Now 1982

Is there an ideal song compilation for every band? I don’t think so.
I like Chicago a lot, despite its stylistic changes in its long discography (Jazz Rock to Pop Rock). I lost track of this band after Chicago VII (1977), where the memorable “Wishing You Were Here” appears.

This 8 piece funk band from Louisiana (hence the spelling "LA.", instead of "L.A.") was discovered by Cameo frontman Larry Blackmon, who produced their first and only album, "LA. Connection", released in 1982. The album features the entire Cameo cast but failed due to weak promotion.

The Distance was hailed as a return to form upon the time of its release and, in many ways, might be a little stronger, a little more consistent than its predecessor, Against the Wind. Still, this album has the slickest production Bob Seger had yet granted, and the biggest hit single on The Distance wasn't written by him, it was a cover of Rodney Crowell's "Shame on the Moon." Now, this wasn't entirely unusual, since Seger had been an excellent interpreter of songs for years, but this, combined with the glossy sound, signaled that Seger may have been more concerned with his status as a popular, blue-collar rocker than his music…

Formed in London in 1980, the Legendary Pink Dots moved to Amsterdam in the middle of the decade. Members throughout the band's career have been Edward Ka-Spel (vocals, keyboards) and Phil Knight (keyboards), also known as the Silver Man, with a shifting supporting cast over the years. The Dots' music is by turns melodic pop and exotic psychedelia, with classical influences, sampling, and relentlessly dark, violent, apocalyptic lyrics…