studio album from the Commodores. It went to number 15 in the UK, number 3 on the US Billboard Album chart (a forty-one week chart life total) and number 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Stryper - The Yellow and Black Attack

Today (July 21st) is the thirtieth anniversary of The Yellow and Black Attack, the debut EP album from the Christian heavy metal band Stryper. The original 1984 release, which I will be reviewing today, only featured six songs and had a very small press run (twenty thousand copies).

Book Review: What It Was Like

What It Was Like is the debut novel by Peter Seth, coming out by the Story Plant publisher in September of this year. I had the opportunity to read an early release gallery of the novel.

It tells the story of a soon-to-be college freshman (we are never given his name) who conveys a very detailed account of how an all-consuming love affair with a seventeen year old beauty named Rachel led to the ruination of his life.

“Weird Al” Yankovic – Mandatory Fun

This week (July 15th), “Weird Al” Yankovic released his fourteenth studio album Mandatory Fun. The album quickly shot to the number one spot on iTunes. As always, there is a healthy balance between parodies of previous hit songs by other artists and his own original compositions done in the style of particular artists.

Neil Diamond - Primitive

Today (July 20th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Primitive, the sixteenth studio album from Neil Diamond. This 1984 release hit number 45 in Australia, number 35 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a twenty-five week total chart stay), and number 7 in the UK.

Hot Chocolate - Going Through the Motions (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Going Through The Motions, the fifth studio album from Hot Chocolate. This one spent six weeks during 1979 on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 112.

For my full review, click here.

Helix - Walkin' the Razor's Edge

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge, the fourth studio album from the Canadian heavy metal band Helix. This 1984 release spent sixteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 69. In Canada, it climbed all the way to number 27.

Little River Band - First Under the Wire

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of First Under the Wire, the fifth studio album from the Little River Band. Peaking at number 10, it spent thirty-three weeks total on the US Billboard Album chart. In the band’s native Australia, it went to number 2.

Sade - Diamond Life (30th anniversary)

Today (June 16th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Diamond Life, the debut album from Sade. It was released on this date in the UK in 1984, and then it hit the US in early 1985. Once it arrive here, it stayed eighty-one weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 5.

For my review, please click here.

Hüsker Dü - Zen Arcade

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Zen Arcade, the second studio album from the American punk rock band Hüsker Dü. Hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota, the group consisted of Grant Hart (drums, vocals, percussion, and piano), Bob Mould (vocals, guitar, piano, bass, and percussion) and Greg Norton (bass and backing vocals).

Fastway - All Fired Up

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of All Fired Up, the second studio album from Fastway. This 1984 sophomore effort featured a slight roster change (Charlie McCracken of the band Taste came on board on bass). The record spent fourteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 59.

Dio - The Last in Line

Following up their 1983 debut Holy Diver (click here for that review), the heavy metal band Dio returned to the studio to work on their next record. The result was The Last in Line which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary today (July 13th). The album spent thirty-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 23. It is also reached number 51 in Canada, number 23 in Germany, number 7 in Norway, number 6 in Sweden and number 4 in the UK.

The Muppet Movie (soundtrack) (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of The Muppet Movie. As a fan of the syndicated TV show, seeing this one was a must for me back in 1979. The soundtrack did quite well too, spending thirty-four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaking at number 32.

For my full review, click here.

Patrick Hernandez - Born To Be Alive

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth of Born To Be Alive, the debut from Patrick Hernandez, born of Spanish descent but raised in France. His 1979 album spent fifteen weeks on the US Billboard chart, peaking at number 61.

Willie Nelson - City of New Orleans

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of City of New Orleans, the 1984 album release from Willie Nelson. This one reached number 69 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (with a twenty-six week chart time), number 62 on the Canadian pop chart, number 24 on the Canadian Country chart and number 1 on the US Billboard Country chart.

The Kinks - Low Budget (35th anniversary)

Today (July 10th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Low Budget, the 1979 release from the Kinks. The record spent eighteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 11.

For my complete review, click here.

Public Image Ltd. - This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get

Today (July 9th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get, the fourth studio album from Public Image Ltd. It peaked at number 56 on the UK charts. Five of the tracks were re-recordings or reworkings of songs from the band's 1983 bootleg album Commercial Zone.

Difford & Tilbrook - Difford & Tilbrook

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Difford & Tilbrook, the only studio album release from Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, the main songwriters from Squeeze. It went to number 47 in the UK; here in the US it spent fifteen weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 55. Many consider it the bridging album between the group’s 1982 Sweets From a Stranger and 1985’s Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti.

David Sylvian - Brilliant Trees

Today (July 7th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Brilliant Trees, the solo debut from English singer-songwriter David Sylvian. It peaked at number 4 on the UK charts. In the late 70's to early 80's, he was the lead singer of the group Japan.

Book Review: Cop Town

In Atlanta of 1975, a city police department is in turmoil when yet another officer is killed by a serial killer. This makes the first day for Officer Kate Murphy even more hectic. The beautiful young woman from Buckhead quickly learns that there is a "good old boy" system in place that is very sexist and protective of its turf. She finds that even her fellow female officers are not about to cut her any slack unless she earns it. Will she bond with fellow officer Maggie Lawson, who has her own reputation to prove - especially to her uncle and brother who are also officers?

The B-52's - The B-52's (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

Today (July 6th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from the B-52's. This one spent seventy-four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 59.

For my full review of The B-52's, click here.

New Edition - New Edition

Tomorrow (July 6th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of New Edition, the second studio album the Boston-born R&B band New Edition. The multi-Platinum 1984 record went to number 55 in Canada, number 15 in New Zealand, number 6 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a fifty-four week chart stay total) and number 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Billy Squier - Signs of Life

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Signs of Life, the fourth studio album from Billy Squier. It was co-produced by Squier and Jim Steinman. The album spent twenty-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 11.

Lindsey Buckingham - Go Insane

Today (July 3rd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Go Insane, the second solo album from Lindsey Buckingham. The record spent sixteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 45. It also went to number 33 in Sweden.

The Jacksons - Victory

Today (July 2nd) is the thirtieth anniversary of Victory, the fourteenth album by the Jacksons. It is the first and only album to include all six Jackson brothers (Jermaine, Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Michael, and Randy) together as an official group. It debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard Album chart, and remained on the charts for a total of thirty weeks. It also charted at number 10 in Canada, number 9 in Australia, and number 3 in the UK and on the US Billboard R&B chart.

the Time - Ice Cream Castle (30th anniversary)

Today (July 2nd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Ice Cream Castle, the third studio album from the Time. Powered by their appearance in Purple Rain, this record spent fifty-seven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 24.

For my full review of this R&B classic, click here.

Juice Newton - Can't Wait All Night

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Can't Wait All Night, the sixth solo album from Juice Newton. The 1984 release spent ten weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 128. It also reached number 91 in Canada and number 42 on the US Billboard Country chart.

The Bangles - All Over the Place (30th anniversary)

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of All Over the Place, the debut album from the Bangles. The album spent thirty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 80.

For my complete review, please click here.