Cher Spotlight | 2024 Induction Ceremony

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Celebrate!

April Special - Michael Jackson's Debut Solo

Michael Joseph Jackson

August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009

Michael Jackson is forever known as the "King of Pop."  You can take his story from there.  Read more on Wikipedia.

Of the 10 albums in Michael Jackson's name, the most notable selection is Thriller.  

Let's start five albums before, where debut success began.

Got to Be There

Released in January 1972

Genres considered - Pop, R&B

Mixed reviews 

Track Listing -

Side One -

1.  Ain't No Sunshine 

2.  I Wanna Be Where You Are

3.  Girl Don't Take Your Love from Me

4.  In Our Small Way

5.  Got to Be There

Side Two -

6.  Rockin' Robin

7.  Wings of My Love

8.  Maria (You Were the Only One)

9.  Love Is Here and Now You're Gone

10.  You've Got a Friend

Certified Gold in the U.S.

(Wikipedia)

Duran Duran - Ordinary World (Official Music Video)

Set List Influence - Rush

Set List Inspiration - Duran Duran

Any season is fit for the wild boys to play it.

Birthday Season - The Wedding Album

April birthday season has kicked off, from her 100th to his 65th and many more older or younger or somewhere in between.

Of the two, I am younger but not the youngest.  I am certain, however, that I am the only fan to discover Duran Duran while in early elementary school.  I was always allowed to listen to the band after completing my homework.

While not released in the month of April, I somehow enjoy the album's songs most at this time of year.  From childhood intrigue to adulthood fan appreciation, Duran Duran shined in The Wedding Album.  When the original lineup came to be, select album songs were performed live as though they had never split.

The Wedding Album was released in February 1993.  The story goes from there.  Follow Wikipedia to read more.

Track List -

1.  Too Much Information

2.  Ordinary World

3.  Love Voodoo

4.  Drowning Man

5.  Shotgun

6.  Come Undone

7.  Breath After Breath

8.  U.M.F.

9.  Femme Fatale

10.  None of the Above

11.  Shelter

12.  To Whom It May Concern

13.  Sin of the City

Certified Gold in the UK

Certified Platinum in the U.S.

David Bowie - Fame

Released in the U.S. in June 1975

Released in the UK in July 1975

Second single from David Bowie's 9th album, Young Americans

Genres considered - Funk, Funk Rock, Soul

Lyrical meaning behind the song - David Bowie's "...dissatisfaction with the troubles of fame and stardom..."

"Fame" was Bowie's first No. 1 single on Billboard Hot 100 & Canadian Singles Chart

"Fame" ranked No. 8 on Billboard Year-End Hot 100

No. 17 on UK Singles Chart

Honors -

Inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll

"...one of Bowie's 30 essential songs..." - Rolling Stone (2016, following David Bowie's death)

No. 21 on NME's list of Bowie's 41 Greatest Songs

(NME - New Musical Express, British entertainment website)

Certified Gold in Canada & the U.S.

(Wikipedia)

Fame (2016 Remaster)

April Fame

Pretty in Pink Film + Soundtrack

1986 American Teen

Romantic Comedy Drama

Directed by Howard Deutch

Written by John Hughes

Produced by Lauren Shuler

Cast -

Molly Ringwald

Harry Dean Stanton

Jon Cryer

Annie Potts

James Spader

Andrew McCarthy

"Brat Pack" film

Budget - $9 million ... Box Office - $40.5 million

- Soundtrack -

Released in February 1986

Genres considered - Post Punk, New Wave

In Rolling Stone's The 25 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time.

AllMusic - 4/5 Stars

Track Listing -

1.  If You Leave Me

2.  Left of Center

3.  Get to Know Ya

4.  Do Wot You Do

5.  Pretty in Pink

6.  Shellshock

7.  Round, Round

8.  Wouldn't It Be Good

9.  Bring On the Dancing Horses

10.  Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want

1986 -

Debuted at No. 5 on Billboard 200 

Peaked at No. 50 on Billboard 200

No. 3 on Billboard Soundtrack Albums (Year end)

(Wikipedia)