Somewhere in Time is the sixth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 29 September 1986 on EMI in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in the U.S. (it was re-released by Sanctuary/Columbia Records in the U.S. in 1998). The studio follow-up to the hugely successful Powerslave/Live After Death pair, … Read more
The Colour of Spring is Talk Talk’s third album and was released in 1985 in Germany, and then 1986 in other countries. It became the band’s highest selling non-compilation studio album, reaching the Top 20 in numerous countries (topping the Dutch charts), including their homeland, where it reached No. 8 and stayed in the charts … Read more
True Confessions is the third album by the British girl group Bananarama. Released in 1986, the album was not a commercial success in the UK, but achieved their biggest sales and chart success in the U.S., where the first single “Venus” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 (an achievement they never obtained in … Read more
Electric Café is the ninth studio album by the electronic group Kraftwerk, originally released in 1986. In October 2009 it was re-released under its original working title, Techno Pop.
Notorious is the fourth studio album by Duran Duran. Released in November 1986, it peaked at #16 in the UK and #12 in the US. The singles “Notorious” and “Skin Trade” demonstrated a Duran Duran reaching for funk, heavy on bass and brass. The gap between previous efforts and the new one, however (one year … Read more
Whiplash Smile is Billy Idol’s third full-length album. Released in 1986, it was supported by the singles “To Be a Lover”, “Sweet Sixteen”, and “Don’t Need a Gun”. “To Be a Lover” was the biggest hit from the album, peaking at #6 in the US, with the other two singles hitting the top forty in … Read more
Mirrors is the second studio album from German singer Sandra, released in 1986. The album was produced by Michael Cretu and Armand Volker. It reached #16 in Germany, #14 in Norway, #40 in Sweden and #13 in Switzerland. Producer Michael Cretu used more of the writing and singing talents of Hubert Kemmler (who was already … Read more
Morbid Visions is the debut album by Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, released in 1986 through Cogumelo Records. While later albums have a more political edge, Morbid Visions (along with the Bestial Devastation EP) is notable for “Satanic” themes. The band said many lyrics were fashioned after those of Venom and Celtic Frost, as they … Read more
Because it contains its share of memorable and inspired material — and even a few gems — it seems inappropriate to call Tina Turner’s Break Every Rule a disappointment. But because Private Dancer was so incredible a comeback, one greeted this anxiously awaited follow-up with such high expectations that anything less than outstanding would have … Read more
They Might Be Giants, sometimes called The Pink Album, is the eponymous debut album from Brooklyn-based band They Might Be Giants. It was released by Bar/None in 1986. The album generated two singles, “Don’t Let’s Start” and “(She Was A) Hotel Detective”. It is included on Then: The Earlier Years, a compilation of the band’s … Read more