Solo 1981

Phil Collins - Face Value (1981). Phil Collins' first solo album, 1981's Face Value, was a long time coming, but it proved worth the wait, both for the Genesis drummer/vocalist himself and fans of thoughtful, emotionally charged pop. He'd been wrestling with the idea of doing a solo record for years, finding great inspiration in the pain caused by an impending divorce and craving artistic independence after years of collaboration. Many of the songs ended up on Genesis' 1980 album Duke - and "Against All Odds" was pocketed for later use - but he kept enough to make an album that stands as a classic moment of '80s pop/rock. Collins produced the album himself and played keyboards and drums, calling in friends and the Earth, Wind & Fire horns to fill out the songs…

A founding member of the popular 1960s female soul group Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles, Sarah Dash continued to pursue a variety of outlets for her creative talents. In addition to recording four impressive solo albums, Dash has sung on albums by the Marshall Tucker Band, Laura Nyro, and the Rolling Stones. In addition to recording with Keith Richards' X-Pensive Winos, she twice toured the United States with the all-star band. Dash has recorded duets with Richards, Doctor York, Patti LaBelle, and Ray, Goodman & Brown.

Released to coincide with Stevie Nicks' solo induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – she is the first woman to be inducted twice, once with a band, once as a solo act – the retrospective Stand Back: 1981-2017 is available in three distinct forms. First, there's a deluxe edition with either three CDs or six LPs, divided by a disc of solo hits, a disc of collaborations, and a disc of live material buttressed by contributions to film soundtracks. Second, there's a digital version containing 40 of the triple-disc's 50 tracks, with a single-disc collection of hits bringing up the rear. Of the three, the latter is the most user friendly, containing all of her big hits along with live versions of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" and "Gold Dust Woman."

The Rolling Stones’ 1981 tour was the biggest rock and roll event of the year. The size of the production, the length and the pubulicity surrounding it were unprecedented. They played in the biggest arenas, sometimes for multiple nights, and orchestrated a media blitz which saw them appear on television somewhere in the world at least once a week on local stations, syndicated shows like Rona Barrett’s new news program “Inside & Out” and on cable television with several appearances on the brand new channel MTV. The big tour finale was the pay-per-view broadcast by satellite on the final night…

Ron Wood - 1234 (1981) {2006 Japan Mini LP DSD Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 272 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 88 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 13 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2006 Columbia / Sony Music Japan | MHCP-1026
Rock / Hard Rock / Blues Rock

Digitally remastered reissue of Ron Wood's album originally released in 1981. DSD remastered in 2006. Includes a special cardboard sleeve case. Every aspect of this Rolling Stone's solo album screams of superstar indulgence, from its bizarre cover shot – look, there's Ron riding a camel under some jets – to co-producer Andy Johns' fawningly surreal back cover exhortation to "don't let anybody tape it because the label needs the money." There's no chance of such an occurrence: three studios are credited – and every track boasts a different lineup.

Willie Mitchell - Willie Willie Willie (1981) {Sequel NEMCD395 rel 2000}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 221 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 83 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 23 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1981, 2000 Bearsville / Sequel Records | NEMCD 395
Soul / Funk / R&B / Soul Blues / Piano / Trumpet

Best known as the man who signed Al Green to Hi Records and as the producer of Green's most popular records, Willie Mitchell had a successful recording career of his own during the mid-'60s before meeting Green. Born on March 23, 1928 in Ashland, Mississippi, Mitchell was raised in Memphis and began studying music and arranging at an early age, taking up the trumpet at the age of eight and learning from pianist Ozie Horn (as well as drawing from such influences as Roy Eldridge and Harry James). After he was discharged from the Army in 1954, Mitchell moved back to Memphis, where he soon became a popular, local trumpet-playing bandleader – Elvis Presley hired the big band to play several private parties. By 1959, Mitchell had turned his attention to studio work and signed on with Hi Records; he is often credited as being the creator of the oft-copied and instantly recognizable Hi sound (churning organ fills, sturdy horn arrangements, a steady 4/4 drumbeat, etc.).

Never Too Late is best remembered today as drummer John Coghlan's final album with the band he'd served since the early '60s. The bulk of the set, however, was actually cut during the same sessions that produced the previous year's Just Supposin', although it's a struggle to say which of the two came out with the better songs. Neither is what one would describe as a classic Quo disc, but nor are they as disposable as some of the band's later releases. Indeed, any record that includes the bright bonhomie of "Something 'Bout You Baby I Like," the new album's biggest hit, is sure to have a few things to recommend it.

Recorded live at The Osaka Festival Hall, March 16, 1980 as part of the The Memorial Festival Of ABC (Asahi) TV's 30th Anniversary. “GRP All-Stars Live In Japan” offers all the excitement of a rare Dave Grusin stage performance.