Phil Collins - Face Value (35th anniversary)

Today (February 9th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Face Value, the first solo studio album from the Genesis drummer Phil Collins. The record spent an amazing one hundred and sixty-four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, achieving a top spot of number 7.

For my full review, click here.

For even more from Phil Collins, click here.

Back To The Future (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Today (July 8th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the soundtrack from Back To The Future. The record spent thirty-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 12.

For my full review, click here.

Roger Waters - The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking

This week (April 30th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, the first solo studio album from Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters. The album went to number 14 in New Zealand, number 13 in the UK, number 12 in Switzerland, number 4 in Norway, and number 3 in Sweden. Here in the US it spent eighteen weeks on the Billboard Album chart where it peaked at number 31.

Christine McVie - Christine McVie

Today (January 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Christine McVie, the self-titled solo album from the Fleetwood Mac singer. The 1984 release went to number 58 on the UK charts and number 26 on the US Billboard Album chart. It was her first and only solo album in the 80's; her previous solo effort was 1970's Christine Perfect.

Corey Hart - First Offense

Today (November 24th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of First Offense, the debut album from Canadian singer Corey Hart. It was recorded in Manchester, England, a year earlier and was produced by Jon Astley and Phil Chapman. The 1983 release went to number 31 on the US Billboard Album chart and number 6 in Canada, where it also achieved triple-Platinum sales status.

Ringo Starr - Old Wave

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Old Wave, the ninth solo studio album by Ringo Starr. Starr worked with producer Joe Walsh on this 1983 album; Walsh was just coming off of the disbanding of the Eagles.

Besides Walsh on guitar, Starr was also joined by Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, John Entwistle of the Who, Eric Clapton, and Waddy Wachtel on some of the tracks.

Eric Clapton - Money and Cigarettes

Today (February 1st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Money and Cigarettes, the eighth solo studio album from British guitar legend Eric Clapton. This 1983 album went to number 20 in Australia, number 16 in the Netherlands and on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 13 in the UK, number 11 in New Zealand, number 9 in Japan, number 5 in Sweden and number 3 in Norway.

Assisting Clapton on the record were Ry Cooder (guitar), Albert Lee (guitar, keyboards and vocals), Donald “Duck” Dunn (bass), and Roger Hawkins (drums). Backing vocals were also provided by Chuck Kirkpatrick and John Sambataro.

Phil Collins - Face Value

Happy sixty-first birthday today (January 30th) to English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist, actor Phil Collins.

After over a decade as the drummer for the rock band Genesis, Collins decided to do his first solo album. The result, 1981's Face Value, was very well-received worldwide. The record went to number 1 in the UK, Canada and Sweden, number 2 in Australia and Germany and number 5 in Norway. In the US it peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Album chart. Since its release it has gone Platinum in sales multiple times over.

Back to the Future (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

It was the summer of 1985 and I was working my college co-op job in Randolph, NJ. I spent a lot of my weekends at the local movie complex at the mall in Dover. One of the biggest films was the fantasy comedy-adventure Back to the Future starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson. Little did I know then that this was the opening volley of a trio of films that would become all-time favorites of mine.