[Building the Perfect Night] -- I'm coming at you this week with another two-fer post. These two albums released 40 years ago this week, and each one is from a different genre: Pop and Fusion.
Building The Perfect Beast – Released on November 19, 1984, this was the second solo album from Don Henley, co-lead vocalist of The Eagles. Judging from reviews, this is the album that marked Henley coming into his own as a recording artist. He tackles deeply personal reflections as well as issues in the public sphere in his lyrics. And he did it all while wrapping those lyrics in some catchy hooks and layered synths. The album had four hit singles – "The Boys of Summer," "All She Wants to Do Is Dance," "Not Enough Love in the World," and "Sunset Grill" – all of which were top 40 hits. Both "The Boys of Summer" and "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" were top ten hits, and they get most of the attention. But, for my money, "Not Enough Love in the World" is the best song on this album. I know it's about a personal relationship that's in a bad state, but I cannot help but feel it has a larger application. Note: I was unable to find a YouTube playlist that had all 11 tracks from this album, but the one I did find has seven of the eleven tracks, and it includes all four singles.
Night – Thanks to my late father, I have a healthy appreciation for jazz, including a soft spot in my heart for 1980s-era fusion. And guitarist John Abercrombie's 1984 effort scratches my itch for guitar + synth 80s fusion. Released on November 20, 1984, Night was (as best as I can tell) Abercrombie's 11th album as a leader or co-leader. Most of his albums are billed as being by him and several other artists, or him with several other artists. And Night is no exception. This one is attributed to John Abercrombie with with Michael Brecker (saxophone), Jan Hammer (keyboards), and Jack DeJohnette (drums). There was no bassist, but Hammer handled the low end with his keyboards, layering sounds and channeling organ work. This disc has some fantastic guitar work from Abercrombie, and DeJohnette delivers the rhythmic goods as usual. And I cannot even begin to describ Brecker's tenor contributions. But AllMusic reviewer Daniel Gioffre probably has the best description of Night I have ever read, and I meld with it: "This record is the kind of album that one would like to hear while enjoying a late-night cigarette on the roof of a Manhattan apartment. Moody, atmospheric, and beautiful."
YouTube playlists for both albums are embedded below. Did you like either of these records back in 1984?
Flashback #1: Building the Perfect Beast (November 19, 1984)
Flashback #2: Night (November 20, 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!
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