Category: Pop/Rock

Posted on

Morning With Pussy

Pussy Tourette – In Hi-Fi (1993) & Who Does She Think She Is? (1995)

Whatever happened to Pussy Tourette? An extensive internet search comes up with precious little. The most comprehensive thing I found was via grokpedia (including her real name, Mark Cliser, who, through further searching I learned is now 63 years old). Seems the last thing she released was EP1 in 2007—now only available for download via iTunes. There isn’t any physical media available for this release.

These albums prompt so many good memories of my life in SF during the 90s, including my return to The City in ’98 as I was winding my way through Oakland, just before I crossed the Bay Bridge.

I remember how scandalous the lyrics were considered at the time. Now you hear much worse on a daily basis.

And while you’re at it, GET OFF MY LAWN!

0 comments

Posted on

Morning Tunes

Sade – Love Deluxe (1992)

Sade has been such an integral part of the soundtrack of my life since she first burst on the scene in 1984. One of my fondest memories of listening to her music was one afternoon when I was underground, waiting on MUNI at the Van Ness Station and I was plugged in and walk-dancing along the edge of the platform while listening to Stronger Than Pride. I knew I looked ridiculous, like a scene from an as-yet unreleased iPod advert with the black figure dancing with the white headphones, but I didn’t care. I was in my happy place.

0 comments

Posted on

Morning Tunes/The More You Know

Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms (1985)

Playing on my period-specific Discman.

I learned that this particular CD was the very first that was digitally recorded from beginning to end, in other words a “DDD” recording (digital recording, digital mixing, digital mastering) and is considered one of the best-sounding CDs out there. I can’t attest to that personally because my copy is not from the original 1985 run, but a reissue and who knows what’s been done in the interim, but it does still sound good.

Sonic excellence aside, Brothers in Arms has always been a problematic album for me, mainly because of the “little faggot” lyrics in Money for Nothing, but like a lot of other artists with problematic catalogues I can force myself to turn a blind eye. Does this make me a bad person?

0 comments

Posted on

Morning Tunes

Supertramp – Breakfast In America (1979)

How did I miss this one all. these. years?!?

I know how I overlooked it when it first came out. 1979? I was deep in the throes of disco. While other genres occasionally broke into my consciousness at the time, what I call traditional FM pop/rock wasn’t one of them. But seriously…I never gave this one a second glance until a few days ago based on some strong recommendations from the Reddit, and I slip on my headphones and just get lost in it. I can now understand why it’s ranked among some of the best albums (and recordings) ever made.

Especially the final track, Child Of Vision:

0 comments

Posted on

Released 40 Years Ago Today

Madonna: True Blue (1986)

From Behind the Grooves: (sadly, link is broken as of 2026)

“True Blue”, the third album by Madonna is released. Produced by Madonna, Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray, it is recorded at Channel Recording in Los Angeles, CA from December 1985 – April 1986. After the massive whirlwind success of the “Like A Virgin” album and “The Virgin Tour”, the pop superstar does not rest on her laurels, beginning work on the crucial follow up at the end of 1985. Working with long time collaborator Stephen Bray and new producer Patrick Leonard (Michael Jackson, Jody Watley), the album is praised upon its release as her strongest effort to date, and is widely regarded today as one of the best albums of her career. It spins off five top five hits including “Live To Tell” (#1 Pop), “Papa Don’t Preach” (#1 Pop), “Open Your Heart” (#1 Pop) and the title track (#3 Pop). “True Blue” also marks the beginning Madonna’s long association with famed fashion photographer Herb Ritts who shoots the LP’s iconic cover photo. The original LP package also includes a poster of the album cover shot. As a promotion for the album, MTV sponsors the “Make My Video” contest, inviting viewers to submit their own visual interpretations of the title track. The winning entry comes from Angel Gracia and Cliff Guest, whose black & white clip is rotated heavily on the video channel. The pair are awarded a check for $25,000 by the pop superstar herself at MTV’s New York studios. The alternate video directed by James Foley, featuring Madonna with close friends actress Debi Mazur and fashion designer Erika Belle is shown largely outside the US. Madonna also supports the album with the worldwide “Who’s That Girl Tour” beginning in June of 1987. It is remastered and reissued on CD in 2001, with the extended 12″ mixes of “La Isla Bonita” and the title track included as bonus tracks. The vinyl LP is reissued in Europe in 2012, including the original inner sleeve lyric sheet and poster featured in the original release. In October of 2016, a limited edition release of the LP pressed on blue vinyl, is issued as exclusive through the European supermarket chain Sainsbury’s. “True Blue” spends five weeks at number one on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 7x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

I mean, the whole album is bangin’ and deserves to be played at 1 am disco-packed-with-big-sweaty-menz volume, but the title track especially moves me. It’s one of those songs that when it comes on I have to stop what I’m doing, crank the volume to angelic heaven-is-a-disco, make your ears bleed volume and DANCE. La Isla Bonita is a close second in that category.

My unbridled love for this album and the accompanying quest to acquire it on “true blue” vinyl has been well documented on this blog, so I won’t add anything more and instead will sign off and go listen to it.

0 comments