Classic albums

We will look at the classic albums from the 1980s.

The first one we will look at is U2 The Joshua Tree. U2 The Joshua Tree (released 1987) The album was released in 1987 and was U2 first album in 3 years and represented a more rockier album than the previous The unforgettable fire.

It was widely reported that this album could have been a double album and that the band had so much material that they could not fit on one album. It was decided that any singles released would feature 2 tracks on the b side and classic U2 songs such as Sweetest Thing, Silver and Gold, luminous times and Walk on Water were relegated to b sides.

They eventually decided on the 11 tracks which arguably was one of there strongest albums. The album followed a central theme of America carrying on from the previous album and promoted a number of different sounds from blues, gospel to pyschedelic rock and the album went to sell 25 million copies and went on to receive critical acclaim. The 3 singles that were released in the Uk represented how diverse U2 sounded with the ballad With or without you, to the gospel sounding I still havn't found what i'm looking for to the rockier Where the streets have no name.

The band had several interruptions during recordings with an Amnesty tour they had committed to and then the death of Bono's personal assistant Greg Carroll died in a motorcycle accident. They managed to get back on track and produce a masterpiece. The album was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno and was recorded and mixed by Flood and Steve Lilywhite. When ready to be released Bono had some doubts as to the quality but Island records persisted and released via a huge marketing campaign and was the first album to be released on Vinyl, CD and cassette on the same day. The record was an instant success and the attention the record got shot U2 into the top echelon of rock music, soon they were everywhere and even a front cover appearance on Time magazine as Rocks hottest ticket cemented there appreciation over in America.

I can remember the day I purchased the album and was one of those albums where you cannot be disappointed. Every song was a classic and was well crafted and if you think back to the songs that didn't make the cut you just know how good this album is.

The black cover and the four moody rock stars being photographed just gave the album the edge. The band shot the pictures at a desert in California by Anton Corbijn and became the symbol for U2 and a pilgrimage place for U2 fans to visit and try and find the tree. A classic album and those tracks in order are Where the streets have no name, I still havn't found what im looking for, With or without you, Bullet the blue sky, Running to stand still, Red hill mining town, In gods country, Trip through your wires, One tree hill, Exit and Mothers of the disappeared








INXS - Kick (1987)

INXS were a Australian band that benn going for 10 years with relative success but one album helped them crack the US/UK market. The album Kick was there 6th studio album and the success of the album was made up of four huge hits that came off the album.

INXS went for a friendly rock radio sound to which the record label Atlantic were not convinced this would work. The idea of the record is that every song could be a potential 3 minute radio song which obvioulsy appealed to the radio market particularly in America.

The band released four songs of the album all became huge anthems for the band and became stadium favourites. The songs in question were 'new sensation', 'devil inside', 'need you tonight' and the classic 'never tear us apart'. All the songs hit the top 10 in USA and 'Need you tonight' went number 2 in the UK which was there biggest hit of the album.

Tracks on the album Guns in the sky, New sensation, Devil inside, Need you tonight, Mediate, The loved one, Wild life, Never tear us apart, Mystify, Kick, Calling all nations and Tiny daggers The album has deservedly received critical acclaim and for me it is an easy listening upbeat album without any weak link, a truly global album as the 11th song indicated Calling all nations. A classic album.

Simple Minds - Once upon a Time (1985)

Simple Minds were on a wave of success when this album was released. They had huge success in the UK and Europe and they finally cracked America with a number 1 hit Don't you forget about me.

They then released the album on the back of this but omitted Don't you forget about me. The album was there seventh studio album and was there most succesful album at the time.

The album went to number one in the UK and the album spawned four singles which all hit the top 20 in the UK. Alive and Kicking peaked at no.7 and the follow up All the things she said hit no.9. As the album sales gathered Sanctify yourself got to no.10 and finally Ghostdancing managed to peak at no.13.

The album was produced by Jimmy Iovine who worked with U2 and Tom Petty and Bob Clearmountain who was responsible for defining INXS sound. The album featured the backing singer talent of Robin Clark who had previously worked with David Bowie and Luther Van Dross.

The tracks on the album were Once upon a time, All the things she said, Ghostdancing, Alive and Kicking, Oh jungleland, I wish you were here, Sanctify yourself and Come a long way The album and it's content was responsible for most of there stadium anthems and is widely regarded as one of there finest pieces of work.

Madness - Absolutely (1980)

This saw Madness release the follow up to the debut album 'one step beyond' and this was to prove one of the popular albums Madness released. The album peaked at number 2 in the UK album charts and the album spawned three top 10 singles also in the UK charts. Those releases were Baggy trousers, Embarrassment and Return of the los palmas 7.

The album lasted just under 40 minutes but featured 14 songs and was produced by Langer and Winstanley on stiff records. The name of the album was reported to be the catchphrase of the bands tour manager Tony Duffield. The cover of the album featured the band outside a tube station in Camden keeping the local links to which the band were famed for.

Tracks on the album Baggy trousers, Embarrassment, ERNIE, Close Escape, Not home today, On the beat pete, Solid gone, Take it or leave it, Shadow of fear, Dissapear. Overdone, In the rain You said The return of the los palmas 7
To purchase the album

The Specials - More Specials (1980)

The 1980s saw many genre of music come to the fore and one of the early ones in the 1980s was the Ska revival primarily in the Midlands.

One of the chief architects was the Specials. After there debut self titled album, the pressure was on to continue the success of what they started. The debut album was a bit hard hitting and a more hard beat sound, the follow up was a complete change still with the Ska sound but incorporating other influences such as Lounge music.

They also worked with different artisites on the album which included fellow Ska brothers such as Rhoda Dakar from the Body Snatchers and Lee Thompson from Madness. They also worked with American all girl rock band The GoGo's who included a certain Belinda Carlisle. The album did hit the top 5 in the UK album charts and off the album 2 singles Stereotype and Do Nothing hit the top 10 in the UK singles charts. the album was released on the iconic 2 Tone label and was produced by the originator of the revival Jerry Dammers.

The album hit the top 100 in America and included the iconic song Rat Race but this was not included on the UK version of the album.

The tracks on the album Enjoy yourself, Man at C&A, Hey, little rich girl, Do Nothing, Pearls Café, Sock it to 'em JB, Stereotype, Holiday Fortnight, I can't stand it, International Jet set and Enjoy yourself (reprise)
To listen or purchase


  Joy Division - Closer (1980)


Some albums get to number one and then disappear into the emptiness of time. Others may not get that pivotal spot but will make an impression well beyond its year. Joy Division final album is that in the latter category and has sparked much debate regarding the material, the photography and the title of the album.

The album was released in 1980 by Factory Records following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis and is widely regarded as the blueprint for the Goth Rock genre. The album like the debut album Unknown Pleasures was produced by Martin Hannett and the album peaked at number 6 in the UK album charts.

The cover photo on the album depicts a family tomb originating from Genoa in Italy and was designed by Peter Saville as he did on the debut album. The songs on the album all lead to possible suggestions regarding Ian Curtis mind such as The Eternal, Isolation and Passover which illuminated a possible contemplation that this would be his final masterpiece.

The album is often cited in one of the must albums to listen to. The sound of the album does have a more atmospheric feel than the debut album and considering the circumstances it was released in it gives the impression that this could not get any better. Famously, the band did not release singles of any albums prefering to keep the two matters seperate.

The tracks include Atrocity,  Exhibition, Isolation, Passover, Colony, A means to an end, Heart and Soul, Twenty four hours and The eternal Decades
To listen to or purchase

Paul Young - No Parlez (1983)

This was the debut album from the Luton based singer Paul Young. The album consisted of pop, soul and elements of new wave on the album.

The album was released in 1983 and the success of the album exceeded all expectations. No Parlez reached number one on the UK album charts and stayed there for five weeks. In fact the album stayed in the top 100 for 119 weeks and sales nearly exceeding one million.

The album was released on the CBS label and was produced by Laurie Latham who had previous credits with Echo & bunnymen, The Stranglers and Squeeze. The album featured three huge singles with Where ever I lay my Hat reaching number one, come back and stay and love of the common people also reaching the top 5. The album also featured many cover versions of soul and new wave and one song he attempted was Joy Division Love will tear us apart.

He also wrote a couple of songs with the moody Broken Man and tender trap. In 2008 the album was re-released as part of a 25th Anniversary tour.

The tracks include Come back and stay, Love will tear us apart, Wherever I lay my hat, Ku Ku Kurama, No parlez, Behind your smile, Love of the common people, Oh women, Iron out the rough spots, Broken man, Tender trap and Sex