IN THE CITY – Wings & LONDON TOWN
LONDON TOWN (1978): With a running time of 51 minutes, some lukewarm tracks among the 14-song entity, give the album a lightweight, meandering feel.
RANTS & REFLECTIONS
ROCK STEADY – Bob Seger & LIKE A ROCK
LIKE A ROCK (1986): Mid-80s production traits and some average material make this a Bob Seger LP of the time rather than one of lasting resonance.
DREAMING BIG – Linda Ronstadt & SIMPLE DREAMS
Spending five weeks at Number One, ‘Simple Dreams’ was, after ‘Tapestry’, the second biggest selling album by a female artist in the ’70s.
LONDON STALLING – the Opening Day First Division fixtures of 1976-77
LONDON STALLING – Opening Day 1976-77: Defeat for Supermac on his Arsenal debut with Spurs, QPR and West Ham also beaten.
FATHER TIME – James Taylor & DAD LOVES HIS WORK
In trying to balance family life with career demands, DAD LOVES HIS WORK (1981) finds Taylor in reflective, if uncertain mood.
FOOL PROOF – Rod Stewart & FOOLISH BEHAVIOUR
FOOLISH BEHAVIOUR (1980): Rod enters the ’80s with an L.P. described by one critic as ‘wonderfully trashy’ but as the decade unfolded worse followed.
MOVING ON – Elton John & BLUE MOVES
BLUE MOVES (October 1976): Elton liked it, reviewers didn’t, the second double-L.P. of his career released to big sales but little critical approval.
SILVER LININGS – Janis Ian & BETWEEN THE LINES
BETWEEN THE LINES (1975): Stand out track ‘At Seventeen’ affirmed 24-year-old Ian as eloquent, emotive lyricist.
STORYVILLE – Bruce Springsteen & BORN IN THE U.S.A.
With global sales of over 30 million BORN IN THE U.S.A (1984) turned Bruce Springsteen from defining American rock star of the era to cultural icon.
WITH RESERVATION – The Kinks & PRESERVATION ACT 1
PRESERVATION ACT 1 (1973): The Kinks release an enigmatic concept album whose story would need a double-album the next year to resolve.