Purple Rain (Deluxe)(Expanded Edition)

This week saw the release of a deluxe, expanded edition of Purple Rain, Prince's 1984 super-smash soundtrack album for the film of the same name. Frequent visitors to the blog know I have reviewed this previously (click here for my full album review). Of course, this new version features a re-mastered version of that classic album, done by Prince himself back in 2015 before his passing last year. That disk sounds amazing - certainly much better than the 1990 CD version I own. This reminds me more of the sound I had from that original vinyl in 1984.

But this release has so much more.

Book Review: Ashes

Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life – and death – has a robust sense of irony. When they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other’s company. It’s either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he’s left with his lawyer.

Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind (35th anniversary)

Today (February 28th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson. The 1982 album spent ninety-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album charts, including three weeks at the peak spot of number 2. On the US Billboard Country charts, it spent an impressive 253 weeks on the charts, which included a total of 22 weeks at the number 1 spot.

For more on this album, click here.

Alabama - Mountain Music (35th anniversary)

Today (February 25th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Mountain Music, the third studio album from Alabama. This 1982 release peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Country Chart and number 14 on the US Billboard Album chart (it spent a total of one hundred fourteen weeks on that latter chart).

For my full review of this album, click here.

John Denver - Seasons of the Heart (35th anniversary)

This month marks the 35th anniversary of the release of John Denver’s sixteenth studio album. 1982’s Seasons of the Heart went to number 39 on the US Billboard Album (with thirty-three weeks total on the chart) and number 18 on the US Country Album charts.

For the full album review, click here.

Bertie Higgins - Just Another Day In Paradise (35th anniversary)

This month marks the 35th anniversary of the release of Bertie Higgins' debut album Just Another Day In Paradise. It spent twenty-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 38.

For my review of this album, please click here.

Simon & Garfunkel - The Concert In Central Park (35th anniversary)

Today (February 16th) marks the 35th anniversary of the release of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s 1982 live double-album The Concert In Central Park. The duo had gone their solo ways over a decade before but they reunited in September of 1981 for a free concert on the Great Lawn of Central Park in New York City. The show was attended by more the 500,000 people and was videotaped for an airing on HBO in 1982. The album spent thiry-four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 6.

For more on this concert album, click here

Haircut One Hundred - Pelican West (35th anniversary)

This month marks the 35th anniversary of the release of Haircut One Hundred's debut album Pelican West. The album spent thirty-seven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 31.

For my review of this album, please click here.

XTC - English Settlement (35th anniversary)

Today (February 12th) marks the 35th anniversary of the release of XTC’s fifth studio album English Settlement. The 1982 release spent twenty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart where it peaked at number 48.

For my complete album review, click here.

Thompson Twins - Set (35th anniversary)

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Set, the second studio album from the English pop group Thompson Twins.

For my full album review, click here.

Nick Lowe - Nick the Knife (35th anniversary)

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Nick the Knife, the third solo album from Nick Lowe. This album spent fourteen weeks in 1982 on the US Billboard Album chart where it peaked at number 50.

For my full album review, click here

Shalamar - Friends (35th anniversary)

Today (January 29th) marks the 35th anniversary of Shalamar's release of their sixth studio album Friends. This certified Platinum album spent twenty-five weeks back in 1982 on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 35.

For my full review, click here.

Huey Lewis and the News - Picture This (35th anniversary)

Today (January 29th) marks the 35th anniversary of the release of Huey Lewis and the News' second studio album Picture This. It spent fifty-nine weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 13.

For my review of this album, please click here.

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

Today (January 27th) marks the 35th anniversary of the release of the B-52's EP Mesopotamia. It spent eighteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart back in 1982, peaking at number 18.

For my full album review, click here.

How Far Personal Computing Has Come

In reading Unit 2 on digital devices in the textbook New Perspectives on Computer Concepts 2016: Comprehensive by June Parsons for my graduate studies for my MLIS (masters in library and information science), I could not help but be reminded of how far personal computing has come in my own lifetime.

The Waitresses - Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful? (35th anniversary)

Today (January 11th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Wasn't Womorrow Wonderful?, the debut album from the Waitresses. It spent twenty-four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 41.

For my full review, click here.