In a way, the early '80s represented a renaissance for the music industry. After the avant-garde '60s and '70s, bands (both new as well as existing) realised that their music couldn't continue to sell on composing genius alone. Gone were the days when a fan would hear you at a concert and then rush starry-eyed to the nearest record store. The focus was shifting to sound quality. The best songwriters couldn't hope to stay in the business if they didn't spruce up the recording process.
Session musicians were regularly called to assist in recording. Studio technology became more and more sophisticated.
However, the aim wasn't to create or synthesize new effects. Indeed, it was intended, through the recording process, that the listener hear exactly what the artists heard. New methods of mastering were introduced to minimise muffling and 'open' the record's sound.
It was in the midst of this change that some truly beautiful sounding records were created. A few of my favourite albums from the era are listed below.
Gaucho/Steely Dan
Year : 1980
Donald and Walter's final studio album before a 12 year hiatus. The recording process employed more than 42 musicians and took over a year to complete. It resulted in one of the most sonically perfect albums ever produced. The song "Babylon Sisters" from the album has been previously featured on this blog. The album won the Grammy award in 1981 for Best Non-Classical Engineered Recording.
Toto IV/Toto
Year : 1982
Toto was formed in 1977 by two session musicians who had played on enough albums to know their way around a studio.
Toto IV is the band's magnum opus, a collection of catchy, R&B inspired tracks that employed some of the best in the recording business, including arranger James Newton Howard and backing vocalist par excellence Timothy B. Schmit. Drummer Jeff Porcaro's half-time shuffle on "Rosanna" is the stuff of legend. The album won six Grammy awards that year, including Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year and Producer Of The Year.
90125/Yes
Year : 1983
By far their most poppish work, both musically as well as thematically. Fans of their prog-rock days might have been disappointed, but there's no denying that the album packed quite a punch. The song "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" remains their biggest chart success to date. The vocals on "Leave It" are simply fantastic. "Changes" and "Cinema" are vintage Yes, with extended instrumental parts and complex rhythms. All in all, a contemporary sounding album that introduced the band to a whole new breed of listeners, rather than just playing to the existing fans.
Brothers In Arms/Dire Straits
Year : 1985
From the drum crescendo on "Money For Nothing" to the tonal complexity of Knopfler's Les Paul guitar on the title track, the album's sound was grander and more polished than any of their albums recorded thus far. The band's beat-music sensibilities were left intact, however, and are evident on songs like "So Far Away", "Walk Of Life" and "Your Latest Trick". "Why Worry", my favourite track off the album has been featured previously on this blog.
