1983

.

Of the ‘1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die,’ 16 are from the year 1983.

To my pleasant surprise, I’ve reviewed all of them already.

Which 1983 albums are the most essential to hear again?

Ranked by their essential-ness, here’s how I’d prioritize revisiting these 16 albums, enjoy!

.

.

16. Malcolm McLaren – Duck Rock. Interesting to hear the source material for Eminem’s “round the outside” hook.

15. Culture Club – Colour By Numbers. I’m pleased to have the audiocassette.

14. Paul Simon – Hearts & Bones. I have a feeling his 1986 album may place slightly higher.

13. Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These). Love Annie Lennox’s voice.

12. Meat Puppets – Meat Puppets II. Solid guitar work.

11. ZZ Top – Eliminator. Their second of two on the 1001 list.

10. Blue Nile – A Walk Across the Rooftops. Given how ‘within my wheelhouse’ it is, an album I feel like I should have heard before this project.

9. Echo & The Bunnymen – Porcupine. Their second of three albums on the list – and somehow, despite being right up my alley, like the waterfalls in Hamilton, ON, they weren’t on my radar at all until recently!

.

.

8. U2 – War. Their first of four on the list

7. The The – Soul Mining. Their first of two.

6. Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones. His fourth of five

5. Def Leppard – Pyromania. Their first of two.

4. Hanoi Rocks – Back to Mystery City. I believe the lone Finnish group on the 1001 list – Finland is batting 1000 based on this one!

3. Cyndi Lauper – She’s So Unusual. Terrific debut.

2. R.E.M. – Murmur. Although my preference is the ‘Automatic’ era, it’s still R.E.M. we’re talking about here!

1. The Police – Synchronicity. Contains one the absolute worst tracks on the 1001 list (Mother) and one of the list’s absolute best (King of Pain)!

…..

Verbalize the Positive

C’est l’Halloween (hey!) eve!