Ah, the music of the 80's. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Pick a year, scroll through its releases, and you're sure to find not only something you like, but iconic hits which have withstood the test of time.
I continue my journey in the hunt for the top albums which will be bestowed the honor of being purchased for showcasing on my wall, and today, that takes me to 1982. This year, for me, is where the decade really took off. Some albums, for obvious reasons, were selected for my top twelve, but others were just personal gems for multiple reasons.
First, let's kick out the one and only honorable mention, which was considered for the list, but didn't make the final cut. That would be the soundtrack to Grease 2. I mean, come on, the first film is so amazing, and frankly, I'm considering grabbing that soundtrack for the wall. However, the follow up, while not resonating with most, stands out as a solid entry in the world of sequels. The soundtrack doesn't deliver the punch of the original, but still has a fair amount of memorable tunes.
Number twelve on the list takes me to my childhood, and yet another one of those moments I've mentioned multiple times already here at The Toy Box, my sisters record collection. Jona Lewis' Can You Stop The Cavalry, was a song she would play frequently from her Top Of The Pops, or Springbok records, and when it came on, we would walk around in a circle pretending to play the brass instruments. You know, just kids being kids. Its one of my oldest personal memories, and one which cemented the track in my mind.
Creatures Of The Night, the song, was my introduction to Kiss, and it came via the opening track of Alive III. Even as I typed this up, I decided to throw the song on. Creatures, the album, isn't jam packed with hits, far from it, but its title track and the Gene Simmons led, I Love It Loud, are massive ones. Plus, I just really dig the cover.
Fantastique is a prime example of why its important to never stop looking for hidden gems. I heard, Mama Told Me on a random radio station one day while driving down the road. At first, I thought it was a song from the current era, and really liked how it had adopted an 80's sound. Little did I know, until looking into it further, that it was from the relatively unknown dutch duo, and released in 1982. Since then, it's become one I play frequently in rotation.
Did I know Electric Avenue was a protest song when I was a kid? No. Of course not. I thought Electric Avenue was a place where people go to have a good time. Well, despite the education I would get in my adult years, when I finally listened to the words with mature ears, that I would get a full understanding. Still, I find myself bopping my head frequently to the song, just enjoying it for what it is, a classic 80's hit.
Hall & Oates H2O was a surprise for me when I recently sat down and listened to it. They were a band I always equated to knowing the hits, and that was good enough. However, it was while listing to this one that I got an appreciation for the deep dive, and walked away with multiple additions to my shuffle. Was it perfect? No, but it made a big impression.
My appreciation for Siouxsie And The Banshees is relatively a new thing to me, and because of how I come up with these posts isn't something you'll find out about for another couple months. However, take my word when I say that A Kiss In The Dreamhouse is a solid entry. It was an unexpected treat to hear for the first time, and even though at number 7, I'd consider it for the wall.
For me, Boy George could easily be the poster child for the 80's. Culture Club wasn't a perfect band, by any means, and they didn't necessarily craft flawless albums. However, what they did have was presence, and when the hits were good, they were amazing. Depending on when and where you bought their debut, you could have any number of versions. The most popular would be the US release, which included the single, Time (Clock Of The Heart).
Africa and Rosanna may be two of the most overplayed song in history, but oddly enough, every time I hear them, I keep them on. Without those two, I doubt Toto IV would even be on my radar. This is one of those scenarios where I consider it for a spot on the wall because it's an iconic album, but at the same time, want to refrain because it's not perfect.
That's kind of the same situation for Duran Duran's Rio. I mean, say their name, and most people will immediately think of this album's title track, Hungry Like The Wolf, Save A Prayer, and The Chauffeur, all of which can be found here. Not only that, but who doesn't remember that iconic cover? This could easily be on my wall, if for nothing else, the pure nostalgia and iconic stature of the album.
It saddens me that a pressing of Oingo Boingo's Nothing To Fear will set me back around $50.00 because this is one which would definitely be a contender for the wall. Sure, not many people outside of the Boingo crowd would be able to name one song off of it, but for me, it was practically perfect, with the exception of a handful of tracks.
And, it's 1982, so everyone knew Thriller would be on this list. What may shock you is that it's not at number one. That's because for me, I don't consider it Michael Jackson's best work. Yes, the majority of it is amazing, and overall the album is killer, but there are a couple songs on it which just don't resonate with me.
For me, my number one spot goes to Prince's 1999. You want to talk about a solid entry for the year, look no further. It has the pop sound which catapulted Prince to stardome, and also starts to showcase The Revolution more than before, though still not noted as Prince And The Revolution on the cover.
This is a tough one because I still have so many years ahead of me to narrow down albums, so I can't very well pick all of these. Instead, I really need to edit myself to what truly would be the cream of the crop for the wall. For that, it comes down to the inclusion of Prince's 1999, and Michael Jackson's Thriller. Add that to the pile with 1980's The Game, from Queen, and Rush's Permanent Waves. While The Smurfs All Star Show was chosen from 1981 to be added to the pile, I've honestly already grabbed that one to put on my wall, but elsewhere.
Africa and Rosanna may be two of the most overplayed song in history, but oddly enough, every time I hear them, I keep them on. Without those two, I doubt Toto IV would even be on my radar. This is one of those scenarios where I consider it for a spot on the wall because it's an iconic album, but at the same time, want to refrain because it's not perfect.
That's kind of the same situation for Duran Duran's Rio. I mean, say their name, and most people will immediately think of this album's title track, Hungry Like The Wolf, Save A Prayer, and The Chauffeur, all of which can be found here. Not only that, but who doesn't remember that iconic cover? This could easily be on my wall, if for nothing else, the pure nostalgia and iconic stature of the album.
It saddens me that a pressing of Oingo Boingo's Nothing To Fear will set me back around $50.00 because this is one which would definitely be a contender for the wall. Sure, not many people outside of the Boingo crowd would be able to name one song off of it, but for me, it was practically perfect, with the exception of a handful of tracks.
And, it's 1982, so everyone knew Thriller would be on this list. What may shock you is that it's not at number one. That's because for me, I don't consider it Michael Jackson's best work. Yes, the majority of it is amazing, and overall the album is killer, but there are a couple songs on it which just don't resonate with me.
For me, my number one spot goes to Prince's 1999. You want to talk about a solid entry for the year, look no further. It has the pop sound which catapulted Prince to stardome, and also starts to showcase The Revolution more than before, though still not noted as Prince And The Revolution on the cover.
This is a tough one because I still have so many years ahead of me to narrow down albums, so I can't very well pick all of these. Instead, I really need to edit myself to what truly would be the cream of the crop for the wall. For that, it comes down to the inclusion of Prince's 1999, and Michael Jackson's Thriller. Add that to the pile with 1980's The Game, from Queen, and Rush's Permanent Waves. While The Smurfs All Star Show was chosen from 1981 to be added to the pile, I've honestly already grabbed that one to put on my wall, but elsewhere.
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