The Hooters - Nervous Night

Today (April 26th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Nervous Night, the second studio album from the Hooters. This multi-Platinum selling album went to number 46 in Sweden, number 39 in Canada and number 12 on the US Billboard Album chart. It spent seventy-four weeks total on that latter chart.

Men at Work - Two Hearts

Today (April 23) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Two Hearts, the third and final studio album of the 80's for Men At Work. The album spent thirteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 50. It also went to number 37 in Sweden and number 16 in Australia.

Prince - Around the World in a Day

Today (April 22nd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Around the World in a Day, the seventh studio album from Prince and the third to cover credit his band the Revolution (Wendy Melvoin on guitars and backing vocals, Lisa Coleman on keyboards and backing vocals, Dr. Fink on keyboards, Brown Mark on bass, and Bobby Z. on percussion).

Book Review: 24/7

Previously I had read Jim Brown's novel Boom (click here for that review) and loved it. It has taken me awhile but I finally picked up a copy of his 2001 novel 24/7.

On a small Caribbean island a woman joins the newest reality TV show: 24/7. For Dana Kirsten, winning the $2 million prize could mean saving her child’s life. But while the country watches her every move, Dana is entering a fight for her own life–and a conflict that will shake the world. . . .

USA For Africa - We Are the World

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of We Are the World, the compilation album from a collection of artists known as USA For Africa that was released to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. The record was a huge seller the world over; here in the US it debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and held that spot for three consecutive weeks. It had an overall run on the Billboard Album chart for twenty-two weeks.

Book Review: Eeny Meeny

Eeny Meeny is the first book in a thriller series by British author M.J. Ardlidge. He has worked in television for the last fifteen years, specializing in high end drama production. Arlidge has produced a number of prime-time crime serials for ITV In the last five years, and is currently working on a major adaptation of The Last of the Mohicans for the BBC. This is the first in his series starring Detective Helen Grace.

The synopsis of the book from the dust-jacket intrigued me enough to request it from NetGalley.

Alexander O'Neal - Alexander O'Neal (30th anniversary)

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from Alexander O'Neal. It spent eighteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 92.

For my full review of this, one of my 80's favorite debuts, click here.

For more from Alexander O'Neal, click here.

Alisha - Alisha

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Alisha, the self-titled debut album from Brooklyn born freestyle/pop/dance singer Alisha Ann Itkin. She began vocal lessons at age eight, and by age fourteen she was performing as part of a singing and dancing group called the Babysitters of Brooklyn. Their demo tape crossed the desk of Mark Berry at Vanguard Records who hired her, at age fifteen, as a vocalist for the single “All Night Passion”. That single lead to a full-length album release in 1985 which was mixed by Shep Pettibone.

Book Review: Off My Rocker

Published in late 2013, Off My Rocker: One Man's Tasty, Twisted, Star-Studded Quest for Everlasting Music hit the bookshelves and eReaders across the planet. This is the biography of Kenny Weissberg, a man who started from a childhood in Newark, NJ, in the early 1950's, and would go on to have a varied career in the world of music, a world he loves with a burning passion.

The System - The Pleasure Seekers

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Pleasure Seekers, the third studio album from the American R&B duo of Mic Murphy (vocals and guitar) and David Frank (keyboards) better known as the System. This one peaking at number 40 on the US Billboard R&B chart.