Nash The Slash: 1984 (1984)

The 12" of 1984 contains the radio version and the dance version of 1984. It's one of the better tracks tracks from American Band-ages.

Nash The Slash: American Band-ages (1984)

This is an odd record in that it contains all covers. Nash, of course, was no stranger to cover versions, but this record one seems overtly commercial. Maybe his other cover versions were just better. American Band isn't too bad, but Psychotic Reaction might be the best tune on the record. Hey Joe, on the other hand, is truly awful.

Nash the Slash: And You Thought You Were Normal (1982)

What can I say? This is another excellent record from Nash the Slash. This is probably a little more accessible than his previous records.

Nash the Slash: Decomposing (1981)

I suppose that Decomposing could have two meanings here. First, it could mean that something is rotting. And, I guess it could mean the opposite of composing as it relates to music. That's a pretty clever title. And, the cover image is clever too, since it depicts the musical staff fading away, or decomposing. From Discogs:

"This is the first album playable at any speed. Being all-instrumental music, there are no voices to affect the realism of the orchestrations. Thus the album becomes a collection of electronic concertos, each movement being defined by the speed of the turntable. A turntable with speeds of 33, 45 and 78 rpm, creates a different ratio within the pieces, yet maintains a familiar melodic drama.

Saying all this, the record was recorded to produce the sound you hear at 45rpm and any compilations using tracks taken from this record reflect this."

Others have challenged this statement. Maybe this is the first 12" record playable at any speed.

There are four instrumental tracks on this EP (or mini album): The Calling, Life in Loch Ness, Womble, and Pilgrim's Lament. I really like this release. Of course, I have never played this at 78 RPM. I suppose that would be interesting.

Nash the Slash: Children of the Night

"There are no guitars"

From Wikipedia: 

Children of the Night is an album by Canadian alternative recording artist Nash the Slash. Released in 1981 after Nash toured the United Kingdom in 1980 supporting Gary Numan, the album quickly gained cult status with its unique sound, created using electric mandolins, electric violins, drum machines and other sonic devices. The album sleeve proudly proclaims "There are no guitars."

In amongst original material by Nash were quirky covers of Jan and Dean's "Dead Man's Curve" and The Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown". His adaptation of Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" was entitled "Dopes on the Water", while the opening composition "Wolf" quoted musical passages from Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

The album was recorded in six weeks at Britannia Row Studios, London, in late 1980 and produced by Steve Hillage. It was released on the Virgin Records label Dindisc, which was owned by Richard Branson. The album was re-released on CD in 2000 with bonus tracks. The cover photo was taken at the road entrance looking up from Paddington Station, London. [source]

I'm not sure that I can adequately describe how much I like this record. He was one of Canada's most interesting musicians. Make sure you look at the back cover for a good counterpoint to the front image.

When you listen to it, remember that "there are no guitars." There are three cover versions, as mentioned above, on this LP. Two are below, and the other is Dopes on the Water, based on Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water.

Nash the Slash: Dreams and Nightmares (1979)

"Imagine a blend of Gary Numan, early Pink Floyd, Jean-Michel Jarre, and the Stranglers and you have a sense of Nash the Slash's music." [source]

Dreams and Nightmares was Nash's first full-length LP, from 1979.  Allmusic reviewer wrote a favourable review, and then gave it 2.5 stars out of five. Seriously? WTF? This is an excellent record.

Nash's entire discography was re-released in 2016, but all of my copies are original pressings.

Nash the Slash: Bedside Companion (1978)

James Jeffrey "Jeff" Plewman (March 26, 1948 – May 10, 2014), better known by his stage name Nash the Slash, was a Canadian musician. A multi-instrumentalist, he was known primarily for playing the electric violin and mandolin, as well as the harmonica, keyboards, glockenspiel, and other instruments (sometimes described as "devices" on album notes). [source]

Nash the Slash, formerly and FM, went solo and released a bunch of very interesting records.
Bedside Companion was Nash's debut solo release, which contains four tracks and is playable at 45 or 331/3 RPM. Later CD copies contained both versions, as did the 2016 vinyl repressing. This is great record.

Naked Eyes: Naked Eyes (1983)

"C-9 is for the Naked Eyes"
- Certain Songs, The Hold Steady

Despite the massive hit, Always Something There to Remind Me - I feel that this record is somewhat underrated. There are other great tracks on this LP.

I had a friend who noted, quite perceptibly I think, that the lines:

"Oh how can I forget you When there is always something there to remind me"

and 

"You'll always be a part of me ooooh"

are really about a man who has contracted a sexually-transmitted disease. It's not a bad interpretation.

By the way, this record was released under the title Burning Bridges outside of North America. Burning -- hmmm.

The Nails: Mood Swing (1984)

The first time I heard of the Nine Inch Nails, I was perplexed and a bit peeved. I wondered if they knew of The Nails. How could they (almost) steal the name? But, I calmed down once I heard the Nine Inch Nails. I loved the music.

Unless you were a fan, the Nails are really only known for one song, and that is 88 Lines About 44 Women. The lyrics were sort of scandalous:

Deborah was a Catholic girl,
she held out to the bitter end.
Carla was a different type,
she's the one who put it in.
Mary was a black girl,
and I was afraid of a girl like that.
Susan painted pictures sitting down
like the Buddha sat.

Reno was an aimless girl,
a geographic memory.
Cathy was a Jesus-freak,
she liked that kind of misery.
Vicky had this special way
of turning sex into a song.
Kamala couldn't sing,
kept the beat and kept it strong.

Xylla was an archetype,
the voodoo queen, the queen of wrath.
Joan thought men were second best
to masturbating in the bath.
Sherri was a feminist,
she really had that gift of gab.
Kathleen's point of view was this:
take whatever you can grab.

Seattle was another girl
who left her mark upon the map.
Karen liked to tie me up,
and left me hanging by a strap.
Jeannie had this nightclub walk
that made grown men feel underage.
Mary Ellen who had a son
said "I must go," but finally stayed.

Gloria the last taboo
was shattered by her tongue one night.
Mimi brought the taboo back
and held it up before the light.
Marilyn who knew no shame,
was never ever satisfied.
Julie came and went so fast,
she didn't even say good-bye.

Well Rhonda had a house in Venice,
lived on brown rice and cocaine.
Patty had a house in Houston,
shot cough syrup in her veins.
Linda thought her life was empty,
filled it up with alcohol.
Katherine was much too pretty,
she didn't do that shit at all.

Uh-uh. Not Katherine.

Pauline thought that love was simple,
turn it on and turn it off.
Jean-Marie was complicated,
like some French film-maker's plot.
Gina was the perfect lady,
always kept her stockings straight.
Jackie was a rich punk-rocker,
silver spoon and a paper plate.

Sarah was a modern dancer,
lean pristine transparency.
Janet wrote bad poetry
in a crazy kind of urgency.
Tanya Turkish liked to fuck
while wearing leather biker boots.
Brenda's strange obsession
was for certain vegetables and fruits.

Rowena was an artist's daughter,
the deeper image shook her up.
Dee-dee's mother left her father,
took his money and his truck.
Debbie-Rae had no such problems,
perfect Norman Rockwell home.
Nina sixteen had a baby,
left her parents lived alone.
Bobbie joined a new-wave band,
and changed her name to Bobbie-sox.
Eloise who played guitar,
sang songs about whales and cops.
Terri didn't give a shit,
just a nihilist.
Ronnie was much more my style,
she wrote songs just like this.
Jezebel went forty days
drinking nothing but Perrier.
Dinah drove her Chevrolet
into the San Francisco bay.
Judy came from Ohio,
she's a Scientologist.
Amaranta here's a kiss,
I chose you to end this list.

Eighty-eight lines about forty-four women 

I really liked this record and it is kind of sad that this is the band's only well-known tune. The record has some really good tracks, like Let It All Hang Out.

My Morning Jacket: The Waterfall (2015)

It seems that Urban Outfitters, once known as the largest vinyl retailer in Canada (a claim I found difficult to believe), is getting out of the vinyl game. In the big shop on Yonge Street in downtown Toronto, they used to have a massive wall display of vinyl, plus three floor racks on the first floor. It was pretty impressive. Some time ago, the store shifted all of the records upstairs, then then the space given to the collection was slowly reduced. The last time I was there, they had a small fraction of the original inventory, and I assume it is either gone or will soon be gone.

I mention this because UO often had exclusives, such as this record. More importantly, they often had amazing sales. For example, I paid $9.99 for this record at UO.

The exclusive in this case, was really not that exclusive. The jacket is slightly different, but that may be it. Sometimes, their exclusives were simply coloured vinyl.

I like this record, but there are better MMJ records.

My Morning Jacket: Chocolate And Ice EP (2002)

"Do you want me to call Maureen Jacket? - You're still in touch with Maureen Jacket? - No. I haven't talked to her in years"

Most of my MMJ collection is on CD. This EP was released in 2002 on CD and on vinyl in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015. I have a limited edition copy pressed on chocolate and clear splatter from 2011. Apparently only 600 copies were made. Oddly, this EP clocks in at over 40 minutes, mostly because of Cobra, a track that runs to 24:14.

This is cool. It's probably not their best, but I like it.

My Bloody Valentine: m b v (2013)

More comforting than revelatory, m b v reaffirms that My Bloody Valentine are one of a kind; the subtlety to their melodies, instrumentation, and the way they blur together belongs to them alone. [source]

Loveless was released in 1991. This, the next record, came out in 2013. I guess by that point no one was expecting anything else from the band.

This record has layers, haze, drone, fuzz, beauty, experimental, distorted guitars, etc. It's an MBV record, for sure.

I'd say that this band is an influential to indie music as the Velvet Underground was to early alternative music. There is no other band that sounds like MBV.

Anyway, I love this band. Sadly, most of the stuff I own in on CD. If you are not familiar with pitch-bending, you should check out this band. This record comes with a CD. Discogs make the following notes:

This vinyl album has been recorded as an analogue album. It was recorded on 2 inch 24 track analogue tape and mixed onto half inch analogue tape and mastered with no digital processing involved.

The vinyl is a true analogue cut, i.e. it hasn't been put through a digital process during the cutting process unlike over 90% of all vinyl available today.

"The vinyl will be limited due to manufacturing restrictions."

Housed in a gatefold sleeve in the left side and pressed on 180 gram vinyl.
The CD comes in a card sleeve with an 8-page booklet.

Peter Murphy: Live In London (2019)

This release -- a deluxe limited edition on triple gatefold ruby red 180g vinyl with booklet -- celebrates the 40th anniversary of Bauhaus, and the concert includes David J on bass. 

It has an epic track list:

Double Dare
In the Flat Field
A God in an Alcove
Dive
The Spy in the Cab
Small Talk Stinks
St. Vitus Dance
Stigmata Martyr
Nerves
King Volcano
Kingdom’s Coming
Burning from the Inside
Silent Hedges
Bela Lugosi’s Dead
She’s in Parties
Adrenalin
Kick in the Eye
The Passion of Lovers
The Three Shadows Part 2
Severance
Telegram Sam
Ziggy Stardust

It has an annoying typo in the insert. Oh well. This was recorded at the Brixton Academy, London. New copies from Live Here Now are available for £45 (about $79 Canadian) plus shipping. On discos, this is going for $120 - $150, plus shipping. 

Most of the clips from that show sound awful but this better-sounding clip will video give you a idea.

Peter Murphy: The Last And Only Star (2021)

I have only listened to this once and my first impression is that the sound quality sucks. Also, some of these bonus tracks should probably have been left in the bin. Side one is far better that side two. Still, I am big fan, so I like it at at some level. 

Peter Murphy: Wild Birds Live Tour (2015)

I was ecstatic when I found this record languishing in a sale bin in a record store in eastern Ontario some years ago. I could not believe my luck. The price was excellent too, being as it was on sale. But, there is bad news. The sound quality is dismal, making this record sound like a really good bootleg, at best. Why this was released, I will never know. It has a really great track listing and I expected great things.

The record was recorded live at the House of Blues in Los Angeles on April 4, 2000. In the end, I am happy that I paid what I did, and not a penny more. But, I think it should never have been released. I'm not the only person to think this. Have a look at these Amazon reviews, which I read after-the-fact:

"Horrible recording, don't waste your time, it doesn't showcase what an amazing show peter can put on. makes me wonder if this was a sanctioned recording or if someone got a bootleg posted on amazon. wish i could get my money back."

And: 

"I love Peter Murphy's music, but, the quality of this recording is terrible. Please listen before you buy...I wish I had."

Sadly, they are right about this record. Still, I will keep it.

Peter Murphy: Lion (2014)

This double LP deluxe edition contains two tracks not on the standard CD release. I think this album was less favourably-received than the predecessor, but I like it very much. I think it's excellent. Hang Up, especially, is awesome.

Peter Murphy: Ninth (2011)

“The Godfather of Goth” sounds like the genre’s savior here, coming on strong with those Bowie-sized aspirations and nailing that attractive Nosferatu-meets-Art-School style. [source]

Ninth, not surprisingly, is Peter's ninth solo record, if you count the live record). I like it much better than Unshattered, though that is also a great release.

Peter Murphy: Cascade (1995/2021)

Good luck trying to find a reasonably priced copy of this original pressing from 1995. It was only pressed in Spain and three copies currently for sale on Discogs range from $547 to $1375 plus shipping. 

I quite like this album. It was a bounce back from the underwhelming Holy Smoke.

So, interesting things about this record are:

- it is spread out over two records, as opposed to one in the original pressing.

- it has four bonus tracks, owing to the extra vinyl space

- it is pressed on scarlet vinyl I suppose because of The Scarlet Thing in You 

Peter Murphy: Holy Smoke (1992)

A couple of original pressings of this LP fell into my hands over the years but they were always a little bashed up, so I avoided shelling our for them and hoped for a repressing. To be honest this LP was a bit of a letdown after the incredible Deep. Although I had the CD since the day it came out, I hadn't played it for years. Playing this record for the first time bought back some memories, but I will still argue that it is no where near as good as Deep or Cascade, the record that followed. 

However, I do quite like The Sweetest Drop, The Low Room, Hit Song, and Kill the Hate.

Peter Murphy: Cuts You Up (1990)

The US version of this 12" of Cuts You Up. This one has:

Cuts You Up (edit)
Roll Call (Reprise)
Cuts You Up (LP Version)
A Strange Kind of Love (Version II)

Of course, the cover image is taken from Deep.

Peter Murphy: Cuts You Up (1990)

I have two versions of this 12" single. This is the UK version, which has three tracks:

Cuts You Up
A Strange Kind of Love (Version Two)
Roll Call (Reprise)

The first time I hear Version Two of A Strange Kind of Love, I was not impressed. I like it, but the album version has far more power, if you ask me.

Peter Murphy: The Line Between The Devil's Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat) (1989)

The Line Between The Devil's Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat) is one of my favourite tracks from Deep. This Canadian 12" single contains four tracks:

1) The Line Between The Devil's Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat) (Full Length Version)
2) Marleine (sic) Dietrich's Favourite Poem
3) The Line Between The Devil's Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat) (Album Version)
4) Blind Sublime

By the way, check out this note from Discogs about this release:

Track A2 is written as "Marleine Dietrich's Favourite Poem" on the back cover and insert, but is written as "Marleine Dietrich Favourite Poem" on the record label. However, both are typos, as the track's proper title is "Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem"

The record label needs a proofreader.

Peter Murphy: Deep (1989)

I'm not sure I have the words to describe how much I love this record. I love it so much that I have two copies, both Canadian, along with the CD. One I picked up not to long ago for $8! For that price, I could not pass it up. I had recently seen a copy in a shop in Toronto for $60! Another store had a copy going for $40. Talk about price gouging.

I don't think that Murphy ever equaled this record. It's simply fantastic, nearly perfect. The CD has one small advantage over the vinyl, and that is the addition of the Roll Call (Reprise). It's the perfect addition, since I never want that song to end.

My fav song from the record is probably Cuts You Up, but it's really hard to choose. If you plan on buying a Peter Murphy record, this is the one to get. It is his masterpiece.

Peter Murphy: Blilnd Sublime (1988)

This US promotional 12" single contains Blind Sublime (7" Edit-Remix) and Blind Sublime (Dance Remix).

Peter Murphy: Indigo Eyes (1988)

This is a promotional 12" single for Indigo Eyes. The same mix of Indigo Eyes is on both sides, and both sides are labelled as Side A. Tour dates, with The Church, are listed on the back cover.

Peter Murphy: Love Hysteria (1988)

OK, I will admit that I hate one song on this LP, and that song is Fun Time, a tune written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop, and first recorded by Iggy for The Idiot. That version is much much better. The two best songs on Love Hysteria are Indigo Eyes and All Night Long, though there was a time when I thought Socrates The Python was the best thing I had ever heard.

Peter Murphy: Should the World Fail to Fall Apart (1987)

Oddly, this 12" has the same cover as the Canadian pressing of the Blue Heart 12". The only thing changed is the name of the track. I wonder why they reused this image. Anyway, this 12" has Should The World Fail To Fall Apart (Version), Confessions (Remix), and Jemal (Version Two).

Peter Murphy: All Night Long (1988)

Now come hold my hand
No bad vibe hearts
Hold my hand you know
This journey could be long

 I have a copy of this 12" (or EP) on CD as well. There are four tracks: All Night Long, Confession (Live), Blind Sublime, and God Sends (Live). The notes say this:

Tracks A1 & B1 recorded at Jacobs and Abbey Road Studios. Mixed at Abbey Road.
Tracks A2 & B2 recorded live at "The Phantasy Club" Toronto, by CFNY-FM Radio.

That was back in the day when CFNY was the absolute best radio station in the world. That is no longer true.

All Night Long is a fabulous track.

Peter Murphy: Tale Of The Tongue (1986)

On the UK 12" pressing of Tale Of The Tongue you will find the title track and a different version of Should The World Fail To Fall Apart.

Peter Murphy: Blue Heart (1986)

The Canadian release for Blue Heart is really an EP. It contains five tracks:

Blue Heart (Extended Remix Version)
The Light Pours Out Of Me
Blue Heart (7" Version)
Canvas Beauty (Romance Version)
Should The World Fail To Fall Apart (Extended Remix Version)

OMD [Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark]: Live at Eventim Hammersmith Apollo (2019)

This concert from November 20th, 2019, is presented on triple blue transparent vinyl. There are also CD and DVD versions available. The sound is really great, and I can recommend it, especially to fans. But, perhaps we have reached peak live OMD? I love it, but one has to figure out how much live material you want. After all, I have a bunch of live stuff, including Live With The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the live recording of Architecture & Morality - Dazzle Ships.

Peter Murphy: Blue Heart (1986)

This is the original UK 12" pressing of Blue Heart, which has three tracks. They are:

Blue Heart
Blue Heart (Seven Inch Version)
Canvas Beauty (Up Version)

Discogs notes the following, which I had never noticed before: "The B side label incorrectly lists the track order. Blue Heart (7" Mix) is the first track, Canvas Beauty is the second track. The cover lists the correct sequence." TIL.

Peter Murphy: Should the World Fail to Fall Apart (1986)

This is the Canadian Pressing. As I said in the previous post:

"The original UK version is different from the Canadian pressing. I really hate that. The difference, apart of track ordering, is that Canvas Beauty was removed from the Canadian version is preference to Tale of the Tongue. That has never made any sense to me because Canvas Beauty is a much better track"

As you will see, the cover image is the same one used for the UK pressing of Tale of the Tongue.

Peter Murphy: Should the World Fail to Fall Apart (1986)

Peter Murphy's first solo LP, after the collapse of Bauhaus and Dalis Car, contains two cover versions. These are the aforementioned Final Solution and a cover of Magazine's The Light Pours out of Me. Once again, I like Peter's version of the Magazine tune, but the original is so freaking fantastic, it's probably impossible to top it. I don't think anyone could record a better version. It's simply awe-inspiring on so many levels.

Clearly, this record sheds some of the goth feel, or should that read stereotype? This is a solid record, lighter than any Bauhaus outing, but it's really enjoyable. It may not be Bauhaus, but I really like it.

Once again, the record company effed with the track listings. The original UK version is different from the Canadian pressing. I really hate that. The difference, apart of track ordering, is that Canvas Beauty was removed from the Canadian version is preference to Tale of the Tongue. That has never made any sense to me because Canvas Beauty is a much better track. This version is the UK pressing.

Peter Murphy: The Final Solution EP (1985)

For Peter Murphy's first solo single, released in advance of his first solo record -- Should the World Fail to Fall Apart -- he opted to cover a Pere Ubu track. That's tough work, but he managed to do a respectable job. I'm just going to add that it must be difficult to make a cover version your own. As much as I admire Peter's version, the Pere Ubu orignal is better, in my humble opinion.

Any artist who strikes out on a solo career is going to be compared to the band from which they came. As the vocalist for Bauhaus, there were probably some -- perhaps unfair -- expectations. But, I'd say that this first outing is solid.

The Canadian version of this 12" single contains four tracks:

Final Solution (Club Mix)
The Answer is Clear (Version)
Canvas Beauty (The Fast Mix)
Final Solution (Third & Final Mix)

Alson Moyet: Alf (1984)

Somehow, I skipped over this one. The Alison Moyet I like best is the Alison Moyet of Yazoo (or Yaz, as we knew them in North America).  Yaz recorded only two records, and disbanded in 1983. The next yer, Alison released her debut record. This isn't bad, but I much prefer Yaz. She does have a truly amazing voice.

Bob Mould: Blue Hearts (2020)

I am happy to report that Allmusic described this record as "one of the very best solo albums Mould has given us to date." I think we can agree. 

Bob Mould: Circle Of Friends (2007/2020)

This concert, from the 9:30 Club in Washington DC, was originally released on DVD in 2007. In 2020, it got a vinyl release on Record Store Day. I did not buy this on RSD, but I did find a discount copy (at about half price) languishing in a bin in a local record late the following year. I thought, why not? I have to say that the sound is truly excellent. This limited edition is pressed on clear vinyl. 

Bob Mould: Sunshine Rock (2019)

I picked this one up soon after it came out. It was my first new 2019 record. I ended up with the limited edition red and yellow swirl coloured vinyl, because that's all the shop had. The price was amazing so I didn't hesitate.

Sunshine Rock is the fourth installment in one of the most satisfying chapters of Bob Mould's career -- no small statement considering his legacy -- and the tender ferocity of these songs is something no one else could do quite this well. [source]

Yup. Its good, but I have only listened to it a couple of times, so far. 

Bob Mould: Patch the Sky (2016)

"All this adds up to another midlife triumph from Mould, a record that harks back to his past while completely occupying the present moment, no matter how uncomfortable or painful that may be." Allmusic

The amazing thing about Bob Mould's solo output is that it is all very very good. The only weak point for me was Modulate, but I don't hate Modulate. I'd put all of his records at 4 or 5 stars out of five, except for Modulate. It's mostly the vocal treatments that I dislike and maybe the production,, but I enjoy other parts of the record. As for Patch the Sky, this is great, once again. Bob is very consistent.

Happily, my copy came with a bonus live CD with nine live tracks recorded at WXRT in June 2014.

Bob Mould: Beauty & Ruin (2014)

I wonder if Bob Mould wants to break into film. His acting isn't bad.

"Although this opens with the slow, grinding "Low Season" and eventually winds its way to the bright, open "Forgiveness," most of this record is devoted to turmoil, as Mould comes to terms with his impending mortality -- hanging over him through both the passing of his dad and his own middle-age -- by drawing sustenance from his signature combination of crystalline pop and molten noise." [source]

This record is excellent.

Bob Mould: Silver Age (2012)

And just like that, Mould comes back with an album that reminds me of Sugar, though with a video for the lead-off track that leaves much to be desired.

Bob Mould: Life and Times (2009)

I missed Sugar during these Bob Mould solo years. I loved everything Sugar did, and his post-Sugar output was great, but I missed Sugar. To me, Sugar was better than Bob Mould's solo works. But, I really really like everything that Mould ever did, including this one. Oh, I have all of these Bob Mould records on CD too, up to this point.

Bob Mould: District Line (2008)

District Line is the seventh solo record from Bob. If you like Bob, you will like this. It's a solid effort with some great tracks. Somewhere around this time, Bob came out of the closet. I can't remember if I was surprised or not.

Bob Mould: Body of Song (2005)

This is a fantastic record. I don't even mind the voice treatment he uses on some tracks. There's nothing left to say. Just listen to it. I have a copy of this album on CD as well.

Bob Mould: Black Sheets Of Rain (1990)

Since this was released in 1990, my first copy was on CD. I ended up with the 2015 vinyl repress from Demon records. This record was a return to heavier music. I like it; Allmusic does not:

A scalding, monolithic collection of soul-baring lyrics and primal guitars, Black Sheets of Rain is extremely powerful musically, but is also slightly monotonous. Nevertheless, the record features several inspired songs from Mould, including the catchy single "It's Too Late." [source]

Look how young Bob looks here:

Bob Mould: Workbook (1989)

The debut solo record from former Hüsker Dü front man, Bob Mould, was a true surprise. There is a real change of sound. He mellowed, I guess, though not entirely.

"Instead of relying on raging guitars, Mould explores a wide variety of styles, from pure pop ("See a Little Light") to reflective folk laced with cellos. It's an astonishing array of styles, and the songs are among Mould's finest." [source]

I did see Bob in concert, though only once. It was a short concert, but he played with amazing intensity and energy. I assumed that he would have been completely exhausted by the end of the show.

Elton Motello: Jet Boy Jet Girl (1979)

So, Elton Motello is somehow the name of the singer and the band. I guess that's like Alice Cooper, though that really became his name. The singer - Elton Motello - is Alan Ward. The first single was Pogo Pogo (1977) though that was later changed to the flip side (1978), Jet Boy Jet Girl, and then that later morphed into a single with Jet Boy Jet Girl on the a-side, and Jet Boy Jet Girl on the a-side and Apocalipstic on the b-side (1979). I have a later 12" pressing without Pogo Pogo.

Anyway, Jet Boy Jet Girl is awesome. I'd never really heard such explicit lyrics:

Can you tell what's on my mind?
She's with him, it drives me wild
I'd like to hit him on the head
Until he's dead
The sight of blood is such a high
Ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo
He gives me head

We made it on a ballroom blitz
I took his arm and kissed his lips
He looked at me with such a smile
My face turned red
We booked a room into the Ritz
Ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo
He gives me head

Jet boy, jet girl
Gonna take you 'round the world
Jet boy I'm gonna make him penetrate
I'm gonna make you be a girl
Ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo
Jet boy jet girl

And though I'm only just fifteen
I like to kick, I like to scream
And even if I have a kick or two in bed
When I'm with him it's just a dream
Ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo
He gives me head

But, this tune was apparently the first openly gay punk song. Anyway, the backing track was taken from Ça plane pour moi, a track by Plastic Bertrand.

But, check out this lame comment from a user review on Allmusic:

Elton was one of the first rock artists to openly express his homosexuality through music, but likely did the cause more harm than good with the release of his cheesy debut disc "Victims of Time", which prominently featured the crass and tasteless gay anthem "Jet Boy Jet Girl". [source]

I cannot agree with that statement.

Elton Motello: Victim of Time (1978)

I can't believe I skipped Elton! Here it is, out of order. 

My Canadian pressing of this release dates to 1979, rather than 1978. I guess it took a year to make it across the ocean. The only other countries to press this LP were Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Yugoslavia, and Australia. This records contains the aforementioned Jet Boy Jet Girl. This is a damn cool record.

The Motors: Greatest Hits (1981)

This record is either titled Greatest Hits or The Motors Greatest Hits. I prefer the former because the latter should be The Motors' Greatest Hits or The Motors's Greatest Hits. Oddly, Virgin released a CD compilation in 1995 called the Airport: Motor's Greatest Hits. Nice try.

Anyway, the record collects the greatest hits of The Motors.