1980 1984

David Bowie returned to relatively conventional rock & roll with Scary Monsters, an album that effectively acts as an encapsulation of all his '70s experiments. Reworking glam rock themes with avant-garde synth flourishes, and reversing the process as well, Bowie creates dense but accessible music throughout Scary Monsters. Though it doesn't have the vision of his other classic records, it wasn't designed to break new ground – it was created as the culmination of Bowie's experimental genre-shifting of the '70s. As a result, Scary Monsters is Bowie's last great album. While the music isn't far removed from the post-punk of the early '80s, it does sound fresh, hip, and contemporary, which is something Bowie lost over the course of the '80s.

Gaucho is the seventh studio album by the American jazz rock band Steely Dan, released on November 21, 1980 by MCA Records. The sessions for Gaucho represent the band's typical penchant for studio perfectionism and obsessive recording technique. To record the album, the band used at least 42 different musicians, spent over a year in the studio, and far exceeded the original monetary advance given by the record label. Gaucho marked a significant stylistic change for Steely Dan, introducing a more minimal, groove and atmosphere-based format. The harmonically complex chord changes that were a distinctive mark of earlier Steely Dan songs are less prominent on Gaucho, with the record's songs tending to revolve around a single rhythm or mood, although complex chord progressions were still present particularly in "Babylon Sisters" and "Glamour Profession". Gaucho proved to be Steely Dan's final studio album before a 20-year hiatus from the recording industry.

The Crusaders' follow-up to Street Life did not result in any additional hits (does anyone remember Bill Withers' vocal on "Soul Shadows?") and found the group's R&Bish music sounding closer to a formula. Each of the three remaining original Crusaders (Wilton Felder on tenor, soprano, alto and electric bass, keyboardist Joe Sample and drummer Stix Hooper), who are joined by an expanded rhythm setion, contribute at least one original apiece but the group's concept was starting to sound a bit tired. The Crusaders was an American jazz fusion group that was popular in the 1970s. The group was known as the Jazz Crusaders before shortening its name in 1971.

Silent Knight is the third studio album by the Canadian progressive rock band Saga and was originally released in August 1980. Two of the songs, "Don't Be Late (Chapter Two)," and "Too Much to Lose (Chapter Seven)," were part of a series of eight (but later sixteen) songs that Saga included within their first four albums called "The Chapters" which told the story of a young Albert Einstein. These songs were later included on The Chapters LIVE, an album that the band recorded in 2005. To date, there's been no official compilation of the chapters in their studio incarnation. Silent Knight is certified Gold in Canada, having reached #42 in the charts. The Einstein Tower in Potsdam was used as a template for the album cover.

Silent Knight is the third studio album by the Canadian progressive rock band Saga and was originally released in August 1980. Two of the songs, "Don't Be Late (Chapter Two)," and "Too Much to Lose (Chapter Seven)," were part of a series of eight (but later sixteen) songs that Saga included within their first four albums called "The Chapters" which told the story of a young Albert Einstein. These songs were later included on The Chapters LIVE, an album that the band recorded in 2005. To date, there's been no official compilation of the chapters in their studio incarnation. Silent Knight is certified Gold in Canada, having reached #42 in the charts. The Einstein Tower in Potsdam was used as a template for the album cover.

This five-disc set from legendary UFO and Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker collects all six albums that he made for Chrysalis between 1980 and 1984 under the Michael Schenker Group moniker. Bolstered by a handful of live cuts, B-sides, and alternate edits, The Chrysalis Years: 1980-1984 includes the group's eponymous 1980 debut MSG 2 (1981), the Japanese double-live album One Night at Budokan (1981), Assault Attack (1982), Built to Destroy (1983), and the band's second live album, Rock Will Never Die (1984).

Level 42 - The Complete Polydor Years 1980-1984 (2021) {10CD Set, Polydor–Robinsongs ROBINBX45}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 3.99 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.33 Gb
Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 10 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1980-84, 2021 Polydor / Robinsongs / Cherry Red | ROBINBX4
Jazz / Sophisti-Pop / Contemporary Pop / Dance Rock / Jazz Funk / New Wave / Synth Pop

Formed in the last embers of the 70’s Level 42 started as a Jazz Fusion band before embracing dance rock for which they would be best known. The band’s first single Love Meeting Love was released in 1980 to much critical acclaim which led to the debut album, the self-titled Level 42 which charted in the top 20. Throughout the 80’s the band released numerous albums and toured regularly building a large and devoted fan base – these early years are featured here. Volume One contains all the Level 42 albums from 1981 – 1984 in their original glory. Discs 6 -10 contain all the B-Sides, 7” Mixes, remixes and rare versions from those eras. Compiled in conjunction with Level 42 and band experts Paul Wallace, Paul Waller and Simon Carson. The band go out on a major tour in 2021 and are fully involved with the release of this box set. This beauty is PART ONE! PART TWO to follow…