A History of Pop Music Albums – 1984
Featured Album: Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi
This is a series of articles looking at albums from 1960 to whatever year we end up in.
I will select a featured album for each year and the link for the whole album, Plus list the songs on it.
As before, it is not just about the songs and tunes, it is very much about memories, and good ones, I hope.
Not everyone will like my choices of course, and you may remember some from each particular year that you feel should have been included, so do please post a link to the song.
In 1984 I Had been promoted to Sergeant. One of the proudest moments of my life was walking through the front doo of what is, a pretty exclusive club. My first role was tough, but I managed it. The wife did not like Germany though, so I spent my last year there on my own living in the WO’s & Sgt’s mess. I must confess, I enjoyed it!
Torvil & Dean where all the rage with their Bolero routine: Torvil & Dean 1984 You may not have liked ice-skating, but that was good!
The miners strike was on. Lasted a long while that.
I was never a heavy metal fan, but this band to me is a halfway house between heavy and pop rock, I like it bigly.
Bon Jovi is the self-titled debut studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on January 21, 1984. Produced by Tony Bongiovi and Lance Quinn, it is significant for being the only Bon Jovi album in which a song (“She Don’t Know Me”) appears that was not written or co-written by a member of the band.
Track listing
| Side one | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | “Runaway“ |
|
3:50 |
| 2. | “Roulette” |
|
4:38 |
| 3. | “She Don’t Know Me“ | Mark Avsec | 3:58 |
| 4. | “Shot Through the Heart” |
|
4:16 |
| 5. | “Love Lies” |
|
4:06 |
| Side two | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 6. | “Breakout” |
|
5:20 |
| 7. | “Burning for Love“ |
|
3:51 |
| 8. | “Come Back” |
|
3:56 |
| 9. | “Get Ready” |
|
4:07 |
More writings on this album here: Bon Jovi
So, on we go with 1984:
The top 10 sellers for 1984 are below, not the best of years, but it will get a little better shortly.
Top Tip: Right-click and open in new tab
| Top Albums of 1984 | ||
| 1 | Lionel Richie | Can’t Slow Down |
| 2 | Various artists (CBS/WEA) | The Hits Album/The Hits Tape – 32 Original Hits |
| 3 | Bob Marley & The Wailers | Legend |
| 4 | Wham! | Make It Big |
| 5 | Various artists (Virgin/EMI) | Now, That’s What I Call Music III |
| 6 | Michael Jackson | Thriller |
| 7 | Sade | Diamond Life |
| 8 | Frankie Goes To Hollywood | The Pleasuredome |
| 9 | Billy Joel | An Innocent Man |
| 10 | Various artists (Virgin/EMI) | Now, That’s What I Call Music 4 |
Michael Jackson was still playing all the time on the radio and telly, as was Lionel Richie, but I am not a big lover of these. I did play a lot of Bob Marley. It was year of “Now that what I call music albums”. I liked the 3 No 1’s hit from Frankie, the rest of their stuff was pretty rubbish though.
Still struggling to find some albums for the year, however, those I found I like:
*****************WARNING**********************************WARNING*****************
The Smiths – The Smiths – It is a suicidal effing dirge of an album. There is nothing to be said that is good about it. There are no redeeming features at all. Posted only because you bunch of a well-known GP word, will be posting “songs” from it, so you do not need to.
*****************WARNING**********************************WARNING*****************
Queen – The Works – Would have been the featured album of course, but already had Queen. Awesome, Radio Ga-Ga, I want to break free.
Tina Turner – Private Dancer – Saw her in concert in Wembley a lot of years ago, awesome.
David Bowie – Tonight – Includes Absolute Beginners.
Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A. – Will not be everyone’s favourite of his, but I do like it a lot.
R.E.M. – Reckoning – Played this a lot.
Ramones – Too Tough to Die – I have no idea why I like the Ramones, I just do.
Bronski Beat – The Age of Consent
The Style Council – Café Bleu – Not at all bad this.
Prefab Sprout – SWOON – A much underrated band this. They are quite superb.
The Kinks – Word of Mouth – always been a fan of the Kinks
Chicago – Chicago 17 – brings back memories of Miami Vice and other US shows.
Aztec Camera – Knife – Another much underrated band. Most excellent tunes.
Again, I really could not find many albums I rated for the year.
Scoring:
As you know I like to review your “tunes” that you post.
*Note. Anyone scoring a Morrissey (lowest score possible) will be reported and blocked.
Hat tips to: these give the top 100 selling charts for each year.
http://www.everyhit.com/chart1.html these give the top 10 songs for each year.
https://www.youtube.com/ you know them.
Next Time: 1985. Will it get better? Forecast: (Yes)
Featured image: “Bon Jovi” by Viditu is licensed under CC BY 2.0
© Phil the ex test manager 2021
