The Red and the Black is the debut album by American musician Jerry Harrison, who rose to prominence as a member of the Modern Lovers and Talking Heads. It was released in 1981 by Sire Records. The track "Slink" was performed live by Talking Heads in 1982.

Basil Poledouris has always thrived amidst the carnage of the action film. Known primarily for his excellent work on Conan the Barbarian, Starship Troopers, The Hunt for Red October, and the television miniseries Lonesome Dove – for which he won an Emmy – some of the composer's best work can be found on the soundtrack to Paul Verhoeven's 1987 sci-fi revenge romp, Robocop. Capitalizing on the film's anti-corporate undercurrent, Poledouris weaves a larger than life score for an unlikely hero, offering a heroic theme that paints Peter Weller's tragic, disfigured Detroit cop in a savior's light. Like Danny Elfman's score for Batman, the tone is dark, oozing metropolitan seediness awash in midnight rain. When the theme is reduced to a quiet lament, like on the masterful "Betrayal," the composer's love for his protagonist is evident, an element that's sadly missing from many of the genre's original scores. Varese Sarabande's 2004 reissue includes four bonus tracks.

There's a cult of Meet Danny Wilson lovers and if you ever ask them about the album, a Steely Dan comparison is bound to come up. It's not without merit, and considering that the other bands the album might remind you of – Deacon Blue and Fairground Attraction – aren't on the tip of much of anyone's tongue, Steely Dan is at close as it comes. But the Dan never sounded this lively, this exuberant, this finger-snapping. If that makes them sound light as feather, keep in mind that Lloyd Cole loves this record. Head songwriter Gary Clark shares some of Cole's love of literate and clever lyrics that fit just right with the notes they land on, but he prefers a horn-section blast to Cole's guitar jangle (plus Clark has more Jimmy Van Heusen records than Cole does, no doubt). The sweet "Mary's Prayer" is the almost-hit, barely making enough impact to call the band a one-hit wonder. It's only part of the story for an album that effortlessly hurls clever arrangements and lyrical stingers out of the speakers. Opening with the syncopated and humble "Davy" and then switching to the Vegas hipster, Bobby Darin-for-the-'80s "Aberdeen" makes for a killer opening, and the album keeps minding the pace.

Slade were unstoppable throughout the seventies becoming one of Europe's biggest bands, releasing six smash hit albums, including three UK No-1's, a run of 17 consecutive Top 20 singles and their hits are synonymous with the glam era. First released in 1983, 'The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome' hears the band smash through a series of hits including, 'Run Runaway', 'My Oh My' and 'Ready to Explode'. This expanded edition includes two additional bonus tracks 'Run Runaway (7-inch version)' and 'Slam the Hammer Down (Hot Mix)'.

Radio K.A.O.S. is the second solo studio album by English rock musician and former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters. Released on 15 June 1987 in the United Kingdom and June 16 in the United States, it was Waters' first solo album after his formal split from Pink Floyd in 1985. Like his previous and future studio albums and many works of his during his time with Pink Floyd, the album is a concept album based on a number of key topical subjects of the late 1980s, including monetarism and its effect on citizens, popular culture of the time, and the events and consequences of the Cold War. It also makes criticisms of Margaret Thatcher's government, much like Pink Floyd's The Final Cut, another album conceived by Waters.

"Sturm Und Twang! - A Private Collection Of German Underground Pop" is a fascinating album that showcases a unique blend of German underground pop music from the 1980s and 90s. The album features a selection of tracks from various artists, each with their own distinct style and sound. So, put on your headphones, turn up the volume, and discover the magic of German underground pop.

One of the most talented and successful R&B groups of the '70s featured future solo star Lionel Richie. This Collection includes the albums: Machine Gun (1974), Caught In The Act (1975), Movin' On (1975), Hot On The Tracks (1976), Commodores (1977), Natural High (1978), Midnight Magic (1979), Heroes (1980), In The Pocket (1981), Commodores 13 (1983), Nightdshift (1985), United (1986).

Although Eric Clapton has released a bevy of live albums, none of them have ever quite captured the guitarist's raw energy and dazzling virtuosity. The double live album Just One Night may have gotten closer to that elusive goal than most of its predecessors, but it is still lacking in many ways…

The first sound on Back in Black is the deep, ominous drone of church bells – or "Hell's Bells," as it were, opening the album and AC/DC's next era with a fanfare while ringing a fond farewell to Bon Scott, their late lead singer who partied himself straight to hell…

Civilian is the eleventh and final studio album by the British band Gentle Giant, released in 1980. It was recorded at Sound City Studios in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles with former Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick…

The 1981 Columbia compilation album The Best Of Dave Mason was a ten-track disc that included the four Mason singles which had hit the upper half of the charts in 1977 and '78–"So High (Rock Me Baby And Roll Me Away)," "We Just Disagree," "Let It Go, Let It Flow," and "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"–plus some of Mason's better known album cuts from his Columbia albums and live versions of his older hits "Only You Know And I Know" and "Feelin' Alright?"…

While they started out in the late '60s as a psychedelic band, delved into progressive rock, and even recorded an album in collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Deep Purple achieved their greatest success as a strong, straightforward, hard rock band, anchored by the powerful guitar work of Ritchie Blackmore and the show-stopping vocals of Ian Gillan (and later David Coverdale). From 1970's Deep Purple in Rock to 1974's Stormbringer, Deep Purple were one of the most popular hard rock bands on Earth, and Deepest Purple: The Very Best of Deep Purple captures the band at the top of their form on some of their best-known songs…

Present was the brainchild of Univers Zero guitarist Roger Trigaux, showing his compositional skills outside that band teamed up with UZ drummer Daniel Denis, bassist Christian Genet and the relatively unknown Alain Rochette on the keyboards…

It’s great to see John Lennon’s posthumous hit ‘Nobody Told Me’ on CD 3 as well as singles from Lloyd Cole and The Commotions, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sandie Shaw, Pretenders, Marillion, The Stranglers and Echo and the Bunnymen. There’s also some interesting selections on the second disc including Talk Talk, David Sylvian, Tears For Fears and The Kane Gang.

NOW Music are delighted to present NOW – Yearbook Extra 1983 featuring 60 additional tracks from the stellar pop goldmine that was 1983. Released as a limited edition 3-disc set, we hope the collectors will find it a great compliment to their collection – and the more casual pop lovers will enjoy re-visiting some of the lesser-compiled hits from the year. Huge hits from legendary artists including Wham!, Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson, Elton John, The Police, and Eurythmics are followed by pop gems from Paul Young, Spandau Ballet, Culture Club, Tears For Fears and The Kinks. Blockbuster albums produced multiple hit singles, and ‘Extra’ allows us to include ‘Tell Her About It’ from Billy Joel, ‘Please Don’t Make Me Cry’ from UB40, and ‘Rosanna’ from Toto. Disc 2 includes some of the alternative artists who were becoming chart regulars - The Cure, Echo And The Bunnymen, and U2, and synth-pop stars including Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Japan, Soft Cell, and Heaven 17, plus New Order’s genre defying ‘Confusion’… before concluding with electro-dance from Shalamar, and ‘Maniac’ from the years’ huge soundtrack ‘Flashdance’. It’s all about pure pop to begin disc 3, with Agnetha Fältskog’s first solo single since ABBA, alongside Kim Wilde, Thompson Twins, Shakin' Stevens, Jo Boxers, Tracie, and Donna Summer’s collaboration with Musical Youth.