I can already tell that whittling down the wall albums is going to be a challenge. Mainly because the pile of contenders is growing, but the space on the wall is staying the same. Let's run through the list of where we're at so far for those being considered.
Queen - The Game (1980)
Rush - Permanent Waves (1980)
The Smurfs - The Smurfs All-Star Show (1981)
Prince - 1999 (1982)
Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
Oingo Boingo - Only A Lad (1983)
Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual (1983)
Ghostbuster (1984)
The Cars - Heartbeat City (1984)
Jacksons - Victory (1984)
"Weird Al" Yankovic - In 3-D (1984)
Prince And The Revolution - Purple Rain (1984)
Oingo Boingo - Dead Man's Party (1985)
USA For Africa - We Are The World (1985)
Prince And The Revolution - Around The World In A Day (1985)
Falco - Falco 3 (1985)
"Weird Al" Yankovic - Dare To Be Stupid (1985)
As we dive into 1986, things once again start out with the honorable mentions. There's a slew of them, and some of them hurt to not make the top twelve.
Queen's A Kind Of Magic, and Ozzy Osbourne's The Ultimate Sin are two albums I can listen to from start to finish, and they have some amazing covers...Gah...In writing this, I would love to have the space for these on the wall.
Then you have the soundtrack for Transformers The Movie. Great soundtrack, and nostalgic in ever sense of the word. This one might end up being a pickup to go with my cartoon albums.
I give a nod to Metallica for their importance to me from high school. Master Of Puppets was an album I listened to a lot back in those day, but it's one I can't sit through anymore. Overplayed, moved on, the "black" album, whatever it is, I just don't like Metallica as much as I used to.
The Fixx was a band I knew from the 80's for One Thing Leads To Another, and got into in a big way recently when coming across their 1986 song, Can't Finish. I put its respective album, Walkabout, on this list not only for introducing me to a larger catalog of great music, but because it features some great tunes, and a pretty fun cover.
I think I wanted Peter Gabriel's So on this list because of the iconic videos he created in the 80's, and this album contains a tone of great songs which were featured in said videos. I mean, come on...Sledgehammer? Who doesn't recall that video's groundbreaking effects back in 86?
I think I wanted Peter Gabriel's So on this list because of the iconic videos he created in the 80's, and this album contains a tone of great songs which were featured in said videos. I mean, come on...Sledgehammer? Who doesn't recall that video's groundbreaking effects back in 86?
The self titled Fine Young Cannibals debut is underrated. It often gets overshadowed by its successor, The Raw And The Cooked. P.S., this also came out in 1985, and at this point, I can't be bothered to go back and fix it.
Cutting Crew's Broadcast was a nice gem to unearth. Yes, it contains the hits (I Just) Died In Your Arms, I've Been In Love Before. However, there's so much more here.
The hits from Billy Ocean's Love Zone are so iconic to the 80's. You hear them, and they transport you back instantaneously to the early months of '86, and a hot off its December '85 released Jewel Of The Nile film. It was one of the first music videos I ever saw where the cast appeared as part of it, and not just in clips.
It's a guilty pleasure. Neigh, not guilty. I have no shame about loving The Karate Kid II. Great movie, great soundtrack. Great fun.
The hits from Billy Ocean's Love Zone are so iconic to the 80's. You hear them, and they transport you back instantaneously to the early months of '86, and a hot off its December '85 released Jewel Of The Nile film. It was one of the first music videos I ever saw where the cast appeared as part of it, and not just in clips.
It's a guilty pleasure. Neigh, not guilty. I have no shame about loving The Karate Kid II. Great movie, great soundtrack. Great fun.
Last on the honorable mentions is the soundtrack to Little Shop Of Horrors. My sister had Grease. "They" tried to give us Xanadu. But, for me, my musical is Little Shop. Rick Moranis and Steve Martin are kings of comedy, and not too shabby at singing either.
With that, we jump into the top twelve, and it all starts off with Jermaine Stewart's Frantic Romantic. We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off is always a go to for me from the 80's. If it's on, I'm listening to it. No question. Though there are some hidden gems in the album, really, it's his hit that keeps me coming back. I really need to check out his other 80's albums.
If the radio was on in the 80's chances were high you were going to hear Walk Like An Egyptian, Manic Monday, or If She Knew What She Wants, all featured on Bangles Different Light. This album is an essential for any 80's fan.
Looking at number ten, and seeing Lionel Richie's Dancing On The Ceiling should be a tell to you that 1986 was a massive year for music of the era. I mean, if Lionel Richie is number ten, what could possibly be better? Well...
With that, we jump into the top twelve, and it all starts off with Jermaine Stewart's Frantic Romantic. We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off is always a go to for me from the 80's. If it's on, I'm listening to it. No question. Though there are some hidden gems in the album, really, it's his hit that keeps me coming back. I really need to check out his other 80's albums.
If the radio was on in the 80's chances were high you were going to hear Walk Like An Egyptian, Manic Monday, or If She Knew What She Wants, all featured on Bangles Different Light. This album is an essential for any 80's fan.
Looking at number ten, and seeing Lionel Richie's Dancing On The Ceiling should be a tell to you that 1986 was a massive year for music of the era. I mean, if Lionel Richie is number ten, what could possibly be better? Well...
Madonna's True Blue starts out with the awesome synth intro to Papa Don't Preach, and you know right away something good's about to happen. The hits just keep coming with La Isla Bonita, and Open Your Heart.
Prince And The Revolution's Parade gets a bum wrap. People often right it off as the soundtrack to the poor film, Under The Cherry Moon. First off, that film is funny. If you're watching it expecting a series film, the joke is on you, and Prince is laughing. He intentionally plays it over the top, going for the gags. As for the music, it takes everything you know about the singer, and shoots off in a whole new direction. There are so many great tracks on this one.
If you would have told my thirteen year old self that Paul Simon was a folk singer from the sixties, I would have looked at you like you had two heads. No. He's the guy who did that funny music video with Chevy Chase from the Vacation movies, I would have said. Regardless of my naivety, one thing is for sure that his Graceland album is one solid piece of musical genius. The inclusion of Ladysmith Black Mambazo on backing vocals was a gutsy move in '86, but one that proved to be the icing on the cake. They add a layer to each track that takes good songs, and elevates them to amazing.
It's little Michael Jackson's littler sister, Janet, and she's in Control! She tore up the MTV airways with Nasty, The Pleasure Principal, and of course, the title track, carving out her own existence in pop culture.
Much like my naiveté with Paul Simon, I would have told you Genesis came to fruition in 1986. Further, as a child, I wouldn't be able to distinguish songs between Phil Collin's solo career, and the band's music. I was pretty dumb. Case in point, while all the adults in the room were enthralled by the deep lyrical message of Land Of Confusion, I was raptured by the puppets in the music video.
Mock it if you must, but I love me some The Final Countdown by Europe. The album is solid from back to front, and one which I definitely want to get for the wall. Not only that, but dig that far out cover!
Bon Jovi took 1986 by storm with Slippery When Wet. I dare say it was them who made hair metal mainstream. Sure, these days Livin' On A Prayer, You Give Love A Bad Name, and Wanted Dead Or Alive are all overplayed, but there's a reason for that. They're classics!
Available only in Israel, Kidd Video's The TV Show Hits, features every single song from the faux band. Say what you will, I think they're great. Easily able to stand on the top ten list of any pop charts. Now if only we could get the actual cartoon released on DVD.
Coming in at number one is probably my second favorite soundtrack of all time, Top Gun. Second because nothing will ever dethrone Prince And The Revolution's Purple Rain. Top Gun is a perfect album from start to finish, featuring the likes of Kenny Loggins, Cheap Trick, Miami Sound Machine, Berlin, and so many more.
I have to really edit myself because frankly, it would be easy to grab a lot of these for contenders on the wall, even the honorable mentions. But, space is limited, and concessions have to be made. Not everything will get a spot, even if it comes down to ones I really want. No room is no room.
Adding to the list of contenders are Top Gun, Kidd Video, Bon Jovi, and Europe. Yeesh...This might become a thing where every few months I have to rotate albums out, and mix things up. We still have three years to go through!
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