[Four from Forty Years Ago] -- I'm sorry, but when I looked at the slate of albums released 40 years ago this week, I couldn't settle on just one of them. And it's not like offering multiple albums has become a trend here: This will be only the fourth time I've done it this year ... since July 4. Anyway, I think you'll fully understand, and maybe even agree, that I had to feature all four of these albums for this weekend.
Please note that I cannot list this week's Flashback albums in chronological order because three of them were released on the very same day. So, here is the order in which I have chosen to present them:
- This Mortal Coil: It'll End In Tears (October 1, 1984)
- Midnight Oil: Red Sails in the Sunset (October 1, 1984)
- U2: The Unforgettable Fire (October 1, 1984)
- The Replacements: Let It Be (October 2, 1984)
It'll End In Tears – First up, we have It'll End In Tears, the very first album released by This Mortal Coil, which was less a band than a music collective under the direction of 4AD, a British record label. The album features several 4AD artists – including Cocteau Twins, Colourbox, and Dead Can Dance – recording under the auspices of This Mortal Coil. It'll End In Tears did not chart in the US, though it did reach #1 on the UK Independent Albums Chart – and that success probably helped fuel the album's popularity in the states as an import. Pitchfork includes It'll End In Tears on its April 2018 list of "The 30 Best Dream Pop Albums." It also appears on two best of Goth lists: Frank Deserto's 2017 list of essential Goth albums and Spectrum Culture's 2013 13 Best Goth Albums of All Time.
Red Sails in the Sunset – Midnight Oil released their fifth studio album, Red Sails in the Sunset, on October 1, 1984. It was the band's first #1 album in their native Australia, and it charted within the US Billboard 200. The album cover was a chilling "what if?" scenario, as in "What would Sydney Harbour look like after a nuclear strike?" Following on their previous efforts, the lyrical content of Red Sails focused on politics, consumer culture, expanding military, the auspices of nuclear war, and environmental threats. Two singles were released in the US -- "When the Generals Talk" and "Best of Both Worlds" -- but neither of them charted. Musically, there was enough polish (from increased studio wizardry) and the experimental rhythms and textures should have lured in new listeners, particularly from the college radio set. So, what kept the singles grounded? Perhaps it was lead singer Peter Garrett's judgmental tone. However, it was more likely Garrett's lurching and towering presence in the band's music videos. I recall thinking he was pretty cool, but I also recall my friend, Daniels, and I being on the receiving end of our classmates' scorn for liking "that Frankenstein dancing guy." Anyway, Midnight Oil was about three years from breaking huge with Diesel and Dust. And when that album hit, fans finally started digging into Midnight Oil's back catalog to discover this gem. For a blow-by-blow appreciation of Red Sails in the Sunset, check out A Look Back At Midnight Oil's Landmark LP 'Red Sails In The Sunset', posted on the 30th anniversary of the album's release.
The Unforgettable Fire – Dropping on October 1, 1984, The Unforgettable Fire was U2's fourth studio album. Despite not being a fount of hit singles, The Unforgettable Fire was a commercial juggernaut and it received mostly favorable reviews. Looking back over 40 years, The Observer calls this album "U2’s grand artistic leap forward". While Albumism's Andy Healy called it U2's "most ambitious and daring outing." The Unforgettable Fire peaked at #1 and #12 on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200 respectively, as well as reaching the top 10 in several other countries. And it has been certified Gold or Platinum in seven different countries, including going 3x Platinum in the US. Of the singles, "Pride (In the Name of Love)" was the band's biggest hit at the time, and "Bad" became live favorite.
Let It Be – On October 2, 1984, The Replacements released their third studio album, Let It Be. The album cover features the band sitting on the roof of Bob and Tommy Stinson's mother's house. The record itself was produced by Steve Fjelstad, Peter Jesperson, and Paul Westerberg (The Replacements' lead singer and songwriter) for Twin/Tone Records. But it wasn't like there was an actual producer lurking over the boys, making them sweat each note. The album title, Let It Be, was ripped from the Beatles' record, of course. But it was just their way of saying nothing is sacred; The Beatles "were just a damn fine rock & roll band" (Paul Westerberg, quoted by Rolling Stone). Sacred or not, Let It Be is ranked among the greatest rock albums of the 80s, and Rolling Stone even includes it on their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. No doubt, this is more by accident than by some design on the Mats' part.
YouTube playlists for all four albums are embedded below. Let us know your fave tracks from any of these records.
Flashback #1: It'll End In Tears (October 1, 1984)
Flashback #2: Red Sails in the Sunset (October 1, 1984)
Flashback #3: The Unforgettable Fire (October 1, 1984)
Flashback #4: Let It Be (October 2, 1984)
And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
