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As the year draws to a close, 1981’s virtual cornucopia of albums has begun to taper off with a now-routine blitz of greatest hits Christmas packages. The critics of UNABRIDGED thought this would be a good time to seize the advantages of hindsight and rank their top album choices for the year.
The critics don’t pretend to be intimate with all albums released in 1981. Indeed, listening to more than a small fraction of the year’s output would be prohibitively time-consuming. They have attempted, instead, to keep a finger on the pulse of “important” albums, while listening for new and different sounds (which might never get radio airplay).
All lists are indulgently subjective, but – after all – isn’t that what the appreciation of music is all about?
Jeff Callan
No. 1. Hard Promises by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This set combines the Byrds-like sound of the ‘60s with the hard edge of the ‘80s. Raw, tender and passionate.
No. 2. Trust by Elvis Costello. I’m really tired of people, saying Elvis can’t sing. Listen to “Shot With His Own Gun” and then talk to me. And for those about to rock, try “From A Whisper To A Scream.” This album deserves to be listened to.
No. 3. Tattoo You by The Rolling Stones. Their best since Exile.
No. 4. Kings of the Wild Frontier by Adam and the Ants. A synthesis of new wave, heavy metal and African tribal rhythm. Different? Sure, but we’re college students. We’re supposed to like things that are different.
No. 5. It’s a tie between Private Eyes by Hall and Oates and Law and Order by Lindsey Buckingham. I grew up on AM rock. These show the genre at its best.
Bob Mitroff
No. 1. Sandinista! by The Clash. This triple studio album serves as further proof that the Clash is the most talented and ambitious band to emerge in the past five years. It does tend to get rather self indulgent in its experimentation, but musically it is yet another of the Clash’s prodigious progressions.
No. 2. October by U2. A flawless and inspired set.
No. 3. Trust by Elvis Costello. A portrait of the artist as not such an angry young man.
No. 4. Sound Affects by The Jam. The best planned and performed album this extremely talented band has released.
No. 5. Face Dances by The Who. Not their best but since they are the best, they have to be included. Besides, without them, the four previous albums may have never happened.
Mark Winegardner
No. 1. Trust by Elvis Costello. This is not Costello’s best, but that’s only because some of his previous work has been phenomenal. When the El is on target, as on “You’ll Never Be A Man,” “White Knuckles” and “From a Whisper to a Scream” (the fantastic duet with Squeeze member Glenn Tilbrook), he’s as good as rock gets.
No. 2. Hard Promises by Tom Petty. Tough, visceral, rocking, intelligent. Gets better every time it hits the turntable.
No. 3. Freeze Frame by the J. Geils Band. Even given the quality of the band’s last few albums, no one had any reason to expect anything this good. “Freeze Frame” and “Center-fold” are what rock’n’roll should always be.
No. 4. Tattoo You by The Rolling Stones. What can be said that hasn’t already been said? One of their best, which is to say one of the best.
No. 5. East Side Story by Squeeze. “Tempted” is easily the best single of the year. Songwriters Difford and Tilbrook may rank with all-time greats.
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