Pointer Sisters - Contact

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Contact, the eleventh studio album from the Pointer Systems and their first on the RCA label. The Platinum seller hit number 49 in Germany, number 37 in the Netherlands, number 36 in New Zealand, number 34 in the UK, number 19 in Switzerland, number 17 in Australia, number 14 in Canada and number 6 in Sweden. Here in the US, it reached number 24 on the Billboard Album chart (with a total thirty-four weeks run) and number 11 on the Billboard R&B chart. The record also garnered the group an American Music Award for Favorite Video Group in 1986.

Beverly Hills Cop (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Today (December 5th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of the soundtrack from Beverly Hills Cop. The Grammy Award winning soundtrack spent sixty-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at the number 1 spot. The record featured music from Glenn Frey, Harold Faltermeyer, Patti LaBelle, the Pointer Sisters and more.

For my complete review of this smash hit album, click here.

The Pointer Sisters - Break Out

Today (November 6th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Break Out, the tenth studio album from Anita, June and Ruth - the Pointer Sisters. This record, a multi-platinum seller, turned out to be their biggest seller to data. It also won the group two Grammy Awards and two American Music Awards. Chart-wise, it hit number 27 in Sweden, number 17 in Australia, number 15 in the Netherlands, number 9 in the UK, number 8 on the US Billboard Album chart, number 6 in New Zealand and on the US Billboard R&B chart, and number 4 in Canada.

Pointer Sisters - So Excited!

Today (July 11th) we wish a very happy sixty-second birthday to Bonnie Pointer. In 1977, she left the group she founded with her older siblings to pursue a solo career.

This month, the Pointer Sisters also celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the release of So Excited!, their ninth studio album. Anita, June and Ruth (along with a whole slew of studio musicians) put together a 1982 release that went to number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 24 on the R&B charts.

Night Shift (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

Thirty years ago this month, the Ron Howard directed comedy about a former stock-broker (played by Henry Winkler) who is forced to take a job in a New York City morgue. There he is partnered on the night shift with a wildly exuberant co-worker (played by Michael Keaton). Together, along with a struggling prostitute (played by Shelley Long), they turn that morgue upside down.

Beverly Hills Cop II (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday. And today (May 6th) we wish a very special happy sixty-seventh birthday to American rock musician Bob Seger.

After the huge box office success of the first Beverly Hills Cop film in 1984 and its smash hit soundtrack album (click here for my review of that record), Paramount Pictures re-teamed Eddie Murphy with Judge Reinhold and John Ashton for the sequel. Naturally, a soundtrack album was also released; the Beverly Hills II album debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 200 charts and spent a total of twenty weeks there (slightly more than half the time its predecessor spent on the charts which was forty nine weeks).

A Very Special Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you, my blog readers. Today (December 25th) also happens to be the fifty-seventh birthday of Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics.

In 1987, the first of what has turned into a sporadic series of A Very Special Christmas albums was released. The series, created by music producer Jimmy Iovine, takes popular music artists of the time and has them sing holiday favorites. The album sales go to benefit the Special Olympics charity. Each cover has been designed by artist Keith Haring.

Beverly Hills Cop (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

In December of 1984, the cold winter chill was cut by a hot new comedy film starring Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold and John Ashton. Beverly Hills Cop was not only a smash at the box office, but its accompanying soundtrack album racked up some impressive numbers on the music charts as well. It spent sixty-two weeks on the US Billboard Album chart with two weeks at the number 1 spot in late June of 1985.