Play And Tumble

behindthegrooves:

On this day in music history: October 23, 1984 - “Make It Big”, the second album by Wham! is released. Produced by George Michael, it is recorded at SARM West Studios in London and Studio Miraval in La Val, France from July - September 1984. The second album by the British pop duo will continue their success in the UK, and will be their breakthrough release on a worldwide basis. Six of the albums’ eight songs are also written by Michael (w/ the seventh “Careless Whisper” (#1 Pop, #8 R&B) co-written with Andrew Ridgeley, and issued as a solo single by George Michael outside the US). The album will be a huge critical and commercial success, spinning off four singles including “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” (#1 Pop), “Everything She Wants” (#1 Pop, #12 R&B) and “Freedom” (#3 Pop). “Make It Big” will spend 3 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 6x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

The soundtrack of my childhood, and a great piece of pop mastery.

behindthegrooves:

On this day in music history: June 23, 1984 - “The Reflex” by Duran Duran hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks. Written by Duran Duran, it is released as the third single from the bands’ third album “Seven And The Ragged Tiger”. The band will write the song while recording at AIR Studios on the island of Montserrat in the Spring of 1983. The songs’ distinctive steel drum percussion breaks are not played on real steel drums, but are played by keyboardist Nick Rhodes on a Roland Jupiter 8 synthesizer. Prior to its release as a single, “The Reflex” will receive a dramatic remix by Nile Rodgers of Chic that is credited with turning it into a worldwide smash. Capitol Records in the US will package the single in a picture sleeve that folds out into a poster. “The Reflex” will become Duran Duran’s first US chart topper and their second million selling single.