David Bowie - Fame And Fashion RCA CD (1984)

Compilation from 1983, converted to CD in 1984 during the conversion of his catalogue to the new format.

For the Story of the First Bowie CDs ...Ever! see Here

Elvis - The Collection (1984)

The first Elvis music on CD was issued by RCA in Europe in November 1983 in the form of a 3CD box set called Elvis:The Legend.  This was a 60 track compilation of his classic hits.  The box was a limited edition of 5,000.  The same tracks were recompiled into 4 volumes of a series called The Collection and issued early in 1984.

Read the story of how the box set was produced and released and why from Europe and not the USA here

Volume 1 - PD 89248
Volume 2 - PD 89249
Volume 3 - PD 89472
Volume 4 - PD 89473

Wah! - The Story Of The Blues (1982)

From The Lost Record Covers Club First of all what a great cover.  This artwork here by Pete Wylie (who is/was Wah!) John McCarthy and Jock Huzzi. A great single which was released in late 1982 reaching number 3 in the UK singles chart in early 1983.  One of those blissfull peices of 7" plastic that will live on forever.  Superb. Not so the video but it was the 80s and you had to be there! Wah! - The Story Of The Blues Eternal/WEA - JF1 (UK 7") 45Cat.com - JF1

Kissing The Pink - The Last Film (1983)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Back in '83 KTP had a minor hit with this.  I'd known the band since Nod Cobb had introduced me to them whlist we were at Phonodisc (Nod went on into A+R - but back then he was a print buyer looking for a way in like me).  He gave me "Mr Blunt" which is worth a punt if you can find a copy.  This is in a similar style.  Nice.

The Last Film - 7" KTP3 (UK Magnet Label)

Bananarama - Cruel Summer 12" (1983)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

The girls of the moment in 1983.  This is a twelve inch single of "Cruel Summer" which I think is one of their better pop singles - they made a number of covers.  This is Swain and Jolley in the production seats - later they would move to Stock, Aitken and Waterman with great success both here and in the US.  I met the girls very early on, and very briefly, when they visisted the PolyGram distribution depot in Chadwell Heath, Romford and very nice they were too.

London was re-establishing itself as the pop label for Decca - after being acquired in 1980 by PolyGram.

London - NANX 5

7" entry - http://www.45cat.com/record/nana5

The Maisonettes - Heartache Avenue (1983)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

The great 60s pastiche of 1983 from the short lived maisonettes (led by the ex-City Boy man Lol Mason).  This is a brilliant pop single.  The picture sleeve shown here is the german version bought at the VIP Music Fair.


The 60s themed sleeve even has the "Emitex cleaning material" logo on the back which always featured on all EMI releases way into the 70's and get the sleeve notes:-

True to the genre/era! anyway terrific single



Ready Seady Go! single - RSG 1
(This is the German copy - only difference being it has the badge on the front denoting that it is in green vinyl - Intercord INT 113.115)

Gary Bird & The GB Experience - The Crown (1983)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

A gem.  This is a Stevie Wonder production in every sense with GB handling the rapped vocal. The lyrics about ancient history are fairly tame and follow the flow of the early "Rapper's Delight" style.  The female vocal chorus lifts the whole track with the Stevie sung bridge showing the class of Mr Morris.  The naff sleeve comes from the video where Gary is educating his class about self worth and pride etc.  Gary Byrd is a DJ and social activist.

Motown - TMGT 1312 (12" Single)

Malcolm McLaren and the McLarenettes - Soweto (1983)

The second single release from the "Duck Rock" album from Malcolm McLaren ably assisted by Trevor Horn.  I love this.

Charisma - MALC 212 (12" Single)
UK 7" Single Entry - 45Cat - http://www.45cat.com/record/malc2

Malcolm McLaren - Duck Rock (1983)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

The great album by Malcolm McLaren which merges south african town ship and traditional styles, hip hop, rock and pop (from the west, the Carribean and South America) to make a sometimes weird but always interesting mix.  The known tracks here if "Double Dutch" and "Buffalo Girls" but for my favourite is "Soweto".  Produced by Trevor Horn (who I suspect deserves equal billing with McLaren).

The rear sleeve art

Charisma - MMLP 1

The First Motown on CD

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

These were the first CDs of Motown music ...ever.  For the full story of their production go to the First Motown on CD page at http://picknmixed.blogspot.com/

The Lotus Eaters - You Don't Need Someone New (Extended) (1983)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

I don't know much about these two guys but they made two melodic,catchy singles for Arista during the '83 which I love.  This one on particluar has a beautiful painting on the cover (unattributed).

Sylvan/Arista - SYL 122

The Lotus Eaters - The First Picture Of You (Extended) (1983)

First of two great singles from this band - I know nothing about them other than the important: they made excellent music and both featured interesting artwork.

Sylvan/Arista - SYL121

Care - Flaming Sword 12" (1983)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Another 80's band that didn't go very far - signed to a licence deal with Arista this is a well produced "of the time" song featuring a deep but very english vocal - I think the band included (was?)  Ian Broudie later of the Lightning Seeds.

Arista - KBIRD 122