Luciano Pavarotti

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Text on Button LUCIANO PAVAROTTI
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Black text over a black and white photograph of a man on a white background

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Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007) was an Italian tenor who gained commercial success and is considered one of the most iconic operatic performers who ever lived. He was one of the Three Tenors, an operatic singing group that also featured Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. The trio performed from the 1990’s to 2003. Pavarotti was best known for his roles in La bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly.   

Catalog ID MU0341

Modern English After the Snow

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Text on Button MODERN ENGLISH
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Image of two running horses in black and pale pink and blue. White text on small black oval on lower portion of button. 

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Modern English is an English new wave band that formed in 1979 in Colchester, Essex, England. The band was a originally called The Lepers and consisted of Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals). The band would eventually change their name to Modern English due to the addition of two new band members, Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards). Modern English is best known for their songs "I Melt With You", "Hands Across the Sea", and "Ink and Paper". 

The illustration on the button is the artwork from Modern English's second album After the Snow, which was released in 1982 and featured the song "I Melt With You".  

Sources

Discogs. (n.d.). Modern English— After the snow. https://www.discogs.com/master/17197-Modern-English-After-The-Snow 

Modern English. (n.d.). About. https://modernenglish.me/about/ 

Catalog ID MU0029

Pavarotti for President

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Text on Button PAVAROTTI FOR PRESIDENT
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White text on a blue background with white stars and red and white stripes with a photograph of a man's head on top

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Luciano Pavarotti was an Italian operatic tenor who lived from 1935-2007. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1968 and went on to perform in 379 performances, 357 of which were full opera productions. His only attempt at film was the 1982 movie Yes, Giorgio. Along with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, Pavarotti is mostly widely known for being a member of the popular opera singing group, the Three Tenors. He was an advocate for humanitarianism and received countless awards for his fundraising efforts for multiple charities. He collaborated with numerous musical icons such as Bono, Sting, Michael Jackson and Sir Paul McCartney. Pavarotti holds two Guinness World Records, the greatest number of curtain calls (165) and the best selling classical album of all time, Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti: The Three Tenors in Concert. 

This button was made by the U.S. Record Company London Classics as promotional material in the 1980s.

Catalog ID MU0368

Pere Ubu Not Happy

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Light pink illustration of a bird on a black background

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 Pere Ubu is a self-described "avant-garage" musical group formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1975 by David Thomas.  The band's style of music draws influence from rock, post-punk, musique concrète and performance art.  While David Thomas has been the only constant member, the band has remained active since forming, with a hiatus between 1982 - 1987.

The cover for the 7" single release of the song "Not Happy" contains the image of the cockatoo parrot depicted on the button. 

Sources

Discogs. (n.d.). Pere Ubu— Not happy. https://www.discogs.com/release/384432-Pere-Ubu-Not-Happy 

Pere Ubu. (2024, October 23). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 29, 2024 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pere_Ubu 

 

Catalog ID MU0035

Pulsallama

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Text on Button Pulsallama
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Red text on a reddish black background

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Pulsallama was an all female, no wave/post-punk, all percussion band from the East Village of New York City that was active from 1981 through 1982.  The core band was 7 members but it had at one time as many as 12 including: Ann Magnuson, Wendy Wild, Jean Caffeine, Stacey Elkin, Charlotte Slivka, Katy K, Min Thometz, Judy Streng, Andé Whyland, Dany Johnson, Lori Montana, Kim Davis, April Palmieri, and Diana Lillig.  The band released two singles and were known for their jungle style rhythms, danceable beats, as well as their flair for 1950's styled cocktail dress attire. 

New Wave and Punk fans flocked to see this band not only for the theatrical stage presence and unique use of props, but also for the percussion style music.  Pulsallama toured predominately on the East Coast and parts of England and even opened for the band The Clash. The release of their single, "The Devil Lives in my Husband's Body" gave them a small amount of fame with college radio and alternative music followers.

Sources

Discogs. (n.d.). Pulsallama. https://www.discogs.com/artist/336483-Pulsallama 

Pulsallama. (2023, May 27). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 19, 2024 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulsallama 

Catalog ID MU0012

Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

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Text on Button ROCK AND ROLL AC/DC AIN'T NOISE POLLUTION
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Red and black text on a yellow background

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"Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" is a song by AC/DC and was released on the album Back in Black in 1980. The song made it to the number 15 spot in the United Kingdom singles charts.

AC/DC is an Australian rock band popular during the 1970s and 1980s. Well known for their songs "Back in Black" and "Highway to Hell," the band is considered one of the best-selling music artists of all time and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

Catalog ID MU0375

Rush

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Text on Button RUSH
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Rush is a Canadian rock group consisting of Geddy Lee on bass, vocals, and keyboards; Alex Lifeson on guitar and vocals; and Neil Peart on drums and percussion instruments. The group was formed in 1968 but did not end up with the current lineup until 1974. Rush are best known for the complexity of their compositions and their lyrics, which draw heavily on science fiction and philosophy. Their musical style has evolved from blues-inspired hard rock, progressive rock, synth rock, and a return to hard rock. They have been nominated for seven Grammy Awards and have been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Catalog ID MU0345

Their Satanic Majesties Request

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Blue and white outer edge around a photograph of the band in front of a surreal background

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"Their Satanic Majesties Request", released in 1967, is The Rolling Stones’ sixth album in Great Britain (and their eighth album in the United States due to music industry practice during the 1960s of reconfiguring and altering albums for U.S. audiences).  The album marks a departure from band’s characteristic sound rooted in rock and blues music, with the band employing the psychedelic style that was popular at the time.  The album experimented with unconventional instruments, sound effects and African rhythms.

While the album sold well, and was certified gold shortly after its release, it received mixed reviews from the music press.  Many critics felt that it was derivative of other psychedelic music at the time, specifically The Beatles album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" that was released earlier that year.  In spite of that, the album has been reviewed more favorably in subsequent years. 

The cover art of initial pressings of "Their Satanic Majesties Request" was noteworthy for having a lenticular image, showing the band members turning their heads when viewed at a particular angle.  The cover is also known for incorporating the faces of The Beatles into the foreground design.

Catalog ID MU0401

Tony Bennett

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Black and white illustration of a man's head in profile

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Tony Bennett is an Italian-American singer of the standards and jazz. He is known for his smooth, crooner voice. Bennett has sold over 50 million records around the world, has won 19 Grammy Awards, and has one 2 Emmy Awards. As of 2017, the 90 year old singer is still recording new music and performing.

Catalog ID MU0402

Wings Back to the Egg

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Text on Button WINGS BACK TO THE EGG
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Black text over an illustration of an egg with a yellow yolk on a white background

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Wings, led by former Beatle Paul McCartney, released their seventh and final album Back to the Egg in 1979. The two sides of the LP had egg-related titles, "Sunny Side Up" and "Over Easy." The album launch party at Abbey Road Studios was also egg-themed, where black curtains lined the walls and yellow parasols on tables represented fried eggs. Back to the Egg was certified platinum in the United States, but received mostly negative reviews from critics.  

Catalog ID MU0392