Q-Feel - Q-Feel

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album Q-Feel. This British synth pop group was made up of Martin Page (bass and vocals), Brian Fairweather (guitar and vocals), Chris Richardson (keyboards and backing vocals) and Trevor Thornton (drums). Q-Feel released a single in 1981 called "Doctor on the Radio" but became known thanks to the releases on this record.

Def Leppard - Pyromania (30th anniversary)

Today (January 20th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Pyromania, the third studio album from English rock band Def Leppard.

Click here for my full review of this 80's classic and get ready to rock (rock) 'till you drop.

The Oak Ridge Boys - American Made

Tomorrow (January 20th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of American Made, the ninth studio album from the American country band the Oak Ridge Boys (Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban). The record went to number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 2 on the Billboard Country charts. It also generated a pair of number 1 country hits in the US.

Bryan Adams - Cuts Like a Knife

Today (January 18th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Cuts Like a Knife, the third studio album from Canadian rocker Bryan Adams. The Platinum seller went to number 52 in Australia, number 24 in Germany, number 22 in Sweden, number 21 in the UK and number 8 in both Canada and the US Billboard Hot 200.

This record became a breakout hit for Adams, exposing him to a wider audience. A number of popular music videos running on MTV at the time certainly helped as well. In Canada, it earned him a Juno Award for Composer of the Year.

Haysi Fantayzee - Battle Hymns for Children Singing

Happy fifty-first birthday this week to English DJ and singer Jeremy Healy. In the early 80’s, he was one half of the pop duo known as Haysi Fantayzee; his partner was singer/photographer Kate Garner. The group, however, had a third rarely seen member as well. Paul Caplin (Kate’s then boyfriend) played all the music for the group.

After a number of successful singles in the UK in late 1982, they put out their sole full-length album in early 1983. Battle Hymns For Children Singing, a title which Healy made up on the spot during a radio interview, charted at number 53 in their native UK. Thanks to a quirky video on MTV, they also sold albums over on this side of the pond. Today we will give this one a listen to celebrate its thirtieth anniversary.

Randy Newman - Trouble In Paradise

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Trouble in Paradise, the seventh studio album from singer-songwriter Randy Newman. It climbed to number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 200 chart. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at number 67 on its list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 80's.

Newman had a number of guest performers on the record. Appearing on vocals are Lindsey Buckingham, Don Henley, Rickie Lee Jones, Christine McVie, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Seger, Wendy Waldman and Jennifer Warnes. On the music side, the record also featured Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro of Toto, Waddy Wachtel and many more.

Grand Funk - What's Funk?

1983 marked the end of the line for the American rock band Grand Funk Railroad. What’s Funk? was the last studio album of original material to date from the trio of Mark Farner (vocals, guitars and keyboards), Don Brewer (vocals and drums) and Dennis Bellinger (bass and backing vocals). Later that year, the band broke up with Farner moving on to a solo Christian rock phase and Brewer joining Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band.

Today, we will look at this album for its thirtieth anniversary.