Willie Nelson with Waylon Jennings - Take It to the Limit

Happy eightieth birthday today (April 30th) to Willie Nelson.

This month also marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Take It to the Limit, the third studio album that Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings released together as a team. The record went to number 3 on the US Billboard Country chart and crossed over to number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 200.

The tracks break down with duets by the two men on the odd tracks, while the even ones are Nelson performing solo.

Valley Girl (soundtrack) (30th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Matinee Monday.

Thirty years ago today (April 29th) was the release of Valley Girl, a romantic comedy that re-imagined the tale of Romeo and Juliet in modern times. It also featured a fantastic new-wave soundtrack (so, like, ohmygod...click here for that totally bitchin' review).

The Replacements - Hootenanny

This week (April 29th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Hootenanny, the second studio album from the Replacements. The cover art for the album was done in homage to the 1963 Crestview Records compilation of folk music also entitled Hootenanny.

The line-up for the Minneapolis band at the time included Chris Mars on drums, Bob Stinson on lead guitar, Tommy Stinson on bass, and Paul Westerberg on vocals and guitar.

The B-52's - Whammy!

Today (April 27th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Whammy!, the third full-length studio album from the B-52’s. It charted at number 97 in Australia, number 42 in New Zealand, number 33 in the UK, and number 29 in Sweden and on the US Billboard Hot 200.

Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of Shadow Dancing, the second studio album from Andy Gibb.

For the complete review of this 1978 album, please click here.

"Weird Al" Yankovic - "Weird Al" Yankovic (30th anniversary)

Today (April 26th) is a milestone day in comedy. Thirty years ago marked the release of the debut album from "Weird Al" Yankovic. Armed with an accordion and a sense of wordplay, he totally reinvented the genre of music parodies for a whole new generation.

Click here for my full review of Al's debut album.

Mary Jane Girls - Mary Jane Girls

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of the self-titled debut album from the Mary Jane Girls. The project came together when Rick James wanted to get his former background singer Joanne “Jo Jo” McDuffie a recording contract with Motown. The label wanted a girl group project, so James concocted the Mary Jane Girls.