ALBUMS
- THE ROLLING STONES: TATTOO YOU: 1981: ROCK: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: VINYL: I found Emotional Rescue a disappointment after Some Girls- this one was a bounce back- and maybe the last Stones album I’d give this high of a grade.
- JOE JACKSON BAND: BEAT CRAZY: 1980: NEW WAVE: 3 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: VINYL: I really liked the first two Jackson albums- this one was a step back but still not a bad album. It didn’t sell well.
- BURT BACHARACH: THE LOOK OF LOVE: THE BURT BACHARACH COLLECTION: 3 DISCS: 1998: POP: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: CD: 75 tracks on 3 CD’s- collects all the great songs that Bacharach had a part in- he was at his peak in the late 60’s-early 70’s. and he was married to Angie Dickinson for 15 years.
- THE PRETENDERS: PRETENDERS II: 1981: NEW WAVE: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: VINYL: Not as sharp as their debut album which remains their best but it still has its moments like Message Of Love and Talk Of The Town. I saw them on tour for this album.
- ELVIS COSTELLO: IMPERIAL BEDROOM: 1982: NEW WAVE: 5+ STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: VINYL: My favorite concert ever- Elvis on his Imperial Bedroom Tour one night Elvis the next night The Clash at the same venue.
slicethelife 
Great listening block. Pretenders II has grown on me over the years. You are fortunate to have seen them–and The Clash.
You are right- back when it came out Pretenders II seemed like a disappointment- but it has aged well. The Pretenders concert was pretty good also- the only time I have seen them.
They are one of my favorite bands.
I think “Steel Wheels” from 1989 wasn’t a shabby post-70s Stones album either, but nothing ever reached the mighty of gems like “Exile On Main St” and “Sticky Fingers.”
I agree with Pam, great listening block, and seeing the Pretenders live is super cool.
I am thinking the original line-up was there from the first album. No one had died yet. What a tragic history for that band.