5 Memorable Albums Released 40 Years Ago This Month

1985 is often cited by music critics as a time when production became excessive, rendering certain records from that era somewhat dated. Certainly, a few of the albums released 40 years ago this month fell into that trap.

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Nonetheless, we found five albums released in the opening month of ’85 that hold up quite well. Some of them were able to avoid the excessive production touches, while others were able to mostly overcome them.

Centerfield by John Fogerty

Fogerty’s first album in 10 years mined his old CCR sound to such an extent he got sued for it. The lawsuit focused on the swampy opening track “The Old Man Down the Road,” though you could argue the mid-tempo “I Saw It on TV” is an even closer dead ringer to his former band’s old glories. What matters most about Centerfield is Fogerty was inspired and energetic once again, even when grinding axes (“Vanz Kant Danz”). And the title track has muscled out all competition as the most impactful song ever about the Great American Pastime.

Silvertone by Chris Isaak

Here’s one album where you don’t have to worry about any au courant production tics getting in the way of your enjoyment. Chris Isaak has always been a man out of time in the music industry, lingering in some nether region behind feisty rockabilly and Orbisonian balladry. On this debut album, Isaak was already locked into his signature melancholy, with song titles like “Tears” and “Funeral in the Rain.” He also shows off a peppy pop touch on tracks like “Back on Your Side” and “Pretty Girls Don’t Cry,” while working up to a fiery froth on the hectic “Voodoo.” An outstanding first record.

One Clear Moment by Linda Thompson

Thompson’s career was interrupted by physical issues with her voice. That could be one reason this first solo album of hers is somewhat unheralded, as she couldn’t follow up its momentum. She displayed a willingness to go for synth-pop sounds far removed from what those who knew her from her records with ex-husband Richard might have expected. The tracks that do slow things down a bit are the ones that seem to address that fractured relationship, including the stunning highlight “Telling Me Lies.” The solo piano piece “Only a Boy” also brings the chills, courtesy of Thompson’s affecting vocals.

King of Rock by Run-D.M.C.

King of Rock is one of those albums that came so early in the game that it sounds a bit primitive today. While the rock guitars were certainly innovative, the songs without them on the record tend to lumber a bit. In addition, the AABB rhyme schemes of Run and D.M.C. can sound clunky now, when compared to the furious flow of some of the rappers that followed in their wake. But there are several songs when the bombast of the music and the force of the delivery come together in wonderful cohesion, such as on the title track and “Can You Rock It Like This.”

Warming Up to the Ice Age by John Hiatt

By his own account, Hiatt wasn’t in the best headspace when he put this album together, as substance abuse issues were wearing on him. He also sounded a bit out of place at times amidst the maximalist productions. But his way with a lyric is still very much in evidence throughout the record. “The Usual,” which hints at his ordeals, and the title track are both biting and funny. There’s a solid duet with fellow wordsmith Elvis Costello on “Living a Little, Laughing a Little.” And “When We Ran” shows Hiatt’s facility with soulful ballads was certainly still part of his arsenal.

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