September 23, 2020 Playlist

   
The Best of the Classic Albums of the Week for
PLEDGE DRIVE
Featuring the 1980's and early 1990's
       
"It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" by Public Enemy (1988)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Public Enemy "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back"  1988 (USA)
This week we're featuring classic albums of the week from 1980-1996 for pledge drive! We complete our run of hip-hop CAOTWs for the summer of '20 with one of the most groundbreaking records of that genre. In its original form, rapping was basically DJs talking over disco records; they tended to wear flashy disco outfits and the lyrics were mostly about partying and how great the DJ was. Public Enemy was one of the groups that drove out that original imagery with their radical polemics and simple street clothes (enhanced by some classy accessories like the clock around Flavor Flav's neck). They also turned the boasting DJ trope into a statement of Black pride and heck, their music was not even particuarly danceable - instead of getting funky with it their stage show included a dance troupe doing paramilitary drills with rifles. But the most important thing about Public Enemy was of course their groundbreaking music. Early rap was very minimalist, not much more than a beat and a bassline. PE's production team known as The Bomb Squad created music so dense it was more like industrial free jazz. Their first album Yo! Bum Rush The Show (1987) had most of these radical new elements in place, but it was their second album Nation Of Millions that proved they were revolutionaries of music not just style and politics. And their next album after that was arguably even better. Here's a BBC documentary on the group.
(N) = New Release
 
Artist Song Album Year Country
XTCEarn Enough For Us
Skylarking
CLASSIC ALBUM - Dec 31, 2008
1986
UK
Iggy PopEat Or Be EatenZombie Birdhouse
CLASSIC ALBUM - Oct 14, 2014
1982
USA
Captain Beefheart & The Magic BandAshtray Heart Doc At The Radar Station
CLASSIC ALBUM - Dec 8, 2015
1980
USA
Von LMOBe Yourself
Future Language
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jun 8, 2006
1981
USA
Black FlagThe Bars
Slip It In
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jun 20, 2014
1984
USA
Dinosaur jr.Freak Scene
Bug
CLASSIC ALBUM - Oct 19, 2012
1988
USA
MinutemenHistory Lesson Part II
Double Nickels On The Dime
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jan 17, 2007
1984
USA
 
 
Mission Of BurmaRedSignals, Calls And Marches EP
CLASSIC ALBUM - Nov 14, 2007
1981
USA
The FeeliesCrazy Rhythms
Crazy Rhythms
CLASSIC ALBUM - Mar 14, 2017
1980
USA
Sonic YouthTeenage Riot
Daydream Nation
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jul 10, 2009
1988
USA
Meat PuppetsUp On The Sun
Up On The Sun
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jan 9, 2008
1985
USA
Hüsker DüCould You Be The One
Warehouse: Songs And Stories
CLASSIC ALBUM - Mar 19, 2010
1987
USA
   
 
Public EnemyRebel Without A PauseIt Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
(NEW) CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1988USA
Public EnemyDon't Believe The HypeIt Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
(NEW) CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1988USA
Public EnemyCaught, Can We Get A Witness?!It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
(NEW) CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1988USA
Public Enemy911 Is A JokeFear Of A Black Planet
CLASSIC ALBUM - Apr 18, 2014
1990USA
PrinceSign 'O' The Times
Sign 'O' The Times
CLASSIC ALBUM - Apr 26, 2016
1987
USA
The Beastie BoysThe Sounds Of SciencePaul's Boutique
CLASSIC ALBUM - May 11, 2012
1989
USA
 
  
MetallicaHit The LightsKill 'em All
CLASSIC ALBUM - Sep 27, 2016
1983
USA
SlayerEpidemicReign In Blood
CLASSIC ALBUM - Oct 31, 2017
1986
USA
KilldozerHush (Joe South/Deep Purple)
For Ladies Only
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jun 20, 2007
1988
USA
MelvinsThe BitStag
CLASSIC ALBUM - Sep 14, 2012
1996
USA
SoundgardenSlaves And BulldozersBadmotorfinger
CLASSIC ALBUM - Oct 4, 2013
1991
USA
 
  
KraftwerkNumbers / Computerwelt 2Computerwelt ("Computer World")
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jun 18, 2010
1981
Germany
Big BlackThe Model (Kraftwerk)Songs About Fucking
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jun 9, 2015
1987
USA
ESGUFOESG EP
CLASSIC ALBUM - Aug 29, 2007
1981
USA
Talking HeadsBorn Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)Remain In Light
CLASSIC ALBUM - May 17, 2013
1980
USA
SuicideFast Money MusicSuicide (second album)
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jul 23, 2010
1980
USA
 
  
Rhys ChathamGuitar TrioDie Donnergötter
CLASSIC ALBUM - Mar 22, 2013
1987
USA
StereolabThe Noise Of CarpetEmperor Tomato Ketchup
CLASSIC ALBUM - Mar 28, 2017
1996
UK/France
SpectrumHow You Satisfy MeSoul Kiss (Glide Divine)
CLASSIC ALBUM - May 20, 2011
1992
UK
The OrbBlue RoomU.F.Orb
CLASSIC ALBUM - Jul 9, 2008
1992
UK
      
   
   
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