1981
by Bill DeVille
June 08, 2022
The Time Machine invades 1981 this time. Synth-pop and new-wave were emerging with albums by Devo, Soft Cell, The Go-Go’s and the Police. Rock still rolled, with releases by the Rolling Stones, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, while Rush created their defining track of the early '80s. There were funky hits from Rick James and Grace Jones and Talking Heads offshoot Tom Tom Club. The ska band The Specials released one of England's biggest songs of the year.
Speaking of England, the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana captured our imaginations. In the United States, Ronald Reagan became president. Later in the year, he and his press secretary, James Brady, were shot in an assassination attempt; both survived.
Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and the "Most Trusted Man in America," Walter Cronkite, retired as anchor of CBS News. Beyond the three major networks, it was a big year for cable TV, as both HBO and MTV signed on.
It’s all 1981, our year on this episode of Time Machine from the Current.
