Thursday, December 31, 1987

Dave’s Faves: My Album Collection in 1987

Dave’s Faves:

My Album Collection in 1987

By year’s end, this was what my collection looked like. Albums acquired in 1987 are marked with an asterisk.

  1. Aha Hunting High and Low (1985)
  2. Aha Scoundrel Days (1986)
  3. Air Supply Lost in Love (1980)
  4. Air Supply The One That You Love (1981)
  5. Alabama Greatest Hits (compilation: 1980-86, released 1986)
  6. Alabama The Touch (1986)
  7. Asia Asia (1982)
  8. Asia Alpha (1983)
  9. Asia Astra (1985)

  10. Bangles All Over the Place (1984)
  11. Bangles Different Light (1986)
  12. The Beatles Yesterday…and Today (1966) *
  13. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
  14. The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
  15. The Beatles Hey Jude (1968)
  16. The Beatles 1962-1966 (compilation: 1962-66, released 1973)
  17. The Beatles 1967-1970 (compilation: 1967-70, released 1973)
  18. The Beatles 20 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1962-70, released 1982)
  19. Pat Benatar Crimes of Passion (1980)
  20. Pat Benatar Get Nervous (1982)
  21. Pat Benatar Live from Earth (live, 1983)
  22. Pat Benatar Tropico (1984)
  23. Pat Benatar Seven the Hard Way (1985)
  24. Berlin Pleasure Victim (1983)
  25. Berlin Love Life (1984)
  26. Berlin Count Three and Pray (1986)
  27. Blondie Parallel Lines (1978)
  28. Blondie Eat to the Beat (1979)
  29. Boomtown Rats In the Long Grass (1984)
  30. Boston Third Stage (1986)
  31. David Bowie ChangesOneBowie (compilation: 1969-76, released 1976) *
  32. David Bowie Never Let Me Down (1987) *

  33. Chicago Chicago 16 (1982)
  34. Chicago Chicago 17 (1984)
  35. Phil Collins No Jacket Required (1985)
  36. Robert Cray Strong Persuader (1986) *
  37. Crowded House Crowded House (1986) *

  38. David + David Boomtown (1986)
  39. Def Leppard Pyromania (1983)
  40. Def Leppard Hysteria (1987) *
  41. John Denver Greatest Hits (compilation: 1969-72, released 1973)
  42. Dennis DeYoung Desert Moon (1984)
  43. Dennis DeYoung Back to the World (1986)
  44. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985)
  45. Neil Diamond The Jazz Singer (soundtrack, 1980)

  46. Eagles Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (compilation: 1971-75, released 1976)
  47. Eagles Greatest Hits Volume 2 (released 1982)
  48. Eurythmics In the Garden (1981)
  49. Eurythmics Sweet Dreams Are Made of This (1983)
  50. Eurythmics Touch (1983)
  51. Eurythmics 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother) (1984)
  52. Eurythmics Be Yourself Tonight (1985)

  53. Dan Fogelberg Greatest Hits (compilation: 1972-82, released 1982)
  54. Foreigner 4 (1981)
  55. Foreigner Records (compilation: 1976-82, released 1982)
  56. Foreigner Agent Provocateur (1984)

  57. Peter Gabriel Plays Live (live, 1983) *
  58. Peter Gabriel So (1986)
  59. J. Geils Band Freeze Frame (1981)
  60. Bob Geldof Deep in the Heart of Nowhere (1986) *
  61. Genesis Genesis (1983)
  62. Genesis Invisible Touch (1986)
  63. Grateful Dead In the Dark (1987) *

  64. Daryl Hall & John Oates H2O (1982)
  65. Daryl Hall & John Oates Rock ‘N’ Soul Part I (compilation: (1973-83, released 1983)
  66. Don Henley Building the Perfect Beast (1984)
  67. Hooters Nervous Night (1985)
  68. Hooters One Way Home (1987) *

  69. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979)
  70. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
  71. Michael Jackson Bad (1987) *
  72. Billy Joel Turnstiles (1976)
  73. Billy Joel The Stranger (1977)
  74. Billy Joel The Nylon Curtain (1982)
  75. Billy Joel An Innocent Man (1983)
  76. Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume I & II (compilation: 1973-85, released 1985)
  77. Billy Joel The Bridge (1986)
  78. Journey Captured (live, 1981)
  79. Journey Escape (1981)
  80. Journey Frontiers (1983)
  81. Journey Raised on Radio (1986)

  82. Cyndi Lauper She’s So Unusual (1983)
  83. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
  84. Huey Lewis & the News Sports (1983)

  85. Barry Manilow Greatest Hits (compilation, released 1978)
  86. Marillion Script for a Jester’s Tear (1983)
  87. Marillion Fugazi (1984)
  88. Marillion Real to Reel (live, 1984)
  89. Marillion Misplaced Childhood (1985)
  90. Marillion Brief Encounter (EP, 1986)
  91. Marillion Clutching at Straws (1987) *
  92. John Cougar (Mellencamp) American Fool (1982)
  93. John Cougar Mellencamp Uh-Huh (1983)
  94. John Cougar Mellencamp Scarecrow (1985)
  95. John Cougar Mellencamp The Lonesome Jubilee (1987) *

  96. Men at Work Business As Usual (1981)
  97. Men at Work Cargo (1983)
  98. Men at Work Two Hearts (1985)
  99. The Moody Blues This Is the Moody Blues (compilation: 1967-72, released 1974)
  100. The Moody Blues Voices in the Sky (compilation: 1967-82, released 1984)
  101. The Moody Blues The Other Side of Life (1986)

  102. Olivia Newton-John Greatest Hits (compilation: 1971-76, released 1977)
  103. Olivia Newton-John Totally Hot (1978)
  104. Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra Xanadu (soundtrack, 1980)
  105. Olivia Newton-John Physical (1981)
  106. Olivia Newton-John Olivia’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (compilation: 1978-82, released 1982)
  107. Olivia Newton-John Soul Kiss (1985)
  108. Stevie Nicks The Wild Heart (1983)

  109. Alan Parsons Project I Robot (1977)
  110. Alan Parsons Project The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)
  111. Alan Parsons Project Eye in the Sky (1982)
  112. Alan Parsons Project The Best of (compilation: 1977-83, released 1983)
  113. Alan Parsons Project Ammonia Avenue (1984)
  114. Alan Parsons Project Vulture Culture (1985)
  115. Alan Parsons Project Stereotomy (1986)
  116. Alan Parsons Project Gaudi (1987) *
  117. Steve Perry Street Talk (1984)
  118. Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
  119. Pink Floyd The Wall (1979)
  120. Pink Floyd The Final Cut (1983) *
  121. Pink Floyd A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) *

  122. The Police Outlandos D’Amour (1978)
  123. The Police Reggatta De Blanc (1979)
  124. The Police Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)
  125. The Police Ghost in the Machine (1981)
  126. The Police Synchronicity (1983)
  127. The Police Every Breath You Take – The Singles (compilation: 1978-1986; released 1986) *
  128. Prince 1999 (1982)
  129. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (1984)
  130. Prince & the Revolution Around the World in a Day (1985)
  131. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987) *

  132. Queen Greatest Hits (compilation: 1973-81, released 1981)

  133. The Rainmakers The Rainmakers (1986)
  134. The Rainmakers Tornado (1987) *
  135. R.E.M. Document (1987) *

  136. REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity (1980)
  137. REO Speedwagon Wheels Are Turnin’ (1984)
  138. Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits (compilation: 1977-80, released 1980)
  139. Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down (1983)
  140. Lionel Richie Dancing on the Ceiling (1986)
  141. Rush All the World’s a Stage (live, 1976)
  142. Rush Moving Pictures (1981)
  143. Rush Exit…Stage Left (live, 1981)

  144. Charlie Sexton Pictures for Pleasure (1985)
  145. Paul Simon Graceland (1986)
  146. The Smiths Louder Than Bombs (archives: 1983-87, released 1987) *
  147. The Smiths Strangeways, Here We Come (1987) *
  148. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)
  149. Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
  150. Bruce Springsteen Live 1975/1985 (live box set, 1986)
  151. Bruce Springsteen Tunnel of Love (1987) *

  152. Squeeze Argybargy (1980) *
  153. Squeeze Sweets from a Stranger (1982) *
  154. Squeeze 45s and Under (compilation: 1977-82, released 1982)
  155. Squeeze Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
  156. Squeeze Babylon and On (1987) *

  157. Sting The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985)
  158. Sting Bring on the Night (live, 1986)
  159. Sting Nothing Like the Sun (1987) *

  160. Styx Styx I (1972)
  161. Styx Styx II (1973)
  162. Styx The Serpent Is Rising (1973)
  163. Styx Man of Miracles (1974)
  164. Styx Best of Styx (compilation: 1972-74)
  165. Styx Equinox (1975)
  166. Styx Crystal Ball (1976)
  167. Styx The Grand Illusion (1977)
  168. Styx Pieces of Eight (1978)
  169. Styx Cornerstone (1979)
  170. Styx Paradise Theater (1981)
  171. Styx Kilroy Was Here (1983)
  172. Styx Caught in the Act (live, 1984)
  173. Supertramp Famous Last Words (1982)
  174. Supertramp Brother Where You Bound (1985)

  175. Tears for Fears The Hurting (1983)
  176. Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
  177. Toto Toto IV (1982)

  178. U2 War (1983)
  179. U2 Under a Blood Red Sky (live, 1983)
  180. U2 The Unforgettable Fire (1984) *
  181. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) *

  182. Van Halen 5150 (1986)
  183. Suzanne Vega Solitude Standing (1987) *
  184. Violent Femmes Violent Femmes (1983) *
  185. Violent Femmes Hallowed Ground (1984) *
  186. Violent Femmes Blind Leading the Naked (1986) *

  187. Roger Waters Radio K.A.O.S. (1987) *
  188. Whitesnake Whitesnake (1987) *
  189. The Who Who’s Next (1971) *
  190. The Who Greatest Hits (compilation: 1965-78, released 1983) *
  191. John Williams (composer) Star Wars IV: A New Hope (soundtrack, 1977)

  192. XTC Skylarking (1986) *

  193. Yes The Yes Album (1971)
  194. Yes Fragile (1971)
  195. Yes Classic Yes (compilation: 1971-77, released 1981)
  196. Yes 90125 (1983)
  197. Yes Big Generator (1987) *

  198. ZZ Top Afterburner (1985)

    Various Artists:

  199. Brimstone and Treacle (soundtrack, 1982)
  200. Flashdance (soundtrack, 1983)
  201. Footloose (soundtrack, 1984)
  202. K-Tel: High Energy (1979)
  203. K-Tel: Starflight (1979)
  204. K-Tel: Wings of Sound (1979)
  205. Legend (soundtrack, 1986)
  206. Pretty in Pink (soundtrack, 1986)
  207. Rock for Amnesty (1986) *
  208. Some Kind of Wonderful (soundtrack, 1987) *
  209. St. Elmo’s Fire (soundtrack, 1985)
  210. Two of a Kind (soundtrack, 1983)
  211. Vision Quest (soundtrack, 1985)
  212. We Are the World (1985)


Resources and Related Links:


First posted 8/31/2021.

Sunday, December 27, 1987

50 years ago: Show Boat opened on Broadway

Show Boat

Jerome Kern (music), Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics)

Cast Album


Recorded/Released: 1928


Charted: --


Peak: --


Sales (in millions): --


Genre: show tunes


Soundtrack


Charted: July 21, 1951


Peak: 119 US


Sales (in millions): --


Genre: show tunes


Tracks (Order from Original Show):

  1. Overture
  2. Cotton Blossom
  3. Make Believe
  4. Ol’ Man River
  5. Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man
  6. Life Upon the Wicked Stage
  7. Till Good Luck Comes My Way
  8. I Might Fall Back on You
  9. Queenie’s Ballyhoo
  10. Olio Dance
  11. You Are Love
  12. Act I Finale
  13. At the Chicago World’s Fair
  14. Why Do I Love You?
  15. Bill
  16. After the Ball


Tracks (from 1951 Soundtrack):

Song Title (Performers) [time] Click for codes to singles charts.

  1. Show Boat (Main Title) (M-G-M Studio Orchestra & Chorus, Adolph Deutsch) [1:43]
  2. Cap’n Andy’s Calliope (M-G-M Studio Orchestra, Adolph Deutsch) [0:44]
  3. Natchez (M-G-M Studio Orchestra, Adolph Deutsh) [1:03]
  4. Cap’n Andy’s Presentation (M-G-M Studio Orchestra & Chorus, Adolph Deutsch) [2:09]
  5. Cap’n Andy’s Ballyhoo (M-G-M Studio Orchestra, Adolph Deutsch) [0:55]
  6. Encore on Deck (M-G-M Studio Orchestra, Adolph Deutsch) [1:21]
  7. Where’s the Mate for Me? (Gambler’s Song) (Howard Keel) [2:48]
  8. Young Romance (M-G-M Studio Orchestra, Adolph Deutsch) [1:33]
  9. Make Believe (Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel) [4:00]
  10. Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man (Ava Gardner) [3:23]
  11. I Might Fall Back on You (Marge Champion, Gower Champion) [3:17]
  12. Julie Leaves the Boat (M-G-M Studio Orchestra & Chorus, Adolph Deutsch) [1:23]
  13. Ol’ Man River (William Warfield) [3:40]
  14. Ol’ Man River (Reprise) (William Warfield) [2:15]
  15. You Are Love (Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel) [2:34]
  16. Why Do I Love You? (Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel) [3:28]
  17. Ravenal Is Gone (M-G-M Studio Orchestra, Adolph Deutsch) [4:25]
  18. Bill (Ava Gardner) [3:22]
  19. Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man (Reprise #2) (Kathryn Grayson) [2:29]
  20. Life on the Wicked Stage (Marge Champion, Gower Champion) [5:23]
  21. After the Ball (Kathryn Grayson) [3:09]
  22. Packet Boat (M-G-M Studio Orchestra, Adolph Deutsch) [1:23]
  23. Natchez Dock (M-G-M Studio Orchestra, Adolph Deutsch) [2:00]
  24. Make Believe (Reprise) (Howard Keel) [1:30]
  25. Reunion (M-G-M Studio Orchestra, Adolph Deutsch) [1:46]
  26. Ol’ Man River: Finale Ultimo (William Warfield & the M-G-M Studio Chorus) [2:55]


Singles/Hit Songs:

As was common in the pre-rock era, songs from musicals were often recorded by artists not associated with the musical and released as singles. Here are some of the most notable hit singles resulting from Show Boat:

  • “After the Ball” – George J. Gaskin (#1, 1893), John Yorke Atlee (#1, 1893)
  • ”Ol’ Man River” – Paul Whiteman with Bing Crosby (#1, 1928), Al Jolson (#4, 1928), Paul Robeson with Paul Whiteman (#7, 1928), The Revelers (#10, 1928), Luis Russell (#19, 1934)
  • ”Bill” – Helen Morgan (#4, 1928)
  • ”Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” – Helen Morgan (#7, 1928), Ben Bernie (#19, 1928)
  • ”Make Believe” – Paul Whiteman with Bing Crosby (#7, 1928)
  • ”Why Do I Love You” – Nat Shilkret (#9, 1928)
  • ”You Are Love” – James Melton with Victor Young’s Orchestra (#20, 1932)

Rating:

4.443 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings from all versions of Show Boat)


Quotable: “Generally considered to be the first true American ‘musical play’” – Wikipedia


Awards (Cast Album and Soundtrack): (Click on award to learn more).

About the Show:

Show Boat “is generally considered to be the first true American ‘musical play’.” WK It separated itself from the operettas, light musical comedies, and Follies-type musical revues of the 1890s and early 20th century by telling a dramatic plot-and-character driven story accompanied by music. WK

The musical, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II, was based on Ednar Ferber’s 1926 novel of the same name. WK The show works in a few songs not by Kern and Hammerstein, including Bill, written by P.G. Wodehouse in 1918, but reworked by Hammerstein for Show Boat. Goodbye, My Lady Love by Joseph Howard and After the Ball by Charles K. Harris have become mainstays in the American stage productions of the show as well. WK

The show opened on Broadway on December 27, 1927 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York, where it ran for a year and a half. The 1928 London cast album was released in England before the United States. Since the U.S. had not started making original cast albums of Broadway shows, there was no album made of the 1927 Broadway cast. WK However, for the 1932 revival of the musical, a cast album was made featuring Helen Morgan and Paul Robeson, who were both in the original American and London casts of Show Boat, E-C alongside “James Melton, Frank Munn, and Countess Olga Albani” WK and an orchestra conducted by Victor Young. WK The recordings of “Ol’ Man River and a Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man…are truly authoritative. The…sound is astonishingly good.” E-C

The show was revived again in 1946, 1983, and 1994. WK Similarly, cast album recordings have been made multiple times, including 1946, 1956, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1971, 1988, and 1994. It was also made into a movie in 1936 with members from the original Broadway and London productions. It was made into a movie again in 1951 although it “was prettied up considerably and reshaped almost beyond recognition. On the other hand, Howard Keel’s baritone is one of the most pleasing voices in movies of that era, and teamed with Kathryn Grayson’s fluttering alto, the results are beguiling on songs like Only Make Believe.” E-S It “wasn’t treated too seriously by most purists until the 1990s, when it emerged as a minor classic in its own right.” E-S

Resources and Related Links:


Other Related DMDB Pages:


First posted 8/11/2008; last updated 12/21/2021.

Saturday, December 12, 1987

George Michael hit #1 with “Faith”

Faith

George Michael

Writer(s): George Michael (see lyrics here)


Released: October 12, 1987


First Charted: October 23, 1987


Peak: 14 US, 15 CB, 15 GR, 13 RR, 5 AC, 2 UK, 14 CN, 11 AU, 8 DF (Click for codes to charts.)


Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.6 UK, 1.79 world (includes US + UK)


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 28.17 video, 396.95 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

George Michael started his transition from half of the bubblegum-pop duo Wham! to a more serious artist in 1987. First, he dueted with Aretha Franklin on the #1 song “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me.” He followed that with the controversial “I Want Your Sex,” a #2 solo hit with a decidedly more adult message. The title cut from his first solo album, Faith, could arguably be viewed as Michael finally planting his flag in the “now I’m a serious artist” land for good.

“Faith” topped the charts at the end of 1987 and was followed to the #1 spot by “Father Figure,” “One More Try,” and “Monkey,” giving the album four chart-topping hits. This one, however, spent the longest time on top and was named the song of the year by Billboard magazine. The album went on to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.

The “rockabilly-tinged title track” AMG was supposedly written as a rock and roll pastiche, which is demonstrated by the incorporation of Bo Diddley’s classic rock and roll beat WK which is also present on Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” and U2’s “Desire.” SF While the video depicted Michael playing guitar, he didn’t know how to play. SF Thank Scottish session player Hugh Burns for the guitar lick which harkened back to the ‘50s Sun Records-era and Bo Diddley. SF Michael worked with Burns for hours to synch the guitar sound to his vocals. SF

However, the song definitely had a modern touch as well. It was one of the first digital recordings, meaning he could write and record lyrics line-by-line and even word-by-word. Whie the process was tedious, it let Michael scrutinize every syllable to create the polished track he wanted. SF


Resources:

  • AMG All Music Guide
  • FB Fred Bronson (2007). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (4th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 685.
  • SF Songfacts
  • WK Wikipedia


Related Links:


First posted 11/26/2020; last updated 2/3/2023.