Speaking In Tongues by Talking Heads
Speaking In Tongues was the fifth studio album released by Talking Heads
Choosing to self-produce after splitting with producer Brian Eno appears to be a wise decision with hindsight. Speaking In Tongues would be a commercial breakthrough for Talking Heads spawning their only top ten hit in the US, the wonderful “Burning Down The House”. The tour for this album would also give birth to their fantastic concert film and live album, “Stop Making Sense”, which will get a cinematic re-release in 2023.
Favourite track: “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)”
War by U2
War was U2’s third studio album recorded with producer Steve Lillywhite
War was a very successful album for U2 becoming their first to reach #1 on the UK charts. It actually knocked Michael Jackson’s Thriller from the #1 spot. It also made it to #12 on the US charts and became their first US gold-selling album. Four singles were released from the album with the first, “New Year’s Day”, achieving the most success.
Favourite track: “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
Desperate by Divinyls
Desperate, the debut studio album by Divinyls, following up the Music From Monkey Grip EP
Divinyls made a name for themselves by gigging around the pubs and clubs of Kings Cross in Sydney. Film maker Ken Cameron saw them and put them in his 1982 film, Monkey Grip, for which Divinyls provided the soundtrack EP. Their debut album Desperate followed in 1983 on the back of their successful single “Science Fiction”.
Favourite track: “Siren (Never Let You Go)”
Eliminator by ZZ Top
Released in March 1983, Eliminator was ZZ Top’s eighth studio album
Since 1981 Billy Gibbons had been trying to push the band into a more new wave direction whilst keeping the basic guitar boogie sound of the Texas trio. It hadn’t really worked with previous efforts, so the tempo was increased and more synthesizers and drum machines were added, before striking upon the winning formula. Although some long-time fans were not happy with the new direction, the album contained four successful hit singles. Each of which had stylish music videos that received regular airplay on the burgeoning MTV channel. Little wonder that this became ZZ Top’s most commercially successful album.
Favourite track: Hard to go past “Legs”
Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes
The self-titled album was simultaneously their debut and their most successful album
This sounded like nothing else around at the time and at first I didn’t quite to know what to make of it. But much like fungus does, it grows on you! Gordon Gano’s compositions show his songwriting skills and the whole band gels together very well. This is not surprising when you look at their history, as they busked together on street corners and in cafes before their discovery by James Honeyman-Scott, a member of the Pretenders. Later that same evening Chrissie Hynde invited the band to play an acoustic set after the opening act, and the rest, as they say is history.
Favourite track: “Add It Up”
The Slabthrower 