Rory Gallagher " Notes From San Francisco" 1977-1978(rec) 2011(release)****

First of all, this is the single vinyl version of the album - probably how the LP would appear if Gallagher hadn't changed his mind and decided to shelf these recordings. I'm stating this because usually reviews concern the 2CD format in which it was first released in 2011, coupling the studio sessions with a live show recorded the following year in the same city. Of course extra material is always welcome but there's no shortage of live Gallagher CD's in my collection, so in this case I went with the vinyl. This way one can compare this album to the one that did get released later that year, Photo Finish. 5 songs feature in both collections, albeit with a different producer and band - only Rory and bassist Gerry McAvoy remain the same. Not that there was anything wrong with the other musicians, who had accompanied Rory through career highlights like Tattoo, Irish Tour and Calling Card. As for producer Elliot Mazer, Gallagher had heard his work for Neil Young (many albums including Harvest) and Janis Joplin (Cheap Thrills) and was so eager to work with him that he flew from Japan to San Francisco immediately after wrapping up his tour (on December '77) to record with him. As it happened, he wasn't happy with the direction Mazer took. Rory wanted a rawer sound, so he ditched keyboardist Lou Martin, drummer Rod De'Ath and the session extras to form a power trio in the style of his first band, Taste. The result was Photo Finish, his hardest rocking LP thus far. So how does it compare to Notes...? First of all, the track listing is different. The anthemic "Shadowplay" isn't here, and neither is live favorite "Shin Kicker" and a couple of other tunes. But we do get the beautiful blues/country ballad "Wheels Within Wheels", later the title track of an excellent acoustic compilation of outtakes and collaborations, also curated by Rory's brother/manager Dónal. Some songs are also familiar to fans from being added to other Rory CD reissues as bonus tracks. A cursory listen doesn't clarify whether these are different mixes of the same performance, or alternate performances. E.g: opener "Rue The Day" is a Lynyrd Skynyrd-like rock and roller with rolling piano and saxophone, while the version appended to Calling Card has less prominent piano and harmonica instead of sax. "B Girl" is one of his specialties: a noir crime story in song form. This version has the organ more upfront than the one included as bonus track in Calling Card, while the song would also resurface in more hard rock form on Top Priority (1979) under the title "Public Enemy No.1". A starker version of "Persuasion" has been added as a bonus track to the Deuce CD. Once again I can't make out if it's a different mix of the same performance. Here the guitar's fiery but bit less loud in the mix, there's more piano and some backing vocals. Of the songs that did make it to Photo Finish, the country-ish "Overnight Bag" is a more nuanced but overall weaker performance, and the frantic rockabilly "Cruise On Out" seems to prioritize Martin's Jerry Lee-like piano over Rory's guitar. Heavy blues "Mississippi Sheiks" references the same-named 30's black guitar/fiddle duo, so it's nice to hear it spiced up with the addition of a violin solo. "Brute Force & Ignorance" has already been among my favorite Gallagher numbers with its classic riff and chorus. This version is longer, and the horns give it a mariachi tint which suits it much better than you'd think. The story is about a bunch of visiting rockers causing a commotion in town, partly inspired by the Sex Pistols' infamous last concert in San Francisco, which he witnessed during the recording of this album. Both albums close with the emotive slow blues "Fuel To The Fire". Generally, while the guitar solos on the San Francisco recordings are as stupendous as ever, the addition of other elements (piano, organ, sax, violin etc) seems to make Rory's guitar appear less forceful - or so he must have thought at the time. Reportedly he found the arrangements too busy and the mixing process "too complicated", so he abandoned them to go for a more aggressive sound that metal fans must surely appreciate. One might say that Photo Finish turned out to be more in-your-face while Notes San Francisco is more nuanced. If the latter was released at the time, it'd be rated as a solid album like 1975's Against The Grain, rather than a classic one like next year's Calling Card. It's nevertheless great they made it available even decades later, as it's much much better than the average posthumous LP. Kudos to Rory's brother Dónal and nephew/album remixer Daniel for serving his legacy well by only releasing top notch stuff on his name, rather than scraping the bottom of the barrel to make a quick buck. 

***** for Brute Force & Ignorance
**** for Rue The Day, Persuasion, B Girl, Wheels Within Wheels, Fuel To The Fire

*** for Mississippi Sheiks, Overnight Bag, Cruise On Out

John Fogerty "Premonition" 1998****

If it wasn't for COVID-19, today I'd probably be writing some words about yesterday's Eric Clapton concert at Ziggo Dome (he's one of the few old-time-greats still touring whom I've somehow managed to miss), and preparing for tomorrow's Graspop Festival featuring Aerosmith, Deep Purple, and a dozen more of metal and punk bands. As it is, all these (and more) were cancelled because of the pandemic. So I'm sitting at home, reading a piece about Fogerty in Uncut Magazine and reminiscing about the only time I caught him live, 3 years ago in Amsterdam. I don't know why I didn't write anything about the concert at the time on the blog - probably the fact that I hadn't taken any decent photos of the show (above you can see the clearest one) had something to do with it. Well, time to rectify that. Below you can read about Fogerty's first live CD Premonition, released about 20 years earlier. Fast forward to 2017, Fogerty's voice still sounded as fresh as always, songs performed so well you'd be forgiven for suspecting he was miming to the original studio versions - but no, you can't fake the enthusiasm of a live performance. He even proudly presented us his two (adult) sons Shane and Tyler, who played and sang together with him on a few tunes. The only thing that escaped me was the "1969" connection: for some reason, that tour was celebrating the 48th anniversary of Woodstock. Fogerty recounted a few anecdotes from playing there, and they opened with a video of events from 1969. One might expect that the gimmick was to only play songs originally recorded by CCR in 1969 (they had released no less than 3 LPs in that single year) but no - it was a straight greatest hits setlist, also including solo numbers.

One thing that wasn't surprising was his refusal to acknowledge his bandmates in Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR): his bitter legal fight with them and with Fantasy Records boss Saul Zaentz was long and hard, capped by two decades of self-sabotage during which the singer, main songwriter and lead guitarist of CCR refused to play any of their ever-popular hits. The live CD/DVD Premonition meant his triumphant return to the songs that had marked a whole era, and him claiming his rightly won status as a national treasure. His guitar and voice is in fine form, band is sympathetic, and songs are tight, with arrangements similar to the original ones. He opens with two of their trademark swamp rockers ("Born on the Bayou", "Green River"), followed by two covers CCR had already made their own (written by two Hawkins, "Susie Q" by Dale, and "I Put a Spell on You" by Screamin' Jay). The middle of the concert smartly alternates beloved CCR material and the highlights of his solo career, as if saying he had never gone away, we just hadn't been listening: "Almost Saturday Night" and "Rockin' All Over the World" got more attention when covered by Dave Edmunds and Status Quo respectively, than when he released them in 1975. 1984's Centerfield was a more successful affair, and that album's highlights (the eponymous country rocker and boogie "The Old Man Down the Road", featuring some hard rock solos) shine here. From 1997's Swamp River Days (he averaged one good solo album per decade) we get the eponymous rocker, the country ballad "Joy of My Life" and the rockabilly-ish "Hot Rod Heart". After an entirely new swamp/Southern rock tune called "Premonition", he finishes the show with  a string of impeccably executed CCR classics: "Bad Moon Rising", "Fortunate Son", "Proud Mary", and closing with a short and spunky take on "Travelin' Band". Maybe not playing these songs for two decades helped, because they never sound tired, unlike, say, the Stones' millionth rendition of "Satisfaction" on their various live albums. One of the few live albums that also function as an artist Best-Of. The only possible (and minor) complaint is that the songs don't deviate from the originals enough to make this an essential purchase. On the other hand, this is literally the only CD you'll ever need on your car stereo.

***** for Born on the Bayou, Susie Q, Who'll Stop the Rain, The Old Man Down the Road, Fortunate Son

**** for Green River, I Put a Spell on You, Premonition, Almost Saturday Night, Rockin' All Over the World, Down on the Corner, Centerfield, Swamp River Days, Bad Moon Rising, Proud Mary, Travelin' Band

*** for Joy of My Life, Hot Rod Heart

Jethro Tull "The Broadsword and the Beast"1982(orig)2004(re)***

When I started collecting albums in the late 80's, I bought two Jethro Tull compilations on vinyl: M.U. – The Best of Jethro Tull and Repeat – The Best of Jethro Tull Vol II. Together they make for some of Tull's best 83 minutes ever, so understandably they sufficed for a while. At least until my musical tastes came full circle: from classic & hard rock--> punk & new wave--> garage rock--> psychedelia--> progressive rock, of which of course Jethro Tull are a key representative. I then started collecting their discography, starting from the more essential (which, in this case, largely means the earliest) albums. By then we were firmly in the CD era, so I own most of them on CD. Now that I've reached the second-tier of their discography I've mostly switched to vinyl, so I got Stormwatch and "A" in that format. The Broadsword and the Beast, though, presented me with a dilemma:should I go for the vinyl which sports one of their most striking album covers, or with the latest CD reissue which has no less than 8 bonus tracks? I opted for the CD and I didn't regret it at all. But let's take it from the beginning, shall we? Jethro Tull had entered the 80's with "A", an album that deviated from the formula by embracing a more modern sound, utilizing synthesizers. The experiment is now considered artistically successful, even though it was a commercial flop at the time. For their next LP, Eddie Jobson, who was the keyboardist and co-creator of "A"'s electronic sound, was replaced by young Peter Vetesse who was likewise hip to the new technology. Sound-wise, Broadsword and the Beast is a mix of "A"'s electronic experiments, the folkier sound of Heavy Horses, and hard rock elements due mostly to the loud electric guitars. The LP consists of two parts. Side 1 ("Beastie") opens with the eponymous song which is introduced with atmospheric synths but shapes up to be a muscular hard rocker capped with the "Beastie!" chorus/war cry. "Clasp" features a similar AOR sound with rock guitars and synths, but there's enough flute to provide a link to the band's early 70's heyday. "Fallen On Hard Times" is bluesier, like 80's Eric Clapton with flute. "Flying Colours" is an almost-too-upbeat commercial rocker with a nice piano intro, and "Slow Marching Band" an acoustic folk number. Sometimes it reminds me of Tull circa Songs From The Wood, others of Elton John, especially when I focus on the piano. "Broadsword", which opens side 2, has a historical fantasy theme (the Viking invasions), suitably hard rocking guitar and marching drum beat. Given a more powerful singer and heavy organ instead of synths it could have been an absolute epic, but even so it should still appeal to metal fans. "Pussy Willow" combines a pretty melody and rousing chorus to produce one of the album's highlights, while the "futuristic" synths on "Watching Me Watching You" seem to have escaped from an 80's TV show soundtrack. Then we're back to familiar ground with solid hard rocker "Seal Driver" and the short acoustic snippet "Cheerio" which concludes the album proper. The CD offers almost an extra half-hour of material which are for the most part closer to classic Tull than the rest of the album, especially the folky "Mayhem, Maybe", Christmas-themed "Jack Frost" and romantic ballad "Jack-A-Lynn". "Rhythm In Gold", "Overhang" and "I'm Your Gun" follow the hard rock direction of the album, while the synths make their reappearance on "Too Many Too". The album closes (this time definitively) with "Down At The End Of Your Road", a typical (as in fairly ordinary) 80's Tull number. The album cover was designed by then 25-year old artist Iain McCaig who later went to work, among other projects, in the Star Wars and Avengers movie franchise. He was inspired by Ian Anderson's lyrics and by Narnia and was sure to include some Easter eggs for the fans, including the faces of the band on the four corners of the picture frame, and a carved runic inscription (for those of you who don't read runic it says "I see a dark sail on the horizon/ Set under a black cloud that hides the sun/ Bring me my broadsword and clear understanding/ Bring me my cross of gold as a talisman" - these are the opening lyrics to the song "Broadsword"). Conclusively, The Broadsword and the Beast is by no means the flop that critics make it out to be. Sure, it's no Aqualung or Thick As A Brick but it still features some classy playing. Anderson's flute of course shines as always, although it isn't as much to the fore as it used to. Martin Barre on guitar is in great form, the synths add the extra dimension without being too obtrusive (with the exception of "Watching Me..."), and the rhythm section (bassist Dave Pegg of Fairport Convention and former Cat Stevens' drummer Gerry Conway) are solid if far from show-stealing. The production (by former Yardbird Paul Samwell-Smith) is clean and balances between pop and hard rock. I kinda wish they had gone all the way and given it a heavy metal, or a complex prog, production rather than go for a bland commercial sound. Still, this isn't as outdated as other productions from the same period. Have you heard albums from that era by the likes of The Who, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton etc? Compared to them, Broadsword and the Beast is almost a masterpiece!

**** for Broadsword, Pussy Willow, Seal Driver, Cheerio, Jack-A-Lynn

*** for Beastie, Clasp, Fallen On Hard Times, Flying Colours, Slow Marching Band, Watching Me Watching You, Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow, Mayhem Maybe, Overhang, I'm Your Gun

** for Too Many Too, Rhythm In Gold, Down At The End Of Your Road

Alcatrazz "The Best Of Alcatrazz" 1983-1986(rec) 1998(comp)***

At first glance, Graham Bonnet wasn't the obvious choice to replace Ronnie James Dio. The short-haired, suit-clad R&B singer was certainly a far cry from his operatic-voiced, miniature dragon-slayer-styled, predecessor. But Rainbow leader Ritchie Blackmore was always unpredictable, and he put his trust on Bonnet only to revoke it after a few months. Enough, however, for him to win over the hard rock crowd with his participation in the Down To Earth LP and his headlining performance at the Monsters Of Rock festival. After getting hired and immediately sacked by another capricious guitarist/bandleader (Micheal Schenker) Bonnet decided to form his own metal band, enlisting a young Swedish guitar wizard called Yngwie Malmsteen. This band, Alcatrazz, would record 3 studio albums, with 3 different guitarists. Supposedly the best tracks are collected in this compilation. Starting with debut No Parole From Rock 'N' Roll (1983), represented by melodic AOR lead single "Island In The Sun" with typical 80's synths and backing vocals, the heavier "General Hospital" and power ballad "Hiroshima Mon Amour". All feature strong vocal performances by Bonnet and dazzling solos by Malmsteen who shines especially on the latter song. Next we get 3 live tracks form Live Sentence (1984) featuring the same line-up reprising older Bonnet naterial: "All Night Long" and "Since You've Been Gone" from his Rainbow days and "Night Games" from his solo album. Malmsteen shreds unstoppably, while Bonnet puts in a dynamic, although not pitch-perfect, performance. "All Night Long", seemingly the concert encore, finds him engaging with the audience too much. Placed in the middle of the compilation, it sounds out of place. Malmsteen went on to a solo career, and was replaced by another guitar wizard, Steve Vai. From this line-up and the Disturbing The Peace (1985) LP, we get an aggressive track called "Stripper", featuring cheesy lyrics and spoken word fragments reminiscent of Frank Zappa's "Valley Girl" (Vai, a former Zappa protégé, had also played guitar in that song). "Stripper"s saving grace is its bombastic guitar and Rainbow-style keyboard solo. "God Blessed Video" is another fast-paced song, while "Mercy" sounds like mid-80's Black Sabbath (not their best period). "Painted Lover" and "Sons And Lovers" are more commercial and totally undistinguished. The rest of the tracks here come from their 3rd album Dangerous Games (1986). This time, instead of a promising young gun, he enlists a reliable veteran on guitar (Danny Johnson). Not that the guitar was ever a problem with Alcatrazz, it's their songwriting that once again lets down. As if they know it, they start off with a half-decent cover of The Animals' "It's My Life". The other three tracks included here are just commercial AOR. "Dangerous Games" has a catchy chorus, "Undercover" an OK solo, but the rest can best be described by the closing song here: "No Imagination". Apparently Bonnet recently reformed the band with original members Jimmy Waldo (keyboards) and Gary Shea (drums), and Malmsteen clone Joe Stump on guitar. Sounds like a promising live proposition, too bad the Corona pandemic has put all rock concerts on ice. I'd certainly like to listen to them, especially if they play a festival with other bands from that era. I'm posting 4 videos here, one from each Alcatrazz LP. Enjoy!

**** for Island In The Sun, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Stripper

*** for General Hospital, All Night Long (Live), Since You've Been Gone (Live), Night Games (Live), God Blessed Video, Mercy, It's My Life, Dangerous Games

** for Painted Lover, Sons And Lovers, Undercover, No Imagination

Uncut - Ultimate record collection The 1980's

I'm collecting these special editions "from the makers of UNCUT Magazine" called the Ultimate record collection. The latest issue deals with the 1980s, and stops just short of the number of the Beast, featuring 665 records (including, of course, Iron Maiden's seminal 1982 LP The Number Of The Beast). Now, the 80's aren't usually given much credit for creating great music but this list is a testament to the great variety and innovation of the period, digging deep to pair the commercial pop we all identify with the times, with some unjustly forgotten gems - as well as truly embarrassing LP's by important artists. I mean how do all-career lows like Bowie's Never let me down and Dylan's Down in the groove fit in this list? Well, obviously someone thought that the "Ultimate record collection" must contain full discographies of major artists and, you know what? I tend to agree. I haven't yet gone round to the aforementioned albums, but when you have 40-odd Dylan albums at some point you'll want to fill the holes in your collection by purchasing those abominations critics exorcise away. The same logic seems to apply to the similarly out-of-form Neil Young, Genesis, Queen etc. Among the bands that peaked during that decade, including full discographies makes complete sense for some (The Cure, Prince, Depeche Mode, U2), none whatsoever for others: who really buys 10(!) albums by Felt? I suspect not even close friends.
1 #VA - Concerts for the people of Kampuchea 1981

2 #VA - Risky business 1984
3 #VA - Silver meteor : a progressive country anthology 1980
4 #VA -The house sound of Chicago 1986
5 #VA - The indestructible beat of Soweto: vol. one 1985
6 #VA - Who's that girl (soundtrack) 1987
7 Abba - The visitors 1981
8 ABC - The lexicon of love 1982
9 AC/DC  - Back in black 1980
10 AC/DC - For those about to rock we salute you 1981
11 King Sunny Adé - Synchro system 1983
12 Aerosmith -  Pump 1989
13 African head charge - My life in a hole in the ground 1981
14 American music club - California 1988
15 Laurie Anderson - Big science 1982
16 Horace Andy  - Dancehall style 1983
17 Adam and the Ants - Kings of the wild frontier 1980
18 Apartments The -  evening visits … & stays for years 1985
19 Art of noise - Who's afraid of the Art of noise? 1984
20 Associates - Sulk 1982
21 Virginia Astley - From gardens where we feel secure 1983
22 Au pairs - Playing with a different sex 1981
23 Aztec camera - High land, hard rain 1983
24 B.E.F. - Music for stowaways 1981
25 B-52's - Cosmic thing 1989
26 B-52's  - Wild planet 1980
27 Bad brains  - Bad brains 1982
28 Tony Banks - The fugitive 1983
29 Bathory - Under the sign of the black mark 1987
30 Bats  - The law of things 1988
31 Bauhaus - In the flat field 1980
32 Beastie boys - Licensed to ill 1986
33 Beastie boys - Paul's boutique 1989
34 Beat happening - Beat happening 1985
35 Beat happening - Black candy 1989
36 Bevis frond - Miasma 1987
37 Big black - Atomizer 1986
38 Big black - Songs about fucking 1987
39 Birthday party - Junkyard 1982
40 Birthday party - Prayers on fire 1981
41 Black flag - Damaged 1981
42 Black flag - My war 1984
43 Black flag - The first four years 1983
44 Blasters - Hard - line 1985
45 Blondie - AutoAmerican 1980
46 Blue Nile - A walk across the rooftops 1983
47 Blue Nile - Hats 1989
48 Boogie down productions - Criminal minded 1987
49 David Bowie - Let's dance 1983
50 David Bowie - Never let me down 1987
51 David Bowie - Scary monsters & super creeps 1980
52 David Bowie - Tonight 1984
53 Boys next door - The Birthday party 1980
54 Billy Bragg - Life's a riot with spy vs. spy 1983
55 Glenn Branca - The ascension 1981
56 Bronski beat - The age of consent 1984
57 T-Bone Burnett - Truth decay 1980
58 Kate Bush - Hounds of love 1985
59 Kate Bush - Never for ever 1980
60 Kate Bush - The dreaming 1982
61 Kate Bush - The sensual world 1989
62 Butthole surfers - Hairway to Steven 1988
63 Butthole surfers -Locust abortion technician 1987
64 Cabaret Voltaire - Red mecca 1981
65 John Cale - Music for a new society 1982
66 Camberwell now - The ghost trade 1986
67 Camper van Beethoven - Key lime pie 1989
68 Captain Beefheart and the Magic band - Doc at the radar station 1980
69 Captain Beefheart and the Magic band - Ice cream for crow 1982
70 Carcass - Reek of putrefaction 1988
71 Cardiacs -On land and in the sea 1989
72 Cars - Heartbeat city 1984
73 Nick Cave and the Bad seeds - Kicking against the pricks 1986
74 Nick Cave and the Bad seeds - From her to eternity 1984
75 Nick Cave and the Bad seeds - Tender prey 1988
76 Nick Cave and the Bad seeds - The firstborn is dead 1985
77 Nick Cave and the Bad seeds - Your funeral ..my trial 1986
78 Celtic frost - Into the pandemonium 1987
79 Celtic frost - To mega Therion 1985
80 A Certain ratio - To each ... 1981
81 Chameleons - Script of the bridge 1983
82 Change - The glow of love 1980
83 Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman 1988
84 Neneh Cherry - Raw like sushi 1989
85 Chills - Kaleidoscope world 1986
86 Alex Chilton - Bach's bottom 1981
87 Chris and Cosey - Trance 1982
88 Eric Clapton & Michael Kamen - Edge of darkness (OST) 1985
89 Clash - Combat rock 1982
90 Clash- - Sandinista! 1980
91 Bruce Cockburn - Humans 1980
92 Cockney rejects - Greatest hits : vol. 1 1980
93 Cockney rejects - Greatest hits : vol. 2 1980
94 Cocteau twins - Blue bell knob 1988
95 Cocteau twins - Head over heels 1983
96 Cocteau twins - Treasure 1984
97 Leonard Cohen - I'm your man 1988
98 Leonard Cohen - Various positions 1984
99 Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Rattlesnakes 1984
100 Ornette Coleman - In all languages 1987
101 Phil Collins - But seriously 1989
102 Phil Collins - Face value 1981
103 Phil Collins - Hello, I must be going! 1982
104 Phil Collins - No jacket required 1985
105 Alice Coltrane - Turiya sings
106 Ry Cooder - Paris, Texas (soundtrack) 1985
107 Julian Cope - Fried 1984
108 Julian Cope - Saint Julian 1987
109 Julian Cope - World shut your mouth 1984
110 Elvis Costello - Blood & chocolate 1986
111 Elvis Costello - Get happy! 1980
112 Elvis Costello - Imperial bedroom 1982
113 Elvis Costello - King of America 1986
114 Elvis Costello - Trust 1981
115 Cowboy junkies - The caution horses 1990
116 Cramps - Psychedelic jungle 1981
117 Cramps - Songs the Lord taught us 1980
118 Crass - Penis envy 1981
119 Creatures - Boomerang 1989
120 Creatures - Feast 1983
121 Crowded house - Crowded house 1986
122 Julee Cruise - Floating into the night 1989
123 Cult - Love 1985
124 Culture club - Colour by numbers 1983
125 Cure - Disintegration 1989
126 Cure - Faith 1981
127 Cure - Japanese whispers 1983
128 Cure - Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me 1987
129 Cure - Pornography 1982
130 Cure - Seventeen seconds 1980
131 Cure - The head on the door 1985
132 Cure - The top 1984
133 Cybotron - Enter 1983
134 Holger Czukay - On the way to the peak of normal 1981
135 Damned - The black album 1980
136 Miles Davis - Tutu 1986
137 DB's - Stands for Decibels 1981
138 De la soul - 3 feet high and rising 1989
139 Deacon blue - Raintown 1987
140 Dead can dance - Within the realm of a dying sun 1987
141 Dead Kennedys - Fresh fruit for rotting vegetables 1980
142 Dead moon - In the graveyard 1988
143 Depeche mode - A broken frame 1982
144 Depeche mode - Black celebration 1986
145 Depeche mode - Construction time again 1983
146 Depeche mode - Music for the masses 1987
147 Depeche mode - Some great reward 1984
148 Depeche mode - Speak & spell 1981
149 Descendents - Milo goes to college 1982
150 Lizzy Mercier Descloux - Mambo Nassau 1981
151 Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft - Alles ist gut 1981
152 Devo - Freedom of choice 1980
153 Dexy's midnight runners - Don't stand me down 1985
154 Dexy's midnight runners - Searching for the young soul rebels 1980
155 Dexy's midnight runners - Too-rye-ay 1982
156 Dinosaur jr. - Bug 1988
157 Dinosaur jr. - Dinosaur 1985
158 Dinosaur jr. - You're living all over me 1987
159 Dire straits - Brothers in arms 1985
160 Dire straits - Love over gold 1982
161 Dire straits - Making movies 1980
162 Discharge - - Hear nothing see nothing say nothing 1982
163 Doc - No one can do it better 1989
164 Dream syndicate - The days of wine and roses 1982
165 Bill Drummond - The man 1986
166 Stephen Tin Tin Duffy - The ups and downs 1985
167 Duran duran - Duran duran 1981
168 Duran duran - Rio 1982
169 Durutti column - LC 1981
170 Durutti column - The return of the Durutti column 1980
171 Durutti column - Vini Reilly 1989
172 Bob Dylan - Down in the groove 1988
173 Bob Dylan - Dylan & the Dead 1989
174 Bob Dylan - Empire burlesque 1985
175 Bob Dylan - Infidels 1983
176 Bob Dylan - Knocked out loaded 1986
177 Bob Dylan - Oh mercy 1989
178 Bob Dylan - Saved 1980
179 Bob Dylan - Shot of love 1981
180 Steve Earle - Guitar town 1986
181 Eazy-E - Eazy-duz-it 1988
182 Echo & the Bunnymen - Crocodiles 1980
183 Echo & the Bunnymen - Heaven up here 1981
184 Echo & the Bunnymen - Ocean rain 1984
185 Echo & the Bunnymen - Porcupine 1983
186 808 - State 90 1989
187 Einstürzende Neubauten - Kollaps 1981
188 Electric Light Orchestra - Secret messages 1983
189 Electric Light Orchestra - Time 1981
190 Brian Eno - Apollo : atmospheres & soundtracks 1983
191 Brian Eno & David Byrne - My life in the bush of ghosts 1981
192 Eric B & Rakim - Follow the leader 1988
193 Roky Erickson & the Aliens - The evil one 1981
194 ESG - Come away with ESG 1983
195 Eurythmics - In the garden 1981
196 Eurythmics - Sweet dreams (are made of this) 1983
197 Eurythmics - Touch 1983
198 Everything but the girl - Eden 1984
199 Donald Fagen - The nightfly 1982
200 Tav Falco's Panther burns - The world we knew 1987
201 Fall - Bend sinister 1986
202 Fall - Grotesque (after the Gramme) 1980
203 Fall - hex enduction hour 1982
204 Fall - I am kurious oranj 1988
205 Fall - Perverted by language 1983
206 Fall - The Frenz experiment 1988
207 Fall - The wonderful and frightening world of 1984
208 Fall - This nation's saving grace 1985
209 Family Fodder - Monkey banana kitchen 1980
210 Feelies - Crazy rhythms 1980
211 Felt - Crumbling the antiseptic beauty 1982
212 Felt - Forever breathes the lonely word 1986
213 Felt - Ignite the seven cannons 1985
214 Felt - Let the snakes crinkle their heads to death 1986
215 Felt - Me and a monkey on the moon 1989
216 Felt - Poem of the river 1987
217 Felt - The pictorial Jackson review 1988
218 Felt - The splendour of fear 1984
219 Felt - The strange idols pattern and other short stories 1984
220 Felt - Train above the city 1988
221 Fingers inc. - Another side 1988
222 Fleetwood mac - Tango in the night 1987
223 Flipper Album - generic Flipper 1982
224 John Fogerty - Centerfield 1985
225 Foreigner - 4 1981
226 John Foxx - Metamatic 1980
227 Frankie goes to Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasure dome 1984
229 Fugazi - 13 songs 1989
230 Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (3) 1980
231 Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (4) 1982
232 Peter Gabriel - So 1986
233 Galaxie 500 - On fire 1989
234 Galaxie 500 - Today 1988
235 Game theory - Lolita nation 1987
236 Gang of four - Solid gold 1981
237 Marvin Gaye - Midnight love 1982
238 General strike - Danger in paradise 1984
239 Genesis - Abacab 1981
240 Genesis - Duke 1980
241 Genesis - Genesis 1983
242 Genesis - Invisible touch 1986
243 Geto boys - Grip it! On that other level 1989
244 Giant sand - The love songs 1988
245 David Gilmour - About face 1984
246 Philip Glass - Solo piano 1989
247 Glove - Blue sunshine 1983
248 Go Go's - Beauty and the beat 1981
249 Go-betweens - Before Hollywood 1983
250 Go-betweens - Liberty Belle and the black diamond express 1986
251 Go-betweens - Send me a lullabye 1982
252 Godflesh - Streetcleaner 1989
253 Manuel Göttsching - E2-E4 1984
254 Grandmaster Flash & the Furious five - The message 1982
255 Harald Grosskopf - The synthesist 1980
256 Gun club - Fire of love 1981
257 Gun club - Miami 1982
258 Gun club - The Las Vegas story 1984
259 Keiji Haino - Watash-dake? 1981
260 Half Japanese - 1/2 gentlemen/Not beasts 1980
261 Happy mondays - Bummed 1988
262 Happy mondays - Squirrel and G-man twenty four party people plastic face can´t smile (white out) 1987
263 George Harrison - Cloud nine 1987
264 Grant Hart - Intolerance 1989
266 Hawkwind - Choose your masques 1982
267 Hawkwind - Levitation 1980
268 Heaven 17 - Penthouse and pavement 1981
269 Heaven 17 - The luxury gap 1983
270 Robyn Hitchcock - I often dream of trains in New York 1984
271 Roger Hodgson - In the eye of the storm 1984
272 House of love - The House of love 1988
273 Housemartins - London 0 Hull 4 1986
274 Housemartins - The people who grinned themselves to death! 1987
275 Human league - Dare 1981
277 Human league - Travelogue 1980
278 Michael Hurley - Snockgrass 1980
279 Hüsker dü - Candy apple grey 1986
280 Hüsker dü - Everything falls apart 1983
281 Hüsker dü - Flip your wing 1985
282 Hüsker dü - Land speed record 1982
283 Hüsker dü - Metal circus 1983
284 Hüsker dü - New day rising 1985
285 Hüsker dü - Warehouse : songs and stories 1987
286 Ice-T - Power 1988
287 Ice-T - Rhymepays 1987
288 Imagination - In the heat of the night 1982
289 Indigo girls - Indigo girls 1989
290 Inxs - Kick 1987
291 Iron maiden - Iron maiden 1980
292 Iron maiden - The number of the beast 1982
293 Janet Jackson - Control 1986
294 Janet Jackson - Rhythm nation 1814 1989
295 Joe Jackson - Night and day 1982
296 Michael Jackson - Thriller 1982
297 Jacobites - Robespierre's velvet basement 1985
298 Jam - Sound affects 1980
299 Jam - The gift 1982
300 Jams 1987 - What the fuck is going on? 1987
301 Jandek - Six and six 1981
302 Jane's addiction - Nothing's shocking 1988
303 Japan - Tin drum 1981
304 Jean-Michel Jarre - Magnetic fields 1981
305 Jean-Michel Jarre - Zoolook 1984
306 Jesus and Mary chain - Automatic 1989
307 Jesus and Mary chain - Darklands 1987
308 Jesus and Mary chain - Psychocandy 1985
309 Joan Jett - Bad reputation 1981
310 Billy Joel - An innocent man 1983
311 Billy Joel - Storm front 1989
312 Daniel Johnston - Hi, how are you : the unfinished album 1985
313 Daniel Johnston - Yip/Jump music (summer 1983) 1986
314 Grace Jones - Nightclubbing 1981
315 Grace Jones -Slave to the rhythm 1985
316 Grace Jones - Warm leatherette 1980
317 Nic Jones - Penguin eggs 1980
318 Rickie Lee Jones - Pirates 1981
319 Josef K - The only fun in town 1981
320 Judas priest - British steel 1980
321 Jungle brothers - Straight out the jungle 1988
322 Killing joke - Killing joke (1980) 1980
323 Killing joke - What's this for ... ! 1981
324 King of Luxembourg - Royal bastard 1987
325 Kraftwerk - Computer world 1981
326 Kraftwerk - Electric café 1986
327 Fela Kuti & Africa 70 - Coffin for the head of state … Nigeria reppin'!!! 1981
328 Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Africa 70 - ITT (International Thief Thief) 1980
329 Cyndi Lauper - She's so unusual 1983
330 League unlimited orchestra - Love and dancing 1982
331 Lemonheads - Lick 1989
332 John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Double fantasy 1980
333 Lilac time - The Lilac time 1987
334 Living colour - Vivid 1988
335 LL Cool J - Radio 1985
336 Los Lobos - By the light of the moon 1987
337 Los Lobos - How will the wolf survive? 1984
338 Loop - Fade out 1988
339 Loop - Heaven's end 1987
340 Lounge lizards - The Lounge lizards 1981
341 Love and RocketsB- Express 1986
342 Love joys - Lovers rock reggae style 1983
343 Lydia Lunch - Queen of Siam 1980
344 Lush - Scar 1989
345 Kirsty MacColl - Kite 1989
346 Mad professor - The African connection : dub me crazy, pt. 3 1983
347 Madness - Absolutely 1980
348 Madness - Keep moving 1984
349 Madonna - Like a prayer 1989
350 Madonna - Like a virgin 1984
351 Madonna - True blue 1986
352 Magazine - The correct use of soap 1980
353 Marden hill - Cadaquéz 1988
354 Marine girls - Lazy ways 1983
355 Lousia 'Markswoman' Mark - Breakout 1981
356 Bob Marley and the Wailers - Uprising 1980
357 John Martyn - Grace & danger 1980
358 Masters of reality - Masters of reality 1989
359 McCarthy - I am a wallet 1987
360 Paul McCartney - Flowers in the dirt 1989
361 Paul McCartney - McCartney II 1980
362 Malcolm McLaren - Duck rock 1983
363 McLyte - Lyte as a rock 1988
364 Meat puppets - Meat puppets II 1984
365 Meat puppets - Up on the sun 1985
366 Megadeth - Peace sells ... but who's buying? 1986
367 John Cougar Mellencamp - Scarecrow 1985
368 Mercyful fate - Don't break the oath 1984
369 Metallica - And justice for all 1988
370 Metallica - Kill 'em all 1983
371 Metallica - Master of puppets 1986
372 Metallica - Ride the lightning 1984
373 George Michael - Faith 1987
374 Mike and the Mechanics - Mike and the Mechanics 1985
375 Mike and the Mechanics - The living years 1988
376 Ministry - The mind is a terrible thing to taste 1989
377 Minor threat - Complete discography 1989
378 Sugar Minott - Wicked ago feel it 1984
379 Minutemen - Double nickels on the dime 1984
380 Misfits - Walk among us 1982
381 Mission of Burma - Vs 1982
382 Momus - Circus Maximus 1986
383 Momus - Tender pervert 1988
384 Meredith Monk - Dolmen music 1981
385 Morbid angel - Altars of madness 1989
386 Morrissey - "Viva hate" 1988
387 Motörhead - Ace of spades 1980
388 Motörhead - No sleep 'til Hammersmith 1981
389 Motörhead - Orgasmatron 1986
390 Bob Mould - Workbook 1989
391 Mr. Fingers - Amnesia 1988
392 Mudhoney - Mudhoney 1989
393 Mudhoney - Superfuzz bigmuff 1988
394 Pauline Murray - Pauline Murray & the Invisible girls 1980
395 My bloody Valentine - Ecstasy and wine 1989
396 My bloody Valentine - Isn't anything 1988
397 N.W.A. - Straight outta Compton 1988
398 Napalm death - From enslavement to obliteration 1988
399 New order -Brotherhood 1986
400 New order - Low-life 1985
401 New order - Movement 1981
402 New order - Power, corruption and lies 1983
403 New order - Substance, the singles 1980-1987 1987
404 New order - Technique 1989
405 Colin Newman - A-Z 1980
406 Colin Newman - Not to 1982
407 Nico + the faction - Camera obscura 1985
408 Nine inch nails - hate machine 1989
409 Nirvana - Bleach 1989
410 Ian North - My girldfriend's dead 1980
411 Nurse with wound - Soliloquy for Lilith 1988
412 Sinéad O'Connor - The lion and the cobra 1987
413 Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster & Panaiotis - Deep listening 1989
414 Yoko Ono - Season of glass 1981
415 Opal - Happy nightmare baby 1987
416 Orange juice - You can't hide your love forever 1982
417 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Architecture & morality 1981
418 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Dazzle ships 1983
419 Jimmy Page - Death wish II (soundtrack) 1982
420 Palais Schaumburg - Palais Schaumburg 1981
421 Pale fountains - Pacific street 1984
422 Alan Parsons project - Eye in the sky 1982
423 Pastels - Sittin' pretty 1989
424 Pastels - Up for a bit with the Pastels 1987
425 Pere Ubu - The art of walking 1980
426 Lee 'Scratch' Perry - The return of Pipecock Jackson 1980
427 Pet shop boys - Actually 1987
428 Pet shop boys - Introspective 1988
429 Pet shop boys - Please 1986
430 Tom Petty - Full moon fever 1989
431 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Hard promises 1981
432 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Let me up (I've had enough) 1987
433 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Long after dark 1982
434 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Southern accents 1985
435 Pink floyd - A momentary lapse of reason 1987
436 Pink floyd - The final cut 1983
437 Pixies - Doolittle 1989
438 Pixies - Surfer Rosa 1988
439 Robert Plant - Pictures at eleven 1982
440 Robert Plant - Shaken 'n' stirred 1985
441 Robert Plant - The principle of moments 1983
442 Pogues - Rum, sodomy & the lash 1985
443 Police - Ghost in the machine 1981
444 Police - Synchronicity 1983
445 Police - Zenyatta mondatta 1980
446 Pop group - For how much longer do we tolerate mass murder? 1980
447 Pop will eat itself - Box frenzy 1987
448 Iggy Pop - Instinct 1988
449 Iggy Pop - Zombie birdhouse 1982
450 Popol vuh - Sei still, wisse ich bin 1981
451 Prefab sprout - Steve McQueen 1985
452 Prefab sprout - Swoon 1984
453 Pretenders - Pretenders 1980
454 Pretenders - Pretenders II 1981
455 Primal scream - Primal scream 1989
456 Primitive calculators with Art & Language - Primitive calculators 1982
457 Primitives - Lovely 1988
458 Prince - 1999 1982
459 Prince - Around the world in a day 1985
460 Prince - Batman (soundtrack) 1989
461 Prince - Controversy 1981
462 Prince - Dirty mind 1980
463 Prince - Lovesexy 1988
464 Prince - Parade 1986
465 Prince - Purple rain 1984
466 Prince - Sign o the times 1987
467 Prince Far I & the Arabs - Cry tuff dub encounter : chapter III 1980
468 Psychedelic furs - Talk talk talk 1981
469 Psychedelic furs - The Psychedelic furs 1980
470 Psychic tv - Dreams less sweet 1983
471 Public enemy - It takes a nation of millions to hold us back 1988
472 Public enemy - Yo! Bum rush the show 1987
473 Public Image Ltd - Compact disc 1986
474 Public Image Ltd - Metal box 1979
475 Public Image Ltd - The flowers of romance 1981
476 Pyrolator - Ausland 1981
477 Queen - A kind of magic 1986
478 Queen - Flash Gordon (soundtrack) 1980
479 Queen - Hot space 1982
480 Queen - The game 1980
481 Queen - The miracle 1989
482 Queen -The works 1984
483 R.E.M. - Document 1987
484 R.E.M. - Fables of the reconstruction/Reconstruction of the fables 1985
485 R.E.M. - Green 1988
486 R.E.M. - Life's rich pageant 1986
487 R.E.M. - Murmur 1983
488 R.E.M -. Reckoning 1984
489 Raincoats - Odyshape 1981
490 Rainy day - Rainy day 1984
491 Red crayola with Art & Language - Black snakes 1983
492 Red hot chili peppers - Mother's milk 1989
493 Redd kross - Born innocent 1982
494 Lou Reed - New York 1989
495 Lou Reed - The blue mask 1982
496 Steve Reich - Different trains/Electric counterpart 1989
497 Replacements - Don't tell a soul 1989
498 Replacements - Let it be 1984
499 Replacements - Pleased to meet you 1987
500 Replacements - Tim 1985
501 Jonathan Richman and the Modern lovers - It's time for 1986
502 Rites of spring - Rites of spring 1985
503 Robbie Robertson - Robbie Robertson 1987
504 Rockpile - Seconds of pleasure 1980
505 Roedelius - Wenn der Südwind weht 1981
506 Rolling stones - Emotional rescue 1980
507 Rolling stones - Tattoo you 1981
508 Rolling stones - Undercover 1983
509 Michael Rother - Fernwarme 1982
510 Roxy music - Avalon 1982
511 Roxy music - Flesh + blood 1980
512 Royal trux - Royal trux 1988
513 Rudimentary peniS - Death church 1983
514 Run DMC - Raising hell 1986
515 Run DMC - Tougher than leather 1988
516 Arthur Russell - World of echo 1986
517 Sade - Diamond life 1984
518 Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas, mr. Lawrence (soundtrack) 1983
519 Salt 'n' pepa - Hot, cool & vicious 1986
520 Scientist - Scientist rids the world of the evil curse of the vampires 1981
521 Scientists - Blood red river 1983
522 Screaming blue messiahs - Bikini red 1987
523 Screaming trees - Even if and especially when 1981
524 Scritti politti - Cupid & psyche 85 1985
525 Searchers - Play for today 1981
526 Severed heads - The big bigot 1986
527 Shack - Zilch 1988
528 Jah Shaka - Brimstone & fire 1983
529 Pete Shelley - Heaven & the sea 1986
530 Shop assistants - Shop assistants 1986
531 Paul Simon - Graceland 1986
532 Simple minds - New gold dream 1982
533 Siouxsie and the Banshees - A kiss in the dreamhouse 1982
534 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Hyaena 1984
535 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Juju 1981
536 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Kaleidoscope 1980
537 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Peepshow 1988
538 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Through the looking glass 1987
539 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Tinderbox 1986
540 Sisters of mercy - Floodland 1987
541 Slayer - Reign in blood 1986
542 Slint - Tweez 1989
543 Slits - Return of the giant Slits 1981
544 Wayne Smith - Sleng teng 1986
545 Smiths - Hatful of hollow 1984
546 Smiths - Meat is murder 1985
547 Smiths - Strangeways, here we come 1987
548 Smiths - The queen is dead 1986
549 Smiths - The Smiths 1984
550 Soft boys - Underwater moonlight 1980
551 Soft cell - Non-stop erotic cabaret 1981
552 Sonic youth - Daydream nation 1988
553 Sonic youth - Sister 1987
554 Soul II Soul - Club classics, vol. 1 1989
555 Sound - From the lions mouth 1981
556 Sound - Jeopardy 1980
557 Spacemen 3 - Playing with fire 1989
558 Spacemen 3 - Sound of confusion 1986
559 Spacemen 3 - The perfect prescription 1987
560 Specials - More Specials 1980
561 Laurie Spiegel - The expanding universe 1980
562 Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA 1984
563 Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska 1982
564 Bruce Springsteen - The river 1980
565 Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of love 1987
566 Squeeze - East side story 1981
567 Steely dan - Gaucho 1980
568 Stone roses - The Stone roses 1989
569 Stranglers - La folie 1981
570 Style council - Café bleu 1984
571 Style council - Confessions of a pop group 1988
572 Style council - Our favourite shop 1985
573 Style council - The cost of loving 1987
574 Sugarcubes - Life's too good 1988
575 Sun Ra Arkestra - Nuclear war 1982
576 Sun Ra - Strange celestial road 1980
577 Swans - The burning world 1989
578 Swell maps - In 'Jane from occupied Europe' 1980
579 David Sylvian & Holger Czukay - Plight & premonition 1988
580 David Sylvian - Secrets of the beehive 1987
581 Midori Tadaka - Through the looking glass 1983
582 Talk talk - It's my life 1984
583 Talk talk-  The colour of spring 1986
584 Talk talk - The party's over 1982
585 Talking heads - Little creatures 1985
586 Talking heads - Remain in light 1980
587 Cecil Taylor - For Olim 1987
588 Teardrop explodes - Kilimanjaro 1980
589 Teardrop explodes - Wilder 1981
590 Tears for fears - Songs from the big chair 1985
591 Tears for fears - The hurting 1983
592 Television personalities - And don't the kids just love it 1981
593 Television personalities - Mummy your not watching me 1982
594 Television personalities - The painted word 1984
595 The The - Infected 1986
596 The The - Soul mining 1983
597 They might be giants - Lincoln 1988
598 They might be giants - They might be giants 1986
599 This heat - Deceit 1981
600 This mortal coil - It'll end in tears 1984
601 Thompson twins - Into the gap 1984
602 Carroll Thompson - Hopelessly in love 1981
603 Richard & Linda Thompson - Shoot out the lights 1982
604 Throbbing gristle - Heathen Earth 1980
605 Throwing muses - Hunkpapa 1989
606 Johnny Thunders - Hurt me 1983
607 Tin machine - Tin machine 1989
608 Tom tom club - Tom tom club 1981
609 Toto Toto - IV 1982
610 Pete Townshend - Empty glass 1980
611 Pete Townshend - Scoop 1983
612 Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys, volume 1 1988
613 Triffids - Born sandy devotional 1986
614 Tina Turner - Private dancer 1984
615 2 live crew - As nasty as they wanna be 1989
616 U2 - Boy 1980
617 U2 - October 1981
618 U2 - Rattle and hum 1988
619 U2 - The Joshua tree 1987
620 U2 - The unforgettable fire 1984
621 U2 - Under a blood red sky 1983
622 U2 - War 1983
623 UB 40 - Present arms 1981
624 UltraMagnetic MC's - Critical beatdown 1988
625 Ultravox - Vienna 1980
626 Van Halen - 1984 1984
627 Alan Vega - Alan Vega 1980
628 Alan Vega - Collision drive 1981
629 Alan Vega & Martin Rev - Suicide 1980
630 Suzanne Vega - Solitude standing 1987
631 Suzanne Vega - Suzanne Vega 1985
632 Venom - Black metal 1982
633 Verlaines - Hallelujah all the way home 1985
634 Violent femmes - Violent femmes 1983
635 Virgo - Virgo 1989
636 Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones 1983
637 Waterboys - Fisherman's blues 1988
638 Waterboys - This is the sea 1985
639 Roger Waters - Radio K.A.O.S. 1987
640 Roger Waters - The pros and cons of hitchhiking 1984
641 Wedding present - Bizarro 1989
642 Wedding present - George Best 1987
643 Lucinda Williams - Lucinda Williams 1988
644 Wipers - Youth of America 1981
645 Wonder stuff - Hup 1989
646 Wonder stuff - The eight legged groove machine 1988
647 Stevie Wonder - Hotter than july 1980
648 Working week - Working nights 1985
649 World party - Private revolution 1987
650 Robert Wyatt - Nothing can stop us 1982
651 Robert Wyatt - Old rotten hat 1985
652 X - Los Angeles 1980
653 X - X-aspirations 1980
654 XTC - English settlement 1982
655 Yellow magic orchestra - Technodelic 1981
656 Neil Young - Everybody's rockin' 1983
657 Neil Young - Freedom 1989
658 Neil Young - Hawks & doves 1980
659 Neil Young - Landing on water 1986
660 Neil Young - Life 1987
661 Neil Young - Old ways 1985
662 Neil Young - Re.ac.tor 1981
663 Neil Young - This note's for you 1988
664 Neil Young - Trans 1982
665 ZZ top - Eliminator 1983