One day at Amoeba Hollywood I proclaimed that Aztec Camera's 1983 release High Land, Hard Rain was one of the best records of the '80s. This single statement eventually led to over 200 Amoebites ranking their top 10 favorite albums from the ‘80s.

From the beginning we realized that it was impossible for most of us to condense our favorites from all genres into a tiny top ten list. So, we limited our lists to Rock/Pop and its sub-genres like punk, metal, goth, and new wave. Even so, it was a difficult selection process because not only are there hundreds of amazing records to consider, there is also the added dynamic of time.

The '80s were a long time ago and the music has had many years to gestate. We have a deep sense of nostalgia and sentiment with these albums as our fondest memories are associated with them. These are albums we LOVE.

- Henry Polk

P.S. We'll be posting new additions to the '80s list project from Amoeba staff members on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. See all entries in our '80s list series.

P.P.S. The '80s List Book is available for sale at Amoeba Hollywood.


Kristen Frederick
The Dream Syndicate – The Days Of Wine & Roses (1982)
The Clash – London Calling (1980)
The Smiths – The Smiths (1983)
Roxy Music – Avalon (1980)
Ultravox – Vienna (1980)
The Waterboys – A Pagan Place (1984)
Echo & Bunnymen – Porcupine (1983)
The Psychedelic Furs – Talk Talk Talk (1981)
New Order – Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
OMD – Architecture & Morality (1981)

Above is a great video clip with Neil Young being interviewed recently interspersed with classic mid 80's footage of him along with  The International Harvesters performing the previously unreleased "Amber Jean" taken from the 1984 television show Nashville Now TV. The rare recording, with the great back story to it, can be found on Young's new Reprise Records release A Treasure which was released this month and is available at Amoeba Music in stores and online.

A Treasure is just the latest gem uncovered in the seemingly never ending archives of Neil Young's musical legacy. Recorded in 1984 and 1985 when Young toured with the International Harvesters - a band comprised of both many of his regular sidemen musicians along with some of Nashville's studio heavyweights such as Rufus Thibodeaux (fiddle) and Hargus (Pig) Robbins (piano). What makes this recording so special, beyond the fact that it is simply great rockin' country music, is that Young, ever the musician true to his heart, ignored the naysayers who told him that no one wanted to hear him play this kind of music.  At the time Young was warned by his label that no radio programmer would touch this music. The fact that today this music would fit in the format of any alt-country station merely proves what a visionary Neil Young has always been. Buy A Treaure online from Amoeba for $13.98 with free shipping in the US.
 

If you are lucky enough to live in the New York area, there's gonna be a massive Neil Young tribute at no less than Carnegie Hall on Feb 10! Scheduled artists include Patti Smith, The Roots, J Mascis, Bettye LaVette, Bebel Gilberto and many more, and all the proceeds go to various charities. Tickets here.

If you're looking for an enjoyable romp through the late '60s/early '70s Laurel Canyon scene, Legends of the Canyon is the film for you. Photographer Henry Diltz narrates, and his photos and footage are used throughout, along with enlightening interviews with folks like David Crosby, Ahmet Ertegun, Van Dyke Parks, Michelle Phillips, David Geffen, Stephen Stills, Dallas Taylor, plus some great talk from Graham Nash, and many more.

There's an easy intimacy in the interviews, no doubt because Henry was involved in the process and he has known and been friends with these people for decades. Stephen Stills reveals how he was completely intimidated by Joni Mitchell, Michelle Phillips touches on how vulnerable Gene Clark was, Dallas Taylor talks about what made Graham Nash cry, and Graham Nash speaks of Neil Young's total devotion to the music, among many other stories. There's interview extras on the disc as well, a sweet inclusion.

Early this morning a fire raged through a San Carlos warehouse that housed some of Neil Young's precious possessions.

According to the Chronicle, "Young kept guitars, paintings, vintage cars and cases of other memorabilia at the 10,000-square-foot warehouse. About 70 percent of the belongings have been salvaged or are salvageable." Despite that high percentage, they also reported that "The blaze caused at least $1 million in damage."

Hope there were no master tapes or unreleased songs destroyed! The music world can't afford to lose one bit of Neil's unparalleled output. No word yet on what caused the fire. [Update: the fire was evidently caused by a system error in Young's hybrid car.]