Genesis - Abacab (35th anniversary)

Today (September 14th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Abacab, the eleventh studio album from Genesis. This 1981 record spent sixty-four weeks on the US Billboard Album chart with a top spot of number 7.

For more from this album, click here.

For more from Genesis, click here.

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.

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.

Philip Bailey - Chinese Wall

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Chinese Wall, the second solo studio album from Philip Bailey. It spent thirty-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 22. It also hit number 10 on the US Billboard R&B chart. The record earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance Male.

Against All Odds (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

Today (March 2nd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Against All Odds. The accompanying soundtrack featured some big names in the 80's music scene including Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Big Country, and Kid Creole and the Coconuts.

Click here for my full review.

Adam Ant - Strip

Yesterday (November 8th) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Strip, the second solo studio album from Adam Ant. This one reached at number 65 on the US Billboard Album chart and number 20 on the UK charts.

The cover, of Adam posing coyly on a bed of straw, was modeled after a photo of Jane Russell from the 1943 film The Outlaw.

Genesis - Genesis

Today (October 3rd) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Genesis, the self-titled twelfth studio album from British rockers Tony Banks (keyboards), Phil Collins (drums, percussion and lead vocals), and Mike Rutherford (guitar and bass). This multi-Platinum seller from 1983 went to number 12 in Sweden, number 9 on the US Billboard Album chart, number 5 in France, number 2 in Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland, and number 1 in Germany and the UK.

Risky Business (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

In August of 1983, a movie about an entrepreneur high school Senior who is left alone while his parents are on a trip hit the movie theatres. Risky Business became a box office smash, launching a young Tom Cruise into stardom. The film also starred Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Pantoliano, Curtis Armstrong, Richard Masur and Bronson Pinchot.

Robert Plant - The Principle of Moments

Following 1982’s Pictures at Eleven (click here for that review), legendary Led Zeppelin front-man Robert Plant released his second solo studio album in 1983. This week (July 11th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Principle of Moments.

It charted at number 41 in Sweden, number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 7 in the UK and number 1 in New Zealand.

Genesis - Abacab

Happy sixty-second birthday today (January 30th) to the English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and producer Phil Collins.

Between his 1981 solo release Face Value (click here for that review) and his 1982 Hello, I Must Be Going! (click here for that review), Collins rejoined his Genesis bandmates Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford for their eleventh studio album Abacab. Released on September 14th of 1981, it charted at number 11 in Sweden, number 7 on the US Billboard Album chart, number 6 in Germany, number 4 in the Norway and number 1 in the UK.

Phil Collins - Hello, I Must Be Going!

To follow up his highly successful solo debut Face Value (click here for that review), Phil Collins released Hello, I Must Be Going! in the fall of 1982. Today (November 1st) is the thirtieth anniversary for the album.

With a title that came from a song in the Marx Brothers' 1930 comedy Animal Crackers, this one too was a multi-Platinum seller. It charted at number 20 in New Zealand, number 15 in Australia, number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 7 in Sweden, number 6 in Germany, number 4 in Norway, number 3 in the Netherlands, number 2 in the UK and number 1 in Canada.

Frida - Something's Going On

Today (September 6th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Something's Going On, the third solo studio album by Frida Lyngstad and her first in English. This 1982 release was in development as ABBA was finishing their final year as a working band. The album went Gold in Sweden after spending time at the number 1 spot on their charts. Around the rest of the world, it went to number 18 in the UK, number 12 in Germany, number 10 in Austria, number 3 in Finland and Switzerland, and number 2 in Belgium and Norway. In the US, it peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 200.

Against All Odds (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

On March 2nd of 1984, director Taylor Hackford released a neo-noir remake of the 1947 film Out of the Past. This new film, entitled Against All Odds starred Jeff Bridges, Rachel Ward and James Woods. Jane Greer, who had appeared in the original film, also had a supporting role in this new movie.

Robert Plant - Pictures At Eleven

After Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980, a number of the members went on to solo careers.

Thirty years ago today (June 28th), singer/songwriter Robert Plant released his first solo album Pictures At Eleven. This 1982 release went Platinum in a number of countries and performed well on the charts. It went to number 32 in Sweden, number 17 in Norway, number 16 in New Zealand and number 2 in the UK. In the US, it went all the way to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 200.

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.