This is my 80s

Had to eat my lunch through an audio haze of a so-called “Great 80s Music” station. What’s sad is that these 80s are not the 80s that I remember, or at least they’re not the 80s that I want to remember. Sure, Billy Ocean was all over the dial at the time, but who really needs to hear “Carribbean Queen” now? Yeah, this is going to come off as elitist, but I just know how choosy I was then and how much more choosy I’ve become. With that in mind, here are some of the 80s albums that are actually worth remembering…

  • Upstairs At Eric’s – Yaz
  • The Communards – The Communards
  • Heavy Metal – Original Soundtrack
  • Welcome to the Pleasuredome – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  • Long Cold Winter – Cinderella
  • Pump – Aerosmith
  • Passion – Peter Gabriel
  • Trinity Session – Cowboy Junkies
  • In My Tribe – 10,000 Maniacs
  • Synchronicity – The Police
  • Floodland – Sisters of Mercy
  • The Hurting – Tears for Fears
  • Seven and The Ragged Tiger – Duran Duran
  • Run-D.M.C. – Run-D.M.C.
  • Hold Your Fire – Rush

That’s more like it…

January 9, 2004 – 5:16 pm | By Thomas | Posted in Memories | Comments (4)
  • JO

    Don’t forget..
    Sex Pistols
    The Cure
    Depeche Mode
    Bauhaus
    Kate Bush
    Sonic Youth
    The Motels
    toss in a little late 80′s
    Guns & Roses
    Def Leopard
    and you have yourself a 80′s snack Julieanne Style.

  • Kathryn

    Just an FYI– Rick James, Teena Marie, and Morris Day and the Time are on tour together. They’re playing at the Fox Theater (in Detroit) later this week, for all of you 80′s Super Freaks. How much fun would that be? Ohwee ohwee oh…

    No one has mentioned Prince’s Purple Rain. I bought that CD again a few months ago– along with the Beastie’s Licensed to Ill (seemed appropriate when visiting Brooklyn). I was enjoying my own little delve into 80′s nostalgia. They’re still two of the best albums ever made.

    Glad to see that I wasn’t the only one who fondly remembers Cinderella’s Long Cold Winter (another one of my all time favorites). I remember sneaking out of the house and sitting on the hood of Joey Cowger’s Firebird (red and bondo), drinking Boone’s, smoking cigarrettes, and watching the barges slowly roll down the Mississippi– Tom Keifer screaching about the “Gypsy Road” taking us home. Joey and I discussing the great mysteries of life, illuminated by lighting bugs and moonlight. Black eyeliner, pearly pink lipgloss, great big blonde hair, ripped acid washed jeans, and a Motley Crue t-shirt…the first time those black rubber jelly bracelets were cool.

  • Darrell

    Sounds to me like your pal Joey dresses like a girl.

    A friend of mine who used to work for a major label gave me a CD called “Naughy Platinum Rock.” Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Warrant, Great White, Cinderella (from _Night Songs_), Aerosmith… The best 80′s album to come out of the year 2000.

    How you people could have possibly mentioned 80′s music and not touched on Glam Rock sensations Poison-Look What the Cat Dragged In… If you haven’t been in a dive bar in the last five years and heard “Talk Dirty To Me” blasting on the jukebox then come on up. I’ve got a bar that you need to see.

    David Lee Roth vs. Van Halen? Come on. He names his album “Eat ‘em and Smile” and they come back with “OU812.” Are we talking about maturity? No. And when we leave out maturity that’s when we really get into 80s music. Bon Jovi, the aforementioned Morris Day and the Time, Whitney Houston, Styx. The lack of depth and meaning in our pop music was one of the most perfect reflections of our Reagan-era lives. Do you really think Weird Al Yankovic would have made a name for himself doing parodies of The Eagles, The Who and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

    And some of the most amazing one hit wonders of all time:
    Joey Scarbury, Rupert Holmes, Skid Row. These are the bands we should be talking about. And the most amazing feat ever pulled in popular music: a one-hit wonder band with 2 hits. But they were so far apart few people ever connect them. Without looking it up anywhere (cause that’s all cheating), name the band who… umm… sang?… “Pop Goes the World” and their first hit.

  • http://www.grabbingsand.org Thomas

    I’ll take Men Without Hats for $200, Alex.