Can You Beat The Second Album Curse? Part 2 – 1978-1985
Welcome to Part 2 of ‘Can Artists Beat The Second Album Curse?’ In this video, I focus on TWELVE second albums, many that are post-punk/ new wave, from 1978-1985 that I love, regardless of the success of the debut record that preceded them.
I plan to do another two videos on this topic. Part 3 will look at the mid-80s and beyond, Part 4 will discuss great Australian second albums. So stay tuned!
If you would like a deep dive review into any of these albums, please let me know, along with your own favourite second albums, in the comments. Thanks so much for watching!
Deep Dive Reviews already posted on this channel:
Pretenders I & II: Track v Track! Album Reviews – https://youtu.be/87KYa4XXICg
Post-Punk Masterpiece | The Comsat Angels – Sleep No More | Album Review! – https://youtu.be/CCdk61YJ-8I
Timestamps
0:00 – Introduction to Part 2
1:10 – Kate Bush – Lionheart
2:50 – Devo – Duty Now For The Future
4:20 – Tubeway Army – Replicas
6:34 – Joe Jackson – I’m The Man
8:27 – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Organisation
10:58 – Closer – Joy Division
13:39 – Pretenders – Pretenders II
14:42 – The Comsat Angels – Sleep No More
15:53 – The Teardrop Explodes – Wilder
17:18 – Sad Lovers & Giants – Feeding The Flame
19:40 – Julian Cope – Fried
22:10 – The Smiths – Meat Is Murder
24:11 – An Honourable Mention
#Beat #Album #Curse #Part
Originally posted by UCYajqI5xyWlfn00kQrxf2Aw at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVtsngH_f-Q
I think Lionheart is a total second album slump. Not a bad album, but far below the standards of the first album and rest of her collection. Production, arrangements, recording and songwriting all take a step back. Some good tracks, but too many i want to skip. Durant hold up to the debut when I listen back to back.
Are Friends Electric was better than Cars live!
Great list, nice to see sad lovers (although you seem to want to call them strange lovers and giants ????) I’d add a few more that have a feel for timeframe same but some slip a little after 1985: durrutti column “lc” , lowlife “diminuendo” 1986-87), for against “December” (1987-88) chameleons “what does anything mean basically”, the cure “seventeen seconds”, modern english “after the snow” dead can dance “spleen and ideal” fields of the Nephilim “the Nephilim” (this was a tad after 1985 in 1988) breathless “ three times and waving (1987)”……..and since you did both teardrop and cope- you have to give a nod to new order “power corruption and lies”.
Hawkwind god's.. mind out..
2nd police album
Too often that second album can become a disaster. I love the Second Joe Jackson album, those first two albums are brilliant. Same goes for Devo though I tend to a,ways put on their first album. I had never seen that Teardrop Explodes cover version. I have the other cover. Great video
Agree with you about the genius of J C. Perhaps he really does come from another planet (baby). I must have most of his stuff, including first editions of 'The Modern Antiquarian' and 'The Megalithic European', with the former copy signed and being of some value I believe.
Heaven ip Here by the bunnymen, sleep no more by the comsat angels, both better than their debut albums…ah you mentioned it! Great choices..excellent commentary..
Some of the best albums came out at this time some that come to mind for me are the police regatta de Blanc, Billy Idol rebel yell, this one is a year later in 1986 but deserves to be part of my list a-ha scoundrel days, the cars Candy o Billy Squier don't say no, prince self titled, the damned machine gun etiquette and squeeze cool for cats so many to mention but here are my top picks
The Times projected debut, Go With The Times from 1980 was shelved until '85, so I suppose Pop Goes Art counts as the debut release. If so, then This Is London was a massive leap forward. It's been in my Top 10 since 1984. Not mainstream by any means, but treasured by many who bought it.
Thanks for this – such a cool watch and anecdotes..