Fine Young Cannibals, The Raw & The Cooked, 1988 on IRS Records / MCA

This was the second Fine Young Cannibals album following their self-titled debut. Roland Gift on vocals with the rhythm section of Andy Cox and David Steele (formerly of The Beat aka The English Beat).

Many of the songs on the LP had already appeared on film soundtracks including three from the Barry Levinson film Tin Men. Most well known would be “She Drives Me Crazy” which was a number 1 hit in the US.

My copy—via A1 Records in NYC—is a Columbia House Record Club pressing from Carrollton GA. (Note the CRC in the bottom right corner of the back sleeve).

#1980s #1988 #A1Records #AndyCox #CarrolltonGA #ColumbiaHouseRecordClub #DavidSteele #FineYoungCannibals #IRSRecords #MCA #NYC #RolandGift #TheBeat #TheEnglishBeat #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

The English Beat, What is Beat?, 1983 on I.R.S. Records

This is the North American version of this release (as evidenced by the “English”) which collected a number of singles, remixes, and live tracks as well as a number of tracks from the first three English Beat albums, serving as a kind of “best of” in the US.

There’s a 2xLP version with a different cover, attributed to The Beat, which was available in Europe. Still looking for a copy of that one.

As though IRS Records could get any cooler in the early 80s. Andy Cox, David Steele, Dave Wakeling, Ranking Roger, Dave Blockhead, Saxa, and Wesley Magoogan make up the band across the tracks, and producers include Bob Sargeant, David Peters, Mike Hedges, and The Beat.

My copy—via Slipped Disc at a record fair at Mill No. 5 in Lowell MA—is a 1983 pressing from RCA’s Indianapolis plant, with

#1980s #1983 #AndyCox #BobSargeant #DaveBlockhead #DaveWakeling #DavidPeters #DavidSteele #IRSRecords #LowellMA #MikeHedges #MillNo5 #RankingRoger #Saxa #ska #SlippedDisc #TheEnglishBeat #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WesleyMagoogan

The English Beat, Special Beat Service, 1982 on IRS

On this release the spine uses the name “The Beat” but uses “The English Beat” on the cover and labels so as not to conflict with Paul Collin’s The Beat. This was their third LP and last under the original configuration – they’d show up later as The Beat featuring Ranking Roger and then The Beat starring Dave Wakeling.

Love all three of these original LPs – this one has “I Confess,” “Save it for Later,” and “Spar Wid Me.” In the UK they were on Go-Feet Records but in the US this one was on IRS

My copy—via Slipped Disc at a record fair at Mill No. 5—is a goldisc pressing from 1982 with the original custom inner.

#1980s #1982 #AndyCox #DaveBlockhead #DaveWakeling #DavidSteele #EverettMorton #IRSRecords #LowellMA #MillNo5 #RankingRoger #Saxa #SlippedDisc #TheEnglishBeat #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WesleyMagoogan

Timbuk 3, Greetings From Timbuk 3, 1986 on I.R.S. Records

Debut album from Pat MacDonald and Barbara Koyman MacDonald, the husband and wife duo better known as Timbuk 3 (sometimes written Timbuk3), featuring their most well known single “The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades.”

Such great songwriting on this and all their albums – people sometimes think of them as a one-hit wonder but really there are a ton of great songs on all their albums – well worth picking up if you come across them.

My copy—again via Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA—is an early pressing from MCA Gloversville, with the lyrics sheet but without the custom I.R.S. Records inner sleeve.

#1980s #1986 #Alternative #BarbaraMacDonald #IRSRecords #LowellMA #PatMacDonald #Timbuk3 #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Wall of Voodoo, The Ugly Americans in Australia, 1988 on I.R.S. Records

Live Wall of Voodoo recorded on their 1987 tour in Australia, primarily at The Palace in Melbourne.

The cover painting is by Robert Williams (aka Robt. Wms.).

This was their last output on I.R.S. and basically the end of their label support – after this things were self-released or reissues.

My copy—via Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA—is a Canadian pressing manufactured by MCA Records Canada and pressed at Gloversville NY.

#1980s #1988 #Australia #Canada #IRSRecords #LowellMA #MCARecordsCanada #MelbourneAustralia #RobertWilliams #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WallOfVoodoo

The Alarm, Change, 1989 on I.R.S. Records

We recently lost Mike Peters of The Alarm, after a 30 year battle with cancer. He also had a lengthy solo career following the band’s breakup in the early 90s, and founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation.

This album was their penultimate with the original lineup, and has NID YN CYMRU AR WERTH carved into the runout (“Wales is not for sale”). They also released simultaneously a version in Welsh called Newid.

My copy—via Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA—is a US pressing from 1989. The cover is die cut (ALARM on the front, CHANGE on the back) such that the inner lyrics sheet (which wraps around the printer inner) shows through.

#1980s #IRSRecords #LoveHopeStrengthFoundation #LowellMA #MikePeters #Newid #TheAlarm #vinyl #VinylDestination #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Wall of Voodoo, Dark Continent, 1981 on I.R.S. Records

This was the debut album for Wall of Voodoo, before the big hit “Mexican Radio” which was on their follow-up Call of the West.

In addition to the immensely talented Stan Ridgway (credited here as “Stanard Ridgway”) the band here includes Bruce Moreland, Joe Nanini, Marc Moreland, and Chas Gray. A live version of “Back in Flesh” appears in Urgh! A Music War

My copy via a flea market at Todd’s Farm in Rowley MA.

#1980s #1981 #Alternative #BruceMoreland #ChasGray #FleaMarket #IRSRecords #JoeNanini #MarcMoreland #RowleyMA #StanRidgway #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WallOfVoodoo