1980s Vinyl 274 Items

SOURCED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES AND LIMITED TO 4,000 NUMBERED COPIES:

MOBILE FIDELITY'S 180G SUPERVINYL LP PRESENTS 1985 BLOCKBUSTER IN AUDIOPHILE SOUND, PLAYS WITH EXCEPTIONAL CLARITY
PCM digital master to analogue console to lathe



Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut album has few parallels. Viewed solely through the lens of sales numbers, Whitney Houston is a watershed statement on par with the most commercially successful and culturally dominant LPs ever released. Having sold more than 14 million copies in the U.S. and upwards of 25 million units worldwide, the 1985 LP became the equivalent of the television show or blockbuster film that everyone collectively experiences and discusses. Nearly four decades later, it’s lost none of its appeal or magnetism — and its artistic significance and historical import have only grown.

Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at RTI on MoFi SuperVinyl, and strictly limited to 4,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's 180g SuperVinyl LP of Whitney Houston presents the breakthrough in audiophile sound for the first time. The signature traits Houston exhibits on every song — her three-octave range, radiant warmth, personal conviction, impossibly controlled register — come across with exceptional clarity, focus, and presence. Free of artificial ceilings and constricted dynamics, this reissue plays with an openness, airiness, and balance that put the singer’s once-in-a-lifetime instrument and immortal artistry into proper perspective.

It does the same for the songs’ cascading melodies and captivating arrangements. Individually produced by one of four renowned industry veterans — Kashif, Micheal Masser, Jermaine Jackson, and Narada Michael Walden — each composition feels grander, closer, more genuine. A vocal spectacular, Whitney Houston benefits from the high-end characteristics of SuperVinyl, which include a nearly inaudible noise floor, superb groove definition, and dead-quiet surfaces. This is how an album that changed the direction of popular music — opening previously inaccessible doors for Black artists; bringing smooth-singing vocalists back into the mainstream; kickstarting a movement that soon included several “divas” who would command the charts through the early 21st century — should look and sound.

Though Houston’s seemingly effortless performances suggest otherwise, creating the record Rolling Stone ranks as the 257th Greatest Album of All Time wasn’t easy. Nearly 18 months were required to identify songs suitable for a still-unknown singer who did not fit into the conventional frameworks of the mid ‘80s. Confident, powerful, and prodigiously talented, Houston would forge her own parameters with Whitney Houston. In the process, she obliterated the stubborn lines between R&B and pop, Black and white radio. She dared to reimagine who could be a superstar and then went out and defined the role. Recorded for nearly $400,000 and released on Valentine’s Day, the LP exceeded the wildest expectations of those most closely associated with it — save for Houston and her family.

Having made her first public appearance at the age of 11 singing at a Baptist church, Houston understood pressure and knew her way around, inside, and through a song. The invaluable guidance and support she received from her mother, Cissy, an accomplished gospel vocalist who backed Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, are on display throughout Whitney Houston. They arrive in the types of authoritativeness, discipline, and diction rare for even most seasoned veterans — and unheard-of for a 21-year-old newcomer. Houston brings a soulful elegance, understated glamour, and in-the-moment rapture to every note. Moving up, down, or staying in the middle of the vocal ladder; channelling softness or sweetness; showing restraint or increasing the volume, she is a marvel of emotionalism, a dynamo who can seamlessly transition from one mood to another within a verse.

Though the 10-track LP largely concerns itself with the ballad tradition, Houston covers the bases, getting into an R&B groove on the fleet “Thinking About You,” turning up the heat on the duet “Take Good Care of My Heart,” and investing the contagious dance-pop confection “How Will I Know” with all the anxiety, hope, energy, and enthusiasm its lyrics demand. Featuring her mom on background vocals and Houston’s pitch-perfect tone, uncanny precision, and skyscraper highs (no AutoTune here, friends), the synth-based anthem propelled Whitney Houston into the stratosphere, the vocalist into regular MTV rotation, and the term “crossover” into popular parlance. The double-platinum single reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, Hot R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts — a trifecta that foreshadowed accomplishments that would ultimately crown Houston as the most-awarded female artist of all time.

Whitney Houston became the first album by a Black female performer to top the Billboard charts. It remained there for 14 non-consecutive weeks en route to claiming the title of the best-selling LP of 1986. It stands as the first debut and first album by a solo female artist to spawn three No. Hits, as well as the first album by a Black female artist to top the year-end charts in Australia and Canada. These are just a handful of the accolades — along with four Grammy nominations — that surround a set that also contains the unforgettable ballad “Saving All My Love,” string-accompanied “Greatest Love of All,” and sensual “You Give Good Love.”

As TIME observed in an article written two years after the album took the world by storm: “This is infectious, can't-sit-down music, and her performance dares the listener not to smile right back.” We’re still smiling.

SACD

Sourced from the original master tapes and strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's hybrid SACD of Whitney Houston presents the breakthrough in audiophile sound for the first time. The signature traits Houston exhibits on every song — her three-octave range, radiant warmth, personal conviction, impossibly controlled register — come across with exceptional clarity, focus, and presence. Free of artificial ceilings and constricted dynamics, this reissue plays with an openness, airiness, and balance that put the singer’s once-in-a-lifetime instrument and immortal artistry into proper perspective.

Released in 1980, late AB’s, Makoto Matsushita and Cassiopeia members participated in the city pop masterpiece reissued on LP! Arranged by Makoto Matsushita and Minoru Mukai, and the participating musicians are Takeshi Ito and Akira Jimbo.

Pressed on 180g

Midori Hara’s 2nd album. A masterpiece of 80s urban pop with mellow grooves. First class session musicians such as Hiroshi Sato (p), Kenji Takamizu (b), Shuichi Murakami (ds), and Masahiro Ikumi (g) participate.

Originally released in 1980 Limited edition 180g vinyl Pressed on black vinyl Ride on Time is the fifth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita, released by Air/rvc in 1980. This record includes everything from up-tempo songs to ballads, making it an absolute masterpiece beloved by many.

Originally released in 1984
Due to becoming a big hit from her previous record, “Timely!!”, Anri was brought to record her next album in L.A. with producer, Toshiki Kadomatsu. The studio musicians that took part in making of this album include Leon Chancler・Ed Green (Dr)、Nathan East (B)、Paul Jackson Jr.・Calros Rios (Gt)、Don Grusin (Key)、Ernie Watts (Sax)、Jerry Hey (Tp) participated. From dance tracks to mellow tunes, the colorful and vivid songs on this album are truly the culmination of the Kadomatsu trilogy, and a prologue to the dance-ability of Anri of the late 80's.

* Originally released in 1980 * Pressed on Black Vinyl * First ever vinyl reissue / The first ever reissue of this highly sought after album is finally here! This is Takuya Takahashi's second album, which includes 'coast-line', the opening number of the popular compilation 'Light Mellow~Dream' edited by Hisakazu Kanazawa, who led the city pop scene.

Originally released in 1983
5 dance-able tracks in Side-A were written, composed, arranged and produced by Toshiki Kadomatsu who met with Anri’s previous title “Heaven Beach”. Tracks in Side-B, Takeshi Kobayashi, one of Anri’s band member for that moment, produced them with moody & mellow tune. This title was the 1st one of 3 titles by Toshiki Kadomatsu.

This classic Queen album is pressed on 180gram.

Remastered 180g edition, numbered.

The second single collection features all 10 singles from the 14th single "desire - Jounetsu -" (winner of the 28th Japan Record Award) to the 22nd single "I Missed 'the Shock'" (including "Nonfiction Ecstasy" released as a single cassette). This best album was simultaneously released on December 24, 1988, in three formats—LP, cassette tape, and CD—each with a different cover photo pose.

A 2-disc set of the best albums released in 1983, including songs that appeared for the first time and were released on an album for the first time, such as "Love is Magic", a duet with Yoshinori Monta, and "A Love Affair", which was released as a commercial song for Clarion. Limited re-release on vinyl!

The first analog reissue of Piper's 5th album 'lovers Logic' released in 1985 has been decided!

The 5th album 'lovers Logic' released by Moon Records in 1985 by Piper, led by guitarist Keisuke Yamamoto, who worked as a backup for Kazuto Murata, will be reissued for the first time!

Released in 1983, Fujimaru Yoshino's 2nd album 'romantic Guys' is the long-awaited first reissue!

This record is a masterpiece of city pop, backed by gorgeous overseas musicians such as Ab's members Makoto Matsushita, Naoki Watanabe, Atsuo Okamoto, Robben Ford, Nathan East, and Mike Baird. The album features nine tracks, including, 'Natsu no Onna', as well as a cover of the famous Shogun-era song, 'You're The One'.

* Originally released in 1988 * Shimada's 6th album * Pressed on Black Vinyl / Curiosity' is Nami Shimada's 6th album, and is known by many to be a city pop and 80s boogie masterpiece. The album features poems and songs by Takashi Matsumoto and Shinji Harada, two of the era's most famous artists. Also included on the record is a diverse lineup of songs such as, 'Curiosity Girl', which Shimada wrote under her real name, Naoko Shimada, and 'HE Loves Her', a song composed by Kenichi Kurosawa.

The 4th album "next DOOR," released in 1983 and heavily influenced by early 80s American pop, will be reissued as a limited edition on clear green vinyl. This city pop album exudes an urban atmosphere throughout.

Released in 1989, Mari Iijima's 7th album MY Heart IN RED is being reissued for the first time!

Recorded in Los Angeles at the time, the album features top players from the Toto area and Jerry Hey Horns Session from Seawind.

Cut on the latest remastered 96k24bit sound source in 2022, officially certified by the man himself.

This classic Queen album is pressed on 180gram. Queen Greatest Hits (and Greatest Hits II separately) is released on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl. Both titles will use their original artwork, and for the first time, Greatest Hits will be released as a 2LP set. 'Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Queen, originally released in the UK on 26 October 1981. The album consisted of Queen's best-selling singles since their first chart appearance in 1974 with "Seven Seas of Rhye", up to their 1980 hit "Flash". Queen's Greatest Hits was an instant success, peaking at number one on the UK Album Chart for four weeks. It has spent over 700 weeks in the UK Charts, and is the best-selling album of all time in the UK, selling over 6 million copies there. It is certified 8x Platinum in the United States, and is Queen's most commercially successful album worldwide with over 25 million copies sold, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.

180 gram vinyl

THE First Ever International Release OF Ryuichi Sakamoto's Landmark 1984 Album "ongaku Zukan" IN ITS TWO Rare Japanese Versions (normal AND Limited Edition).
Featuring Remastered Audio With Bonus Tracks, Original Gatefold Artwork AND NEW Liner Notes BY Andy Beta.

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the release of Ryuichi Sakamoto's classic LP "Ongaku Zukan", originally issued in Japan on his own School label in 1984.
The reissue will replicate the original Japanese release which offered two versions: a normal edition featuring the LP with a bonus 2-track 7" EP (wwslp71), and a limited edition which includes a 3-track 12" EP in place of the 7" (wwslp72)
Remastered by Saidera Mastering in Tokyo the reissue boasts the original gatefold artwork plus an extra 2-page insert with new liner notes by Andy Beta

The early '80s were a turning point for Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. As a solo artist, the smash hit soundtrack he had composed for 1983's "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" (a film in which he had also acted), had put him on the verge of becoming a global superstar. Meanwhile he had called a halt to his work with Yellow Magic Orchestra; the influential, globally successful pop trio calling it quits after the release of their 1983 album "Naughty Boys".
Against this backdrop, Sakamoto descended on Tokyo's Onkyo Haus Studio to record his fourth solo album, "Ongaku Zukan" ("Musical Encyclopedia") accompanied by a handful of musicians including his ex-YMO partners Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, and the prolifically talented Yasuaki Shimizu, Tatsuro Yamashita and Toshinori Kondo. Sakamoto began with no particular plan in mind, recording 30 basic tracks over the best part of 1983. It was on his return to the studio the following year that the album truly began to take shape. Accompanied by a newly acquired Fairlight CMI sampler, the musician made extensive use of the revolutionary equipment to create a wide palette of sound textures which he added to the tracks, a creatively fertile process that was captured on film for the French documentary "Tokyo Melody, A Film about Ryuichi Sakamoto".)
Released in August 1984 the album "Ongaku Zukan" proved a huge success, providing Sakamoto with his first top 5 hit in Japan. Filled with inspired melodies that showcase his unique gift as a composer, it offers up a fascinating mix of styles. Asiatic electro pop nuggets ("Tibetan Dance") share space with futuristic ambient pieces ("Hane no Hayashi de"), and brilliantly creative fusions of jazz, funk, techno and reggae ("Etude" and "Tabi no Kyokuhoki.")
Two simultaneous editions of the album were released in Japan: the regular one featuring a bonus 7" EP with two extra tracks: "Replica" and "Ma Mère l'Oye" while a limited edition added a 12" EP (in lieu of the 7") which included a third track, "Tibetan Dance (Version)." An international version was released two years later in 1986 by 10 Records/Virgin under the title "Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia," but with a very different track list. Five tracks from "Ongaku Zukan" were dropped, namely "Self Portrait," "Tabi no kyokuhoku," "Mori no Hito," "A Tribute to N.J.P" and "Tibetan Dance (Version)", to be replaced by two non-album singles from 1985, "Stepping Into Asia" and "Field Work."
This is the very first time that the two 1984 Japanese editions of Ryuichi Sakamoto's classic album have been released internationally in collaboration with the artist's management and Midi Inc., with remastered audio and the original artwork faithfully reproduced, paying tribute to one of contemporary music's undisputed geniuses.

Remastered from the original analog tapes especially for this first ever re - issue, Aftapati” (Illusion) is the only studio album by Idyli Tsaliki.
Tsaliki’s poetic style and distinct voice along with moody jazz - funk rock arrangements are beyond comparison to any other 80s Greek album.
Immerse yourself in this musical journey and discover one of the rarest albums of the Greek jazz scene.
Released by Philips Greece in 1983 and never been released before not even on CD.
Reissue by Veego Records for the 40th anniversary of this holy grail of Greek Jazz Masterpiece.

First LP reissue since 1988
Produced by Haruomi Hosono
Japanese pressing

World Standard is a stylish pop unit that incorporates a wide range of music from rock, techno to ambient. Their memorable first album, which debuted in 1985 on the Teichiku Non-Standard label produced by Haruomi Hosono, will be remastered and reissued under the supervision of Soichiro Suzuki!

Remastered from the original analog tapes especially for this first ever re - issue, Aftapati” (Illusion) is the only studio album by Idyli Tsaliki.
Tsaliki’s poetic style and distinct voice along with moody jazz - funk rock arrangements are beyond comparison to any other 80s Greek album.
Immerse yourself in this musical journey and discover one of the rarest albums of the Greek jazz scene.
Released by Philips Greece in 1983 and never been released before not even on CD.
Reissue by Veego Records for the 40th anniversary of this holy grail of Greek Jazz Masterpiece.

Following the release of her ‘Pop Don’t Stop’ greatest hits package, Cherry Red release new Colored Vinyl versions of Kim Wilde’s first three albums. ‘Catch As Catch Can’ is pressed on limited edition clear with blue splatter vinyl.

Following the release of her ‘Pop Don’t Stop’ greatest hits package, Cherry Red release new Colored Vinyl versions of Kim Wilde’s first three albums. Her debut album ‘Kim Wilde’ is pressed on limited edition clear with black splatter vinyl.

Originally re-issued in December 2018 on strictly limited-edition white vinyl, Cherry Red are delighted to repress this classic album and make it available again on 140g black vinyl. Includes inner sleeve containing rare photos plus a sleevenote and track by track annotation about ‘Human’s Lib’ by Howard Jones as told to acclaimed writer Anil Prasad.

Originally re-issued in December 2018 on strictly limitededition green vinyl, Cherry Red are delighted to repress this classic album and make it available again on 140g black vinyl. Includes an inner sleeve containing rare photos plus a sleevenote and track by track annotation about ‘Dream Into Action’ by Howard Jones as told to acclaimed writer Anil Prasad.

2022 repress; LP version. Obi strip; Includes two-page insert. Wewantsounds present a reissue of Akiko Yano's Tadaima., originally released in 1981. The first release Wewantsounds' ambitious program to release Akiko Yano's albums outside of Japan Tadaima. ("I'm home" in Japanese) is Yano's fifth studio album and a synth-pop masterpiece, co-produced by her then husband Ryuichi Sakamoto and featuring all the musicians from Yellow Magic Orchestra (Haruomi Hosono, Yukihiro Takahashi, and Sakamoto), the group she was touring with at the time. Japan's best kept secret, Akiko Yano is one of the most ground-breaking artists to come out of the '70s Japanese music scene along with Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto. A piano child prodigy, Yano started her solo recording career in 1976 at just 21, recording her debut album Japanese Girl with no less than Little Feat as the backing band. This album created a stir on the Japanese scene and Yano was on the map. She went on to record a series of superb albums mixing funk, electro, and city pop featuring the cream of Japanese (and sometimes American and English) musicians; The fact she was producing, writing and composing herself made her a true maverick in a very male-dominated industry. These albums, incredibly, have never been released outside of Japan to this day. Tadaima. is Yano's first attempt to leave the acoustic piano aside and delve into the synth sounds of the early '80s. The result is a fascinating electro pop masterpiece showcasing her talent as a writer, musician, and singer, creating her own unique universe. Mixing Japanese and English lyrics, Yano crafts perfect pop songs such as "Tadaima.", "I Sing", "Harusaki Kobeni" (which became one of her most famous songs after its use in a Japanese cosmetics ad), while "Taiyo No Onara" is a suite composed of nine short stories written by children. Contributors on Tadaima. also include Shigesato Itoi, one of Japan's most famous copywriters (for Studio Ghibli among others) who wrote two tracks on the album and his friend legendary illustrator Teruhiko Yumura -- aka King Terry -- who revolutionized underground manga in the '70s with his "heta-uma" (bad-good) style, as showcased on the album's striking artwork. Tadaima. is the perfect entry point to Akiko Yano's unique body or work. This reissue includes original artwork by cult illustrator King Terry and a new introduction by renowned DJ Joakim.

Remastered from the original analogue tapes and pressed on 180-gram vinyl!

“Too Low for Zero” (stylized as 2 ↓ 4 0), released in 1983, is the seventeenth official album release for Elton John. The album marked a return to form for Elton, whose previous four albums had failed to yield many enduring international hit singles, and had disappointing sales compared to his string of hit records released during the first half of the 1970s. It is his best-selling album of the 1980s, earning Platinum certification by the RIAA. It produced several hit songs, each accompanied by successful MTV music videos, and it spent over a year on the Billboard album chart.

Super rare album now reissued on BBE!