Retro Album Cover of the Day

Artist: Echo & the Bunnymen
Title: Songs to Learn & Sing
Date: 1985
Label: Sire Records 25360-1


































Notes: Consisting of cuts previously released in 1981 thru 1984 this collection demonstrates the lighter edge of eighties angst. Melodies, fantastic guitar sounds and electronics all blend to make for a delicious stew. This is all in retrospect of course, I kind of dismissed these guys the first time around as disco marketed electo-dance. But no, on recent listenings these songs can stand on their own as classics of the period. I remember an ethereal video for the "Dancing Horses" cut and it was very similar to the shadowed front cover. Very nice indeed boys.

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Retro Album Cover of the Day

Artist: Meat Puppets
Title: "Huevos"
Date: 1987
Label: SST Records SST 150
Cover: Curt
Sleeve Drawing: Cris
Sleeve Photo: Joe Cultice

Notes: From out of the scrub brush on the edge of the desert comes a trio who were making their brand of music well before alt-country and Americana were the new thing to come down the 'pike.
Don't get me wrong, I love the alt-America stuff, but there is something right and real about the Puppets and the songs they sing. This record is a bit more mellow than I remembered the first time around, but that in no way reduces the amount of pleasure to be gotten from a few repeated listenings.
The cover art appears to be painted in thick layers in a slightly southwestern palette. Hey, any cover with a bottle of Tabasco on it is welcome at my table, any meal of the day.

Cover Art &Article Source

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Retro Album Cover of the Day

Artist: The B52's
Title: Party Mix
Date: 1981
Label: Warner Brothers Records MINI 3596
Cover: Tony Wright
Photograph: Lynn Goldsmith

Notes: An early set of tunes by the B-52's on a 6 song EP. Remixed for party playing and group dancing. Cocktail madness well ahead of the curve the '52's were a band to reckon with. Big hair in a good way, flashy threads and harmonies that are out of this world. It's fun stuff from the colorful cover to the innermost grooves. Turn it up and watch 'em wriggle on the dance floor.

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I Love the 80's - Roxy Music

Roxy Music are an English art rock group founded in the early 1970s by art school graduate Bryan Ferry (vocals and keyboards). The band existed from 1971 through 1983, then reunited for a concert tour in 2001, and have announced that they will be recording a new album in 2005-2006 for a 2007 release.

The group's name was partly an homage to the titles of old cinemas and dance halls, and partly a pun on the word 'rock.' (Ferry first named the band Roxy, but learning of an American band with the same name prompted the alteration of the name.)



The juxtaposition of nostalgic and contemporary (or futuristic) themes was a distinctive feature of the band, particularly in their earliest incarnation. The group is noted for their combination of idiosyncratic experimentation and sophisticated wit, evident in their literate lyrics, restrained instrumental virtuosity, and highly developed visual presentation (mainly directed by Ferry) which expropriated imagery from the realms of high fashion, kitsch, and commercial photography.

Roxy Music were a significant influence on the early English punk movement, as well as providing a model for many "New Wave" acts and the subsequent New Romantic and experimental electronic groups of the early 1980s. Ferry and co-founding member Brian Eno have also had broadly influential solo careers, and Eno in particular has emerged one of the most significant record producers of the late 20th century, with credits including landmark albums by acts such as Devo, Talking Heads and U2.





Sources: YouTube/Wikipedia

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Prince's Super Bowl Performance: Did You Love It or Hate It?

Being a child of the eighties I grew up with Prince and his 'Purple Rain' Soundtrack.

I won the VHS movie in a contest on the radio and must have watched it a fifty times that year. I had the Purple Rain poster hanging in my room. I remember being envious of Appolonia. Remember that skanky lead singer of Appolonia 6? How embarrassing.

Needless to say when I heard Prince was going to perform during half time at the Super Bowl, I was excited.

I thought the performance was amazing.

The shadow behind the rippling curtain sort of freaked me out though. It looked like a horny, beer bellied Devil was behind the screen!





















The most memorable moment of Prince's performance had to have been during the song 'Purple Rain' with the purple neon and lasers, the fans lighters and cell phones glowing, and the rain coming down on it all. What a cool moment.













That was the only time during the game that I wished I had been there. Other than that I felt for all those sorry mofo's having to sit in a constant douching of rain through the entire game.




























Smackaholics, did love or hate Prince's performance at the Super Bowl?

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Spicy
Source: Getty Images/YouTube

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The Police Reunite For Grammy Awards, Possible World Tour To Follow

The Police will reunite to open the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

















The band, vocalist Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland have earned five Grammy Awards in the past.

It is believed that they will launch a world tour after the appearance. Rumors have been swirling as to whether or not The Police have been practicing for the world tour at the Lions Gate Studios in Vancouver, B.C. for some time.

A&M Records has declined to verify the tour, but will only say that the band will be celebrating the 30 year anniversary of the hit song, 'Roxanne'.

“It is our intention to mark the anniversary by doing something special with the band's catalog of songs. Needless to say, everyone is hopeful the band will support our plans and while early discussions have taken place, nothing has been decided,” the label said in a statement.

Let's hope they do the World Tour, let's also hope that tickets aren't $300 a pop. I'd love to see them.

Spicy
Source: Earthtimes.org

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I Love the 80's!

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I Love the 80's

Oh hell to the YES!

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I Love the 80's

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