Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this music junkie as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. Compact Discs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no files.

Showing posts with label 1983. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1983. Show all posts

Friday, September 11, 2026

Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Session (1999)

CD cover art

Recorded in 1983, first released in 1999, re-released in 2010, then re-re-released in 2024.


Allow me to expand on that: the show was originally recorded live on December 6, 1983, at CHCH-TV studios in Hamilton, Ontario then edited for broadcast. Somebody at the TV studios was thinking and saved the thing. The session was edited and released as a single CD in 1999 then re-released in 2010 with a bonus DVD of the television broadcast. Finally, the full show (in order) was released in a 2 CD set by Stax in 2024 for the album's 25th anniversary. That's the version I'm spinning today. The digisleeve packaging includes a 16 page booklet which reprints liner notes from both the 1999 release and the 2010 re-release. A 4K Blu-Ray upscale of the TV feed would have been a nice bonus, but no dice. Maybe I was just born under a bad sign.

Edited from the record label's website:
At the In Session taping, 60-year-old Albert ruled over the proceedings like a benevolent father, retaining control while allowing his 29-year-old guest loads of solo space in which to display his awesome command of the electric guitar. Stevie avoided flaunting his prowess, however, and instead delivered some of the most deliciously restrained playing of his career, laying back when his mentor dictated, turning up the heat only when Albert deemed it appropriate. The interplay between the two blues masters is uncannily empathetic, and Albert's fans will find special pleasure in hearing him play rhythm parts at such length. At one point between tunes, Albert complained about problems with his guitar strings, then told Stevie, "I'm about ready to turn it over to you.... I've got to sit back and watch you."

Albert was, in a sense, passing the torch to Stevie. In Session is the only known recording of Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan performing together. Its long-overdue commercial release stands as a fitting tribute to the genius of two of the greatest musicians ever to have played the blues on electric guitar.
The only known recording of Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan performing together. Simply put, it's well worth your time.

Album chart peaks:
  • US Billboard 200: did not chart
  • Billboard Blues: #1

Tracks: King's Born Under A Bad Sign is a stone cold classic and it leads things off and you immediately hear how well King's vocals and Vaughan's guitar mesh. Other top tracks on the first CD are Pride And Joy and Blues At Sunrise. From Disc 2: Overall Junction, Match Box Blues, and Don't Lie To Me. But this is the rare live 2 disc set you'll want to hear from top-to-bottom.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Original Album Classics (2013) Greatest Hits (1995)
The Real Deal: Greatest Hits Vol 2 (1999)Family Style (1990)

Albert King
Born Under A Bad Sign (1967)

Friday, August 14, 2026

New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)

CD cover art

Note: the CD I listened to was the 2025 two disc "Definitive Edition" reissue.

Slant magazine called this album "the real beginning of New Order’s career" and I must concur. Leaving behind the "Joy Division music with New Order vocals" sound of Movement, we start to hear the group's take on the emerging synth-dance music coming out of the UK at that time. They added their own spin on that sound and this album ended being highly influential. The music seamlessly combined post-punk, synth-pop, and dance music into a style that influenced alternative rock, indie dance, and electronic music for decades. The influences of records such as this often end up sounding somewhat obvious not because they lacked imagination, but because everyone else spent the next few decades borrowing from them. Somehow I never had a copy on my shelves; an oversight corrected with the purchase of these CDs.

Press of the time:
  • Rolling Stone (★★★★): "This record is a quantum leap over Movement, the band's first album, and over most of the music coming out of Britain lately."
  • Smash Hits (6½ out of 10): "mainly murky and dull"
  • Billboard: "insistent, danceable rhythms and melancholy harmonic colors coexist"
  • Trouser Press: "a distinct improvement over New Order's debut album"
  • Robert Christgau (B+): "I find it relatively gentle and melodic in its ambient postindustrial polyrhythms, their nicest record ever. I also think it sounds pretty much like the others."
  • New Musical Express: "I suspect it'll prove one of the best records made in England this year."
  • Record Mirror (+++): "a severe disappointment"
Power, Corruption & Lies placed at #262 on the 2020 edition of Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and, in 1989, was placed at #94 on that magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s, calling it "a landmark album of danceable, post-punk music."

I call bullshit on this reissue for not including
"the HIT Dance Single 'BLUE MONDAY b/w THE BEACH' (FACTUS 10)."
Those tracks were originally on the cassette and
there's plenty of room on these two discs ferchrissakes.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: I gravitate towards the dancier stuff which, to my ear, is Age Of Consent, The Village, Your Silent Face, and Ecstasy.

Bonus tracks: I can't resist the siren call of bonus tracks, particularly if the reissue carries a designation such as this "Definitive Edition." It's just too much for the collector in me to pass up. Unfortunately, all we've got here are demos which they've titled "writing session recordings" and they're about as exciting as reading the unedited first draft of a young adult novel. The exceptions here are tracks 7-10, the John Peel session from 1982. The band delivers more relaxed versions of four tunes: Turn The Heater On, We All Stand, Too Late, and 5-8-6. Turn the Heater On (a Keith Hudson cover) and Too Late were only ever recorded for the Peel session and neither were ever performed live.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I have a particular memory of this album and the first time I held an import copy back in late '83, but that tale is rather mean-spirited and I gain nothing from sharing it here. I'll just mention that all involved were knuckleheaded teenaged boys and leave it at that.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Waiting For The Sirens' Call (2005)Republic© (1993)
Get Ready (2001)Bizarre Love Triangle (1986)
(the best of) New Order (1995)Brotherhood (1986)
(the rest of) New Order (1995)Movement (1981)

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Brenda Russell - Two Eyes (1983)

CD cover art

Note: the CD I listened to was the 2002 Spy reissue.

In 2020, I picked up a copy of Brenda Russell's 1981 album, Love Life, quickly fell in love with it and announced it as "the best new-to-me album I heard in 2020" and bluntly stated "I love the thing." For the record, both statements still hold true. Soon after, longtime friend o' the blog Dirk Digglinator let me know that if I liked Love Life, I absolutely needed to check out its follow-up, Two Eyes. And he was most certainly correct. Russell's brand of smooth soul-pop goes down easy, plus there's plenty of recognizable names in the credits: Bill LaBounty, James Newton Howard, David Foster, Michael McDonald, Don Grusin, Nathan East, Jeff Porcaro, Jerry Hey, and Stevie Wonder.

The good news: the album is produced by Tommy LiPuma.
The bad news: after Love Life, the A&M label dropped Russell; this was Russell's only release on the Warner Bros. label and WB did almost nothing to promote Two Eyes.
The best news: it's a dang good album.

Detailed liner notes from the 2002 reissue by David Nathan.

Press of the time:
  • High Fidelity: "Brenda Russell's voice is so fine...that it's a crime her songwriting isn't better." [note: I'm guessing the reviewer was having a bad day when he wrote this review as he later refers to Jeff Porcaro's playing as "inimitably boring."]
  • Billboard: "[Russell] finds crossover connections strengthened under producer LiPuma"

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: Two singles were released from the album, I Want Love To Find Me and the title track. Neither charted, although they should have and either single would have been equally at home on the Hot 100, R&B, or Adult Contemporary charts. Dirk told me the highlight of the album was the tribute to Al Jarreau, simply titled Jarreau. It's plenty good for sure, but my favorite track is Hello People, co-written by Michael McDonald. I recognized track 2, It's Something, from Leslie Smith's recommended 1982 album, Heartache. I'll See You Again isn't the greatest, but it features a harmonica solo from Stevie Wonder, so it's a keeper. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the album closer, Look Down Young Soldier.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: see above

Previously revisited for the blog:
Get Here (1988)
Love Life (1981)


Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Kevin Eubanks - Guitarist (1983)


Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD.

From the Eubanks website (gently edited for clarity):
His first album as a leader, Guitarist, was released on the Elektra/Musician label when Kevin was 25. It documented a sophisticated, nuanced voice on the instrument and was graced by the presence of some peers who are still performing with him today: tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore (Tonight Show Band member) and Kevin's brother Robin. Kevin’s cousins, the late bassist David Eubanks and the pianist Charles Eubanks, also appeared on the recording, which was so well received that it lead to a seven record recording contract with the GRP label, owned by Dave Grusin and the late Larry Rosen.
Not sure about "sophisticated" and "nuanced," but promotion is promotion. To me, the album is sort of a mixed bag of compositions with lots of flashy technique, but that's what I would expect from someone trying to find his voice. To my ears, he was heavily influenced by Wes Montgomery and I can't say as I blame any guitarist for listening to a lot of Montgomery's work. The playing is better than the writing on the Eubanks originals but he'd get better at both. Guitarist isn't something I come back to often, but we all gotta start somewhere.

Liner notes written by Eubanks himself.

Reviews/ratings:
  • Musician: "enterprising, low-key hard bop"
  • The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★★
  • The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★


Album chart peaks:
  • US Billboard 200: Did not chart
  • Billboard Jazz: #32
  • Record World Jazz: #14

Tracks: 8 tracks, 4 of them Eubanks originals. My favorite tracks are the two on which Eubanks shines on solo acoustic guitar - the appropriately titled The Novice Bounce and the cover of Miles Davis's Blue In Green. Robin Eubanks shines on his arrangement of Jerome Kern's Yesterdays.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Clarke/Corea/Henderson/Hubbard/White - The Griffith Park Collection 2: In Concert (1983)


A 2 CD live version of the group's 1982 studio album, recorded Friday, April 3, 1982 at the Circle Star Theater, near San Francisco. The band performs 4 of the tunes from that first album and takes the opportunity to stretch out - everybody gets a solo! - doubling and sometimes tripling the length of the tunes: the shortest track clocks in at 12 minutes, the longest almost 20. As drummer/producer Lenny White writes in his liner notes, Freddie Hubbard steals the show and "reaffirms his claim to fame as the premier trumpeter in the world." I could use less saxophone, but think it's a better overall album than the earlier studio release. Plus we're treated to great cover art, a 1937 oil painting entitled "Sheridan Theatre" by one of my favorite artists, Edward Hopper.

Stanley Clarke - bass
Chick Corea - piano
Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone
Freddie Hubbard - trumpet & flugelhorn
Lenny White - drums

Press of the time:
  • Downbeat (★★★★½): "It's great to hear these guys hitting their stride on some fiercely creative extended jamming."

Album chart peaks:
  • US Billboard 200: did not chart
  • CashBox Jazz: #29

Tracks: The first four tracks are taken from the first album and includes what I think is the group's best original, Why Wait. The final two tracks are I Mean You, written by Thelonious Monk, and Here's That Rainy Day, a 1953 standard written by Jimmy Van Heusen for the short-lived, quickly forgotten musical Carnival In Flanders. 

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but on April 3, 1982, I was recovering from a bad case of the measles. More on those adventures here: Adventures in One Act Play - Spring 1982. But that really doesn't have much to do with this live album other than coincidental timing, so never mind. As you were.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Griffith Park Collection (1982)

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Shadowfax - Shadowdance (1983)


Note: The disc I own is the made in Japan-for-US market pressing in a smooth sided jewel case.

For whatever reason, I didn't jump on the Shadowfax train when it passed my station in the '80s, but this CD was in the clearance bin and I thought I'd take a chance on some relaxing, acoustic Windham Hill New Age music. While there's some of that here, there's also a bit of electronic jazz-rock that took me by surprise. Maybe in an effort for more commercial success? And even though I'm not crazy about the timbre of an electric jazz violin, I like this album even more than I thought I might. In my little world, this sort of stuff is more appropriate for background music than active listening, but the CD is worth more than the 50¢ I shelled out for it.

Reviews/ratings:
  • Billboard: "taps enough rock, jazz and Third World elements to straddle more conventional commercial jazz formats"
  • CashBox: "exotic and accessible enough to penetrate the mainstream"
  • High Fidelity: "quite a departure from the music of the acoustic soloists who dominate [the Windham Hill] roster."
  • The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★
The group and album were also featured in the December 1983 issue of DownBeat magazine.

Album chart peaks:
  • US Billboard 200: #145
  • Billboard Jazz: #13
  • CashBox: #170
  • CashBox Jazz: #9

Tracks: It's an ethno-fusion mixed bag of acoustic, electric, Western, Eastern, upbeat, ballad, odd meters, etc., but the writing is generally good, and overall, relaxing and enjoyable. My top picks today are Distant Voices and the cover medley of Don Cherry's songs Brown Rice & Karmapa Chenno.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I probably heard this album as a college undergrad as some of my peers were into Shadowfax at the time, particularly the 1984 album The Dreams Of Children.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Michael Sembello - Bossa Nova Hotel (1983)


Japanese import

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by the 2018 reissue using SHM-CD materials/technology.

Michael Sembello is a legend in my book, based solely on the fact that he was hired at age 17 to play guitar in Stevie Wonder's band and greatly contributed to Songs In The Key Of Life. This album was his debut solo release, a highly enjoyable album of synth-based, jazzy, adult contemporary music in which the big hit is the outlier in terms of overall sound and mood. Back in '83, I greatly preferred Maniac to the Flashdance theme, but not enough to seek out this album. But if someone had handed me this LP and simply said, "You like Sergio Mendes and As We Speak, right? Then you'll like this one." Most likely, I would have dubbed the thing to one side of a c-90 cassette and put it in rotation in my car. Coulda woulda shoulda, but it didn't happen and I didn't discover Bossa Nova Hotel until much later. File this one under "better late than never."

The music all goes down easy with tasteful production from Phil Ramone. However, the quality of lyrics varies greatly, with topics ranging from Godzilla, robot homewrecker, the Wild West, ménage à trois, and ending the album using Superman as a metaphor for Jesus Christ. Better to ignore the lyrics and lyric sheet here.

If you dig Bossa Nova Hotel, I highly recommend the 1983 album Without Warning by Marilyn Scott.

Press of the time:
  • Musician: "You could sum up Sembello's sound as Michael McDonald with a rhythm machine, but that would be unnecessarily cruel to McDonald. And the rhythm machine."
  • CashBox: "There's a little something for everyone's taste on this disc, and as a result it should be a natural crossover success."

Album chart peaks:
  • US Billboard 200: #80
  • Billboard R&B: #53
  • CashBox: #124

Tracks: I enjoy the whole thing. Today, I'm thinking the lead track, Automatic Man (#34 pop, #14 dance) is the best tune on the album, but it is entirely possible that I suffer from the fatigue of hearing too much Maniac (#1 pop, #34 rock, #6 dance, #34 AC). Track 7, Talk (a duet with then-wife Cruz Baca Sembello), was also released as a single, peaking at #25 on the adult contemporary chart.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Nothing comes to mind, but will note here that my LP has a different cover than the one on the CD. No idea why.


And here's an obi strip for ya:

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Oregon (1983)


When you pick up used CDs based solely on the record label, you're bound to win some, lose some. This jazzy world fusion album on the ECM label just doesn't do much for me as a whole.

You wouldn't guess this was an ECM release by looking at that cover art, huh?

Reviews/ratings:
  • Billboard: "an auspicious work"
  • Downbeat (★★★½): "often music of sonorities, reverberations, and subliminal moods, rather than lyrical melodies."
  • The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★★
  • The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★★
  • The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★


Album chart peaks:
  • US Billboard 200: Did not chart
  • Billboard Jazz: #21
  • CashBox Jazz: #15

Tracks: I enjoy the lead track, The Rapids, but that's about it.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Various Artists - Now 12" 80s: 1983, Part Two (2024)


EU Import

If a little is good, more is better.

Tracks plus chart peaks on the Billboard dance/disco charts and, if a particular remix has previously appeared on the blog, a link to that other disc (★):

CD 1 (71:54)



ArtistSongTimeDanceCD
Wham!Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do) (Special U.S. Mix)6:41-
Spandau Ballet Gold (12" Mix)7:14-★
EurythmicsWho's That Girl (Extended Mix)6:53-
Bananarama Cruel Summer (Extended Version)4:5611
Culture ClubI'll Tumble 4 Ya (US 12" Remix)4:3914
Marilyn Calling Your Name (Extended Version)6:54-
KajagoogooToo Shy (Midnight Mix)5:2825
The Lotus Eaters The First Picture Of You (12" Version)5:3022
Nick HeywardTake That Situation (Rhythm Mix)3:52-★
Men Without Hats The Safety Dance (Extended Version)4:331★
Flash And The PanWaiting For A Train (Disco Version)5:3879
Joe Jackson Steppin' Out (Full Length Version)4:2345
Mike OldfieldMoonlight Shadow (12" Version)5:13-

CD 2 (71:44)



ArtistSongTimeDanceCD
New OrderBlue Monday7:305
The Cure The Lovecats (Extended Version)4:3752
Echo & The BunnymenNever Stop (Discotheque)4:45-
Public Image Ltd. This Is Not A Love Song (12" remix)4:27-
Aztec CameraWalk Out to Winter (Extended Version)7:47-
Madness The Sun And The Rain (12" Extended Version)4:40-
The Belle StarsSweet Memory (Extended 12" Remix)6:36-
Tracie Young Give It Some Emotion (Extended Version)5:28-
Tracey UllmanBreakaway (Monitor Mix)4:57-
Paul Young Love Of The Common People (Extended Version)5:5242
Rick SpringfieldHuman Touch (Extended Mix)7:1323
Yes Owner Of A Lonely Heart (Special Remix Dance Version)7:503★

CD 3 (73:08)



ArtistSongTimeDanceCD
Lionel RichieAll Night Long (All Night) (12" Version)6:425
KC & The Sunshine Band Give It Up (John Luongo Disco Mix)5:1724
Donna SummerShe Works Hard For The Money (Club Mix)6:183
Indeep Last Night A DJ Saved My Life5:412
DivineLove Reaction (Extended Version)5:33-
Malcolm McLaren Double Dutch (12" Version)8:0347
Rock Steady Crew(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew (Extended Version)5:2638
Modern Romance High Life (Extended Version)8:16-
ShalamarDead Giveaway (12" Version)5:0118
Booker Newberry III Love Town5:1666
Billy GriffinHold Me Tighter In The Rain (Extended Version)5:23-
Level 42 The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up) (Extended Version)6:10-


CD 4 (72:15)



ArtistSongTimeDanceCD
Duran DuranIs There Something I Should Know (Monster Mix)6:4234★
Heaven 17 Temptation (Extended Mix)4:3934★
Tears For FearsChange (Extended Version)5:55-
O. M. D. Telegraph (Extended)5:37-
BlancmangeThat's Love, That It Is (Extended)6:3456
Japan All Tomorrows Parties (Steve Nye Extended Remix)5:16-
Annabel LambRiders On The Storm (Extended Version)5:59-
Limahl Only For Love (12" Mix)5:4328
Thompson TwinsLove On Your Side (Rap Boy Rap Full Length Version)7:286
Yello I Love You (Extended Version)7:0516
Talk TalkMy Foolish Friend (Extended Mix)5:29-★
Midge Ure & Mick Karn After A Fashion (Extended Version)5:44-

Bold move putting Love Reaction in the same compilation with Blue Monday.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: See previous post.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Now 12" 80s: 1983, Part One (2024)
Now 80s Alternative (2023)
Now That's What I Call 12" 70s (2022)
Now That's What I Call Christmas! (2001)
Now That's What I Call Music! 1981: The Millennium Series (1999)


Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Various Artists - Now 12" 80s: 1983, Part One (2024)


EU Import

The title is self-explanatory: 12" mixes of songs from 1983. Over 5 hours of music across 4 discs. This particular compilation attracted me for several reasons: 1) 1983 is smack dab in the middle of my high school days, 2) there's a nice mix of familiar and unfamiliar tunes here, and 3) there are at least three extended versions on the compilation that I've been looking for on CD for a good long while. Those three are the Jellybean Benitez remix of Say Say Say by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson, which should have been included on the 2015 Archive Collection edition of Pipes Of Peace.


The Jellybean Benitez remix of Billy Joel's Tell Her About It, which I owned on vinyl back in 1983, I mentioned in my post on An Innocent Man, and should have been included in the mediocre box set, My Lives.


The Special Remix Version of Our Lips Are Sealed by Fun Boy Three. I also owned that 12" single and played both sides frequently back in '83 and '84. Side one contained the mix found here on CD Three, track 9. Side two had the single edit and a mesmerizing Urdu version which I tracked down on the 1997 compilation disc, Really Saying Something: The Best of Fun Boy Three.


So for a guy like me, this purchase was a foregone conclusion. And for anyone who danced their ass off to these tracks at school dances, this is fantastic set and well worth the price (I paid $22.64, your mileage may vary.)

Tracks: Speaking of dancing, I've included chart peaks on the Billboard dance/disco charts and, if a particular remix has previously appeared on the blog, a link to that other disc (★).

CD 1 (78:42)



ArtistSongTimeDanceCD
Wham!Bad Boys (12" Version)4:5828
Eurythmics Right By Your Side (12" Remix)12:2232
Duran DuranUnion Of The Snake (The Monkey Mix)6:2733★
Spandau Ballet Communication (Club Mix)4:2759★
The Human League(Keep Feeling) Fascination (Extended Version)4:581
Howard Jones New Song (Extended Version)5:364
O. M. D.Genetic Engineering (312MM Version)5:10-
Blancmange Blind Vision (Long Version)9:383
UltravoxWe Came To Dance (Extended Version)7:38-★
Tears For Fears The Way You Are (Extended Version)4:33-
Thompson TwinsHold Me Now (12" Version)9:461

CD 2 (77:45)



ArtistSongTimeDanceCD
Adam AntPuss 'N Boots (Extended Version)5:05-
Bananarama Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (12" Version)9:4614
The Belle StarsSign Of The Times (Remixed Extended 12" Version)5:3643
Bucks Fizz When We Were Young (Extended Club Mix)6:27-
Thompson TwinsWe Are Detective (More Clues)5:49-
Haysi Fantayzee Shiny Shiny (US Dance Mix)4:34-
Altered ImagesDon't Talk To Me About Love (Extended Version)6:59-
Kajagoogoo Ooh To Be Ah (The Construction Mix)6:37-
Paul YoungCome Back And Stay (Extended Club Mix)7:2442
Heaven 17 Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry (Extended Dance Version)6:1934★
Soft CellSoul Inside (12" Mix)11:57-
Taco Puttin' On The Ritz (Extended Version)6:0437

CD 3 (79:13)



ArtistSongTimeDanceCD
Irene CaraFlashdance...What A Feeling (Remix)7:111
Freeez I.O.U. (Megamix)8:443
New OrderConfusion (12" Version)8:145
Rockers Revenge The Harder They Come (Extended Version)8:3513
ForrestRock The Boat (High Dynamic Re-Mix)8:449
Modern Romance Don't Stop that Crazy Rhythm (Extended Version)6:33-
Level 42The Chinese Way (Extended Version)7:03-
Madness Wings Of A Dove (12" Blue Train Mix)6:09-
Fun Boy ThreeOur Lips Are Sealed (Special Remix Version)6:06-
The Style CouncilLong Hot Summer (Extended Version)7:02-
Nick Heyward Whistle Down The Wind (12" Version)4:52-★

CD 4 (77:46)



ArtistSongTimeDanceCD
Paul McCartney & Michael JacksonSay Say Say (12" Version)5:422
Billy Joel Tell Her About It (Special Remix Version)5:3638
The FixxOne Thing Leads To Another (Extended Version)8:0014
Debbie Harry Rush, Rush (Extended Version)4:4728
Laura BraniganGloria (12" Version)5:554
Miquel Brown So Many Men, So Little Time (12" Vocal)8:142
DivineShake It Up (12" Vocal)6:08-
Ryan Paris Dolce Vita (Extended Disco Mix)7:31-
Lydia MurdockSuperstar (Long Version)9:07-
Phil Fearon & Galaxy Dancing Tight (Dance Mix)6:14 -
Donna SummerUnconditional Love (Extended Version)5:16-
Tina Turner Let's Stay Together (Album Version)5:151

With very few exceptions, my personal sweet spot for lengths of "extended mixes" is somewhere between 5½ - 7 minutes, so when we get to 9+ minutes, my cup runneth over.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: After home high school football games on Friday nights, a school club (Interact, maybe?) sponsored "Victory Dances." Admission: $2. The dances were held in an old city-owned building simply known as the "Service Center" which was a former USO building built during World War II. Amazingly, it is still in use today. I'm not sure when the victory dances kicked off after the end of the football game (pun intended and I apologize for nothing), but by the time I got home from the game, changed out of my marching band uniform into an outfit that more than likely included a skinny tie, and made it to the Service Center, it was usually 10:45 or 11 PM. Stairway To Heaven was normally scheduled for 11:50, so that doesn't leave much dance time for young Mark. Nevertheless, I danced as if I was hopped up on cocaine and returned home sufficiently exhausted.

Postscript: at my recent high school reunion, I was once again a dancing fool and one female classmate commented that I "still got it" so I've got that going for me, which is nice. The aforementioned fool at the aforementioned 40 year reunion:


Previously revisited for the blog:
Now 80s Alternative (2023)
Now That's What I Call 12" 70s (2022)
Now That's What I Call Christmas! (2001)
Now That's What I Call Music! 1981: The Millennium Series (1999)