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In March of 1986 Anita Baker released her second studio album. The record was a breakout success for the artist, signaling to the industry at large that there was still a significant market for adult/contemporary music. Let’s talk Anita Baker, Rapture!

In November of 1986 Bad Brains released their second studio album. The record is a departure from their seminal hardcore roots, adding a bit of reggae, funk and heavy metal into the mix. It’s influence cannot be overstated and is considered by many to be the bands best output. Let’s talk Bad Brains, I Against…

In March of 1986 Steve Earle released his debut studio album. It rules. Let’s talk Steve Earle, Guitar Town!

In October of 1986 XTC released their 9th studio album. With known studio imp Todd Rundgren called for in to produce and the subsequent clashing of egos that took place, the results are nothing short of sublime. Let’s talk XTC, Skylarking!

In May of 1986 Run DMC released their 3rd studio album. It is literally the greatest rap/rock album ever made. Lets talk Run DMC, Raising Hell!

In August of 1986 Paul Simon released is seventh solo studio album. Following the commercial flop that was Hearts & Bones and his recent divorce from Carrie Fisher, Paul found himself in a deep depression. A bootleg cassette of South African street music got him excited about music again and the rest is history. Let’s…

In September of 1986 Throwing Muses released their debut album. It was the first record by and American group to be released on the British 4AD Label (paving the way for The Pixies just a few years later). Allmusic review: “A startling collision of punk energy, folky melodicism, and Kristin Hersh’s mercurial voice and lyrics…puts…

In October of 1986 Slayer released their 3rd studio album. The first of their albums to be produced by Rick Rubin (who’s production made the music palatable to the non-initiated), the record is a sonic assault that cannot be denied. Hail Satan & lets talk Slayer, Reign In Blood!

In May of 1986 Sonic Youth released their 3rd full length studio album. It was their first on SST and the first to include new drummer, Steve Shelley. The album marks where the band introduced pop elements to their cacophonous racket. Lets talk Sonic Youth, EVOL!

MP3 Audio [47 MB]DownloadShow URL Slippery When Wet is the third studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on August 18, 1986, by Mercury Records in North America and Vertigo Records internationally. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, with recording sessions between January and July 1986 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver.…

MP3 Audio [35 MB]DownloadShow URL Peace Sells… but who’s Buying? is the second studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 19, 1986, through Capitol Records. The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 82 on the Billboard 200 chart in the US and number 40 on the UK Albums…

In February of 1986, Talk Talk released their 3rd studio album. The album represents the cutoff of their earlier synth pop roots and the movement to more improvised works. It was their highest charting non-compilation release, peaking at number 8 in the UK and stayed their for 21 weeks. Let’s talk Talk Talk, The Colour…

In September of 1986 Billy Bragg released his 3rd studio album. Its beautiful, it is very of its time and sadly still, ours. Let’s talk Billy Bragg, Talking with the Taxman About Poetry!

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In March of 1986 Metallica released their 3rd studio album. With no radio play whatsoever, Thrash has hit the mainstream. Let’s talk Metallica, Master of Puppets!

In November of 1986 the Beastie Boys released their debut album. It’s the shot heard round the world. In one fell swoop, three Jewish teenagers and their producer kicked the proverbial doors in to the suburban market and took hip hop to the masses; changing our shared musical landscape, forever. Lets talk Beastie Boys, Licensed…

In December of 1986 Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force released a collection of singles. The song “Planet Rock” was one of the earliest hits of the hip hop music genre, remains one of its pioneering recordings & was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine at #240 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs…

In September of 1986 Elvis Costello released his 11th studio album. The man doesn’t know how to write bad songs. Let’s talk Elvis Costello, Blood & Chocolate!

In June of 1985 Scritti Politti released their second studio album. To this day it remains the band’s best selling album, peaking at number five on the UK charts and spawning three top 20 hits in the UK. Let’s talk Scritti Politti, Cupid & Psyche!

MP3 Audio [43 MB]DownloadShow URL Don’t Stand Me Down is the third studio album by English pop band Dexys Midnight Runners, released in September 1985 by Mercury Records. The album was released three years after their second album, the internationally successful Too-Rye-Ay. At the time, Dexys’ lineup had been pared down from ten members to…

In October of 1985 Simply Red released their debut album. It would go on to dominate the charts worldwide, achieving platinum sales status in six countries. Let’s talk Simply Red, Picture Book!

In May of 1985 New Order released their 3rd studio album. Scholars maintain that the record solidified the band’s divorce from post punk and their full embrace of dance rock. Lets talk New Order, Low – Life!