Listening to a week old Kermode-Mayo podcast reminded me of this 1980s bit over over-the-top power pop – not unusual wasn’t everything in the earlies-80s chart over the top?
If you, like me, think this is brill, how about putting in some more examples, so I have a toe tapping playlist. It has to be a genuine (preferably fabulous) hit though; no cool kid indie stuff here.
Ahh_Bisto says
The poptastically toe-tappingly proper pop of Propaganda
Duel
This song still thrills me as good pop should almost as much as it did back in the day
GCU Grey Area says
The remix / reconstructed version is equally brilliant. Used for years as the theme music for BBC’s coverage of rallying.
BigJimBob says
with a great over the top video too
Deviant808 says
Power-pop you say?
(“Heaven is a Place on Earth” – Belinda Carlisle)
Ahh_Bisto says
At University I shared a room with a full blown left as left can be, card-carrying Labour and NUM member who loved Rush and hated pretty much any kind of indie music I played; luckily I also loved Rush so we were OK. He also had the broadest scouse accent I have ever heard. Made Jamie Carragher sound like he’d come from the Wirral. Anyway, he often referred to an attractive woman as “skerrrt” (i.e. skirt) which was pretty much the best word for a scouse accent. So when this track by Fleetwood Mac came out and it would come on the radio, I and many others in our group would put on the broadest of scouse accents and start singing at the top of our voices “Looochin’ out fer skerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt!”
The Mac – Big Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjKL469SpR0
Ahh_Bisto says
God, I’ve just remembered how much he loved Photograph by Def Leppard. It was his Friday night going out track. I had a late tutorial on a Friday and would invariably get back to the room with him this blaring out spraying Right Guard everywhere.
Diddley Farquar says
Maniac is a slick machine of a pop hit. It evokes a time when highly produced synthpop was new, exciting and cool and this was a state of the art US version but also incredibly commercial and catchy. Still sounds good to me.
Perfect for the film too.
Milkybarnick says
How about Desireless – Voyage Voyage?
Cut from a similar cloth to the (wonderful) Duel above.
Ahh_Bisto says
Aaagh. Flashback overload. I bought that for my girlfriend at the time. She absolutely loved it, possibly because she had a similar haircut but maybe without quite as much height.
Number Six says
I blame Iain Lee..
Ahh_Bisto says
Soar with SAW
Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
For a while circa 1985 every 3rd female hairdresser in the North West dressed like Pete Burns. True dat.
Number Six says
Three that spring to mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAsLDf-tYlg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1IEyQ5O01o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtER2E34Ptk
Milkybarnick says
That Jane Wiedlin record is a stonker, and was well used in “Car Share” earlier this year.
fentonsteve says
The Go-Gos’s really did have more than their fair share of top talent. I wonder what would have become of them with Jane as lead and Belinda on rhythm guitar and BVs.
Ahh_Bisto says
Whey oh whey oh whey ohhhhhhh
The Bangles – Walk Like an Egyptian
davebigpicture says
Three from me.
Split Enz: I Got You
Jimmy Carr’s dad
Kirsty
BigJimBob says
Spit Enz another group with more than one better than average song writer
Kaisfatdad says
Does Motown count as pop?
Dennis Edwards – Don’t look any further
Ahh_Bisto says
Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Ahh_Bisto says
Some cowboys have been spotted spotted near the Westway
Big Audio Dynamite – The Bottom Line
James Blast says
One of my most very favourites from one of ‘my’ bands.
Ahh_Bisto says
That album was one of only a handful that everyone I shared a house with could all get along with from my album selections. If I recall the others of mine that were tolerated were the Sisters’ Floodland, The The’s Infected, Talk Talk’s The Colour of Spring and The Chameleon’s Strange Times.
Kaisfatdad says
In Deep – Last night a DJ saved my life
Strange as it seems now, I spend a few years in the early 80s working as a tourist rep in the Med. Far too many hours spent in the disco. Loved this one to death.
Kaisfatdad says
Another fab pop record from 1988
Womack and Womack – Teardrops
GCU Grey Area says
Thomas Dolby – Hyperactive!
bobness says
Some great stuff here already, especially the Propaganda and Kirsty. Duel was the first thing I ever heard on CD, when my mate at Uni played it on his new fangled CD thing later in the 80s.
As an 80s rocker, I shouldn’t have liked this, but I always have. Just scraped in to 1980.
Rigid Digit says
Haircut 100 – Fantastic Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UApdZACUL-c
Rigid Digit says
Adam & The Ants – Stand & Deliver
Rigid Digit says
Strawberry Switchblade – Since Yesterday
Ahh_Bisto says
FYI: Rose McDowell’s poptastic Cut With The Cake Knife is being reissued:
So Vicious
Clive says
Uses the same Sibelius riff used by First Class on Beach Baby. The one that goes daaa daaa da daaa daaa da daaa da da da da.
Rigid Digit says
I knew the First Class reference – wasn’t aware of the Sebelius connection
(several years of ignorance falls before my eyes!)
Rigid Digit says
80s Pop – was 1984 the tipping point? Nothing was quite as pop-tastic again.
Or is that just an age thing (and in deep rooted hatred of the homogony of Stock, Aitken & Waterman and Soap Star chancers releasing singles)
Milkybarnick says
Difficult one. I was 10 or so by 1988 so was getting into listening to the charts. I’m extremely fond of a lot of the SAW stuff of that time – chuck away and light it may have appeared, but you can’t doubt the trio’s ear for a tune. This is probably one of their best IMHO (OOAA of course) .
(Mel & Kim – Respectable)
It may all be nostalgia (I was quite a happy 10 year old), but if a late 80s year comes up on Pick of the Pops, I’ll always try to have a listen.
Ahh_Bisto says
That Mel and Kim track was great, as was Showing Out:
And of course, Respectable was heavily sampled by PWEI (along with Adam & The Ants’ Stand and Deliver) for that student indie anthem, Hit The Hi-Tech Groove
niallb says
Great single. One of the best drum sounds of the 80’s (i.e. Sounds almost natural.)
BigJimBob says
You are right, drum sounds are one of the real aural giveaways of a era.
Uncle Wheaty says
What a top tune.
I have forgotten how good that was!
niallb says
They had some great singles – this was a belter.
Milkybarnick says
Is this edging a little too far over into rock territory? Noodling aside, this is still a stonking bit of (quite heavy) power pop.
Van Halen – Why Can’t This be Love
niallb says
Programmed to within an inch of it’s life but I still love this.
niallb says
And the award for the best bass line of the 80’s goes to…
Ahh_Bisto says
Wha? Not the Durannies Rio?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3W6yf6c-FA
I think John Taylor’s a great bass player tbh.
The Good Doctor says
So Do I. Nothing wrong with Duran, basically 70s Bowie and Roxy translated into 80s pop grooves via Chic with added synth pop and a dash of Magazine – they were a boyband/teen band by accident to be fair. I’d swap ‘Rio’ for any number of hallowed 70s rock touchstones.
Uncle Wheaty says
Agreed. One of the best albums of the 1980s
niallb says
Kaisfatdad says
Have an Up, Nial. Loved that album
ruff-diamond says
From their short-lived “Projected Passion” era, Dexys Midnight Runners with the magnificent “Show Me”:
Ahh_Bisto says
The epic long version of one of the great power pop singles of the 80s
The Arch Drude – Trampolene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT89BjGyO0U
niallb says
To be honest @ahh_bisto there are loads of cracking bass lines on 80’s singles. Trouble is they’re probably all Pino Palladino
Here’s one.
Ahh_Bisto says
Very true. Here’s another excellent bassline from XTC: The Mayor of Simpleton
Like many of the best Beatles songs, what seems superficially like a simple little pop ditty is actually built on some pretty exceptional musical arrangement
Jed Clampett says
Bass chappie has plenty to do here.
niallb says
Found it! This always went on a mix tape after Aha’s Cry Wolf.
Rigid Digit says
The Adventures – Broken Land
BigJimBob says
Jeez , forgot about this. Great bit of moody pop, not too far from Nik Kershaw.
Ahh_Bisto says
A couple from down under
Icehouse – Great Southern Land
INXS – Original Sin
https://youtube.com/watch?v=1XHU6Zk240c
Black Type says
The Fizz:
Rigid Digit says
Pete Sinfield
from “The rusted chains of prison moons
Are shattered by the sun.
I walk a road, horizons change
The tournament’s begun.
The purple piper plays his tune,
The choir softly sing;
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue,
For the court of the crimson king.”
to
“Shadows, tapping at your window
Ghostly voices whisper will you come and play
Not for all the tea in China
Or the corn in Carolina
Never, never ever
They’re running after you babe”
who am o to mock? A man has to earn a living somehow.
Black Type says
Both songs concern fantasy themes in their different ways…
Argot says
“And now, two from The Communards…”
http://youtu.be/-JBq7uOQYZU
Uncle Mick says
`80`s power pop? You want accordians with that?
Rigid Digit says
There is something seemingly down and dour about this track, but then also joyously pop-tastic.
Colourfield – Thinking Of You
Kaisfatdad says
1979 so a year too early. But so pop-tastically wonderful, I’mposting anyway.
Spacer: Sheila & Black Devotion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrKjawtXY3s
Jackthebiscuit says
Great example of everything but the kitchen sink OTT production
Tears for fears – Sowing the seeds of love
DogFacedBoy says
Kick out the style / bring back the Jam
Gary says
Funny old band, Tears For Fears. They sort of got tagged as quintissential 80s fluffy pop, largely I suppose thanks to Everybody Wants To Rule The World, but that first album of theirs is pretty deep. Calling a song Ideas As Opiates could sound ridiculously pretentious, but I think they got away with it on account of it being a fine song from a fine album that has dated very well.
Diddley Farquar says
Shannon, Let the Music Play
Diddley Farquar says
Joyce Sims Come Into My Life
SixDog says
When you hear the air attack warning, you and your family must take cover at once.
Kaisfatdad says
Another enormous old favourite
Shalamar – A night to remember
BigJimBob says
I always remember seeing the moonwalk for the first time
Jed Clampett says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRnBfA-Bn20
Fatback Band
Locust says
Well, he was huge in Sweden…Rupert Hine – I Hang On To My Vertigo:
Locust says
Simple Minds – Love Song.
My best friend had a VHS tape with a bunch of music videos on it that we watched pretty much daily, and this was my favourite.
Locust says
Surely though, this must be the most over the top 80s hit – Owner of a lonely Heart by Yes…
And this video is seriously odd:
fentonsteve says
Beamed in from another planet (or Dundee) – the Associates
SixDog says
Jon Anderson’s hair!
Kaisfatdad says
The Blow Monkeys – Digging your scene
Jed Clampett says
Blancmange – Living on the Ceiling
BigJimBob says
Bastille want to be this group
Gary says
How about a bit of Luther from 1980? Searching, by Change is pretty brilliant:
Black Celebration says
the turning point of a career
https://youtu.be/1_rD1LeECDE
Jed Clampett says
They always had something about them I think.
Black Celebration says
Great choice. Their first single that wasn’t an out and out pop song.
The remixes often had the kitchen sink (literally) thrown in due to the Fairlight synth being able to sample any sound. This one :
http://youtu.be/qOR9pdOTMs0
And this one, which would struggle to make it on to Metal Machine Music
Kaisfatdad says
The Lover Speaks are best known because Annie Lennox covered this song. But in fact the whole album was rather good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgwnXp1Zb4Q
Kaisfatdad says
Kid Creole and the Coconuts – Stoolpigeon
One of my favourite bands of the 80s. One of my favourite bands period!
Locust says
Oh, hullo! You’ve just answered my question on the “Dark horse…” thread!
Great minds think alike! 🙂
Kaisfatdad says
Any time Locust.
Now , how about a few more Swedish poptastic 80s moments?
I arrived mid/late 80s and it took me a few years to get my musical bearings.
The Good Doctor says
TUNE!!!!
davidks says
Pet Shop Boys – Left to My Own Devices
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcQFidfA9rU
Kaisfatdad says
Another fab song that’s a year too early…
But everyone else is asleep, so I’m slipping it in.
The Whispers- And the beat goes on
davidks says
The Cure – The Love Cats
Kaisfatdad says
“Martin, maybe one day you’ll find true love?”
In a place called the Afterword
Kaisfatdad says
51 songs already!
Kaisfatdad says
Another fab gem from the Duel Hitmakers
Kaisfatdad says
The floodgates of memory are bursting. What a marvellous song this is.
Black – Wonderful Life
paulwright says
Whatever happened to him? This was EVERYWHERE for a while, and it was one of those albums that everyone had apart from us musos (see also Phil Collins etc.). Then seemingly erased from history
Ahh_Bisto says
Yello – Oh Yeah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU0Ypufo6BM
Marc Almond – Ruby Red
Psychedelic Furs – Heaven
Kaisfatdad says
They just keep coming!
Laura Branigan – Elf Control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8-pP4VboBk&spfreload=1
Locust says
Here’s another good mid-80s groove: “In My House”, The Mary Jane Girls:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RENIRXApuW8
And the even more over-the-top “sexiness” of Vanity 6 – “Nasty Girl”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfLZfyphg0M
Both had a rather scary dominatrix-like blonde girl in the group, catering for all tastes.
Jed Clampett says
In the case of the Mary Jane Girls, she was a pioneer of the orange face make up. White body, orange face, peroxide hair … odd.
The Good Doctor says
Everybody Wang Chung tonight….
Rigid Digit says
Saw Wang Chung at Rewind a couple of years ago.
Their set consisted of Everybody Have Fun Tonight and Dance Hall Days – very much a case of “Play The Hits”.
Still, that was 1 better than John Parr managed. He played St Elmos Fire, and then padded out the next 5 minutes with an extended blues jam
Milkybarnick says
Love this record – it reminds me of trying to complete GTA Vice City. Awesome soundtrack full of the sorts of tunes that are popping up on this thread. I think “Living on the Ceiling” is in there too. “Self Control” definitely is.
Kaisfatdad says
Austria and Germany also had a few poptastic moments.
Falco – Der Kommisar
Nena – 99 Red Balloons (she’s still going strong, by the way)
Alles klar?
minibreakfast says
Tablet won’t embed vids, so could some kind soul add Spagna’s Call Me, please? I love it, and recently succumbed to a tasty 7″, hur hur.
Cobweb Steve says
Surprised that this hasn’t been posted yet…
Curiosity Killed the Cat ‘Down to Earth’
Here you go mini…
Spagna ‘Call Me’
minibreakfast says
Fanks, Cobweb man!
Walter Rego says
Walter Rego says
andielou says
Wow, what a thread- it’s my mum’s 7″ single collection & my childhood!
We need Salt n Pepa’s Push It, Yazz’s The Only Way Is Up & Man 2 Man’s Male Stripper into the mix.
KDH says
The death of Jim Diamond yesterday reminded me of this beauty:
BigJimBob says
wow this is developing into a great time capsule of my yoof.
Kaisfatdad says
I’ve got a lot of housework to do today. The 80s Poptastic playlist is a perfect soundtrack. Brilliant idea for a thread BJB.
Jed Clampett says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkcU2_Vs7Xw
An ’80s pop thread need Bananarama I think. Siobhan in all her indescribable hotness.
Kaisfatdad says
In 1980 these Canadians produced one of my all-time favourite singles.
Jed Clampett says
Just when you were getting tired of punks, there was Kate … chain mail bikini, veils, swords, eyes.
Kaisfatdad says
A cavalcade of 80s pop hits without the League?
Walter Rego says
Altered Images
Walter Rego says
Japan
Walter Rego says
Visage
Kaisfatdad says
Off over La Manche again! France Gall with her wonderful eulogy of Ms Fitzgerald.
Freddy Steady says
Wow… Mr Fat Dad. I love this song. Was working in Germany in the 80’s and this used to be played at a club I used to go to. It’s a euro pop classic with a hint of melancholy. Have it on a single which is up in the attic.
I know no-one else who has even heard this.
Declan says
I live in Germany @Freddy Steady. It was a huge hit. She won the Eurovision back in 1965 for Luxembourg, you know.
Kaisfatdad says
I still like No Parlez.
Paul Young Every time you go away
Rigid Digit says
Modegreen alert:
“Everytime you go away, you take a piece of meat with you”
Black Type says
Pedant Alert! ETYGA wasn’t on No Parlez – it was on The Secret Of Association. Not that this information negates your liking of the former, KFD 😉
Kaisfatdad says
Thanks BT! Facts are rarely my strong point.
Googled. I can see now that The Secret was also a rather fine album.
Every Time topped the charts on both sides of the pond, was his biggest hit and a Hall and Oates cover.
The stuff one learns!
Clive says
If I had a pound for every time I was stopped on the street in the 80’s and asked if I was Paul Young I’d have about four quid.
Number Six says
The 80’s band that time forgot. Still play this one out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhpwwZzUryg
Jed Clampett says
Nay, nay and thrice nay. Dreadful.
Number Six says
Not forgetting this:
Locust says
Swedish 80s pop, you ask?
Well, in 1981 this was playing in every “uppehållsrum” in every school in Sweden – Freestyle with “Fantasi”:
And if that wasn’t playing, this was – Gyllene Tider (Per Gessle pre Roxette) “När Vi Två Blir En”:
And then there was Secret Service, with the singer Ola Håkansson from 60s pop group Ola & The Janglers getting a second stab at being a pop idol, here with “Flash In the Night” on what appears to be a German pop show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldoHhZutfB4
Jed Clampett says
I think people were after this one to be honest.
Locust says
Not as mainstream, but the cool kids were into Lustans Lakejer. “Diamanter”:
And before Ratata turned soulful they sounded like this, “Ögon Av Is”:
Black Type says
Poptastic, heartbreaking Scandi noir…arguably their finest moment:
Milkybarnick says
I’m not an Abba fan, but that record is a wonderful thing, and encapsulates everything that was good about them.
Clive says
I win!
Clive says
Like shooting fish in a barrel…
Rigid Digit says
Dour, yet strangely life-affirming, toe-tapping,
Black – Wonderful Life
Argot says
“Huh, huh, huh, hu-uh!”
Black Celebration says
Propaganda have been mentioned a bit here and I was going to put on the Dr Mabuse video – but then I discovered this TV show performance, which I hadn’t seen before.
The classy grainy black and white version is here:
And if you want the baby and the bathwater inside the kitchen sink falling down the stairs – the full ZTT treatment of the song is here
Locust says
Also used in the opening of the classic 80s John Hughes film “Some Kind of Wonderful”:
Kaisfatdad says
Thanks Mr Celebration. Fine stuff that made me even more curious.
Just been reading on wiki about their rather chequered relationship with ZTT.
Kaisfatdad says
Propaganda are certainly a band which this thread has made me want to listen to more. Some fine songs.
Kaisfatdad says
Back in the day, I would go to a very trendy disco on Corfu.: La Boom. The evening would always end with this song.
La Vie en Rose.
Grace Jones was a goddess of 80s pop.
Kaisfatdad says
Italian guys sing about nuclear war in Spanish. What’s not to like?
Black Celebration says
They look like Italy’s answer to OMD. Yes, that good.
Gary says
Although Righeria are largely forgotten, sunk-without-a-trace two hit wonders, it’s a valid comparison, and not just for the dancing. Both Vamos A La Playa and Enola Gay are still very popular songs in Italy, oft sung and danced to, but in both cases most Italians don’t know that they are about war and bombs.
Kaisfatdad says
This I presume is the other one.
Don’t think we Corfu hedonists who danced to Vamos every weekend knew what the song was about. I found out much later.
Black Celebration says
I spent quite a bit of time in Spain and Italy in the 80s and OMD were very popular then – much more than in the UK.
Kaisfatdad says
Zuchero ticks all the buttons for this thread.
Argot says
This is the only one, so far, I’d switch off if it came on the radio.
Not so much Zucchero as Formaggio as far as I’m concerned.
Kaisfatdad says
Very witty, Argot. In Swedish there’s an evocative expression “smörsångare” which literally means “butter singer” to cover the likes of Julio Iglesias. The nearest I can think of in English is crooner. It is perhaps affectionately derogatory.
The history of “crooner” is fascinating. Started rather negative. Now rather less so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crooner
Neil Hannon and Richard Hawley are included in their list of contemporary crooners.
Argot says
I like “butter singer.” It would appear, whatever the language, that the whole dairy arena is a general no-go zone for performers!
davidks says
My favourite song, ever. It never ceases to bring a smile to my face.
Aztec Camera – Somewhere In My Heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4pWcVPUybE
Kaisfatdad says
If we’re indulging in shameless 80s nostalgia, I’ve go to have these.
I appreciate the presence ofOur Man in Monopoli when posting stuff like this.
Pino Daniele – Annare feat Weather Report
Teresa de Sio Aumm Aumm
Gary says
You’re far more knowledgable about Italian music than I am, KFD!
(Btw, while I am here – just wanted to tell you, I’m feeling far better than last week. Back healing nicely and getting plenty of exercise and just feeling much more positive and happy. Thanks again to you and @bingo-little for your kind concern).
Milkybarnick says
How about some Roachford?
welshbenny says
One of the first singles I bought. They looked ridiculous, of course, but I’m nostalgic for it.
And I still think this is a belter.
https://youtu.be/u6iqzi7N2Ds
Black Celebration says
I only found out recently through here that Siobhan Fahey co-wrote Young at Heart.
welshbenny says
And I realised only this morning that it was originally on a Bananarama album!?
Black Celebration says
Remarkable, really. I just looked up the tracklisting for Deep Sea Skiving. There’s a Paul Weller song in there and later versions had a sex pistols cover too.
SixDog says
15 years old, hormones already going gaga and this piece of gold sends the hormones spinning left right and centre.
I don’t think it ever got any better
count jim moriarty says
Very much in the same vein as The Hooters, this is a corker – The Rainmakers.
And this thread wouldn’t be complete without this bunch of crazy Canucks… headwear optional.
Black Celebration says
I think it was dancing was optional but there was a very passive aggressive tone there.
You can dance if you want to
You can leave your friends behind
Because your friends don’t dance
And if they don’t dance
Well, they’re no friends of mine
Freddy Steady says
Maybe a bit cool indie but fab anyway…..
Furniture.
fentonsteve says
I’ve just been invited to a “bring your 80’s vinyl” party at my local hi-fi shop and the 12″ of this was the first thing I thought of.
Rigid Digit says
80s Pop? Surely this thread must include Madness.
Baggy Trousers?
House Of Fun?
Our House?
Perhaps too obvious – how about this one:
The Sun And The Rain
Makka Pakka says
Three more perfect pop moments from the most derided musical decade. Can’t believe we’ve had no Squeeze yet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4yOa3tBrB8
Kaisfatdad says
Maligned decade? What are they thinking of?
This thread proves to me what an extraordinary amount of creativity and fine song-writing the 80s had to offer.
Jed Clampett says
A taffeta dress you say?
Kaisfatdad says
Mari Wilson! I loved that album. I played it to death the year I lived in Helsinki. Along with Anita Baker.
Finland for me was unspeakably cold, unspeakably expensive and unspeakably dull. I actually repainted the walls of the flat I lived in so I could have the excitement of watching the paint dry.
But I had Ms Baker.
Kaisfatdad says
I just have to have one more song by Anita.
bricameron says
bricameron says
Rigid Digit says
Sorry bri, January 1979.
Although, if Video Killed The Radio Star is (wrongly) considered to be an 80s song, it does mean that the 80s started in 1979, so your selection remains valid
Sewer Robot says
VKTRS (and, come on, released in Autumn ’79 as lead single from an album released in 1980) kickstarted the 80s in the same way that The Matrix (1999) is the movie that launched 21st century sci fi..
Sewer Robot says
Although, for those who insist, this is even better:
(Clean, Clean)
Rigid Digit says
A line needs to be drawn somewhere, and why not VKTRS?
It was, after all, the first video shown on MTV so locks it firmly to the time period.
It just allows me to indulge my pedantry when compilations like “The Greatest Hits Of The 80s That You Can Hear Every Day On Commercial Radio” include it. Invariably, these compilations rarely extend beyond 1985 – meaning the 80s as a decade started 1 year earlier and finished halfway through.
(This is not 100% true – but most compilations tend to be of the 80s Cheese variety, or PWL-based)
Kaisfatdad says
My pal @duco01 came over to KFD-ville last nigh. We were listening to the Poptastic playlist and he told me that the 80s was a disaster decade for jazz. Even artists that had been great and would be great again lost their mojo in the 80s.
Discuss!
Kaisfatdad says
From being the darling of the Underground, with albums like Sailor, in the 70s and 80s Steve Miller rather unexpectedly re-invented himself as the reliable provider of catchy guitar-driven hits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCuTrfTfGd0
Kaisfatdad says
A novelty hit about dinosaurs. A Temptations cover.
Why are Was (not was) remembered for all the wrong reasons?
A fabulous live band and the purveyors of sheer pop magic with songs like this.
or this
Kaisfatdad says
Sit through the intros and you can listen to a stunning live version of Hey Operator by the The Wassers.
Wow! What a show this was!
Pessoa says
Great thread. This has been overlooked so far: Kajagoogoo’s moment of glory
Kaisfatdad says
Talking of Kaja, what about Limahl’s theme for The Never-Ending Story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7DwWK3xojo
Book was far better of course, but it wasn’t a bad movie.
Kaisfatdad says
Everything but the girl’s debut album is still a great favourite of mine. This song is a doozy.
paulwright says
Great song, but ooh I bet they hate that video.
Kaisfatdad says
And now from the other end of the decade: De La Soul. Me, myself and I.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJEzEDMqXQQ
Kaisfatdad says
The future was so bright, they had to wear shades.
Timbuk 3.
The kind of band that were more than just one hit wonders but who made little impact on the charts other than this.
Kaisfatdad says
British soul funk from 1980: Linx.
You’re lying
Kaisfatdad says
Reggae could also be poptastic.
Maxi Priest- Wild World
Gregory Isaacs – Night Nurse
Kaisfatdad says
Not a mention of Culture Club?
Is Boy George the elephant in the room?
Rigid Digit says
“Is Boy George the elephant in the room?”
I know he’s put on a few pounds recently, but …
biasbinding says
Two pop oddities from 1983 that still sound good to these ears:
Kissing with Confidence – Will Powers
Waiting for a Train by Flash & the Pan
Kaisfatdad says
Daniel Lanois really started to make his presence felt at the end of the 80s. He produced the Neville Bros’ excellent Yellow Moon album.
Sister Rosa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MVP06iYf4M
And also released his own first solo album: Acadie
The Maker
DuCool and I saw him live when he toured that album. His band were the most honnery bunch of varmints I’ve ever seen on a stage. They looked as though they were all on day release from the Louisiana State Pen.
Kaisfatdad says
The Specials – none more 80s.
Ghost Town
Free Nelson Mandela
Two fine pop songs IMHO.
mikeyp40 says
mikeyp40 says
That didn’t go so well.
https://youtu.be/FO5-w3540H8
Uncle Wheaty says
Lovely song. Shame he never ever did anything else as good.
paulwright says
ooh, I don’t know. Come Back and Heart as Big as Liverpool are probably better.
Kaisfatdad says
Not much Style Council
Or Kane Gang for that matter
Uncle Wheaty says
Shout To The Top was always my favourite Style Council tune.
Kaisfatdad says
1987 gave us this gigantic song: Yeke Yeke by Mory Kante.
http://youtu.be/Ca5mbh3DbOY
Kaisfatdad says
Stockholm will never forget silky soulman Alexander O’Neal.
All of us have at some moment felt the need to take 40 winks during a gig. Alex took a nap on stage during his own concert.
http://youtu.be/TIsOQR3NBCQ
Jed Clampett says
Alexander helping out in his own inimitable style.
KDH says
Every time I hear this record, for some reason I imagine what it would sound like with Alexander O’Neal singing it…
Breathe – Hands To Heaven
KDH says
Some of us believe this might be the best Irish pop record ever…
Phil Lynott – Old Town
Locust says
My very first proper gig (not counting being dragged along to see awful acts by my older brother) was seeing Phil Lynott in -82 (or possibly -81?) at the Gröna Lund outdoor stage and absolutely loving it.
Bought his solo albums shortly after and was disappointed because they didn’t have the same energy and charm as he had on stage, but while my memories of that gig have faded with time, my appreciation of the albums has grown.
Uncle Wheaty says
Slide by the Big Dish was a favourite of mine at the time.
Kaisfatdad says
We’ll be exterminated if we do not include these wonderful loonies………
Kaisfatdad says
Strange to think that Peter Gabriel used to have massive hit singles……….
Black Type says
Hell, he ended up in KLF – who knew? 😉
Kaisfatdad says
This gigantic song was so much a part of my 80s. Here’s one for Tigger.
And one for me. A song by a Dutch band that you could not escape from on the Costa Borracha when I lived there.
Kaisfatdad says
Another enormous 80s band: Level 42. Making a rare appearance here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt7mtdLha-c
Kaisfatdad says
He died in 1981. But his influence coloured the 80s and well beyond.
Have you EVER been to a reggae gig where they didn’t ask you if you liked Bob Marley?
Freddy Steady says
Cutting Crew….apparently they’re back. Silly boys.
Kaisfatdad says
From the last Bowie album I ever bought. Rather good it was too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_8IXx4tsus
Tiggerlion says
@kaisfatdad I am shocked!!! Purchase The Next Day IMMEDIATELY!
Thanks for Let’s Groove further up.
Kaisfatdad says
“hangs head in shame”
I’ll give it a listen on Spotify at once, Tigs.
EWF were a big part of my 80s. Believe it or not, I used to go to a roller skate disco every Saturday afternoon when I lived in Benidorm (!!). Their tracks were always the high spots of my afternoon.
Kaisfatdad says
The fabulously funky (and magnificently out to lunch) Cameo
Kaisfatdad says
The wonderful Latin Quarter on TOTP. Loved Steve Skaith’s voice and there was some very fine song-writing.
Jed Clampett says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ-1DYwaxrE
Freeez – I.O.U. … 1980s pouring out of every orifice.
Declan says
A few more..
(Alison Moyet)
https://youtu.be/4VZoyuVGDtg
(Spandau Ballet)
https://youtu.be/DyCmNZheYZg
(Weather Girls)
rocker49 says
My three pop favourites from the 80s
Don Henley “Boys of Summer”
Aha “Take on Me”
Peter Gabriel “Games Without Frontiers”