MR

1981 was a good year for me, I got my driver’s license, which meant I got a part time job. A job meant I got money, which meant I could keep my comic book collection up plus start buying records instead of borrowing and making a mono copy. Bought my first stereo too, a Sound Design (Mr. Big shot here, but it was mine). Also went to my first concerts, Styx, Journey and AC/DC (at least I think AC/DC was this year).



1) Journey-Escape Styx and Journey were about a tie for my favorite 1981 album, but the tone on Journey edges it to the win.
2) Styx –Paradise Theater All 3 singers nail everyone of their songs
3) Foreigner-4 My favorite Foreigner album
4) Rush-Moving Pictures
5) Genesis-Abacab
6) Black Sabbath-The Mob Rules
7) Phil Collins-Face Value
Lindsey Buckingham-Law and Order Love the oddness of this album.
9) Stevie Nicks-Bella Donna
10)

Best Live Album
1) Journey-Captured The energy and vibe from this record is amazing. One of my favorite lives albums.

Best Greatest Hits/Best of
1) Blondie-The Best of Blondie

Best Album Cover
1) Styx-Paradise Theater Front cover the new Paradise opening, the back before it's destruction. Inside a movie marquee with the songs and cast. And did I mention laser etching of boobs! (16 year point of view)

Worst follow up/over hyped album
1) Van Halen-Fair Warning What the crap is this crap
2) Rush-Exit Stage Left Love Rush, but this is a very boring record, and my least liked of the live offerings they have.
3) Meat Loaf-Dead Ringer Sounds like what week old spoiled left over meatloaf would taste like. Yuch, and not his worst either!!



1) Don’t Stop Believin Decades later, who can?
2) Best of Times A classic, still today, love the piano in the middle.
3) Tom Sawyer
4) In The Air Tonight
5) Jukebox Hero
6) Centerfold.
Tubesnake Boogie
9) Man on the Corner
10) Jessie’s Girl
11) Lunatic Fringe
12) Half Penny Two Penny
13) Stone in Love
14) Too Much Time on My Hands
15) Hold On Loosley Not big in southern rock, but this is one of the best.

We can discuss your top ten list later...

Abitaman wrote:Worst follow up/over hyped album
1) Van Halen-Fair Warning What the crap is this crap

No way! Fair Warning and 1984 are the best Roth VH albums!

Ed's tone was never better than on Fair Warning, and "Mean Street" is the best opener on all their albums.

Different strokes, as they say.

I think it is Van Halen worst album. Not a song, and I mean not a song that I care for on the album. Eddie does a good job, like Eddie always does. This falls on Roth. His voice, his lyrics, blah...

"Worst"? Not by a long shot, amigo!

verslibre wrote:"Worst"? Not by a long shot, amigo!

What would you say their worst is?

Abitaman wrote:

verslibre wrote:"Worst"? Not by a long shot, amigo!

What would you say their worst is?

Diver Down, easily. That was a weird LP for a band that had gotten that big to release at the time...

verslibre wrote:

Abitaman wrote:

verslibre wrote:"Worst"? Not by a long shot, amigo!

What would you say their worst is?

Diver Down, easily. That was a weird LP for a band that had gotten that big to release at the time...[/quote

I actually like Diver Down for the oddness about it.]

I haven't listened to Diver Down since the '80s, *maybe* the 90s.

Abitaman wrote:

verslibre wrote:I haven't listened to Diver Down since the '80s, *maybe* the 90s.

A couple months ago right after lockdown started, I listen to it and all DLR stuff with VH and solo. DD is a lot better than FW IMO

I just listened through all the songs that charted in 1980 and am currently going through 1981. Great year in popular music.

Abitaman wrote:

Abitaman wrote:

verslibre wrote:I haven't listened to Diver Down since the '80s, *maybe* the 90s.

A couple months ago right after lockdown started, I listen to it and all DLR stuff with VH and solo. DD is a lot better than FW IMO

I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone say "Diver Down" is better than "Fair Warning", much less "a lot better".