398. Yaz, You and Me Both (1983) If the old adage about books and their covers can be applied to albums, it’s also fair to remember that, as Rod Stewart once sang, every picture tells a story. In the case … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #398 to #396
401. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Rattlesnakes (1984) In the midst of his eventually abandoned studies at Glasgow University, Lloyd Cole formed the band that bore his name. According to him, the original intent of Lloyd Cole and the Emotions … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #401 to #399
404. Howard Devoto, Jerky Versions of the Dream (1983) After folding his band Magazine, Howard Devoto wasn’t sure what he’d do next. He started working on one project with guitarist Alan St. Clair and another with Barry Adamson, Magazine’s bassist. … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #404 to #402
407. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Southern Accents (1985) Tom Petty thought it was time for a concept album. With his backing band, the Heartbreakers, Petty had made five albums of solid rock ‘n’ roll with a slew of radio … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #407 to #405
410. Romeo Void, Benefactor (1982) It was up to Romeo Void to prove the soundness of a recent business decision by the executives at Columbia Records. That responsibility was only appropriate because the San Francisco band were primary drivers of … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #410 to #408
413. Gang of Four, Songs of the Free (1982) According to Hugo Burnham, the drummer for Gang of Four, the band was striving for a slicker, more commercial product when they made their third album, Songs of the Free. But … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #413 to #411
416. Eric Clapton, Just One Night (1980) The Nippon Budokan Theater, located in Tokyo, Japan, had a sterling reputation as a venue conducive to live recordings. Bob Dylan made a live album there, as did, more famously and more lucratively, … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #416 to #414
419. Cyndi Lauper, She’s So Unusual (1983) Through the late nineteen-seventies and early nineteen-eighties, Cyndi Lauper faced a series of setbacks that reasonably should have made her decide that a prime place in the music business wasn’t meant to be … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #419 to #417
422. Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Live Rust (1979) Lest anyone doubt Neil Young’s entrepreneurial spirit, he is one of the few artists who opted to make a live album to document the tour mounted in support of a live … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #422 to #420
425. Big Country, The Seer (1986) The intent was a return to the band’s roots. Big Country had the sort of hit debut that bands dream about. The Crossing, released in 1983, sold enough copies to earn a gold certification … Continue reading College Countdown: CMJ Top 1000, 1979 – 1989 — #425 to #423
Coffee for Two 