Friday 80s Flashback for April 12, 2024

[Grace Under Pressure] -- Forty years ago today, Rush released their 10th studio album, Grace Under Pressure. Like many bands who came to popularity in the 1970s, Rush began augmenting their three-piece sound with synths in the early 1980s. Unlike they synths that adorn some recordings in the early half of the decade, their presence on Grace Under Pressure doesn't feel forced or overly gimmicky. 

Fans liked it, too. I mean, sure, there were complaints. But the album reached reached #4 in Rush's native Canada, #5 in the UK, and #10 on the U.S. Billboard 200. And it earned a spot on Guitar World magazine's list of "50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1984." The singles – "Distant Early Warning," "The Body Electric," and "Red Sector A" – all reached the top 40 in the US, with "Distant Early Warning" actually reaching the #3 position. "Afterimage" was one of my favorite tracks, and it was released as a single in Japan (though I seem to recall it did get some radio play in the US as well). My next favorite track has to be "The Enemy Within," which is the first part of the band's "Fear Series" of songs (the other parts appeared on later albums).

Considering four decades have passed since this record was first released, many of its themes still feel rather contemporary. Musically, that's fine. But more than a few songs here were informed by cold war paranoia, so that's not exactly a positive statement on the world, is it?

Flashback: Grace Under Pressure (April 12, 1984)

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And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Friday 80s Flashback for April 5, 2024

[Still Lamenting] -- A bunch of albums were released early in April 1984, so why did I choose Lament, the seventh studio album from Ultravox, for this week's Flashback post? Well, in addition to me finding many of this album's tracks still relevant today, there's also the sad fact that Ultravox bassist Chris Cross recently died at the age of 71. Cross, who co-wrote the hit "Vienna," passed away on March 25, but the announcement didn't come out until earlier this week. So, this post serves as both a Flashback and a tribute. 

Lament was released 40 years ago this week, on April 6, 1984. The album peaked at #8 in the UK, #25 in Germany, and #115 in the US. This album's peak positions in other countries generally ranges between that of the UK and the US. The three singles – "One Small Day" (which they performed at the 1985 Live Aid concert), "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes," and the title track "Lament" – were all relative hits in the UK, but failed to chart in the US. I tend to think the US missed out. 

"Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" feels rather similar to the band's 1982 single, "We Came to Dance." And both songs echo something of a sorrowful attitude within the energy of dancing. But, this week, the lyrics hit a bit differently considering all those lost to violence or even indifference: "Dancing with tears in my eyes | Weeping for the memory of a life gone by." 

"Lament" is perhaps the most sobering track on this album. Midge Ure hauntingly sings: 

And just as my eyes start seeing

After all the pain

The twist in my life starts healing

Just to twist again

In stillness, in sorrow

Returns that softly sighing lament

"One Small Day" is still a favorite of mine. It is much more guitar-driven that any song Ultravox had released up to that point. If Ultravox had recorded this with their standard synth treatment, I doubt it would have quite the same punch. Even today, four decades after its original release, this song can revive me from my doldrums. Its message: All you need is that one day, one day where you can "feel the strength of love at hand," and you can "live a life the way it's meant to be." And, sometimes, that day may be closer than you think. 

Flashback: Lament (April 6, 1984)

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And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven! 

Green Lantern: War Journal

Wow. The latest John Stewart GL series, Green Lantern: War Journal, just continues to impress. It has horror, cosmic threats, political intrigue, and heartbreaking family illness. Phillip Kennedy Johnson (script) is really dialed into John Stewart as a character, while Montos (pencils), Adriano Lucas (colors), and Dave Sharpe (lettering) are delivering epic visuals. 

The first arc just ended, but the storyline carries over into the start of a new arc with issue #7. Jump in!

Image: part of a splash page from Green Lantern: War Journal #7. This shows John Stewart in seriously uncharted cosmic territory. 

Friday 80s Flashback for March 29, 2024

[(The) Icicle Works] -- Turning 40 years old last weekend, it's the eponymous debut album by UK new wave band, The Icicle Works. It was released on March 23, 1984, and it charted at #24 and #40 on the UK and US album charts respectively. The UK, US, and Canadian releases each had different artwork and track listings. Here are the covers for the UK, US, and Canada (note that the US release nixes the definite article, titling the album simply Icicle Works):

The best known single from this album is probably "Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)," which had the reversed title, "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)," in several markets, including the US. Also in the US, this song was the album's lead-off track rather than the penultimate track of the album's B-side. Despite being well-known, and it did reach #2 on the UK independent charts, it peaked at a lowly #89 on the UK singles chart, while a reworked version barely made it inside the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100. "Love Is A Wonderful Colour" is actually The Icicle Works' biggest hit to date, peaking at #15 on the UK Singles Chart in late 1983 (a pre-release for the album). 

A sampling of the lyrics on this Good Friday:

Love is a beacon, on the horizon,

Watch when you touch down,

Reality finds you fumbling for reasons,

when the chance comes 'round

The Icicle Works never really flirted with US charts again after this album, but the UK embraced the rest of their 1980s records. The band broke up in 1991, but reunited in 2006 and still performs together, though they have not released any new material since 1990. 

Flashback: The Icicle Works (March 23, 1984)

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And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Friday 80s Flashback for March 22, 2024

[Good Talk] -- The Go-Go's were the first all-female band to top the Billboard album charts by writing their own songs and playing their own instruments. Yes, folks, there were several "girl groups" with writing and playing chops before The Go-Gos, but none of them cranked out hits quite like these ladies. And 40 years ago this week, they released their third studio album, Talk Show (1984), which peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Although the album was critically well-received, it was a commercial disappointment. Maybe it was the slight change in style, or it could have been the clutter of half-realized songs (as AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine claims). Whatever caused its lack of sales, Talk Show still has its gems.

Well, "Head Over Heels," the first single from this studio album, definitely qualifies as a pop gem. This track peaked at #11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the best showing of the three singles. But it wasn't enough to help this album keep pace with their prior two efforts, even with its boost from MTV where the music video peaked at #3. I have a special fondness for this music video because I love the 60s aesthetic they're pulling with the band performing on that multi-color set. (And, aside from the instruments, no audio equipment is shown! No amps, cords, mics, etc.)

The second single, "Turn to You," had a solid hook. And the band performed it on that bastion of 80s popular music, the Solid Gold TV show. However, the song barely cracked the top 40, peaking at a mere #32 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. But don't let that lackluster charting performance fool you: This is a great song! (Also, I'm all but certain that I saw that episode of Solid Gold; did you?)

There was a third single, and it was titled "Yes or No." But I don't recall ever hearing it let alone thinking much of it. So, if I had to select a third gem from Talk Show, I would go with "I'm the Only One." It's the lead off track for Side B of the album, and it honestly should have been a single! In my opinion, it's at least on par with "Head Over Heels." It's a fully realized song with hook, attitude, and tremendous energy. You can check out a direct recording (which is also in the embedded playlist below), or view this live footage from Greek Theatre (August, 1984), but I'm kind of obsessed with this rehearsal footage from a 1984 cable TV special.

Sadly, Talk Show marked the last time the original Go-Go's lineup would record an album together ... until 2001. 

So, cue up the embedded playlist below, and let me know your fave tracks!

Flashback: Talk Show (March 19, 1984)

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And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Friday 80s Flashback for March 15, 2024

[Hello Again] -- The Cars released five albums, one album per year, from 1978 to 1982. Then, following their 1982 tour, the band took a break to pursue solo projects. But they reunited in the middle of 1983, moved to London, and spent six months in the studio with Jeff "Mutt" Lange. Those six months turned out to be time well spent; they resulted in The Cars's most successful album: Heartbeat City, released 40 years ago this week (on March 13, 1984). 

Heartbeat City yielded five Top 40 singles, two of which peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself peaked at #3 on the US Billboard 200 and #1 on the US Rock Albums (Billboard) charts. Not only that, its 1984 year-end chart performance placed it at #12 on the Billboard 200. 

The two top ten tracks were the energetic "You Might Think" and the ballad "Drive." The rather magical "Magic" peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and its music video, shot at the Hilton family house in Beverly Hills, features a number of outlandish characters and seemingly "magical" feats. One of those feats was Ric Ocasik walking on water (er, across the swimming pool). "Hello Again," which peaked at #20, was notable for its music video exploring the topics of sex and violence ... and for cameos by the co-director, Andy Warhol. The moody yet quirky "Why Can't I Have You" was this album's lowest charting single, but that might have been due more to the strength of other songs released around the same time: Madonna, Chicago, Foreigner and others were kind of ruling the charts for the bulk of January 1985, so much so that it took a few weeks for "Why Can't I Have You" to finally break into the the top 100 at #79.

Even the non-single tracks are great. For example, check out "It's Not the Night," "I Refuse," and "Stranger Eyes" (and probably in that order). Actually, it might be best if you just listen to the whole album and enjoy it for the pop masterpiece it is. 

Flashback: Heartbeat City (March 13, 1984)

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And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!

Friday 80s Flashback for March 8, 2024

[Does the Fire Still Burn?] -- In November 1983, Sammy Hagar (in the midst of a solo career) and Neal Schon (of Journey and Santana fame) played a series of live dates with veteran bassist Kenny Aaronson and drummer Michael Shrieve (who had previously played in Santana with Schon). Two of the gigs were recorded for a one-time MTV broadcast, but there was no official videocassette or DVD release of the concerts.

However, the concert audio was used for an album. 

During the mixing process, the studio reduced the crowd noise, and might have added guitar overdubs (depends on where you read about it), but largely left the concerts as recorded. And a few months later, in March 1984 – or maybe in May 1984 (again, depends on the source) – Geffen released the one and only album by "supergroup" HSAS (named for Hagar, Schon, Aaronson, and Shrieve): Through the Fire. That album turned 40 years old this week. Or, it will turn 40 at some point between now and the end of May 2024. But the point is, this one-off album by a one-off (er, one tour) band turns 40 in 2024. 

I had a cassette copy of this album back in the day. I don't recall how I found out about it. Maybe I just happened to see it and recognized Hagar and Schon. Maybe it was hyped in CIRCUS or some other magazine at the time. But I'm pretty sure I was the only one in my entire hometown who bought a copy of Through the Fire. I might also be one of the few people who remembers, let alone enjoyed, this record. It received pretty lousy reviews, even retroactively. AllMusic rated it 2 1/2 stars. Robert Christgau gave it a D+ grade. Classic Rock & Culture, however, calls it "one of the best 'one and done' albums you’ll ever encounter." 

There are some clunkers on the record. But it is largely a solid rock record, particularly for fans of hard rock guitar. And in my re-listen, I find that I still enjoy the record. Highlights include "Top of the Rock," "Missing You," "He Will Understand," and "My Home Town." Even their cover of Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" is worth a listen, and it's the only track that found a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

The links above are live performances saved on YouTube. The embedded playlist below is all audio. 

Flashback: Through The Fire (March 1984)

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And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

I'll see you in seven!