Madonna - True Blue

Today (June 30th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of True Blue, the third studio album from Madonna. This multi-Platinum seller from 1986 went to number 1 all over the world: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. Here in the US, it spent an amazing eighty-two weeks on the Billboard Album chart.

Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde (35th anniversary)

Today (June 29th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from Kim Wilde. Kim Wilde went Gold in the UK after reaching number 3 on those charts and Gold in Germany after reaching number 1. Here in the US, it spent twenty-two weeks on the Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 86.

For my full review, click here.

For more from Kim Wilde, click here.

Teena Marie - Emerald City

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Emerald City, the seventh studio album from Teena Marie. This 1986 record spent eleven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, where it peaked at number 81. It also reached number 20 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Rod Stewart - Rod Stewart (Every Beat of My Heart)

Today (June 23rd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled fourteenth studio album from Rod Stewart, known also as Every Beat of My Heart. This 1986 record went to number 28 in Japan, number 16 in Australia, number 13 in the Netherlands, number 12 in Norway, number 9 in Canada, number 5 in the UK, number 4 in Germany, and number 3 in Sweden. Here in the US, it spent nineteen weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 28.

Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club (35th anniversary)

Tomorrow (June 23rd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Tom Tom Club, the 1981 self-titled debut album from Talking Heads band members Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. It spent a total of thirty-three weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 23.

For my complete review, click here.

For more from the Tom Tom Club, click here.

Oingo Boingo - Only a Lad (35th anniversary)

Today (June 19th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Only a Lad, the first full-length studio album from Oingo Boingo. This 1981 record spent five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 172.

For my full review, click here.

For more from Oingo Boingo, click here.

The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (35th anniversary)

Today (June 16th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of The Queen Is Dead, the third studio album from the Smiths. This 1981 release was certified Gold in both the UK (where it reached number 2) and the US (where it only reached number 70 on the Billboard Album chart during its thirty-seven week run).

For more from this album, click here.

For more from the Smiths, click here.

Duran Duran - Duran Duran

Today (June 15th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of the self-titled debut from Duran Duran. This 1981 went multi-Platinum in sales and climbed to number 27 in Canada, number 22 in Germany, number 9 in Australia, number 3 in the UK and number 2 in New Zealand. Here in the US, it failed to chart in 1981 but upon re-release in 1982 it spent eighty-seven weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 10.

Thompson Twins - A Product Of... (Participation)

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of A Product Of...(Participation), the debut album from the Thompson Twins. Initially the group consisted of six members: Tom Bailey (bass, lead vocals, keyboards, percussion), Chris Bell (drums, backing vocals, percussion), Peter Dodd (guitar, backing vocals, percussion, saxophone), Joe Leeway (congas, backing vocals, percussion), John Roog (guitar, backing vocals, percussion) and Jane Shorter (saxophone, percussion). Bailey and Leeway would remain with the group as the decade continued.

Genesis - Invisible Touch

Today (June 9th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Invisible Touch, the thirteenth studio album from Genesis. This multi-platinum seller from 1986 spent eight-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 3. It also reached number 26 in Spain, number 14 in Japan, number 8 in France, number 5 in Austria and Italy, number 4 in Sweden and Switzerland, number 3 in Australia and Norway, number 2 in Finland, Germany and the Netherlands, and number 1 in Canada, New Zealand and the UK.

Morris Day and the Time live (6/5/16)

Sunday (6/5) was day two for us at the Belle Isle Grand Prix here in Detroit. And the threat of inclement weather was not going to deter us (and hundreds more) from seeing the performance by Morris Day and the Time. And if you even had to guess, yes we had another great spot right at the stage rails. As you'll see below, we were so close we almost could have reached out and touched the stage.

The Romantics live (6/4/16)

My wife and I attended the Belle Isle Grand Prix this past weekend, sponsored by Chevrolet Detroit. There was plenty of racing, lots of automotive displays, a wide variety of food, and also some great music. One of the two concerts we got to see on Saturday the 4th was the Romantics.

Psychedelic Furs - Talk Talk Talk (35th anniversary)

Today (June 6th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Talk Talk Talk, the second studio album from the Psychedelic Furs. It reached number 30 on the UK album charts and number 89 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a fourteen week total stay on that latter chart).

For my full review, click here.

For more from the Psychedelic Furs, click here.

ABC - The Lexicon of Love II

Last week (May 27th) marked the release of The Lexicon of Love II, the ninth studio album from ABC (now consisting of singer/songwriter Martin Fry and orchestrator Anne Dudley). And if the name and album cover design (down to the graphical layout, the use of lyrical poetry beneath the title, etc.) evokes memories of the band's 1982 debut album The Lexicon of Love, then that arrow has not gone wide from the mark.

The Beat / The English Beat - Wha'ppen? (35th anniversary)

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Wha'ppen?, the second studio album from the Beat (known as the English Beat here in the US). This 1981 record went to number 3 in their native UK (just as the previous album did); in the US it spent six weeks on the Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 126.

For my full review, click here.

For more from the Beat/English Beat, click here.