MotownSubdivision said:

From time to time we have a jam-packed year of music where it seems countless artists across the spectrum have released an album. What are some those years that come to mind? [Edited 9/16/17 9:02am]

The 70's and 80's were replete with them. For now I'll choose two.

1977: Steely Dan (Aja), Earth, Wind & Fire (All N' All), Fleetwood Mac (Rumours), Bob Marley (Exodus), The Sex Pistols (Never Mind the Bollocks), David Bowie (Low/"Heroes"), Elvis Costello (My Aim Is True), Queen (News Of The World), Iggy Pop (The Idiot), ELO (Out Of The Blue), Joni Mitchell (Don Juan's Reckless Daughter), Blondie (Blondie) Talking Heads (Talking Heads '77), Saturday Night Fever, Billy Joel (The Stranger), Heatwave (Too Hot To Handle (US release)). Slave (Slave).

1982: Michael Jackson (Thriller), Prince (1999), The Clash (Combat Rock), Bruce Springsteen (Nebraska), Duran Duran (Rio), Kate Bush (The Dreaming), Donald Fagen (The Nightfly), Marvin Gaye (Midnight Love), Hall & Oates (H2O), Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (The Message), Huey Lewis & The News (Picture This) Culture Club (Kissing To Be Clever), Luther Vandross (Forever, For Always, For Love), The Go-Go's (Vacation), Michael McDonald (If That's What It Takes), Billy Idol (Billy Idol), Joni Mitchell (Wild Things Run East), The Gap Band (Gap Band IV), Joe Jackson (Night and Day).

That's just a sampling of the albums released in those years.

[Edited 9/18/17 9:23am]

Duplicate Post

[Edited 9/18/17 9:20am]

1994 was, imo, the best year in hip-hop history when you consider the depth and breadth of the releases (not even counting those releases dropped at the end of '93 from De La Soul, BDP, ATCQ, Wu-Tang Clan and Black Moon).

To name a few:

Nas -- Illmatic

The Notorious B.I.G. -- Ready To Die

Gang Starr -- Hard To Earn

OutKast -- Southernplayalistikcadillacmuzik

Digable Planets -- Blowout Comb (arguably the most underrated album in hip-hop history)

Common Sense -- Resurrection

Jeru The Damaja -- The Sun Rises In The East

Redman -- Dare Iz A Darkside

The Beatnuts -- Intoxicated Demons

Organized Konfusion -- Stress: The Extinction Agenda

Scarface -- The Diary

Gravediggaz -- 6 Feet Deep

Underground Kings -- Super Tight . . .

Method Man -- Tical

Warren G. -- Regulate

Beastie Boys -- Ill Communication

Public Enemy -- Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age

8 Ball & MJG -- On The Outside Looking In

Paris -- Guerilla Funk

[Edited 9/18/17 9:38am]

***

[Edited 9/18/17 9:35am]

namepeace said:

Gravediggaz -- 6 Feet Deep

wasn't this the name of the reissue from 1997 that missed some songs?

The original 1994 album was Niggamortis, awesiome album!

namepeace said:

JorisE73 said:

namepeace said:

Gravediggaz -- 6 Feet Deep

wasn't this the name of the reissue from 1997 that missed some songs?

The original 1994 album was Niggamortis, awesiome album!

Yes and no.

When I bought the album on cassette in 1994 it was titled 6 Feet Deep. That was the title of the American release.

But the European release was named Niggamortis , which had extra tracks.

[Edited 9/19/17 12:29pm]

[Edited 9/19/17 12:31pm]

NorthC said:

Yeah, 1987 was a good one. We saw the debut of Terence Trent d'Arby, Taylor Dane and George Michael as a solo act. Plus new LPs from the big three: Prince, Madonna and Michael Jackson. Good old acts like Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen and The Bee Gees also came with new albums. And there was a new album by U2. And I'm sure there's a few I forget... [Edited 9/19/17 0:56am]

Michael Jackson (Bad), Prince (Sign O' The Times), U2 (The Joshua Tree), George Michael (Faith), Guns N' Roses (Appetite for Destruction), Whitney Houston (Whitney), Madonna (Who's That Girl (sdtk)), TTD (Introducing The Hardline), The Cure (Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me), Keith Sweat (Make It Last Forever), The Smiths (Strangeways, Here We Come), R.E.M. (Document), Sting (Nothing Like The Sun), Jody Watley (Jody Watley), among so many others.

Of course, 1987 was a landmark year for hip-hop as well (arguably its best), with LL Cool J (Bad), Public Enemy (Yo! Bum Rush The Show), Eric B. & Rakim (Paid In Full) Boogie Down Productions (Criminal Minded), Too $hort (Born To Mack), Ice-T (Rhyme Pays), MC Shan (Down By Law), Kool Moe Dee (How Ya Like Me Now), and Steady B (What's My Name), and of course Eazy E and N.W.A. dropped their first songs.

Huge year across the spectrum.

namepeace said:

JorisE73 said:

wasn't this the name of the reissue from 1997 that missed some songs?

The original 1994 album was Niggamortis, awesiome album!

Yes and no.

When I bought the album on cassette in 1994 it was titled 6 Feet Deep. That was the title of the American release.

But the European release was named Niggamortis , which had extra tracks.

[Edited 9/19/17 12:29pm]

[Edited 9/19/17 12:31pm]

Really? My Niggamortis CD is from the US. I Bought it there on the day of release when on holiday.

I've never seen the original 1994 CD in Holland where I live, just the 1997 reissue.

[Edited 9/19/17 23:39pm]

I dropped an album this week to ...

... damn thing doesn't seem to play quite right now.

JorisE73 said:

namepeace said:

Yes and no.

When I bought the album on cassette in 1994 it was titled 6 Feet Deep. That was the title of the American release.

But the European release was named Niggamortis , which had extra tracks.

[Edited 9/19/17 12:29pm]

[Edited 9/19/17 12:31pm]

Really? My Niggamortis CD is from the US. I Bought it there on the day of release when on holiday.

I've never seen the original 1994 CD in Holland where I live, just the 1997 reissue.

[Edited 9/19/17 23:39pm]

According to Wikipedia and several listings on Discogs, Niggamortis (1994) was a European release, and 6 Feet (1994) a US release. 6 Feet Deep was re-released in 1997 and 2014. It wasn't uncommon for Euro and Japanese versions of rap albums to be offered for sale alongside domestic versions in US markets at the time, as so many had bonus tracks.

It could be that 6 Feet was the European release but it was offered for sale in the US on the date of release. None of the evidence I've seen thus far indicates that.

But like I said, I bought 6 Feet on the day of release in Washington, DC in 1994.

namepeace said:

NorthC said:

namepeace said:

Michael Jackson (Bad), Prince (Sign O' The Times), U2 (The Joshua Tree), George Michael (Faith), Guns N' Roses (Appetite for Destruction), Whitney Houston (Whitney), Madonna (Who's That Girl (sdtk)), TTD (Introducing The Hardline), The Cure (Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me), Keith Sweat (Make It Last Forever), The Smiths (Strangeways, Here We Come), R.E.M. (Document), Sting (Nothing Like The Sun), Jody Watley (Jody Watley), among so many others.

Of course, 1987 was a landmark year for hip-hop as well (arguably its best), with LL Cool J (Bad), Public Enemy (Yo! Bum Rush The Show), Eric B. & Rakim (Paid In Full) Boogie Down Productions (Criminal Minded), Too $hort (Born To Mack), Ice-T (Rhyme Pays), MC Shan (Down By Law), Kool Moe Dee (How Ya Like Me Now), and Steady B (What's My Name), and of course Eazy E and N.W.A. dropped their first songs.

Huge year across the spectrum.

Yep. I knew I forgot a few!

Hell, so did !! We only scratched the surface . . .

1991 was a pretty big year for debuts and legends.

Prince Diamonds & Pearls

Nirvana Nevermind

Smashing Pumpkins Gish

Metallica Black Album

Pearl Jam Ten

RHCP BloodSugarSexMagik

ATCQ The Low End Theory

GNR Use Your Illusion

U2 Achtung Baby

MJ Dangerous

2Pac 2Pacalypse Now

Bryan Adams Waking Up The Neighbors

REM Out Of Time

Massive Attack Blue Lines

Queen Innuendo

Lenny Kravitz Mama Said

Primus Sailing The Seas of Cheese

De La Soul is Dead

Tom Petty Into The Great Wide Open

Ice Cube Death Certificate

Garth Brooks Ropin The Wind

Van Halen For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge

NWA Efil4zaggin

Mariah Carey Emotions

Bonnie Raitt Luck of The Draw

Jodeci Forever My Lady

namepeace said:

JorisE73 said:

Really? My Niggamortis CD is from the US. I Bought it there on the day of release when on holiday.

I've never seen the original 1994 CD in Holland where I live, just the 1997 reissue.

[Edited 9/19/17 23:39pm]

According to Wikipedia and several listings on Discogs, Niggamortis (1994) was a European release, and 6 Feet (1994) a US release. 6 Feet Deep was re-released in 1997 and 2014. It wasn't uncommon for Euro and Japanese versions of rap albums to be offered for sale alongside domestic versions in US markets at the time, as so many had bonus tracks.

It could be that 6 Feet was the European release but it was offered for sale in the US on the date of release. None of the evidence I've seen thus far indicates that.

But like I said, I bought 6 Feet on the day of release in Washington, DC in 1994.

I'll have look tonight if it's indeed teh Euro version. I bought it at a big record store in New York on release day and they had rows of Niggamortis, I didn't see the 6 Feet Deep version.

JorisE73 said:

namepeace said:

According to Wikipedia and several listings on Discogs, Niggamortis (1994) was a European release, and 6 Feet (1994) a US release. 6 Feet Deep was re-released in 1997 and 2014. It wasn't uncommon for Euro and Japanese versions of rap albums to be offered for sale alongside domestic versions in US markets at the time, as so many had bonus tracks.

It could be that 6 Feet was the European release but it was offered for sale in the US on the date of release. None of the evidence I've seen thus far indicates that.

But like I said, I bought 6 Feet on the day of release in Washington, DC in 1994.

I'll have look tonight if it's indeed teh Euro version. I bought it at a big record store in New York on release day and they had rows of Niggamortis, I didn't see the 6 Feet Deep version.

Let me know . . . it could be that 6 Feet is the Euro version; if it was, it was available in 1994 in the US (without the extra tracks).

That would be pretty much any year since around 1950, except acts signed to singles only contracts.

StrangeButTrue said:

1991 was a pretty big year for debuts and legends.

* * *

So many notable albums across the Board. Hip-hop had a classic year too, across the spectrum. In addition to the classics you named, there were among others:

Public Enemy -- Apocalypse 91

Ice-T -- Original Gangsta

KMD -- Mr. Hood

Main Source -- Breaking Atoms

Black Sheep -- A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

Cypress Hill -- Cypress Hill

Leaders of the New School -- A Future Without A Past

Geto Boys -- We Can't Be Stopped

DJ Quik -- Quik Is The Name

Pete Rock & CL Smooth -- All Souled Out (EP)

1988 was a notable year across the board, especially for alt-rock and hip-hop. To name a few:

Public Enemy -- It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back

N.W.A. -- Straight Outta Compton

Prince -- Love$exy

Anita Baker -- Giving You The Best That I've Got

Jane's Addiction -- Nothing's Shocking

Sugarcubes -- Life's Too Good

R.E.M. -- Green

Boogie Down Productions -- By All Means Necessary

Tracy Chapman -- Tracy Chapman

Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians -- Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars

Siouxie and the Banshees -- Peepshow

Sonic Youth -- Daydream Nation

MotownSubdivision said:

1987 is also a great example. It's the only year of the 80s where the big 3 all dropped solo albums (though Madonna's was a soundtrack). The only other year that comes close in that regard is 1984 (which was a bustling musical year itself).

1984 may be the greatest year in pop music history, with Thriller still in its global domination stage, and 1983 albums from Lionel Richie (Can't Slow Down) and The Police (Synchronicity), Huey Lewis and the News (Sports) and others continuing to top the charts.

In any other year, Prince would have been the only story, with Purple Rain, The Time's Ice Cream Castles, Appollonia 6's self-titled album, and "I Feel For You" topping the charts. But Madge (Like A Virgin) and Springsteen (Born In The USA) dropped superstar albums as well. Those 3 weren't alone: Van Halen (1984), Tina Turner (Private Dancer), Wham! (Make It Big), Billy Ocean (Suddenly) and Chaka Khan (I Feel For You) dropped huge albums as well. The Footloose soundtrack was big.

Rock acts on the rise like U2 (Unforgettable Fire), The Smiths (Hatful of Hollow), Depeche Mode (Some Great Reward), REM (Reckoning) and the Psychedelic Furs (Mirror Moves) dropped albums.

On the R&B/Soul side, Sade (Diamond Life) debuted that year. Other acts like New Edition (New Edition), The S.O.S. Band (Just The Way You Like It) and others dropped albums.

It was the Year of the Jackson Family, with the Jacksons dropping Victory, and siblings Jermaine (Jermaine Jackson), Rebbie (Centipede) and Janet (Dream Street) dropping albums.

Rap had its say too. Whodini (Escape) and Kurtis Blow (Ego Trip) dropped hit album, and Run-DMC, the Treacherous Three, and the Fat Boys all dropped self-titled albums. That doesn't even include the tons of classic singles from T La Rock, LL, UTFO, Doug E. Fresh, etc.

Pop, rock, R&B, alternative and hip-hop on the rise, megastars and music-fueled movies . . . 1984 had it all.

[Edited 9/21/17 13:53pm]

namepeace said:

1969 - The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Isaac Hayes, Deep Purple, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, Creedence Clearwater, King Crimson, The Kinks, Leonard Cohen, Elvis, Miles Davis, Grateful Dead, Sly & The Family Stone, Jeff Beck, Bob Dylan, Jethro Tull, Aretha Franklin, Carlos Santana, Joe Cocker, The Moody Blues, Crosby Stills & Nash

[Edited 9/22/17 1:35am]

spacedolphin said:

1969 - The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Isaac Hayes, Deep Purple, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, Creedence Clearwater, King Crimson, The Kinks, Leonard Cohen, Elvis, Miles Davis, Grateful Dead, Sly & The Family Stone, Jeff Beck, Bob Dylan, Jethro Tull, Aretha Franklin, Carlos Santana, Joe Cocker, The Moody Blues, Crosby Stills & Nash

[Edited 9/22/17 1:35am]

That's a monster!

In terms of jazz, 1959 was a giant and perhaps the most important year. Among others --

Miles Davis -- Kind Of Blue, Sketches of Spain

John Coltrane -- Giant Steps

Charles Mingus -- Mingus Ah Um

Dave Brubeck Quartet -- Time Out

Ornette Coleman -- The Shape of Jazz To Come

Bill Evans Trio -- Portrait In Jazz

Horace Silver -- Blowin' The Blues Away

Ella Fitzgerald -- Sings The George and Ira Gershwin Songbook

[Edited 9/22/17 9:01am]