On That Note: Number 1’s - Album series, part 2 (1981 & 1991)

[cyclones500]

Welcome back to “On That Note,” CF’s weekly music exploration, co-hosted by @MeanDean, @CycloneRulzzz and cyclones500.

This week, we continue our top-albums-by-decade series. Post your favorite LPs released in 1981 and/or 1991. (Those years only, NOT the entire decade.)

Basics:
(A) Include up to 3 sound clips with your choice. 4 is OK, but keep in mind (C) below.
(B) Ideally, no more than 1 album cited per post.
(C) If someone posts one of your favorites before you get to it, you still may reference it, but include different song clips.
(D) Choices should focus on studio albums. Avoid greatest hits/live LPs/compilations. We’ll allow it, but it should be a definitive element of an artist’s body of work that isn’t otherwise available from studio output.
(E) We encourage you to expound on why the album is meaningful, including personal history of your relationship with the record and its music.
(F) If you’re more singles-oriented, you may substitute top singles from either of those years.

In case you missed it: Part 1 here:

On That Note: Number 1’s - Album series (Part 1, 1961 & 1971)

Welcome to another edition of On That Note. OTN is a weekly music post hosted alternately by @cyclones500, @CycloneRulzzz and yours truly. As teased by cyclones500 on Sunday, this week we launch our annual albums-by-decade series. For part 1, post your favorite LPs released in 1961 and/or...

cyclonefanatic.com

(Next week, we’ll do 2001/2011. So get ready!)

I plan to alternate my first few between ’81 and ’91. First from ’81 coming in my next post, followed by my ’91 top choice.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Since Nevermind was such an epic album I'm only doing 2 songs to let others get some of this album too. Smells like Teen Spirit is one of music's greatest songs regardless of the decade. It's definitely the song that defined the 90's

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

For the same reason as Nevermind I'm only doing 2 songs from Ten by Pearl Jam so other can have a piece. Every time I hear Even Flow I'm amazed how fast Vedder is able to lyricize. The other track I'm posting might be my favorite from the album. Jeremy is an amazing song that has a deep message within it.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

The Black album by Metallica is another huge album in my life but I will again just post 2 songs from it to leave more for others. Going with Enter Sandman which is easily on my top songs of all time list. My other in Unforgiven which is also great.

 

[cyclones500]

“Tattoo You”
The Rolling Stones
Released: Aug. 24, 1981

Possibly the band’s most underrated LP. I bought this on cassette (!) around the time of release. Among my age group, it wasn’t exactly the hippest choice. Beyond the main hits, in early listens, it didn’t dazzle me. But I kept returning to it, now & then, for years, and it seemed to get better with age. (As for me, I’m not so sure…)

Beginning w/ track 2 … We don’t need to hear Start Me Up again, although that still holds up as a solid album-kicker. Also won’t include the finale (I’ll leave that available)




Gotta have a little Keith!




This album almost has two closing tracks ... this isn't the actual closer, but it sounds like one.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Michael Jackson Dangerous I think this album doesn't get the recognition that his others do but this album has some bangers.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Favorite Singles of 81



"Medley: Intro 'Venus' / Sugar Sugar / No Reply / I'll Be Back / Drive My Car / Do You Want to Know a Secret / We Can Work It Out / I Should Have Known Better / Nowhere Man / You're Going to Lose That Girl / Stars on 45"

 

[MeanDean]

My first year in the work world I finally had money to buy actual albums. New. When they came out!

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

One my favorite female artists of the decade. Some great originals on this albums and great covers as well.

 

[cyclones500]

My #1 entry for '91

“Bandwagonesque”
Teenage Fanclub
Released: November 1991

I've rambled about this LP in several CF music threads ... I'm willing to shut up and listen. Limiting to 3 song clips -- not easy.


“When she's at the gig, she takes her car / And she’ll drive us home if there isn’t a bar / Oh yeah”




“Seen it all before / Seen it all before / Given time, these things will change”

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Another great female artist from the 80's

 

[MeanDean]

I think I told this before. I heard the first song on the radio. Was telling my buddy from ISU about it. We both said we liked some of the Go gos songs. He said "Our Lips are Sealed." I said I hadn't heard that one. Only "Honest I See You" - which was me mishearing the lyrics to... Our Lips are Sealed.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

1981 Bands formed - Anthrax, Asia, Bangles, Bananarama, Beastie Boys

1991 Bands formed - Blackstreet, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Cake, Chemical Brothers, Counting Crows, Dave Matthews Band, Deep Blue Something

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

1981 Births - Pitbull, Willa Ford, Alicia Keys, Johnny Lang, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Rowland, Paris Hilton, Josh Groban, Rachel Platten, Beyonce, Christina Milian, Natasha Bedingfield, Britney Spears, Amy Lee

1981 deaths - Bill Haley (55), Bob Marley (36), Harry Chapin (38) all 3 of these we lost way to early.


1991 births - Ed Sheeran, Wolfgang Van Halen, Quavo, Jamie Lynn Spears - interesting note that both of these years included a Spears being born), Fetty Wap, Charlie Puth, DaBaby, Louis Tomlinson

1991 deaths - Steve Clark (30) (Def Leppard), Gene Clark (46) (The Byrds), David Ruffin (50) (Temptations) Tennessee Ernie Ford (72), Freddie Mercury (45) Again most of this list left us way too soon

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Both years were tough on Eric Clapton

1981

14 March – Suffering from bleeding ulcers, Eric Clapton is admitted to United Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Clapton's 60-city tour of the US is cancelled, and he remains in hospital for a month.

22 April – Eric Clapton is taken to the hospital suffering from bruised ribs and a lacerated shin, following a car accident in Seattle, Washington.

1991

20 March Eric Clapton's four-year-old son, Conor, dies after falling 49 stories from a New York City apartment window, which would inspire Clapton to write the hit single "Tears in Heaven".

 

[cyclones500]

“Wild Gift”
X
Released: May 1981

I didn’t get exposure to X until roundabout ’84. This album was my entry point. I heard it before being introduced to its predecessor, “Los Angeles.” That album is probably stronger, but this one is a bit more off-cuff & loose.

Doing 4 clips ... sorry, coin-flip kept landing on-edge. If anyone else wants to cite this LP, feel free to duplicate one of these.








“Last night, everything broke”




“Now it's five to 12, shut up and smoke”

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Notes 1981

24 January – Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is injured in a motorcycle crash that leaves him hospitalized for two months.

14 February – Billy Idol leaves the band Generation X to begin a solo career.

11 April – Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli.

19 September – Simon & Garfunkel perform a free reunion concert in New York City's Central Park attended by over 500,000 fans.

11 September – Iron Maiden fires lead singer Paul Di'Anno.
26 September – Iron Maiden hires Samson lead singer Bruce Bruce AKA Bruce Dickinson to replace Paul Di'Anno. Dickinson will finish off the last 7 dates of the Killer World Tour.

18 November – While sitting in Tom's Restaurant in New York City, Suzanne Vega composes the song "Tom's Diner".



Notes 1991

27 January – Whitney Houston sings "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl. The recording is then released and becomes a hit single.

19 January – Janet Jackson with seventh single from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, "Love Will Never Do (Without You)", making her the only artist to have seven singles from the same album chart in the top five.

 

[MeanDean]

Trust was not one of my favorite EC albums but I was into him and it pretty heavy back in the day. A few of my favorite cuts... The second does include a guest appearance from Glenn Tilbrook from Squeeze which was pretty cool

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Ropin the Wind is my favorite Garth Album. Others have had bigger hits but this album is gold from top to bottom. This one I where picking just 3 or 4 is hard.

Since Garth doesn't allow music on youtube my clips will be from faux Garth artists. Leading off with most favorite In Lonesome Dove and go from there.

 

[madguy30]

Checked as I forget years but '91 had some crazy iconic stuff going on.