Ronnie Milsap - Keyed Up

Today (March 31st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Keyed Up, the fifteenth studio album from country singer Ronnie Milsap. It charted at number 2 on the US Billboard Country chart and crossed over to number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 200.

The original vinyl release included ten songs, but the later US CD release cut it back to only seven for some reason (import CDs from Japan restored it to ten). For this review, I will stick to the full vinyl content.

Roxy Music - The High Road

A year after releasing their final studio album Avalon (click here for that review), Roxy Music compiled a four song EP of live recordings from an August of 1982 show at the Apollo in Glasgow, Scotland. It charted at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 26 in the UK. Today we will look at the March of 1983 record The High Road in honor of its thirtieth anniversary.

Frank Zappa - The Man From Utopia

Following 1982’s Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch (click here for that review), Frank Zappa returned to the studio to create The Man From Utopia. This album went to number 153 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 87 in the UK and number 23 in Sweden. This week marks the thirtieth anniversary of its release.

The original vinyl track order and content varied a bit from the later re-release. As the norm, I will be examining the record as it first came out.

Al Jarreau - Jarreau

Today (March 28th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Jarreau, the sixth studio album from seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz/R&B singer Al Jarreau. This Platinum seller went to number 60 in the UK, number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 4 on the US Billboard R&B chart, and number 1 on US Jazz chart.

Molly Hatchet - No Guts… No Glory

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of No Guts… No Glory, the fifth studio album from southern rockers Molly Hatchet. This record marked the return of lead vocalist Danny Joe Brown to the Florida band’s fold. The rest of the roster this time out was Barry “B.B.” Borden on drums, Riff West on bass, and Steve Holland, Dave Hlubek and Duane Roland on guitars. This one charted at number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 200

Martin Briley - One Night With a Stranger

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of One Night With a Stranger, the second studio album from English singer-songwriter Martin Briley. Prior to going solo, Briley was part of Mandrake Paddle Steamer and of Greenslade. He also worked as a session musician for Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Meat Loaf, Donna Summer, Tom Jones, Albert Hammond and more.

Lou Reed - Legendary Hearts

Today we celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Legendary Hearts, the twelfth solo studio album by Lou Reed. This March of 1983 release peaked at number 159 on the US Billboard Hot 200. It features Reed on guitar and vocals, Fred Maher on drums, Robert Quine on guitar, and Fernando Saunders on bass.