87 tracks, runtime 5h 38m. The playlist features the highest-rated track from each album (subject to what's available on YouTube) in chart order, with a minimum individual track-rating of 6.5 required for inclusion. To view the full tracklist, access shuffle-play or avoid in-play interruption due to territorially blocked videos, it might be best playing directly via YouTube
STRAIGHT OUTTA CAMDEN
This was the year that Tommy McGloin and his combo – El Thommo, Bedders, Woody, Chrissy Boy, Chas, Suggs and Monsieur Barso – truly cemented their status as all-time legends of the British music scene. Not too far behind were Adam and The Ants, The Fall and Joy Division, as London and Manchester retained their grip as the leading hot spots.
Britain’s 2-Tone revolution is in rude-health, with terrific albums from The Specials, The Selecter and The Beat as well as the aforementioned nutty seven.
It’s an exceptional year for Birmingham actually; The Beat are joined by fellow debutants UB40 and Dexys Midnight Runners – making three superb long play statements from the city, all told.
Other notable debutants in this year include Bow Wow Wow, Pretenders, Echo and The Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes, as the British New Wave scene continues to develop stylistically in avenues many and varied.
Stateside, Dead Kennedys, Ramones, Captain Beefheart, Lydia Lunch and The Cramps are where it’s at.
After 15 years of the Rhodesian Bush War, Zimbabwe dances to the sound of independence and first-class LPs from Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited and Flavian Nyathi and Blues Revolution commemorate the declaration of the new Republic in April ’80.
For me, 1980 overtakes 1967 as the greatest year for albums to date; the ratings are stronger in-depth at every turn, whether in terms of the Top 10, Top 30 or Top 50.
The Jukebox Rebel
05-Jan-2017
ABSOLUTELY Madness Stiff Records SEEZ-29 “A masterpiece”Ska / Rocksteady
Jukebox picks: “Not Home Today” (10) • “You Said” (10) • “In The Rain” (10) Following on from their exuberant, if rarely-serious, debut, Madness hit a brilliant peak right here; “Absolutely” manag...more →
KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER Adam and The Ants CBS S-CBS-84549 “A masterpiece”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Kings Of The Wild Frontier” (10) • “Ants Invasion” (10) • “Dog Eat Dog” (10) Along with what seemed like the entire teenage population of the UK, I was an 11-year-old with white line fever digging ...more →
GROTESQUE (AFTER THE GRAMME) The Fall Rough Trade ROUGH-18 “A masterpiece”Post-Punk; Trance Rock
Jukebox picks: “The Container Drivers” (10) • “Pay Your Rates” (10) • “Gramme Friday” (9.8) For their third new music album there was one change to the starting line-up, with a 16-year-old Paul Hanley (bassist St...more →
CLOSER Joy Division Factory FACT-25 “A classic”Post-Punk
Jukebox picks: “Twenty Four Hours” (10) • “A Means To An End” (10) • “Isolation” (9.9) For my money, there aren’t too many groups who’ve delivered back-to-back classic albums but I’ve filed Joy Division as e...more →
FRESH FRUIT FOR ROTTING VEGETABLES Dead Kennedys Cherry Red B-RED-10 “A classic”Punk
Jukebox picks: “California Über Alles” (10) • “Holiday In Cambodia” (10) • “Kill The Poor” (10) The debut from the Californian quartet arrived in September ‘80, bursting out with classics left, right and centre. Taki...more →
END OF THE CENTURY Ramones Sire SRK-6077 “A classic”Punk; Pop
Jukebox picks: “Chinese Rock” (10) • “Do You Remember Rock ’n’ Roll Radio?” (9.8) • “Rock ’n’ Roll High School” (9.8) “This is Rock n Roll radio, c’mon let’s Rock n Roll with the Ramones.” If ever an album was perfectly introduced, th...more →
MORE SPECIALS The Specials Two-Tone Records CHR-TT-5003 “A classic”Ska / Rocksteady
Jukebox picks: “Do Nothing” (10) • “Sock It To ’Em JB” (10) • “Stereotypes” (10) There are some who would label the second Specials LP as Jerry Dammer’s folly, but most people, myself included, would s...more →
NOBODY’S HEROES Stiff Little Fingers Chrysalis CHR-1270 “A classic”Punk
Jukebox picks: “At The Edge” (10) • “Nobody’s Hero” (9.9) • “Gotta Gettaway” (9.7) There were many changes since the debut; a move to that there London had resulted in a change of drummer, with Jim R...more →
GWINDINGWI RINE SHUMBA Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited Chimurenga ASLP-5002 “Excellent”Africana
Jukebox picks: “Chitima Cherusununguko” (9.8) • “Mhondoro” (9.6) • “Hwa Hwa” (9.4) 1978s “Hokoyo!” was brilliant but this post-independence follow-up was on another level again; smoother, prettier, more ...more →
TOO MUCH PRESSURE The Selecter Two-Tone Records CDL-TT-5002 “Excellent”Ska / Rocksteady
Jukebox picks: “Missing Words” (10) • “Too Much Pressure” (9.8) • “Three Minute Hero” (9.6) “Three Minute Hero” has empathy for the 9-to-5 brigade: “It’s just another day with that endless grey drone.” Th...more →
SCARY MONSTERS David Bowie RCA Victor PL-13647 “Excellent”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)” (9.8) • “Up The Hill Backwards” (9.8) • “Fashion” (9.5) “It’s No Game (No. 1)” opens up the set and immediately demands attention due to the wonderfully strange vocal duet;...more →
YOUR CASSETTE PET Bow Wow Wow EMI WOW-1 “Excellent”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Louis Quatorze” (10) • “Sexy Eiffel Towers” (9.6) • “Radio G-String” (9.4) This is one of those ultra-rare occasions where every single ingredient is as important as the next in the creation of t...more →
I JUST CAN’T STOP IT The Beat Go-Feet Records BEAT-1 “Excellent”Ska / Rocksteady
Jukebox picks: “Hands Off She’s Mine” (10) • “Twist And Crawl” (9.8) • “Jackpot” (9.5) At the time of their long-play debut in May ’80 the Birmingham sextet were: Dave Wakeling (24, vocals, guitar), ‘Ranking...more →
UPRISING Bob Marley and The Wailers Island Records ILPS-9596 “Excellent”Reggae
Jukebox picks: “Coming In From The Cold” (10) • “Real Situation” (9.5) • “Redemption Song” (9.4) Did you ever see such a positive album cover in all of your life? Just one look at that and the whole world seems a bett...more →
PRETENDERS Pretenders Real Records RAL-3 “Excellent”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Brass In Pocket” (10) • “Stop Your Sobbing” (9.4) • “Private Life” (9.2) Mashing up the best of your 60s Rhythm n Blues beat combos with your early 70s proto-punk rockers, the Pretenders punchy...more →
CROCODILES Echo and The Bunnymen Korova KODE-1 “Excellent”New Wave; Post-Punk
Jukebox picks: “Villiers Terrace” (9.8) • “Rescue” (9.7) • “Monkeys” (9.5) In July ’80, the Bunnymen’s “Crocodiles” was one of the key works delivering a sure-fire sign that Britain’s leftfield r...more →
THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS The Psychedelic Furs CBS CBS-84084 “Excellent”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Flowers” (9.4) • “We Love You” (9.2) • “Blacks / Radio” (8.9) With Roxy Music having chosen to take a Punk bypass, The Psychedelic Furs plugged the gap in the market for those cravin...more →
SIGNING OFF UB40 Graduate Records GRAD-LP-2 “Excellent”Reggae
Jukebox picks: “I Think It’s Going To Rain Today” (9.7) • “Food For Thought” (9.3) • “King” (9.0) Theirs is an inspirational story; 8 amigos on the dole get together and, although barely proficient, dedicate themselves...more →
SOUND AFFECTS The Jam Polydor POLD-5035 “Excellent”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “That’s Entertainment” (10) • “Pretty Green” (9.6) • “Start!” (9.6) The Jam’s superb form continues into the new decade with this well-crafted affair, full of nuggets, especially on side o...more →
ROPA RE ZIMBABWE Flavian Nyathi and Blues Revolution Kocorigo KKLP-2000 “Brilliant”Africana
Jukebox picks: “Takawira” (8.9) • “Pfumo Demo” (8.8) • “VaMugabe” (8.7) From sadness to relief, celebration to hope, this is an album where the singer, Flavian Nyathi, reflects the mixed emoti...more →
SEARCHING FOR THE YOUNG SOUL REBELS Dexys Midnight Runners Parlophone PCS-7213 “Brilliant”Cerebral Pop; Pop
Jukebox picks: “Burn It Down” (10) • “Geno” (10) • “Tell Me When My Light Turns Green” (8.8) Kevin Rowland’s Birmingham soul gang were named after the drug Dexedrine which was used by fans of Northern Soul – for m...more →
KILIMANJARO The Teardrop Explodes Mercury 6359-035 “Brilliant”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Sleeping Gas” (9.3) • “Treason (It’s Just A Story)” (9.2) • “Bouncing Babies” (8.9) Finding balance between a woozy 60s swirl and a sharp new wave punch, the debut from Liverpool’s Teardrop Explodes was a...more →
BASS CULTURE Linton Kwesi Johnson Island Records ILPS 9605 “Brilliant”Reggae
Jukebox picks: “Street ’66” (9.6) • “Reggae Fi Peach” (8.9) • “Inglan Is A Bitch” (8.7) Essentially, this was the third set from the London-based poet, every time in collaboration with Dennis Bovell’s roots-r...more →
LOONEE TUNES! Bad Manners Magnet MAGL-5038 “Brilliant”Ska / Rocksteady
Jukebox picks: “Lorraine” (9.8) • “Just A Feeling” (9.6) • “Suicide” (8.6) Just six months on from the debut, the second Bad Manners long-player was out in late October, 1980. The nine remain: Do...more →
UNDERWATER MOONLIGHT The Soft Boys Armageddon Records ARM-1 “Brilliant”New Wave; Proto-Punk
Jukebox picks: “Queen Of Eyes” (8.7) • “Old Pervert” (8.4) • “I Wanna Destroy You” (8.2) The second long-player from the 4-year-old Cambridge band arrived in June ’80, at which time they lined up: Robyn Hitchc...more →
SNAP, CRACKLE AND BOP John Cooper Clarke Epic EPC-84083 “Really good”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Beasley Street” (8.7) • “Thirty Six Hours” (8.4) • “Conditional Discharge” (8.2) For his fourth album, the incomparable 31-year-old Punk-Poet continued with his tried and trusted formula of working wit...more →
EMPIRES AND DANCE Simple Minds Zoom Records SPART-1140 “Really good”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “I Travel” (9.8) • “Thirty Frames A Second” (8.6) • “Celebrate” (7.9) With “Empires and Dance”, the adaptable and experimental Glasgow quintet positioned themselves as the darkest, toughest ...more →
QUEEN OF SIAM Lydia Lunch ZE Records ZEA-33006 “Really good”Post-Punk
Jukebox picks: “Knives In The Drain” (9.4) • “Lady Scarface” (8.9) • “Atomic Bongos” (8.3) The solo debut from the 20-year-old arrived in February ’80 and must have come as a bit of a surprise to those who were ...more →
BABY’S GOT A GUN The Only Ones CBS CBS-84089 “Really good”New Wave; Rock
Jukebox picks: “Why Don’t You Kill Yourself” (9.7) • “Deadly Nightshade” (9.1) • “Strange Mouth” (8.8) “The Only Ones” (#56, 1978) and “Even Serpents Shine” (#42, 1979) hadn't exactly delivered the commercial success that w...more →
DO ANIMALS BELIEVE IN GOD? Pink Military Eric's ERIC'S-004 “Really good”New Wave; Post-Punk
Jukebox picks: “Do Animals Believe In God?” (9.0) • “War Games” (8.6) • “Degenerated Man” (8.4) The one and only album from Liverpool's Pink Miltary, led by vocalist Jayne Casey, think: a moodier Lene Lovich fronting...more →
KILROY WAS HERE Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger Blackthorne Records BR-1063 “Really good”Folk
Jukebox picks: “Kilroy Was Here” (9.1) • “The Androids” (8.1) • “In Praise Of Famous Men and Women” (7.8) Another fine set of contemporary songs mostly written and sung by Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl with accompaniments by C...more →
ANALENGO Papa Wemba et L’Orchestre Viva La Musica V.I.S.A. 1980 Fran-007 “Really good”Africana
Jukebox picks: “Mère Supérieure” (7.6) • “Aïssa Na Zoé” (7.2) • “Ngonda” (7.2) The dapper Papa Wemba was a man on a mission at this time, and the 41-year-old Congolesian, like so many of his peers, h...more →
KALEIDOSCOPE Siouxsie and The Banshees Polydor 2442-177 “Really good”Post-Punk
Jukebox picks: “Christine” (9.7) • “Happy House” (9.2) • “Skin” (8.1) Guitarist John McKay and drummer Kenny Morris had walked out mid-tour in September '79, but the Banshees recovered well,...more →
ACE OF SPADES Motörhead Bronze BRON-531 “Really good”Rock
Jukebox picks: “Ace Of Spades” (10) • “The Hammer” (7.9) • “Bite The Bullet” (7.6) Staring back at you from a sandpit in Barnet were drummer Phil Taylor (26), lead singer and bassist Lemmy (34) and guita...more →
MAKOTI WAKENA Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje Umjondolo LJD-31 “Really good”Africana
Jukebox picks: “Makoti Wakena” (8.7) • “Keneng Ompotsa” (8.5) • “Nkadimeng Bayesekele” (7.5) As you might have suspected, a wedding celebration is afoot on the glorious title-track of Izintombi Zesi Manje Manj...more →
GET HAPPY!! Elvis Costello and The Attractions F-Beat XXLP-1 “Really good”New Wave; Cerebral Pop
Jukebox picks: “Secondary Modern” (8.7) • “The Imposter” (8.0) • “King Horse” (7.9) There’s an upbeat soulful stomp to “Get Happy!!”, a high-value album which manages to pack in 20 tracks. The New Wave vi...more →
SOLDIER Iggy Pop Arista AB-4259 “Good”Alternative Rock; Proto-Punk
Jukebox picks: “I Need More” (8.6) • “Get Up And Get Out” (8.0) • “Mr. Dynamite” (7.7) The sixth album from the 32-year-old, his second for Arista, arrived in February, 1980. Recording sessions were marred b...more →
KILLING JOKE [1980] Killing Joke EG EGMD-5.45 “Good”Post-Punk
Jukebox picks: “The Wait” (7.8) • “Wardance” (7.3) • “Tomorrow's World” (6.9) The debut album from the 2-year-old London group arrived in October, 1980, and included both of their preceding singles ...more →
L’ORCHESTRE TAO-TAO DE PARIS L’Orchestre Tao-Tao de Paris Afric Music AFMS-005 “Good”Africana
Jukebox picks: “Santa Mutombo” (7.1) • “Lolango Justin Obela” (6.9) • “Ngbonga Ti Liberté” (6.8) L’Orchestre Tao-Tao was formed in 1973 at the University of Amiens, some 75 miles north of Paris, by a group of students...more →
THE ABSOLUTE GAME Skids Virgin V-2174 “Good”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Out Of Town” (9.2) • “Circus Games” (9.0) • “A Woman In Winter” (7.5) Against a backdrop of group tensions, the third Skids album in just over 18 months arrived in September, 1980. At the tu...more →
SKA ’N’ B Bad Manners Magnet MAGL-5033 “Good”Ska / Rocksteady
Jukebox picks: “Special Brew” (9.7) • “Lip Up Fatty” (9.4) • “Here Comes The Major” (8.5) The second-wave of Ska which exploded in the UK in the late 70s was good for this 4-year-old group of Northern London sc...more →
SUICIDE: ALAN VEGA · MARTIN REV Suicide Island Records ILPS-7007 “Good”Electronica
Jukebox picks: “Fast Money Music” (8.9) • “Mr. Ray (To Howard T.)” (7.5) • “Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne” (7.0) Coming some 30 months on from their self-titled debut of 1977, the second Suicide in May, 1980, was relatively anticlima...more →
BOY U2 Island Records ILPS-9646 “Good”Post-Punk
Jukebox picks: “Out Of Control” (9.3) • “I Will Follow” (7.8) • “A Day Without Me” (7.5) Their 4th single in a 13 month period, “A Day Without Me”, was released in August, 1980, the lead single announcemen...more →
VIENNA Ultravox Chrysalis CHR-1296 “Good”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Vienna” (9.3) • “Sleepwalk” (8.0) • “All Stood Still” (6.8) Presumed dead, Ultravox rose from the ashes without John Foxx and began the decade anew with a fourth long-player, forme...more →
JAMAICAN HEROES Prince Far I Trojan Records TRLS-190 “Good”Reggae
Jukebox picks: “Jamaican Heroes” (7.1) • “Musical History” (7.1) • “Natty Champion” (7.0) His second for Trojan Records, following on from last years “Free From Sin” and generally a tad stronger. Backing Far I'...more →
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY The Boys Next Door Missing Link LINK-7 “Good”Post-Punk; New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Cat Man” (7.7) • “Mr Clarinet” (7.5) • “The Red Clock” (7.3) The second and final Boys Next Door album serves as some sort of half-way house between the new wave pop of last years “...more →
THE PIRANHAS The Piranhas Sire SRK-6098 “Good”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Getting Beaten Up” (10) • “Tom Hark” (8.3) • “I Don’t Want My Body” (8.0) For their sole long-player in September, 1980, the Brighton five were: Bob Grover (vocals, guitar), Johnny Helmer (guita...more →
TELEKON Gary Numan Beggars Banquet BEGA-19 “Good”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “This Wreckage” (7.7) • “Telekon” (7.4) • “Remember I Was Vapour” (6.8) Another good 'un from the 22-year-old machine-man, giving him a third consecutive UK#1 if you include the final Tubeway ...more →
GENTLEMEN TAKE POLAROIDS Japan Virgin V-2180 “Decent enough”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Methods Of Dance” (8.2) • “Nightporter” (7.9) • “Gentlemen Take Polaroids” (7.0) Their deal with the German Hansa label at an end, Japan began the decade with a switch to Virgin Records, with the new s...more →
SEVENTEEN SECONDS The Cure Fiction Records FIX-4 “Decent enough”Post-Punk
Jukebox picks: “A Forest” (8.6) • “Play For Today” (7.2) • “At Night” (7.0) A decisive turn to the moody and a widening of the instrumentation results in a marked improvement on record two. Lost a...more →
AUTOAMERICAN Blondie Chrysalis CHE-1290 “Decent enough”Crooner / Cabaret; Disco / Funk
Jukebox picks: “The Tide Is High” (8.7) • “Rapture” (8.2) • “Faces” (7.2) They always did have a penchant for stylistic adventures on their long-players, but the eclecticism of “Autoamerican” ca...more →
ZENYATTA MONDATTA The Police A&M Records AMLH-64831 “Decent enough”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” (7.9) • “Canary In A Coalmine” (7.8) • “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” (7.6) “Zenyatta Mondatta”, good name for an album that. Meaningless, but rhythmic and memorable with connotations for imaginat...more →
TSAMAYA MORATUOA Mahotella Queens Gumba Gumba BL-226 “Decent enough”Africana
Jukebox picks: “Re Basadi Kaofela” (7.7) • “Maqaqailana” (7.0) • “Tshoara Khaitsedi” (6.8) Although it doesn't invoke the adrenaline rush of their thumping 70s prime material, “Tsamaya Moratuoa”, released in Mar...more →
UNINA KAVUSI S’modern Girls Umjondolo LJD-30 “Decent enough”Africana
Jukebox picks: “Unina Kavusi” (6.9) • “Mawumthanda” (6.8) • “Ngithetha Amacala” (6.7) The Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje girls (Jane Dlamini, Julia Mangqu, Lindiwe Mthembu, Nobesuthu Shawe and Hilda Tloubatla) ...more →
ARGYBARGY Squeeze A&M Records AMLH-64802 “Decent enough”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Vicky Verky” (8.9) • “Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)” (8.0) • “Another Nail In My Heart” (7.0) Their third album statement in three years improves again, with some fantastic writing here and there. Bassist Harry Kak...more →
BREAKING GLASS Hazel O’Connor A&M Records AMLH-64820 “Decent enough”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Eighth Day” (8.3) • “Will You?” (7.7) • “If Only” (7.4) Decent debut album from the intriguing 25-year-old singer-songwriter-actress: “I ran away from my home in Coventry whe...more →
COLOSSAL YOUTH Young Marble Giants Rough Trade ROUGH-8 “Decent enough”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Eating Noddemix” (7.4) • “The Man Amplifier” (7.2) • “Include Me Out” (6.8) On their February 1980 debut, the minimalist Cardiff three-piece were: Alison Statton (21, vocals), Stuart Moxham (24, g...more →
LAUGHTER Ian Dury and The Blockheads Stiff Records SEEZ-30 “Decent enough”Cerebral Pop; Disco / Funk
Jukebox picks: “Fucking Ada” (7.5) • “Uncoolohol” (7.4) • “Hey, Hey, Take Me Away” (7.2) His best song of the period, “I Want To Be Straight” wasn't on the album, a recurring trait in the Ian Dury story, which...more →
VISAGE Visage Polydor 2490-157 “Decent enough”New Wave; Electronica
Jukebox picks: “Fade To Grey” (9.7) • “Visage” (7.5) • “Mind Of A Toy” (7.2) Leading lights of the new romantic movement were this London super-group consisting of: Steve Strange (lead vocals), Mid...more →
DISCONNECTED Stiv Bators Bomp! BLP-4015 “Decent enough”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Too Much To Dream” (7.0) • “Evil Boy” (6.5) • “Swingin’ A Go-Go” (6.4) The one and only Stiv Bators solo album was sandwiched in between the demise of The Dead Boys (1979) and the birth of Th...more →
REMAIN IN LIGHT Talking Heads Sire SIR-K-56-867 “Decent enough”Dubbeat
Jukebox picks: “Once In A Lifetime” (9.8) • “The Overload” (6.7) • “Seen And Not Seen” (5.7) With Sire all the while, the fourth album in consecutive years from the New Yorkers was delivered in October, 1980, once...more →
HYPNOTISED The Undertones Sire SRK-6088 “Decent enough”New Wave; Punk; Pop
Jukebox picks: “My Perfect Cousin” (8.7) • “Wednesday Week” (7.8) • “More Songs About Chocolate And Girls” (6.6) For their sophomore release in April, 1980, the Derry five remain: Feargal Sharkey (lead vocals), John O'Neill (guitar, ...more →
MICHAEL AND MIRANDA The Passions Fiction Records FIX-003 “Decent enough”Post-Punk; New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Absentee” (7.4) • “Pedal Fury” (7.3) • “Love Song” (6.4) The two-year-old London group came into this one on the back of two non-charting singles and a Nov' 79 session for John ...more →
GROUP SEX Circle Jerks Frontier Records FLP-1002 “Decent enough”Punk
Jukebox picks: “Live Fast Die Young” (7.2) • “Paid Vacation” (7.0) • “Don't Care” (6.6) The highly regarded debut mini-album from these Hermosa Beach, California punks was released in October, 1980, consistin...more →
AMIGO Black Slate Ensign ENVY-15 “Average”Reggae
Jukebox picks: “Amigo” (8.0) • “Boom Boom” (6.5) • “Romans” (6.4) They had several years behind them already, but hadn't been making too many recordings in the last few years, which all ...more →
THE STORY SO FAR The Mo-Dettes Deram SML-1120 “Average”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “White Mouse Disco” (6.8) • “Kray Twins” (6.7) • “Masochistic Opposite” (6.5) For their November, 1980, long-play debut, London's Mo-dettes were: Swiss-born Ramona Carlier (ex-Kleenex, vocals), Amer...more →
FIRESIDE FAVOURITES Fad Gadget Mute STUMM-3 “Average”New Wave; Electronica
Jukebox picks: “The Box” (7.8) • “State Of The Nation” (7.6) • “Coitus Interruptus” (6.4) The debut record from the provocative Londoner, Frank Tovey, who was just turning 24 at the time of release in September...more →
GROWING UP IN PUBLIC Lou Reed Arista AL 9522 “Average”Blues Rock / Soul Rock; New Wave; Songwriter
Jukebox picks: “Standing On Ceremony” (6.5) • “My Old Man” (6.3) • “So Alone” (6.3) As the decade turned, Lou was determined to break free of the drugs and alcohol addictions which had hung like a dark cl...more →
FREEDOM OF CHOICE Devo Warner Bros. Records BSK-3435 “Average”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Girl U Want” (7.0) • “Snowball” (7.0) • “Whip It” (6.8) Arriving in May, 1980, was the third album in three consecutive years from the Akron, Ohio five-piece who remain: Mark M...more →
FOR HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE TOLERATE MASS MURDER? The Pop Group Rough Trade ROUGH-9 “Average”Post-Punk
Jukebox picks: “Justice” (7.5) • “Forces Of Oppression” (7.1) • “Feed The Hungry” (6.6) Kudos to the fearless and ferocious five who dare to go where pop groups do not: Mark Stewart (vocals), John Waddington ...more →
MONDO BONGO The Boomtown Rats Mercury 6359-042 “Average”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Banana Republic” (7.6) • “The Elephant’s Graveyard (Guilty)” (7.3) • “This Is My Room” (6.8) The fourth album in four successive years for the Rats who, try as they might, can't get near the high of “A Tonic For T...more →
TRAVELOGUE The Human League Virgin V-2160 “Average”Electronica; New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Being Boiled” (7.8) • “The Black Hit Of Space” (7.0) • “Wjl Tonight” (6.7) Sheffield's sons of Kraftwerk are sounding really good in places but, as with last years debut, I find they lack strengt...more →
THE ART OF WALKING Pere Ubu Rough Trade ROUGH-14 “Average”Avant-Garde; Post-Punk
Jukebox picks: “Birdies” (7.9) • “Loop” (7.4) • “Misery Goats” (6.4) It had been thought they were disbanded but Pere Ubu returned for a fourth album in three years, “The Art of Walking” be...more →
SANDINISTA! The Clash CBS FSLN-1 “Average”Reggae; Dubbeat; New Wave; Cerebral Pop
Jukebox picks: “Lose This Skin” (8.7) • “Junco Partner” (8.4) • “Police On My Back” (8.3) Having been in the hands of a dictatorship from 1936 to 1979, the Sandinista National Liberation Front were heroes to th...more →
WILD PLANET The B-52s Warner Bros. Records BSK-3471 “Below average”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Private Idaho” (7.1) • “Runnin' Around” (6.1) • “Strobe Light” (5.6) The law of diminishing returns strikes early and decisively with the second B-52s long-player....more →
HEARTATTACK AND VINE Tom Waits Asylum Records 6E-295 “Below average”Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Songwriter
Jukebox picks: “Mr. Siegal” (6.3) • “Heartattack And Vine” (5.5) • “Saving All My Love For You” (5.5) A bit tossed off and bit of a dip in form as far as I'm concerned, although two of the blusier tracks - “Heartattack A...more →
FLESH AND BLOOD Roxy Music EG 2302-099 “Below average”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “Over You” (7.4) • “Same Old Scene” (6.9) • “Oh Yeah” (5.6) The seventh Roxy album arrived in May, 1980, and picked up where “Manifesto” left off - smoothly, with a whole host of s...more →
THE BLUES BROTHERS The Blues Brothers Atlantic SD-16017 “Below average”Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Soul
Jukebox picks: “Think” (7.9) • “Shake A Tail Feather” (7.3) • “The Old Landmark” (7.0) Surprisingly very good indeed in places - suitably authentic. Mind you, the tracks I’m mostly referring to fondly featur...more →
STORM WINDOWS John Prine Asylum Records 6E-286 “Below average”Country
Jukebox picks: “Sleepy Eyed Boy” (7.2) • “One Red Rose” (6.8) • “Living In The Future” (6.0) Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama, largely going for the full-band production, to my dismay. These peop...more →
WARM LEATHERETTE Grace Jones Island Records ILPS-9592 “Poor”Pop
Jukebox picks: “Private Life” (7.9) • “Pars” (5.3) • “A Rolling Stone” (5.0) A big improvement here, although these are mostly all cover versions. Sly and Robbie’s slight push to reggae dub product...more →
THE NUMBERS The Numbers Deluxe Records VPL1-6527 “Poor”New Wave
Jukebox picks: “The Modern Song” (5.8) • “Talk To Me” (5.4) • “When I Get Older” (5.3) The debut album from the two-year-old Sydney power-pop band arrived in October, 1980. With siblings at the heart they li...more →
SOUL SYNDROME James Brown TK Records TK-615 “Lame”Disco / Funk
Jukebox picks: “Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses?)” (6.2) • “Honky Tonk [1980 version]” (4.3) • “Smokin’ & Drinkin’” (4.2) Recorded by Henry Stone for TK right in the midst of the disco era. And that’s just what you get. Generic disco, slightl...more →
HOTTER THAN JULY Stevie Wonder Tamla T8-373M1 “Lame”R n B
Jukebox picks: “Master Blaster [jammin’]” (7.3) • “I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It” (6.0) • “Lately” (5.0) The critically well received 20th new music album from the 30-year-old was released in September, 1980, reaching #3 in t...more →
REAL EYES Gil Scott-Heron Arista AL-9540 “Lame”Disco / Funk; R n B
Jukebox picks: “The Train From Washington” (6.5) • “The Klan” (4.6) • “Waiting For The Axe To Fall” (4.4) Released just in time for Christmas was the second album of the year from the 31-year-old singer-songwriter, a record wh...more →
SHORT STORIES Jon and Vangelis Polydor POLD-5030 “Terrible”Songwriter; Prog
Jukebox picks: “Far Away In Baagad” (5.6) • “Curious Electric” (5.0) • “Thunder” (4.3) The debut long-player from the 5-year-old London five-piece was a critical and commercial success, peaking at #4 in the ...more →
SUPER TROUPER ABBA Polar POLS-322 “Terrible”Pop
Jukebox picks: “Super Trouper” (5.9) • “The Winner Takes It All” (5.3) • “The Piper” (4.6) The commercial success story continues on their November, 1980, release, the content almost playing out as a real-life d...more →
SAVED Bob Dylan Columbia FC-36553 “Terrible”Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Pop Ballad; Soul; Soul Ballad
Jukebox picks: “Pressing On” (5.5) • “A Satisfied Mind” (5.0) • “Saved” (4.9) Bob’s “Pressing On” to the higher calling of his lord as he enters the 1980s. “Saved” was the second album of Dylan’s “C...more →
IRON MAIDEN Iron Maiden EMI EMC-3330 “Terrible”Rock
Jukebox picks: “Remember Tomorrow” (4.9) • “Transylvania” (4.5) • “Running Free” (4.1) The debut long-player from the 5-year-old London five-piece was a critical and commercial success, peaking at #4 in the ...more →
1980 Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson Arista AL-9514 “Terrible”R n B
Jukebox picks: “Shah Mot (The Shah Is Dead / Checkmate)” (4.3) • “Late Last Night” (4.0) • “Willing” (3.9) They're looking all Star Trek on that cover, but what were Scott-Heron & Jackson trying to tell us about the LP? Said th...more →
BACK IN BLACK AC/DC Albert Productions APLP-046 “Terrible”Rock
Jukebox picks: “Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” (7.0) • “You Shook Me All Night Long” (6.5) • “Back In Black” (4.4) Singer Bon Scott had died in February, 1980, due to some sort of substance misadventure and, after a great deal of soul-...more →
TROMBIPULATION Parliament Casablanca NBLP-7249 “Terrible”Disco / Funk
Jukebox picks: “Agony Of Defeet” (4.2) • “New Doo Review” (4.0) • “Peek-A-Groove” (3.7) The ninth Parliament long-player was released in December, 1980, with one single released from the set, “Agony Of Defe...more →
BRITISH STEEL Judas Priest CBS S-CBS-84160 “Terrible”Rock
Jukebox picks: “Breaking The Law” (4.7) • “Rapid Fire” (4.0) • “Steeler” (3.3) The sixth album from the West Bromwich rockers arrived in April, 1980, and heralded their massive commercial breakthroug...more →
CONNECTIONS Richie Havens Elektra 6E-242 “Terrible”Pop Ballad; Soft Rock / A.O.R.
Jukebox picks: “Going Back To My Roots” (4.5) • “We’ve Got Tonight” (3.8) • “Dreams” (3.6) Or, as I like to call it, “Disconnections”. I'm alienated by Richie's comfortable brand of soft rock and pop balladry by...more →
ARC OF A DIVER Steve Winwood Island Records ILPS-9576 “Dire”Pop
Jukebox picks: “Spanish Dancer” (5.1) • “While You See A Chance” (4.7) • “Arc Of A Diver” (2.4) The fourth album from the 32-year-old singer-songwriter (the second solely credited to himself) arrived in December, 198...more →