Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Welcome to 1980


Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson : 1980



The music scene of 1980 has a dark cloud hanging over it with the December 8 murder of John Lennon as well as the deaths of Joy Division's Ian Curtis, AC/DC's Bon Scott, Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, Professor Longhair and Darby Crash of The Germs. Paul McCartney, Ron Wood and Don Henley were all arrested on drug charges. The Eagles, Led Zeppelin and Wire broke up while Iggy Pop, The Rolling Stones, 10cc, Cheap Trick, The Ramones and Neil Young all released disappointing albums. Most album covers were monochromatic although there were some very colorful exceptions like Get Happy!, Argybargy and especially Beat Crazy by The Joe Jackson Band ( see below).



The good news: terrific debut albums by U2, The English Beat, Pretenders, The Psychedelic Furs, Echo and the Bunnymen, Teardrop Explodes, X, The Feelies, Pylon and Dexys Midnight Runners and great albums by Talking Heads, Joy Division, The Jam and Prince. It's going to be a very bumpy year. Thanks for coming along for the ride.






Most album covers seemed dark and monochromatic, but there were some very colorful exceptions.


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