Aretha Franklin - Aretha

Today (October 25th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Aretha, the twenty-eighth studio album from the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. This 1980 release spent thirty weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 32. It also reached number 6 on the US Billboard R&B chart and won her a Grammy award for Best Female R&B Vocal.

Bruce Springsteen - The River

Today (October 17th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of The River, the double-length fifth studio album from Bruce Springsteen. This multi-Platinum 1980 release flowed to number 65 in Ireland, number 31 in West Germany, number 28 in Japan, number 8 in Australia, number 5 in Spain, number 3 in France, number 2 in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK, and number 1 in Canada and Norway. Here in the US, it spent one hundred and eight weeks on the Billboard Album charts that included four weeks at the number 1 spot.

The Alarm - Strength

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Strength, the second studio album from the Alarm. The album peaked at number 18 in the UK. Here in the US, it spent thirty-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart with a top spot of 39.

INXS - Listen Like Thieves

Today (October 14th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Listen Like Thieves, the fifth studio album from INXS. The multi-Platinum seller hit number 46 in the UK, number 30 in Switzerland, number 24 in Canada, number 11 on the US Billboard Album chart (it spent fifty-five weeks total on that chart), number 4 in New Zealand, and number 1 (holding that spot for two weeks) in Australia.

Prince - Dirty Mind

Today (October 8th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Dirty Mind, the third studio album from Prince. This certified Gold selling record spent fifty-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 45; it also went to number 7 on the US Billboard R&B Album chart. This critically acclaimed album was ranked number 87 on Pitchfork Media's Top 100 Albums of the 1980s and number 206 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time list.

Mike + the Mechanics – Mike + the Mechanics

Today (October 5th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-title debut album from Mike + the Mechanics. The 1985 release hit number 26 on the US Billboard Album chart with a fifty-three week long run on the chart. Around the globe, it hit number 78 in the UK, number 36 in Australia, number 10 in Canada, and number 9 in Germany.

The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta

Today (October 3rd) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Zenyatta Mondatta, the third studio album from the Police. This 1980 Platinum selling release went to number 14 in Austria, number 8 in Sweden, number 5 in Germany, number 3 in New Zealand, number 2 in Canada and the Netherlands, and number 1 in Australia, France and the UK. Here in the US, it spent one hundred and fifty-three weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 5.

Cameo - Single Life

Today (May 30th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Single Life, the eleventh studio album from Cameo. This 1985 release hit number 66 in the UK, number 58 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a twenty-seven week total run) and number 2 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Eurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Be Yourself Tonight, the fourth studio album from Eurythmics. This Platinum seller went to number 25 in Austria, number 20 in France, number 9 in Switzerland, number 8 in Germany, number 3 in the UK, number 2 in New Zealand, Norway and Sweden, and number 1 in Australia. Here in the US, it spent forty-five weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 9.

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.

Rachel Sweet - Protect The Innocent

This month marks the thirty fifth anniversary of Protect the Innocent, the second studio album from Rachel Sweet. This one spent eleven weeks on the US Billboard Album chart back in 1980 and peaked at number 123.

Air Supply - Lost In Love

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Lost In Love, the fifth studio album from Air Supply. The album went to number 22 in New Zealand and number 21 in the band’s native home of Australia. Here in the US, it spent one hundred and four weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a peak spot of 22; it also went two times Platinum in sales.

The Cretones - Thin Red Line

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Thin Red Line, the debut album from the Los Angeles new-wave rock band the Cretones. The group included Mark Goldenberg (formerly of the Eddie Boy Band) on vocals and guitar, Peter Bernstein on bass and vocals, Steve Beers on percussion, and Steve Leonard on keyboards and vocals. The album spent ten weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 125.

Run-D.M.C. – King of Rock

Today (February 21st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of King of Rock, the second studio album from Run-D.M.C. This 1980 release spent fifty-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 52. It also went to number 12 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Teena Marie - Lady T

Today (February 14th) marks the thirty fifth anniversary of Lady T, the second studio album from American R&B great Teena Marie. This 1980 release went to number 45 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a twenty-three week total run) and number 18 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston

Tomorrow (February 14th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from the New Jersey born Whitney Houston. The album would eventually achieve multi-Platinum sales status, charting at number 13 in France, number 11 in Italy, number 9 in Austria, number 5 in the Netherlands, number 2 in Finland, Germany, Switzerland and the UK, and number 1 in Australia, Canada, Norway, and Sweden and on both the US Billboard Album and R&B charts. It spent a total of one hundred and sixty three weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, fourteen of which were at the top spot.

Klymaxx - Meeting in the Ladies Room

Today (November 30th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Meeting in the Ladies Room, the fourth studio album from the all-female R&B band Klymaxx. As one of their best-selling album, it gained Platinum sales status and went to number 46 in Canada, number 18 in New Zealand, number 18 on the US Billboard Album chart (with a sixty-seven week total stay on the chart) and number 9 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Meat Loaf - Bad Attitude

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the European release of Bad Attitude, the fourth studio album from Meat Loaf. It went to number 42 in Australia, number 36 in Sweden, number 24 in Germany and number 8 in the UK. When it was released in the US in 1985, it spent ten weeks on the Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 74. The same nine tracks appeared on both versions of the album; for today’s review I will look at it from the US ordering.

Linda Ronstadt - Lush Life

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Lush Life, the thirteenth studio album from Linda Ronstadt. It was also the second in a trilogy of jazz albums she did with bandleader and arranger Nelson Riddle. This multi-Platinum album spent twenty-six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 13. It also went to number 100 in the UK, number 38 in New Zealand, number 35 in Canada, number 32 in Australia, and number 8 on the US Billboard Jazz chart.

Mike Oldfield - The Killing Fields

Today (November 26th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Killing Fields, the tenth album from Mike Oldfield and the soundtrack album for the British drama of the same title about the experiences of two journalists in Cambodia. It charted at number 97 in the UK and number 64 in Germany.