Slartibartfast's 1986

Apparently, my 1986 is much different then yours.  Only Peter Gabriel's So, Paul Simon's Graceland, and Andy Summers XYZ appear within my collection.  Thus, not enough data for me to offer a vote.

Belew, Adrian - Desire Caught By The Tail: A really weird and difficult listening album after his first two solo albums. I had to get the Japan mini LP sleeve CD version for nostalgic reasons.

Budd, Harold - Lovely Thunder: Here's one many may not be familiar with but might really enjoy. I'd easily put it under progressive electronic, maybe symphonic, prog related? Dark and brooding.

Budd, Raymonde,Guthrie, Fraser - Moon and the Melodies, The: This one I didn't encounter until I found it used and saw Budd was on it in the 00's. My intro to the Cocteau Twins. Still need to explore these three twins further.

Carlos, Wendy - Beauty In the Beast: If there was an album that makes the case for the inclusion of Carlos in the archives, this is it. Best I've ever heard of Wendy or Walter. Dreamy synthesis compositions.

Cluster & Brian Eno - Old Land: Cluster & Brian Eno have really good chemistry. If you like Eno's more ambient material, there is much here to enjoy.

Eno, Brian - Ambient 4/On Land 1: Eno's ambient series albums weren't particularly consistent. #3 didn't have him playing in it at all, though it was good to get an album that was Eno's. Not as mellow as the first two.

Gabriel, Peter – So: Made a big splash commercially. Don't know if it particularly converted many to prog. Kind of a let down after the adventurous III.

Goodman, Jerry – Ariel: Well if you “new ageyish” stuff, this one won't bother you. I certainly liked it at the time. I don't dislike it now. Jerry's Mahavishnu stuff and the Like Children album with Jan Hammer are much better though.

Jackson, Joe - Big World: If you only know Joe from his more popular songs, you don't know Joe. He certainly had a pop success or two on here. The other stuff might qualify him for crossover. Damn good stuff if you only regard him as a pop artist.

Kansas – Power: Steve Morse in Kansas??? Whaa??? Well in the end a bit too much of an AOR effort. Has some good moments though.

Rypdal, Terje & The Chasers – Blue: I really got into the “Singles Collection” album. Came across this one many years later. Not sure if I've given it a fair hearing.

Shadowfax - Too Far To Whisper: Didn't realize that this one was in my LP collection. A bit of a step down from The Dreams Of Children in terms of prog.

Simon, Paul – Graceland: This one came to my attention thanks to radio airplay of You Can Call Me Al. Of course Simon had been a familiar name due to all the exposure S & G had received. I've read him slammed for his exploitation of world music or something to that effect. Whatever. I didn't realize Adrian Belew was on this one until recently.

Summers, Andy – XYZ: Andy has done some interesting things as a solo artist. Probably wouldn't have tried this one if not for his collaborations with Fripp. Good album, probably not my favorite Summers solo.

David + David – Boomtown: Here's one I became familiar with due to airplay. Progressive influences going on here. Had to get a CD to replace the LP for that.

Glass, Phillip - Songs from Liquid Days: Probably one of the more unusual Glass efforts. Invited Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Paul Simon, The Roches, Susanne Vega, Linda Ronstat on. Weird and very cool.

Montrose, Ronnie – Territory: I had heard some buzz about Ronnie. The album is OK but didn't interest me into further exploring his material.

Synergy - Metropolitan Suite: Not one of my favorite Fast's, still a good piece of synthesized music.

Tangerine Dream - Underwater Sunlight: This one passed me by that year, good but remains one of those I don't know too well. At this point they had put out so much similar stuff I wasn't keeping up with them.

Tibbetts, Steve - Exploded View: Steve had definitely altered his sound to be more of an ECM artist. His first two remain my favorites.

Torn, David - Cloud About Mercury: A more adventurous ECM album than Tibbetteses. Isham, Levin, and Bruford, oh my!!! Is this thing still out of print?

Wyatt, Robert - Old Rottenhat – I didn't get into Wyatt's solo material until the '90's. Damn shame. He was very political in the '80's and I identify with him.

XTC – Skylarking: Yeah, this was the album that moved me the most in '86. If prog was on the wane and these guys weren't prog, stick a fork in me, I'm done.

Zappa, Frank - Jazz From Hell: Well hell, give FZ a damn Synclavier and look what the hell happens. G-Spot Tornado is one of my favorite tracks.