Music Year 1983

This list was put together retrospectively from database hints in 2011, basically as research for a half-hearted poll. It is done virtually all from memory, which 28 years later may not be such a good idea.

& indicates a record rated based on streaming from Rhapsody (or some other source). [*, **, ***] indicates a B+ record given 1-3 stars, meaning that it was rated much later than most of these records. In many cases the rating was done on the basis of a later reissue, reflected in label with the reissue date in brackets. Not all of these reissues are properly noted, especially where they differ in no significant way (other than that they're on CD).

New Records

Lou Reed: Legendary Hearts (RCA)

George Clinton: You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish (Capitol)
James Blood Ulmer: Odyssey (Columbia)
The Blasters: Non Fiction (Slash)
Abdullah Ibrahim: Ekaya (Ekapa)
Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual (Portrait)
Jonathan Richman: Jonathan Sings! (Warner Brothers)
Pablo Moses: In the Future (Alligator)
B-52's: Whammy! (Warner Brothers)
Roswell Rudd/Steve Lacy/Misha Mengelberg/Kent Carter/Han Bennink: Regeneration (Soul Note)
Thomas Mapfumo: Ndangariro (Earthworks; [1984], Carthage)
Vienna Art Orchestra: From No Time to Rag Time (Hat Hut)
UB40: Labour of Love (A&M)
Aztec Camera: High Land, Hard Rain (Sire)
Nile Rodgers: Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove (Mirage)
UB40: 1980-83 (A&M)

King Sunny Ade: Synchro System (Mango)
Marshall Crenshaw: Field Day (Warner Brothers)
Womack and Womack: Love Wars (Elektra)
Donna Summer: She Works Hard for the Money (Mercury)
Madonna: Madonna (Sire)
Kid Creole and the Coconuts: Doppelganger (Sire/ZE)
Kate and Anna McGarrigle: Love Over and Over (Polydor)
Local Boys: Moments of Madness (Island)
Joe McPhee Po Music: Oleo (Hat Musics; [1993], Hat Art)
Tom Waits: Swordfishtrombones (Island)
Randy Newman: Trouble in Paradise (Reprise)
Bunny Wailer: Roots Radics Rockers Reggae (Shanachie)
Borah Bergman: A New Frontier (Soul Note)
Jason and the Scorchers: Fervor (EMI America, EP)
John Hiatt: Riding With the King (Geffen)
Hazel Dickens: By the Sweat of My Brow (Rounder)
The Police: Synchronicity (A&M)
The Ramones: Subterranean Jungle (Sire)
Jimmy Rowles/Michael Hashim: Peacocks ([1995], Stash)
Hüsker Dü: Metal Circus (SST, EP)
Michel Petrucciani: 100 Hearts (Blue Note)
André Jaume: Cinoche (CELP)
Augustus Pablo: King David's Melody (Alligator; [2006], Shanachie)
Swingrass: Swingrass '83 (Antilles)
Charlie Haden: The Ballad of the Fallen (ECM)
Richard Thompson: Hand of Kindness (Hannibal)
Pylon: Chomp (DB)
DFX2: Emotion (MCA, EP)
John Anderson: All the People Are Talkin' (Warner Brothers)
Bernard Edwards: Glad to Be Here (Atlantic)
The Minutemen: Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat (SST, EP)
Ron Carter: Etudes (Elektra Musician; [1994], Discovery)
Los Lobos: And a Time to Dance (Slash, EP)
Philip Glass: The Photographer (Epic)
Winston Hussey: The Girl I Adore (Live & Learn)

Chic: Believer (Atlantic)
DeBarge: In a Special Way (Motown)
Sheila Jordan/Harvie Swartz: Old Time Feeling (Muse)
The Go-Betweens: Before Hollywood (Beggars Banquet)
David Murray: Murray's Steps (Black Saint)
The Minutemen: What Makes a Man Start Fires? (SST)
Andrew Cyrille/Peter Brötzmann: Andrew Cyrille Meets Brötzmann in Berlin (FMP) & [***]
Willie Nelson: Tougher Than Leather (Columbia; [2003], Columbia/Legacy)
The Replacements: Hootenanny (Twin/Tone)
True West: Hollywood Holiday (New Rose; [2007], Atavistic)
Peter Brötzmann Group: Alarm (FMP; [2006], Atavistic)
Wadada Leo Smith: Procession of the Great Ancestry (Chief)
Eddy Grant: Killer on the Rampage (Portrait -82)
Albert King/Stevie Ray Vaughan: In Session ([1999], Stax)
Yabby You: One Love, One Heart (Shanachie)
George Adams/Don Pullen: City Gates (Timeless)
Andrew Cyrille: The Navigator (Soul Note)
Indeep: Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life! (Sound of New York)
The Waitresses: Bruiseology (Polydor)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo: Induku Zethu (Earthworks; [1984], Shanachie)
Ronald Shannon Jackson: Barbeque Dog (Antilles)
Eek-A-Mouse: The Mouse and the Man (Shanachie)
Jamaaladeen Tacuma: Showstopper (Gramavision)
New Order: Power, Corruption and Lies (Qwest)
George Russell's New York Band: Live in an American Time Spiral (Soul Note)
Keith Jarrett: Standards: Volume 1 (ECM)
Nona Hendryx: Nona (RCA)
T Bone Burnett: Proof Through the Night (Warner Brothers)
Talking Heads: Speaking in Tongues (Sire)
Don Pullen: Evidence of Things Unseen (Black Saint)
Albert Mangelsdorff/Lee Konitz: The Art of the Duo (Enja)
Earth, Wind and Fire: Powerlight (Columbia)
P-Funk All-Stars: Urban Dancefloor Guerillas (Uncle Jam)
Green on Red: Gravity Talks (Slash)
Bobby Watson: Gumbo (Evidence)
Marianne Faithfull: A Child's Adventure (Island)
Was (Not Was): Born to Laugh at Tornadoes (Geffen)
R.E.M.: Murmur (IRS)
Roxy Music: The High Road (Reprise, EP)
Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) ([2005], RCA/Legacy) [*]
Kenny Davern: Stretchin' Out (Jazzology)
NRBQ: Tapdancin' Bats (Rounder)
X: More Fun in the New World (Elektra)
The Embarrassment: Death Travels West (Fresh Sounds)
Trio: Trio and Error (Mercury)
U2: Under a Blood Red Sky (Island, EP)
Chet Baker: Chet Baker at Capolinea (Red)
Divinyls: Desperate (Chrysalis)

ZZ Top: Eliminator (Warner Brothers)
Doc Cheatham: The Fabulous Doc Cheatham (Parkwood)
Mutabaruka: Check It! (Alligator)
David Bowie: Let's Dance (Virgin)
The Golden Palominos: The Golden Palominos (Celluloid)
Franco Ambrosetti: Gin and Pentatonic (Enja)
Jamaaladeen Tacuma: Renaissance Man (Gramavision)
Philip Glass: Koyaanisqatsi (Antilles)
Kassav': Kassav' #5 (LM; [1987], Celluloid)
Loudon Wainwright III: Fame and Wealth (Rounder)
Keith Jarrett: Changes (ECM)
Culture Club: Colour By Numbers (Virgin)
Dave Holland: Jumpin' In (ECM)
Was (Not Was): Out Come the Freaks ([2003], ZE)
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson: WWII ([2000], Buddha)
Gang of Four: Hard (Warner Brothers)
Heaven 17: The Luxury Gap (Virgin)
Frank Foster/Frank Wess: Two for the Blues (Pablo OJC)
Eek-A-Mouse: Assassinator (RAS)
Martha and the Muffins: Danseparc (RCA)
Codona: Codona 3 (ECM)
Nick Lowe: The Abominable Showman (Columbia)
Eddie Murphy: Comedian ([2006], Columbia/Legacy)
Jon Hassell: Aka/Darbari/Java: Magic Realism (EG)
Bill Laswell: Baselines (Musician)
Hose: Hose (Def Jam, EP)
Dumptruck: D Is for Dumptruck (Big Time)
Willie Nelson: Without a Song (Columbia)
U2: War (Island)
Tuts Washington: New Orleans Piano Professor (Rounder)
Anthony Braxton: Four Compositions (Quartet) 1983 (Soul Note)
John McLaughlin/Al Di Meola/Paco De Lucia: Passion, Grace & Fire (Columbia)
Roscoe Mitchell: Roscoe Mitchell and the Sound and Space Ensembles (Black Saint)
Brian Eno: Apollo: Atmospherics and Soundtracks (EG)
Robert Cray: Bad Influence (Hightone)

James Chance: James White's Flaming Demonics ([2004], ZE)
Midnight Oil: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (Columbia -82)
Black Uhuru: The Dub Factor ([2003], Island/Chronicles)
Brian Eno: Music for Films, Volume 2 (EG)
Bad Religion: Into the Unknown (Epitaph)
Neil Young & the Shocking Pinks: Everybody's Rockin' (Geffen)
Kevin Ayers: Diamond Jack and the Queen of Pain (Charly)
Thomas Dolby: The Golden Age of Wireless (Capitol)
Mission of Burma: The Horrible Truth About Burma ([2008], Matador)
Carlene Carter: C'est C Bon ([1995], Razor & Tie)

Pink Floyd: The Final Cut ([1997], Columbia)
Teena Marie: Robbery ([2005], Epic/Legacy)
Journey: Frontiers ([2006], Columbia/Legacy)

Pending

Joan Armatrading: Track Record (A&M)
The Bluegrass Album Band: The Bluegrass Album, Vol. 3: California Connection (Rounder)
Otis Clay: Soul Man: Live in Japan (Bullseye Blues)
Elizabeth Cotten: Live! (Arhoolie)
Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition: Inflation Blues (ECM)
Ray Lema: Kinshasa-Washington D.C.-Paris (Celluloid)
Michel Petrucciani: Oracle's Destiny (Owl)
Pete Shelley: XL-1 (Grapevine)

Candidates

These are records that show up on other lists that maybe should be considered.

ABC: Beauty Stab (Mercury) [RC:A-]
Muhal Richard Abrams: Rejoicing in the Light (Black Saint)
Nat Adderley Quintet: On the Move (Theresa)
King Sunny Ade & His African Beats: Ajoo (Makossa) [RC:A-]
King Sunny Ade & His African Beats: Bobby (Sunny Alade)
King Sunny Ade & His African Beats: Conscience "Eri Okan" (Sunny Alade)
Segun Adewale and His Superstars International: Play for Me (Stern's Africa; [1988], Rounder)
Terry Allen & the Panhandle Mystery Band: Bloodlines (Fate)
Mose Allison: Lessons in Living (Elektra Musician)
David Amram: Latin-Jazz Celebration (Elektra Musician)
Joan Armatrading: The Key (A&M)
Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame: I (Atlantic) [RC:B+]
Arrow: Hot-Hot-Hot (Charlie's)
The Art of Noise: Into Battle With the Art of Noise (Island, EP)
Aztec Camera: Oblivious (Sire, EP)
Bad Brains: Rock for Light (PVC) [RC:B+]
Derek Bailey/George Lewis/John Zorn: Yankees (Celluloid)
Anita Baker: The Songstress (Beverly Glen) [RC:B+]
Chet Baker Trio: Someday My Prince Will Come (Steeplechase)
Bananarama: Deep Sea Skiving (London)
Billy Bang: Outline No. 12 (Celluloid)
Billy Bang/Dennis Charles: Bangception (Hat Musics)
The Bellamy Brothers: Strong Weakness (Elektra)
Mohammed Malcolm Ben & His African Feeling Organisation: African Feeling (Sterns)
Tim Berne Sextet: The Ancestors (Soul Note)
J. Blackfoot: City Slicker (Mercury)
Kurtis Blow: Party Time? (Mercury) [RC:A-]
Arthur Blythe: Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk (Columbia)
Bohannon: Make Your Body Move (Compleat)
Bohannon: The Bohannon Drive (Compleat)
Joe Bonner: Devotion (Steeplechase)
James Booker: Classified (Rounder) [RC:B+]
Borbetomagus: Barbed Wire Maggots (Agaric)
Borbetomagus and Friends: Industrial Strength (Leo)
Bow Wow Wow: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (RCA Victor)
Lester Bowie: All the Magic! (ECM, 2LP)
Bobby Braddock: Hardpore Cornography (RCA Victor, EP) [RC:B+]
Billy Bragg: Life's a Riot With Spy vs Spy (Go! Discs, EP)
Willem Breuker: Driebergen-Zeist (Bvhaast)
Lonnie Brooks: Hot Shot (Alligator)
James Brown: Bring It On (Augusta Sound) [RC:B+]
Jackson Browne: Lawyers in Love (Asylum)
Chico Buarque de Hollanda: No. 4 (Philips)
Jimmy Buffett: One Particular Harbour (MCA)
Burning Spear: The Fittest of the Fittest (Radic; [1987], Heartbeat)
The Butthole Surfers: Butthole Surfers (Alternative Tentacles, EP) [RC:A-]
Cabaret Voltaire: The Crackdown (Some Bizarre)
Cameo: Style (Atlanta Artists) [RC:B+]
Don Carlos and Gold: Raving Tonight (RAS)
Joe "King" Carrasco & the Crowns: Party Weekend (MCA)
Champaign: Modern Heart (Columbia) [RC:B+]
Ray Charles: Wish You Were Here Tonight (Columbia)
The Chesterfield Kings: Here Are the Chesterfield Kings (Mirror) [RC:B+]
Eric Clapton: Money and Cigarettes (Duck/Warner Brothers) [RC:B+]
Guy Clark: Better Days (Warner Brothers)
Clarence Clemons and the Red Bank Rockers: Rescue (Columbia)
Billy Cobham's Glass Menagerie: Smokin' (Elektra Musician)
The Coconuts: Don't Take My Coconuts (EMI America)
Cocteau Twins: Head Over Heels (4AD)
Albert Collins: Don't Lose Your Cool (Alligator) [RC:B+]
Willie Colon/Hector Lavoie: Vigilante (Fania)
Rita Coolidge: Never Let You Go (A&M)
Chick Corea: Again and Again (Elektra Musician)
Chick Corea/Gary Burton: Lyric Suite for Sextet (ECM)
Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Punch the Clock (Columbia) [RC:B+]
Kevin Coyne: Legless in Manilla (Collapse)
Marshall Crenshaw: U.S. Remix (Warner Brothers, EP) [RC:B+]
Marilyn Crispell: Spirit Music (Cadence Jazz)
Marilyn Crispell: Rhythms Hung in Undrawn Sky (Leo)
Christopher Cross: Another Page (Warner Brothers)
The Cucumbers: The Cucumbers (Fake Doom, EP) [RC:A-]
Anthony Davis: Hemispheres (Gramavision)
Miles Davis: Star People (Columbia) [RC:A-]
Def Leppard: Pyromania (Mercury)
Thomas Dolby: The Flat Earth (Capitol)
Anna Domino: East and West ([1984], Les Disques du Crépuscle) [RC:A-]
The Doors: Alive, She Cried (Elektra)
Dr. John: The Brightest Smile in Town (Clean Cuts)
Kenny Drew Quartet: And Far Away (Soul Note)
Bob Dylan: Infidels (Columbia)
Earth, Wind & Fire: Electric Universe (Columbia)
Clint Eastwood & General Saint: Stop That Train (Greensleeves) [RC:B+]
Echo and the Bunnymen: Echo and the Bunnymen (Sire, EP) [RC:B+]
Echo and the Bunnymen: Porcupine (Sire)
Dave Edmunds: Information (Columbia)
Einstürzende Neubauten: Zeichnungen des Patienten O.T. (Some Bizzare)
Kevin Eubanks: Guitarist (Elektra Musician)
Eurythmics: Touch (RCA)
Gil Evans: Priestess (Antilles)
The Ex: Tumult (Fist Puppet)
John Fahey: Railroad I (Takoma)
The Fall: In a Hole (Flying Nun)
The Fall: Perverted by Language (Rough Trade)
Prince Far I: Musical History (Trojan)
Ella Fitzgerald/Joe Pass: Speak Love (Pablo)
Tommy Flanagan: Thelonica (Enja)
Fleshtones: Hexbreaker (I.R.S.)
A Flock of Seagulls: Listen (Jive) [RC:B+]
Ricky Ford: Future's Gold (Muse)
Franco & Tabu Ley [Rochereau]: Choc Choc Choc 1983 de Bruxelles a Paris Vol. 2 (Edipop; Choc)
Franco et Josky Kiambukuta du T.P.O.K.: Franco et Josky Kiambukuta du T.P.O.K. (Choc, 2LP)
Aretha Franklin: Get It Right (Arista) [RC:B+]
Chico Freeman: The Search (India Navigation)
Bill Frisell: In Line (ECM)
Fred Frith: Cheap at Half the Price (Ralph)
Fred Frith/Kenry Kaiser: Who Needs Enemies? (Metalanguage)
Fun Boy Three: Waiting (Chrysalis) [RC:B+]
Vyacheslav Ganelin/Vladimir Chekasin/Vladimir Tarasov: Non Troppo (Enja)
The Ganelin Trio: Vide (Leo)
The Ganelin Trio: New Wine (Leo)
Gap Band: Gap Band V: Jammin' (Mercury) [RC:B+]
Jan Garbarek Group: Wayfarer (ECM)
Dizzy Gillespie and Arturo Sandoval: To a Finland Station (Pablo)
Jimmy Giuffre 4: Dragonfly (Soul Note)
The Globe Unity Orchestra: Intergalactic Blow (Japo)
Steve Goodman: Affordable Art (Red Pajamas -84) [RC:B+]
Steve Goodman: Artistic Hair (Red Pajamas)
Al Green: I'll Rise Again (Myrrh) [RC:A-]
Barry Guy/London Jazz Composers Orchestra: Stringer (FMP)
Merle Haggard: That's the Way Love Goes (Epic)
Van Halen: 1984 (Warner Brothers)
Tom T. Hall: Everything from Jesus to Jack Daniels (Mercury) [RC:B+]
Herbie Hancock: Future Shock (Columbia) [RC:B+]
Roland Hanna: The New York Jazz Quartet in Chicago (Bee Hive)
Craig Harris: Aboriginal Affairs (Indian Navigation)
Emmylou Harris: White Shoes (Warner Brothers)
Hawkwind: Zones (Flicknife)
Hilary: Kinetic (Backstreet, EP) [RC:A-]
Z.Z. Hill: I'm a Blues Man (Malaco) [RC:B+]
The Honest Cartwrights: The Honest Cartwrights (Honest Cartwrights, EP) [RC:B+]
Wayne Horvitz/Butch Morris/William Parker: Same Order, Long Understood (Black Saint)
Hot Chocolate: Love Shot (RAK)
Alberta Hunter: Look for the Silver Lining (Columbia)
Ian Hunter: All the Good Ones Are Taken (Columbia)
Abdullah Ibrahim: African Dawn (Enja)
Abdullah Ibrahim: Zimbabwe (Enja)
Billy Idol: Rebel Yell (Chrysalis)
Iron Maiden: Piece of Mind (EMI)
Gregory Isaacs: Out Deh! (Mango) [RC:B+]
The Isley Brothers: Between the Sheets (T-Neck)
The Itals: Give Me Power (Nighthawk) [RC:B+]
Jad Fair: Everyone Knew . . . but Me (Press)
Rick James: Cold Blooded (Gordy)
Chaz Jankel: Chazablanca (A&M)
Leroy Jenkins: Mixed Quintet (Black Saint)
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: Album (MCA) [RC:B+]
Billy Joel: An Innocent Man (Columbia) [RC:B+]
Elton John: Too Low for Zero (Rocket)
George Jones: Shine On (Epic)
Jonzun Crew: Lost in Space (Tommy Boy)
Kajagoogoo: White Feathers (EMI America)
Katrina and the Waves: Walking on Sunshine (Attic)
Greg Kihn Band: Kihnspiracy (Beserkley)
Killer Pussy: Bikini Wax (Sho-Pink)
Konk: Yo! (Les Disques du Crépuscle)
Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80: Perambulator (Lagos International)
Joachim Kühn: I'm Not Dreaming (CMP)
Steve Lacy/Mal Waldron: Herbe De L'Oublie (Hat Musics)
Steve Lacy Seven: Prospectus (Hat Hut)
Oliver Lake & Jump Up: Plug It (Gramavision)
Latimore: I'll Do Anything for You (Malaco) [RC:B+]
Hugh Lawson: Colour (Soul Note)
LeRoi Brothers: Check This Action (Amazing) [RC:B+]
Huey Lewis and the News: Sports (Chrysalis) [RC:B+]
Kirk Lightsey: Isotope (Criss Cross)
John Lindberg: The East Side Suite (Sound Aspects)
David Lindley and El Rayo-X: Live (Asylum)
Little Girls: Thank Heaven!(PVC, EP) [RC:B+]
Charles Lloyd Quartet: Montreux 82 (Elektra Musician)
Edu Lobo/Chico Buarque: O Grande Circo Mistico (Som Livre)
Roy Loney: Fast & Loose (Lolita)
The Lounge Lizards: Live From the Drunken Boat (Europa)
Alvin Lucier: Still and Moving Lines of Silence in Families of Hyperbolas (Lovely Music)
Bopol Mansiamina: Manuela (Syllart)
Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited: Mabasa (Chimurenga Music)
Charlie Mariano & the Karnataka College of Percussion: Jyothi (ECM)
Marillion: Script for a Jester's Tear (Capitol)
Bob Marley & the Wailers: Confrontation (Island) [RC:B+]
Branford Marsalis: Scenes in the City (Columbia)
Wynton Marsalis: Think of One (Columbia)
Warne Marsh Quartet: A Ballad Album (Criss Cross)
Massacre: Killing Time (Celluloid/OAO) [RC:B+]
MC5: Babes in Arms (ROIR) [RC:A-]
Paul McCartney: Pipes of Peace (Columbia)
Freddie McGregor: Come On Over (RAS)
Jimmy McGriff: Countdown (Milestone)
Dave McKenna: A Celebration of Hoagy Carmichael (Concord)
Malcolm McLaren: Duck Rock (Island) [RC:B+]
Carmen McRae: You're Lookin' at Me: A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs (Concord)
John Cougar Mellencamp: Uh-Huh (Riva)
Men at Work: Cargo (Columbia)
Men Without Hats: Rhythm of Youth (Backstreet)
Mental as Anything: Creatures of Leisure (A&M) [RC:B+]
Metallica: Kill 'Em All (Elektra)
The Pat Metheny Group: Travels (ECM, 2LP)
The Microscopic Septet: Take the Z Train (Press)
Bette Midler: No Frills (Atlantic)
Sugar Minott: Sufferer's Choice (Heartbeat) [RC:B+]
Sugar Minott: With Lots of Extra (Channel One)
Mofungo: Out of Line (Zoar)
Louis Moholo/Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippett: Tern (FMP, 2LP)
Meredith Monk: Turtle Dreams (ECM New Series)
Tete Montoliu: Body & Soul (Enja)
Jemeel Moondoc Sextet: Konstanze's Delight (Soul Note)
Joe Morris Trio: Wraparound (Riti)
Van Morrison: Inarticulate Speech of the Heart (Warner Brothers)
Bob Moses: When Elephants Dream of Music (Gramavision)
Pamelo Mounk'a: Propulsion! (Disques Sonics)
Pamelo Mounk'a: 20 Ans de Carrière (Genidia)
Judy Mowatt: Black Woman (Shanachie)
Muslimgauze: Kabul (Pocket Kinematagraph)
Amina Claudine Myers Trio: The Circle of Time (Black Saint)
James Newton: James Newton (Gramavision)
Juice Newton: Dirty Looks (Capitol)
NRBQ: Grooves in Orbit (Bearsville)
Gary Numan: Warriors (Beggars Banquet)
N.Y.C. Peech Boys: Life Is Something Special (Island) [RC:B+]
Chief Ebenezer Obey: Je Ka Jo (Virgin)
Oh-OK: Furthermore What (DB, EP) [RC:A-] -- see comps
OMD: Dazzle Ships (Virgin)
Oregon: Oregon (ECM)
Niels-Henning Ørsted-Pedersen: The Viking (Pablo)
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and His Nigerian Sound Makers International: Onye Kwusia Olieonuya (Polydor)
Evan Parker/Barry Guy/Paul Lytton: Tracks (Incus)
Graham Parker: The Real Macaw (Arista) [RC:B+]
Ray Parker Jr.: Woman Out of Control (Arista)
Dolly Parton: Burlap & Satin (RCA)
Peaches & Herb: Remember (Columbia)
Annette Peacock: Been in the Streets Too Long (Ironic)
Penguin Cafe Orchestra: The Penguin Cafe Orchestra Mini Album (Editions EG, EP)
Art Pepper: Art Lives (Galaxy)
Art Pepper/George Cables: Tete-A-Tete (Galaxy)
Jim Pepper: Comin' and Goin' (Antilles)
Oscar Peterson/Milt Jackson: "Two of the Few" (Pablo)
Pinhead: Where Are You? (BSharp, EP) [RC:B+]
Robert Plant: Principle of Moments (Es Paranza)
The Plastic People of the Universe: Leading Horses (Bozi Mlyn) [RC:A-]
The Plimsouls: Everywhere at Once (Geffen)
Polecats: Make a Circuit With Me (Mercury, EP) [RC:B+]
The Proletariat: Soma Holiday (Non-U/Radiobeat) [RC:B+]
Public Image Ltd: PiL (Virgin, EP) [RC:A-]
Tito Puente and His Latin Ensemble: On Broadway (Concord Picante)
Dudu Pukwana and Zila: Life in Bracknell & Willisau (Jika)
The Raincoats: The Kitchen Tapes (ROIR)
The Raisins: The Raisins (Strugglebaby) [RC:B+]
Jimmy Raney Quartet: The Master (Criss Cross)
The Red Crayola With Art and Language: Snakes (Recomended)
Re-Flex: The Politics of Dancing (Capitol)
Emily Remler: Transitions (Concord)
Lionel Richie: Can't Slow Down (Motown) [RC:B+]
Max Roach: In the Light (Soul Note)
Smokey Robinson: Touch the Sky (Tamla) [RC:B+]
Tabu Ley [Rochereau] & Mbilia Bel: Loyenghe (Genidia, 2LP)
Tabu Ley Rochereau et Luambo-Makiadi Franco: L'Evénement! Rochereau et Franco à Paris (Genidia)
The Rolling Stones: Undercover (Virgin)
The Romantics: In Heat (Nemporer) [RC:B+]
Linda Ronstadt: What's New (Asylum)
Michael Rother: Lust (Polydor)
Rufus and Chaka Khan: Live: Stompin' at the Savoy (Warner Brothers) [RC:B+]
George Russell: Listen to the Silence (Soul Note)
Terje Rypdal: Descendere (ECM)
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (MCA) [RC:B+]
Dino Saluzzi: Kultrum (ECM)
Pharoah Sanders: Heart Is a Melody (Theresa)
Carlos Santana: Havana Moon (Columbia) [RC:B+]
Gil Scott-Heron: Moving Target (Arista)
Serious Drinking: The Revolution Starts at Closing Time (Upright)
Shalamar: The Look (Solar) [RC:B+]
Woody Shaw: Night Music (Elektra Musician)
Carly Simon: Hello Big Man (Warner Brothers)
Paul Simon: Hearts and Bones (Warner Brothers) [RC:B+]
Simple Minds: New Gold Dreams (81-82-83-84) (A&M)
Ricky Skaggs: Don't Cheat in Our Hometown (Sugar Hill/Epic) [RC:B+]
Jimmy Smith: Keep On Comin' (Elektra Musician)
Wadada Leo Smith: Rastafari (Sackville)
Soft Cell: The Art of Falling Apart (Sire)
Sonic Youth: Confusion Is Sex (Neutral)
The Speedboys: Look What Love's Done to Me Now (I Like Mike) [RC:B+]
Sphere: Flight Path (Elektra Musician)
Tomasz Stanko: C.O.C.X. (Poljazz)
Tomasz Stanko: W Palacu Prymasowskim (Poljazz)
Steps Ahead: Steps Ahead (Elektra Musician)
George Strait: Right or Wrong (MCA)
The Style Council: Introducing the Style Council (Polydor)
L. Subramaniam: Spanish Wave (Milestone)
John Surman: Such Winters of Memory (ECM)
Ralph Sutton: Partners in Crime (Sackville)
Swans: Filth (Neutral) [RC:B+]
The System: Sweat (Mirage) [RC:B+]
Tavares: Words and Music (RCA)
Cecil Taylor: Calling It the 8th (Hat Musics)
The The: Soul Mining (Epic)
David Thomas and the Pedestrians: Variations on a Theme (Sixth International)
Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia: Mother Earth (TM)
Thompson Twins: Side Kicks (Arista)
Henry Threadgill: Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket (About Time)
Johnny Thunders: Too Much Junkie Business (ROIR)
Tirez Tirez: Story of the Year (Les Disques du Crépuscle)
Toots & the Maytals: Live at Reggae Sunsplash (Sunsplash)
Peter Tosh: Mama Africa (EMI America)
Touré Kunda: Amadou Tilo (Celluloid)
Ralph Towner: Blue Sun (ECM)
Pete Townshend: Scoop (Atco)
Trouble Funk: In Times of Trouble (DETT, 2LP) [RC:B+]
True West: True West (Bring Out Your Dead, EP) [RC:A-]
UB40: Live (Virgin)
Tracey Ullman: You Broke My Heart in 17 Places (MCA)
Luther Vandross: Busy Body (Epic)
Tom Varner Quartet: Motion/Stillness (Soul Note)
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: Texas Flood (Epic)
V-Effect: Stop Those Songs (Rift) [RC:B+]
Vienna Art Choir: From No Art to Mo(z)-Art (Moers)
Violent Femmes: Violent Femmes (Slash) [RC:B+]
Miroslav Vitous: Journey's End (ECM)
Bunny Wailer: Live (Solomonic) [RC:B+]
Mal Waldron: One Entrance, Many Exits (PAJ)
Junior Walker: Blow the House Down (Motown) [RC:B+]
Per Henrik Wallin: Raw Material (Dragon)
Joe Walsh: You Bought It, You Name It (Warner Brothers) [RC:B+]
Bobby Watson: Jewel (Evidence)
Weather Report: Procession (Columbia)
Kenny Wheeler: Double, Double You (ECM)
Barry White: Dedicated (Unlimited Gold)
Wide Boy Awake: Wide Boy Awake (RCA Victor, EP) [RC:B+]
Deniece Williams: I'm So Proud (Columbia)
The Phil Woods Quartet: At the Vanguard (Antilles)
XTC: Mummer (Geffen)
Yaz: You and Me Both (Sire)
Yello: You Gotta Say Yes to Another Excess (Elektra)
Yellowman: Live at Reggae Sunsplash (Sunsplash) [RC:B+]
Yellowman & Fathead: Divorced! (Burning Sounds)
Yolocamba Ita: Revolutionary Songs of El Salvador (Flying Fish -81?) [RC:A-]
Frank Zappa: The Man From Utopia (CBS)
Zazou/Bikaye/Cy 1: Noir et Blanc (Crammed Discs)
Denny Zeitlin/Charlie Haden: Time Remembers One Time Once (ECM)
John Zorn: Locus Solus (Rift, 2LP)

Compilations

African Music (1971-82, Vertigo)
Art Tatum: The Best of Art Tatum (1953-56, Pablo)

Oh-OK: The Complete Recordings (1982-84 [2002], Collector's Choice)
Knotty Vision (Nighthawk)
Maximum Joy: Unlimited (1979-1983) ([2005], Crippled Dick Hot Wax)
Zulu Jive/Umbaqanga (Earthworks)
Kevin Ayers: The Kevin Ayers Collection ([1990], See for Miles)
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown: The Original Peacock Recordings (1948-59, Rounder)
The English Beat: What Is Beat? (IRS)

Black Star Liner: Reggae from Africa (Heartbeat)
Pink Floyd: Works (Capitol)
The Jam: Snap! (Polydor)

Daryl Hall & John Oates: Rock 'n' Soul Part 1 (1975-83 [2006], RCA/Legacy)

Candidates

The Beach Boys: Rarities (Capitol) [RC:B+]
Best of Studio One (Heartbeat) [RC:B+]
The Blasting Concept (SST)
Brazil Today! (Philips)
Churchical Chants of the Nyabingi (Heartbeat)
Circle Jerks: Golden Shower of Hits (LAX)
Guy Clark: Greatest Hits (RCA Victor) [RC:B+]
D.O.A.: Bloodied but Unbowed (Alternative Tentacles) [RC:B+]
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five: Greatest Messages (Sugarhill) [RC:B+]
Buddy Holly: For the First Time Anywhere (1955-58, MCA) [RC:B+]
Prelude's Greatest Hits (Prelude) [RC:B+]
Rainy Day (Llama) [RC:B+]
The Rhino Brothers Present the World's Worst Records! (Rhino)
Roxy Music: The Atlantic Years 1973-1980 (Atco) [RC:B+]
George Russell: The Essence of George Russell (1966-67, Soul Note, 2LP)
Son of Oi! (Syndicate)
The Sound of Kinshasa: Guitar Classics From Zaire (Original Music) [RC:A-]
Starstruck (A&M) [RC:B+]
This Are Two Tone (Chrystalis) [RC:A-]
Viva! Zimbabwe: Dance Music From Zimbabwe (Earthworks) [RC:A-]
The Who: Rarities, Vol. 1: 1966-1968 (Polydor)
Wild Style (Animal) [RC:B+]
Jackie Wilson: The Jackie Wilson Story (Epic, 2LP)
Jackie Wilson: The Jackie Wilson Story: Volume Two (Epic) [RC:B+]