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Talking Heads ’77- David Byrne, Jerry Harrison

"I think that Talking Heads were one of the first groups who tried not to be about a fantasy that was bigger than life, but tried to be about being strong within a life that was ultimately real."- Jerry Harrison, In the Studio for "Talking Heads '77" forty-fifth anniversary. .

Rush- Power Windows- Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson

When observing potential song subjects for October 1985's "Power Windows",  Rush lyricist/ drummer the late Neil Peart saw an uncanny number of socio-political issues which have become front page headlines again  thirty-five years later.
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John Mellencamp- Scarecrow

John Mellencamp's "Scarecrow"  album released in August 1985 was loaded with hits, including "Small Town","Lonely Ol' Night", and "R.O.C.K. in the USA".  His list of Top 20 hit songs is extensive enough to require the double-disc "Words and Music"  compilation, but it was the album tracks starting with Scarecrow's "Minutes to Memories", worthy of inclusion in the great Paul Simon songbook, which revealed his songcraft to me.

John Mellencamp- Rain on the Scarecrow- Dallas 10-1-91

This acoustic performance of "Rain on the Scarecrow" was absolutely live on my Q102 Dallas/ Ft Worth afternoon radio show in October 1991 with Mike Wanchic on guitar and Kenny Aronoff playing alongside John Mellencamp
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HEART- Heart 35th Anniversary- Nancy Wilson, Ann Wilson

Two of my all-time faves remain the cinderella story beginnings of Heart in 1976 with "Dreamboat Annie"  and the "comeback" album almost a decade later, "Heart" . This hit machine in 1985  reinvented Heart for the MTV Eighties with "If Looks Could Kill","What About Love","Never","These Dreams", and "Nothing at All". Wow. Nancy Wilson and singing sistuh Ann Wilson join me here In the Studio  on the thirty-fifth anniversary of "Heart" ('85).

Phil Collins- No Jacket Required

Until "No Jacket Required"in February 1985, Phil Collins was best known as the drummer who surprised everyone by more than capably replacing band mate Peter Gabriel as the lead singer for Genesis.