Before I return to romanticizing the collection, I thought we should have a look at the full monty. Here they all are.
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BANANARAMA by Bananarama, April 1984 Bananarama was the first album to hit the freshly-connected turntable in my dorm room in August, 1984. "Cruel Summer" is still a favorite today. FREEDOM OF CHOICE by Devo, May 1980 Although I began this month with Bananarama for sentimentally symbolic reasons, the remainder of my albums I presented chronologically (ala Rob in HIGH FIDELITY). I didn't have the patience (or memory) to present them as they fit into the rhythm of my life, however. You can't help but get up and move when you hear "Whip It." |
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AUTOAMERICAN by Blondie, November 1980 Since I was a teen and then college student during all of the 1980s, my albums reflect that eclectically colorful decade aplenty. I still sing along (and remember all the lyrics) to "Rapture." BUSINESS AS USUAL by Men at Work, November 1981 I stayed up late in the basement to watch Men at Work perform both hits, "Who Can it Be Now?" and "Down Under" on SNL hosted by WKRP's Johnny Fever. Still puts me in a good mood even though I am now a man of leisure. |
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WASN'T TOMORROW WONDERFUL? by The Waitresses, January 1982 While I wasn't exactly a square peg myself in high school, I was a huge fan of SJP's one-season nod to high school life. The Waitresses' debut album came into my collection after the band appeared on the SQUARE PEGS series premiere singing both the show's theme and the (still freakin' awesome) "I Know What Boys Like." PELICAN WEST by Haircut One Hundred, February 1982 I place particular blame on original MTV VJs Martha Quinn and Nina Blackwood for all of my British New Wave album purchases. "Favorite Shirts" and "Love Plus One" were in heavy rotation in the early days of MTV and who was I to argue with Martha and Nina?! |
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BRANIGAN by Laura Branigan, March 1982 A two-for treat to celebrate her beautiful yet powerful anthems that still resound today and in honor of a life cut far too short (Laura Branigan died of a brain aneurysm at 52). SELF CONTROL by Laura Branigan, April 1984 While "Gloria" and "Self Control" are popular favorites, the entire album is one of my all-time faves, which might explain why I've held onto it all these years. |
Picking up each album is a part of Marie Kondo's process, yes, but it has always been a part of my own collecting philosophy. As the album collection has downsized over the years I have made some tough decisions and let things go. The stand I purchased with my all-in-one system claims to hold 100 albums. There are currently 81 housed down there below the turntable with its built-in lo-fi speakers. It might hold 100 on a good day, but I prefer to give the remaining relics a little breathing room.
Wait, is that "too" Marie Kondo?
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RHYTHM OF YOUTH by Men Without Hats, April 1982 While I was a bit young to fully appreciate the quirky new wave protest song at the time, "The Safety Dance" still produces a lot of high school nostalgia for me. Does anyone else remember Weird Al's parody of "Safety Dance" called "The Brady Bunch?" A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS by A Flock of Seagulls, April 1982 You could not escape the ubiquitous "I Ran" even if you (ironically) ran so far away. I also still love "Space Age Love Song" but, sadly, no longer have the hair to pull off the famous "seagull do." |
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RIO by Duran Duran, May 1982 OMG. I have no words except LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS ALBUM. While "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf" were part of my high school soundtrack, "Save a Prayer" still resounds with me today. COMBAT ROCK by The Clash, May 1982 The British new wave invasion continued on MTV and straight into my record collection with this decidedly more punk than new wave gem. Even today, nothing beats turning up "Rock the Casbah" when you are inching along in slow traffic. |
When I left for college in August 1984, I boarded a train with an embarrassingly large suitcase (a Sarabando family tradition that continues to this day), a new trunk purchased from Service Merchandise, and the box said trunk had arrived in. All my overpacked baggage greeted me 16 hours later on the platform at the South Bend train station. My parents had shipped me off to begin adulting yet had never helped me fully embrace the concept of "traveling light." I am ever thankful to them, of course, for always allowing me to travel heavy--usually burdened with too many books and records (and a portable turntable with a briefcase-like handle) and never enough underwear and socks.
Not sure what 70s or 80s Lou would have made of an e-reader or iPod!
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PYROMANIA by Def Leppard, January 1983 One of the very few duplicate albums when Mari and I united our collections over 30 years ago (she was mostly a cassette collector). That melodic ringing in our ears when we finally saw Def Leppard live in July 2008 (with Joan Jett) has finally subsided! OUR LIPS ARE SEALED (12" single from WAITING) by Fun Boy Three, February 1983 I went off on my own British tangent with this remake of The Go-Go's hit written by the band's Jane Wiedlin who co-wrote the song with Fun Boy Three singer Terry Hall. Much of my surviving album collection is made up of relatively obscure but well-loved 12" singles like this gem. |
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LET'S DANCE by David Bowie, April 1983 If you owned record albums in the 1980s, then you owned this masterpiece. Even though the BEST OF BOWIE double CD (October 2002) is in my CD collection, I will never part with this original album. (Yes, there is a rather massive CD collection.) WHITE FEATHERS by Kajagoogoo, April 1983 I was never "Too Shy" about rushing out to buy an album after hearing only one song and Kajagoogoo's debut album was no exception. I did learn, years later, that the "Kajagoogoo" track from this album opens one of Mari's favorite films. It's the one starring one of my early movie crushes, Miss Molly Ringwald, celebrating a sweet milestone. (OK, since you asked, Kristy McNichol was my first TV/movie crush.) |
I think about 20 albums made that train ride with me from their basement home in Tarrytown to my basement dorm room in Fisher Hall on the Notre Dame campus. Even before my roommate had moved in to his half of Room 6, I had biked the four miles to Service Merchandise and purchased a Technics linear-tracking turntable that I had salivated over while working my summer job at the Warner Library. After connecting it to my larger-than-life 80s boombox, I laid down the track that began my new life, on my own and ready for a completely fresh start in a new state and a new part of the country I would eventually and gratefully consider home.
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STATE OF CONFUSION by The Kinks, June 1983 Since it was a little more pop than their traditional rock, I was finally drawn to The Kinks by this album. "Come Dancing" still appeals to my sentimental side, but listening to the title track with the volume turned up REALLY REALLY LOUD ironically helps alleviate just about any state of confusion. RANT N' RAVE WITH THE STRAY CATS by The Stray Cats, August 1983 It wasn't until their fourth album that I developed a real affinity for The Stray Cats' funky fusion of blues, rock, and swing. Or maybe 'cuz I was on the verge of being "Sexy + 17" myself?! |
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FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF NIGHT by Bonnie Tyler, September 1983 Had it not been for my favorite love-triangle-heist film starring Cate, Bruce, and Billy Bob, I may not have had the courage to broadcast that Bonnie Tyler's album remains in my collection to this day. It does and BANDITS made singing your lungs out to "Total Eclipse of the Heart" cool again. (It did, right?) ALL OVER THE PLACE by The Bangles, May 1984 Before our Mondays became wistfully manic and before we pretended to walk like Egyptians, there was "Hero Takes a Fall" and "James" from the band's debut album. All four original Bangles had the pleasure of serenading me at my first concert when I was a lowly college freshman and this beautiful collection of songs will always have a special place among my albums. |
A few more visits home to New York over the years and additional purchases to my collection in South Bend would top my albums out at about 250, filling two of those ubiquitous record "crates" to capacity. (I confess that more than a few albums were purchased at the campus bookstore along with the books and supplies I was officially sanctioned to purchase with my "emergency" credit card.)
I think it was only in the spring of 1987 that I finally bought my first CDs. The multifariously massive stereo component system was conceived that spring with the irresponsible Fingerhut purchase of a rather expensive CD player (even by 1987 standards) which I connected to a receiver, equalizer, and speakers. Living in an apartment afforded me more space (and soundproofing) and my beloved boombox became relegated to the bedroom and infrequent trips to the dunes on Lake Michigan. I was still purchasing albums, but mostly the 12" singles that I featured in my FB posts this month.
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A-E-I-O-U SOMETIMES Y (12" single from FEELING CAVALIER) by eBN-oZN, June 1984 Another of my musical oddities, this angsty synth pop club hit was all over the NYC radio waves during my last summer at home before starting college. I remember first hearing this on prom night in two different clubs before becoming addicted to the low-budget avant-garde video that played endlessly on MTV that summer. I can't stop hearing it in my head now even after all these years! *** blog bonus *** 19 (12" single from PAUL HARDCASTLE) by Paul Hardcastle, May 1985 "19" was one of my earliest dives into electronica which has been a faithful companion now for decades. Skilled dubbing and sampling also lend the synth-pop mega-hit a sober tone for its anti-war message. |
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LET'S GO CRAZY (12" single from PURPLE RAIN) by Prince and the Revolution, July 1984 The single is not about reliving the most amazing soundtrack ever, but about the pleasures of the B-side: the extended remix of "Erotic City" in its glorious Sheila E. laden debut. ICE CREAM CASTLE by The Time, July 1984 Who could resist an extra serving of PURPLE RAIN with "The Bird" and some "Jungle Love" from Morris Day and his irresistible entourage? |
I will never forget hearing "Erotic City" for the first time, especially where I first heard it: it may surprise you as much as it did me. Walking back to my dorm from the library one night I crossed paths with a new friend of mine from Fisher Hall. We decided to walk through The Huddle in the student center. The Huddle, in its many reincarnations has been a hub of campus student life with plenty of casual seating and a variety of quick snack and meal options, but mostly a gathering and meeting place.
I worked the wok station, pizza line, and frozen yogurt shop at The Huddle
the summer after graduation to great acclaim from fellow grad students!
The pool tables and pinball machines in the basement were always a welcome distraction (a few times one particular pool table became a diversion from statistics class, but that's another story for another confessional), but simply sitting upstairs and watching people while listening to music was a great pastime. On this particular evening after studying at the library, I assumed Joe might just want to pick up a drink or snack, so I tagged along. We walked in and he headed straight to the juke box and dropped in a coin. We sat for a couple minutes before his selection came up, then he smiled and got up and asked if I was ready to head back. "That's it?" I asked, not completely sure what had happened. I think Joe had forgotten that we had just met not long ago and I didn't know his life story, not yet anyway. We stood there for a moment, listening, while he pointed at the beautifully classic shiny jukebox by the window facing the library. It was then that I tuned out the large open room's colorfully collegiate din and first listened to the song Joe had plunked his coin down to rent for a limited time. Turns out Joe saved loose change for plunking into the very public jukebox, especially after discovering it housed the B-side to "Let's Go Crazy." He told me that the song needed to be played even if it was just to F with anyone paying attention. I'm not sure when that jukebox was ultimately replaced with something more technologically advanced, and I don't know if the powers-that-were ever realized this particular Prince B-side was part of the regularly played catalog of study-break music, but I am ever thankful to Joe from Murfreesboro for a great memory. I added the single to my record collection at the very first opportunity.
Once college graduation rolled around and my big migration south (with Mari!) became imminent, I pared down my albums with a few visits to Tracks, a local record resale shop that purchased used albums. There are a few that I still regret selling like Big Country's debut album THE CROSSING but the money was helpful at the time and I really needed to downsize.
I think I was down to just one of those ubiquitous flimsy record crates and maybe 120 records by the time I turned thirty.
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I FEEL FOR YOU by Chaka Khan, October 1984 I will never forget the moment I first heard "I Feel for You" in a mall record store. I walked straight up to a very tall man at the register and asked, "Who is this?" while pointing up at the mall heavens. He smiled, "I got you" and motioned for me to follow him. Moments later I was holding this very album in the checkout line. The Prince-penned title song would be followed by "This is My Night" and "Through the Fire" straight into my heart. 1984 (FOR THE LOVE OF BIG BROTHER) by Eurythmics, November 1984 A high school senior and college freshman in the prophetically dystopian 1984, I could not escape what eventually became a favorite novel, nor could I escape the great film with its Eurythmics soundtrack. The popular "Sexcrime" (not actually featured in the film) and the equally passionate but hauntingly beautiful "Julia" are among the reasons this rarity remains in my collection after 37 years. |
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VISION QUEST (soundtrack), February 1985 While a cherished handful of early Madonna 12" singles remains in my collection, I chose to single out this soundtrack to her first film appearance. A forgettable film save for the two bar scenes in which the heavenly pop star in her best 80s regalia serenades me (and movie audiences) with the self-affirming "Gambler" and perfectly poignant "Crazy For You." *** blog bonus *** MATERIAL GIRL (single from LIKE A VIRGIN) by Madonna, January 1985 I have WAY TOO MUCH to say about Madonna. It was love at first sight (and sound) my entire senior year of high school and to this day. I am ever thankful to Mari for indulging me my musical "novia" and for not minding so much that about 10% of our CD storage is devoted to every album and CD maxi-single to ever bear the musical icon's mercurially provocative image. |
There are many missing musical memories that once resided with my current collection (including Missing Persons' SPRING SESSION M), commingled by way of my favored alphabetical order, that a monthly capsule collection is barely enough to express the variety (and unity) shared by "80s music." Several 80s Diana Ross albums also were gobbled up at Tracks. You remember, the ones with the fold-out album cover displaying a center-fold style pin-up pose of the solo songbird? I admit I was "Swept Away" by Ross and other dance divas like Donna Summer and Paula Abdul. Today, I can easily call up my favorites on a compilation CD, but that's not exactly the same as a glitzy fold-out album cover.
I remember taking my beloved fold-out XANADU soundtrack album with me to see Olivia Newton-John, not knowing exactly why, but I wanted her to know (somehow) what it meant to me. Sure enough, she began her concert with the title song to one of my favorite and most-viewed movies and I sprang from my seat and ran up to the stage (as close as I could manage without getting arrested), unfolded the fold-out album and waved it over my head like an idiot at her. When I was sure I had seen a glint of a smile from her as she looked down at me, I sidled sheepishly back to my seat, assured that those decades of openly loving a much-maligned film had been worth it. Sadly, I replaced the colorful album with its CD clone during one of my previous downsizing purges. I think it was at the same time that I finally replaced the vastly aging colossus of a high-fidelity system with the diminutive all-in-one novelty from QVC.
MUSIC FROM THE EDGE OF HEAVEN would also have made my September cut had it not left my collection in favor of yet another compilation CD. That album was glued to my Service Merchandise turntable during the fall semester of 1986 as the "Hot Side" prepared me to face the day every morning while the "Cool Side" eased my way into evenings.
Thanks to my roommate, TonyVH, for putting up with the Wham! concert every morning!
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WE ARE THE WORLD (12" single from WE ARE THE WORLD) by USA for Africa, March 1985 It was my first college Spring Break and my dorm-bound buddies and I were bored so we recorded (on cassette, of course) our own version of "We are the World" in celebration of Fisher Hall's 4B section. We performed it at weddings and graduation parties for years and this decades-old charity album is to blame for my nostalgia today. THE POWER STATION 33 1/3 by The Power Station, March 1985 Even though Robert Palmer was the final piece of The Power Station puzzle, it was his easily recognizable fiery voice all over this super group's first album. More than just some of us fell in love with "Some Like it Hot" and rocked out to "Get it On." |
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BROTHERS IN ARMS by Dire Straits, May 1985 If you try just a little, you can still hear Sting's haunting plea, "I want my MTV" from this album's megahit "Money for Nothing." While the album was among the first ever recorded digitally, it would be another two years before I caved and ordered my first CDs from Columbia House. *** blog bonus *** OWNER OF A LONELY HEART (12" single from 90125) by Yes, October 1983 Had September hath 31, this Yes single would have been included and nestled neatly between Bonnie Tyler and The Bangles. A favorite song for its loud, infectious dance beat (especially in its extended 12" format) and self-affirming lyrics, I've held onto the single even though THE ULTIMATE YES (2004) CDs currently reside with that collection. |
(that's Shirley Manson NOT Marilyn Manson)
and Red Hot Chili Peppers and No Doubt and Jane's Addiction and Beck and Green Day and Soundgarden and Beastie Boys and Björk and Smashing Pumpkins and Tori Amos and Radiohead and what-was-the-name-of-that-one-grunge-band-from-Seattle?
I can never hear "Smells Like Teen Spirit" or "Come as You Are" without thinking of my early 90s debaters. You know who you are and I love you all still.
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LISA LISA & CULT JAM WITH FULL FORCE by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, August 1985 To answer Lisa (that's Lisa Lisa to you) Velez's hit question, yes, I can feel the beat, even after all these years! This debut dance R&B album saw a lot of play on my college turntable years before SPANISH FLY's "Head to Toe" hit number one. *** blog bonus *** I LIKE YOU (12" single from I LIKE YOU) by Phyllis Nelson, January 1985 Another well-loved dance remix, not for the underwhelmingly simple lyrics, but for the overwhelmingly luscious rhythm of Phyllis Nelson's bluesy insistence that she liked me, she really liked me! |
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AND SHE WAS (12" single from LITTLE CREATURES) by Talking Heads, December 1985 I am "singling" out two favorites from two favorite record albums. BIG TIME (12" single from SO) by Peter Gabriel, February 1987 While both full records are in my CD collection, the singles remain because of their funky rock dance remixes and colorful artwork. |
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C'MON AND GET MY LOVE (12" single from A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT) by D Mob featuring Cathy Dennis, October 1989 It was her hit collaboration with D Mob that introduced me to a favorite chanteuse, Cathy Dennis. This single was followed by her own glorious dance hits "Just Another Dream" and "Touch Me." GET UP! (12" single from PUMP UP THE JAM) by Technotronic, January 1990 Technotronic still gets me moving and after their Jam was sufficiently pumped up came this second hit single, my final new record purchase ever. |
I still remember my last store visit to purchase a new record. The record store is no longer there, but La Plaza Mall is still going big and strong (and renovated beyond recognition) in McAllen, Texas. Mari and I would occasionally indulge our precious free time with a mall visit during our first year teaching and the mall housed a movie theater at the time, too. We were both in love with Technotronic and I was still a fan of securing 12" singles with their masterful remixes for our leisurely down-time away from students. I must confess that many a paper was graded while listening to funky beats over the decades that followed. Mari had stopped buying music cassettes, the CD collection was growing, but these final two vinyl purchases would still color our world.
While I adapted with the musical times and my means of collecting music adapted with changing technology, I have never ceased to be influenced by the musical memories of my past and the influence of those around me. Every album (or CD or iTunes download) has a story to tell and I think I am at the point where I will no longer be downsizing my albums. I was able to cram a few extra memories into the thirty days of this September with multiple two-for postings, but I reserve the right to revisit the remaining 50 or so albums that went un-storied. Maybe next September?
Just wake me up when September ends.
