RIP Little Richard

I once was stared down by Little Richard.

Forgotten '80s Album: The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

Maybe not forgotten this week with the passing of Kenny Rogers over the weekend, but a classic nonetheless.

And I know it debuted in 1978, so not technically an 80's album.

The Gambler is the sixth studio album by Kenny Rogers, released by United Artists in December 1978. One of his most popular, it has established Rogers' status as one of the most successful artists of the 1970s and 1980s. The album reached many markets around the world, such as the Far East and Jamaica, with Rogers later commenting "When I go to Korea or Hong Kong people say 'Ah, the gambler!'" (as per the sleeve notes to the 1998 released box set "Through the Years" on Capitol Records). The album has sold over 35 million copies.

The title track "The Gambler" was written by Don Schlitz, who was the first to record it. It was also covered by several other artists, but it was Kenny Rogers' adaptation of the tale that went on to top the country charts and win a Song of the Year Grammy, later becoming Rogers' signature song. Although Johnny Cash recorded the song first, Kenny Rogers's version was released first. Both this song and "She Believes in Me" became pop music hits, helping Rogers become well-known beyond country music circles. Although largely compiled from songs by some of the music business's top songwriters, such as Alex Harvey, Mickey Newbury, and Steve Gibb, Rogers continued to show his own talent for songwriting with "Morgana Jones". The album was produced by Larry Butler.

Tracks:

1.    "The Gambler"    Don Schlitz    3:34
2.    "I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again"    Rafe Van Hoy, Don Cook, Curly Putman    2:55
3.    "King of Oak Street"    Alex Harvey    4:55
4.    "Makin' Music for Money"    Alex Harvey    3:10
5.    "Hoodooin' of Miss Fannie Deberry"    Alex Harvey    4:44
Side two
No.    Title    Writer(s)    Length
1.    "She Believes in Me"    Steve Gibb    4:18
2.    "Tennessee Bottle"    Jim Ritchey    3:59
3.    "Sleep Tight, Goodnight Man"    Sam Lorber, Jeff Silbar    2:52
4.    "Little More Like Me (The Crucifixion)"    Sonny Throckmorton    2:47
5.    "San Francisco Mabel Joy"    Mickey Newbury    3:36
6.    "Morgana Jones"

https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-gambler-mw0000197524

Millions Will Miss Kenny Rogers

Best known for The Gambler, but so much more..

Forgotten '80s Album: Lou Gramm's 'Ready or Not'

Best known for his work leading Foreigner, this was Lou Gramm's debut solo album.

Ready or Not.

Eight of the ten songs, which comprise Ready or Not, were written by Gramm in partnership with former Black Sheep bandmate Bruce Turgon. The album was recorded in 1986 at Bear Tracks Recording in Suffern, New York and The Hit Factory Recording in New York City. It was produced by Gramm and Pat Moran, who is known as an engineer on recordings by such performers as Rush and Robert Plant.

Ready or Not was a commercial success, reaching number 27 on the US Billboard 200. It generated two hit songs. The lead-off single, "Midnight Blue", peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to the top of the Mainstream Rock chart. It has been Gramm's only song to have charted in the United Kingdom. The second single from the album was the title song, which reached number 54 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Mainstream Rock charts.

The album has enjoyed critical acclaim. Bret Adams has given Ready or Not a retrospective rating of four-and-a-half stars out of five on AllMusic. He has described it as "rich with melody and snap."

A nice 80's album to have in you playlist, especially if you are a Foreigner fan.

Forgotten '80s Album: Invisible Touch

With news that Genesis is reuniting for a UK tour this fall.

Invisible Touch is the thirteenth studio album by the English rock band Genesis, released on 6 June 1986 by Atlantic Records in the United States and 9 June 1986 by Charisma and Virgin Records in the United Kingdom. After taking a break in group activity for each member to continue with their solo projects in 1984, the band reconvened in October 1985 to write and record Invisible Touch with engineer and producer Hugh Padgham. As with their previous album, it was written entirely through group improvisations and no material developed prior to recording was used.

Invisible Touch was a worldwide success and reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 3 on the US Billboard 200. It remains the band's highest selling album after it was certified multi-platinum for over 1.2 million copies sold in the UK and 6 million sold in the US. Genesis became the first band and foreign act to have five top five singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, with "Invisible Touch" being their first and only song to reach No. 1 on the charts.

No.    Title    Length
1.    "Invisible Touch"    3:29
2.    "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight"    8:49
3.    "Land of Confusion"    4:46
4.    "In Too Deep"    4:59
Side two
No.    Title    Length
1.    "Anything She Does"    4:06
2.    "Domino"
Part One – "In the Glow of the Night"
Part Two – "The Last Domino" 10:42
3.    "Throwing It All Away"    3:51
4.    "The Brazilian" (instrumental)