1981

New Wave Pop 

It’s All in the Draw of the Cards: Mistaken Identity at 40

August 12, 2021August 12, 2021 T.A. Inskeep 3 Comments 1981, 40th Anniversary, Bette Davis Eyes, Draw of the Card, EMI, EMI America, Kim Carnes, Mistaken Identity, SiriusXM, Voyeur, Waddy Watchel

Looking back at Kim Carnes’s fluky #1 album, and her brief hit-making career

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Alternative Rock Dance Electronic Pop 

Walking In His Shoes: Martin Gore at 60

July 23, 2021July 23, 2021 Jim Sullivan 2 Comments 1981, 1988, 60th birthday, Andy Fletcher, Dave Gahan, Depeche Mode, Martin Gore, New Order, The Cure, Vince Clarke

The Depeche Mode guitar great defies age by always moving forward

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Folk Pop Remembrance 

Harry Chapin: The Story of a Life

July 20, 2021July 20, 2021 Jim Sullivan 1 Comment 1981, Cat's In The Cradle, Do Something: The Harry Chapin Story, Harry Chapin, Jimmy Carter, Long Island, RIP, Tom Chapin, When In Doubt, World Hunger Year

40 years after tragedy struck on the Long Island Expressway, Jim Sullivan reminds us why the beloved singer-songwriter was so much more than one hit song

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Experimental New Wave Pop 

Goodbye Sadness: Season Of Glass at 40

July 13, 2021March 28, 2022 Steve Holtje 0 Comments 1981, Geffen, John Lennon, MTV, Season of Glass, The Beatles, Walking on Thin Ice, Yoko Ono

The most accessible Yoko Ono album was made in the immediacy of her heartbreak over John Lennon’s murder

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jazz New Wave Pop 

We The Cats: Joe Jackson’s Jumpin’ Jive at 40

June 28, 2021June 28, 2021 Jim Allen 3 Comments 1981, 40th Anniversary, AM, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Brian Setzer, Cab Calloway, Graham Maby, Joe Jackson, Jumpin' Jive, Louis Jordan, Night and Day

In the Summer of ’81, a New Wave firebrand became the first neo-swing king

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Dub/Reggae Pub Rock Punk Rap 

A Funny Thing Happened En Route To Seeing The Clash At Bond International Casino….

June 13, 2021June 13, 2021 Billy Sternberg 3 Comments 1981, 40th Anniversary, Bonds International Casino, Joe Strummer, London Calling, Mick Jones, New York City, Paul Simonon, The Clash, Times Square, Topper Headon

One fan’s unique remembrance of catching the British punk godfathers on Broadway 40 years ago this month

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Hard Rock Rock 

The Last Rock Star: When Billy Squier Blew Up

May 21, 2021May 23, 2021 Jim Allen 2 Comments 1981, 40th Anniversary, Billy Squier, Capitol, Capitol Records, Don't Say No, MTV, Piper

40 years ago, America said yes to Don’t Say No

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adblock Dance Disco Dub/Reggae Funk New Wave Post-Punk 

Drive It In Between: Nightclubbing at 40

May 19, 2021May 19, 2021 Steve Holtje 0 Comments 1981, 40th Anniversary, Alex Sadkin, Barry Reynolds, Chris Blackwell, David Bowie, Demolition Man, Grace Jones, Iggy Pop, Marianne Faithfull, Nightclubbing, Pull Up To The Bumper

Grace Jones’ fifth album is “The Empire Strikes Back” of her Compass Point Trilogy

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New Wave Rock 

Face Dances At 40: How The Who Moved On Without Moon

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 Jim Allen 2 Comments 1981, 40th Anniversary, Another Tricky Day, Face Dances, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Kenney Jones, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, The Who, You Better You Bet

In 1981, the rock gods rebounded from tragedy by getting in tune with the times

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jazz New Wave 

How Landscape’s Subversive Synth-Pop Helped Shape the ‘80s

March 9, 2021March 15, 2021 Jim Allen 7 Comments 1981, 40th Anniversary, Blitz, Einsten A Go Go, Jazz, Kraftwerk, Landscape, New Romantic, New Wave, Spandau Ballet, Ultravox, Yellow Magic Orchestra

Follow the journey from jazz to New Romantic as “Einstein a-Go-Go” turns 40

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Alternative Rock Power Pop Rock 

Pump Up The Volume: Stands For Decibels at 40

February 19, 2021February 20, 2021 Jim Caligiuri 0 Comments 1981, 40th Anniversary, Alex Chilton, Big Star, CBGB, Chris Stamey, Gene Holder, Hurrah’s, Irving Plaza, Maxwell's, Peter Holsapple, The dB's, the Mudd Club, Will Rigby

An exclusive chat with The dB’s about their classic debut album

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jazz Rock Zappa 

Frank Zappa’s Halloween Happenstance

October 31, 2020October 31, 2020 Lee Zimmerman 0 Comments 1981, Chad Wackerman, Ed Mann, Frank Zappa, Halloween, Halloween 81, New York City, Palladium, Ray White, Robert Martin, Scott Thunes, Steve Vai, Tommy Mars, Universal Music Enterprises, Zappa Family Trust

New six CD set from 1981 guarantees a ghoulish good time

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