RRSSC 63

Field Guide to 1981

– We look back on 1981, a year that split us in two. In baseball, a mid-season strike quite literally split the MLB season into two halves, resulting in playoff and non-playoff teams that defied logic. Popular music was also split in two as a pair of momentum-gaining genres – metal and new wave – began to define the decade.

Gabe discusses releases from Genesis, Ozzy Osbourne and Van Halen. Jonathan shares his newfound admiration for Grace Jones, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Television Personalities, while Levi champions Y&T, Carl Carlton and Billy Squier. In MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers had a stacked roster that culminated in a World Series championship, riding the wave of Fernandomania.

Be sure to check out our mixtapes below that combine our favorite clips from the year in both rock and baseball.

We’d love it if you shared your thoughts of the year in the comments section. What albums or videos did you love then? What have you learned to appreciate since? You can also join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter (@rocknchoo), using #ChooChat.