Top 5 underrated classics from the '80s
Underrated classics from the '80s always fire up a real Stuck in the '80s fan. Today's guest blogger is Crystal Cole, a student at USF St. Petersburg majoring in English. When she's not writing poetry, she moonlights as an expert karaoke singer whenever it's '80s night.
If you're like me, there are a select few (or maybe a whole boatload!) of songs that made you stop and wonder: "Why the heck didn't this tune top the charts?!?" I've channeled my rage into today's top 5 list: an ode to underrated, less-well-known, obscure, and yet bad-ass songs of the '80s.
TOP 5 UNDERRATED SONGS OF THE '80s:
5. CRY LITTLE SISTER (Gerard McMann): The Lost Boys theme song ... are you kidding me? This tune epitomizes the dark side of the '80s culture. [Listen]
4. ALIVE AND KICKING (Simple Minds): Both musically dynamic and lyrically catchy, this song is a perfect example of radio stations just ignoring a song that should have been a smash hit. [Video]
3. WHITE HEAT (Madonna): Ya gotta love Mo's intro as she gives a big shout-out to the James Cagney film by the same name in this "Don't mess with my love" anthem. [Live performance]
2. MYSTIFY (INXS): In my opinion ...THE most underrated song INXS ever released! [Live performance]
1. LULLABY (The Cure): This haunting, yet sensual piece by Robert Smith and the boys is one of my absolute all-time favorite songs! [Video]
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Seeing as how Bram Tchaikovsky's "Girl of My Dreams" has been mentioned, I thought people might enjoy my video interview with the songwriter, Ronnie Thomas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJYX5XuPfsM
Posted by: John Kelly | August 20, 2009 at 09:24 PM
Here's some from my favorites playlist:
1) Mary's Prayer by Meet Danny Wilson
2) Kayleigh by Marillion
3) Love My Way by the Psychedelic Furs
4) Getting Away With It by Electronic
5) What is Love by Howard Jones
6) Severina by the Mission U.K.
7) Between Something & Nothing by the
Ocean Blue
8) When Love Breaks Down by Prefab
Sprout
9) Underwaterboys or Faded Flowers by
Shriekback
Posted by: Boe | May 07, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Two comments have mentioned "2-4-6-8 Motorway" by Tom Robinson. I'm puzzled by this since this song was a sizeable European hit as far back as 1977. Did it really not reach America until three years later? Fine song, btw.
Posted by: Anders E | May 06, 2009 at 08:06 AM
Here are some I like--
Numbers With Wings-The Bongos
No Easy Way Out-Robert Tepper (from Rocky IV)
Make a Circuit with Me-Polecats
Face to Face/Heart to Heart-The Twins
Romanticide-Combo Audio
Stay the Night-Ben Orr (from the Cars)
Lust for Love-Images In Vogue
2-4-6-8 Motorway-Tom Robinson Band
Posted by: billyshakes | May 06, 2009 at 02:09 AM
Wasteland-Mission UK
Belly of the Whale- Burning Sensations
Gorgeous(original version)-Gene Loves Jezebel
This Time-INXS
Kill the King-Masters of Reality
Posted by: rotnes | May 05, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Great trivia, Dr. Dim! I had no idea. I thought the woman on the cover of the Family's album looked quite Wendy-esque, but I had no clue they were twins!
In some ways, it's actually good that a lot of my fave tunes weren't hits back in the day -- I'd probably be sick of them by now if they were! Though it probably wasn't so great for the bands that were hoping for that hit single...
I'd better quit now before I put together another list to cover all of the great songs I forgot to put on my first list!
Posted by: Dr. Incognito | May 05, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Wow, Dr. Incognito. That's quite a list. I know how you feel, though. I could have done a similarly lengthy list.
You mentioned The Family, one of Prince's protegee bands. I saw them at First Avenue way back when. Supposedly, Prince was there that night, but it was so crowded I never saw him.
Anyway, there's an interesting fact about that band that I think Spearsy might be excited to learn, given his attraction to Wendy of the Revolution. The Family featured Susannah Melvoin. Who is she? Only the TWIN SISTER OF WENDY MELVOIN. And, according to Wikipedia, Susannah was romantically involved with Prince. So, Steve, she appears to be a straight twin of Wendy.
However, she is married now to some guitarist dude. Sorry, Steve.
Posted by: Dr. Dim | May 05, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Oh geez...don't get me started. You got me started.
How about these for starters? This is just off the top of my head after a spin through a few of my iPod playlists, and it leaves off a lot of my favorite alternative tracks that, though incredible, just didn't really have American Top Forty potential. I also think it's rather telling that several of these were at least minor hits in the UK.
Any Trouble - Second Chance (sorta Elvis Costello-esque)
Bananarama - Robert De Niro's Waiting (given their other huge hits, why not this one?)
The Beat - Don't Wait Up For Me
The Belle Stars - Sign Of The Times
The Bluebells - Forever More (or "Cath", or "Everybody's Somebody's Fool")
The Bolshoi - Away
Bram Tchaikovsky - Girl Of My Dreams (this, and a few others on this list, may actually be from '79 - sorry!)
The Chords - Maybe Tomorrow (mod revival -- woo hoo!)
Dirty Looks - Let Go
The English Beat - Save It For Later
The Family - The Screams Of Passion (Prince protegees better known for recording "Nothing Compares To U" before Sinead O'Connor)
Great Buildings - Hold On To Something (these guys would eventually become the Rembrandts, and the rest is "Friends"-theme-song history)
Icehouse - Great Southern Land
INXS - Don't Change (how this one wasn't an interplanetary mega-smash, I still don't know)
Japan - "Quiet Life" or "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" (if Japan had been lucky enough to come after Duran Duran instead of before them, they might have been huge)
Kirsty MacColl - A New England (Billy Bragg's original is great, but this is poppier...RIP Kirsty)
The Lilac Time - If The Stars Shine Tonight
Naked Eyes - Emotion In Motion
Nick Lowe - Several, but especially "I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass"
The Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost In You
Rational Youth - Saturdays In Silesia (Canadian indie synthpop classic)
The Records - Starry Eyes
Red Rockers - Either "China" or "Just Like You"
Shoes - Several, but "Tomorrow Night" and "Turnaround" are my favorites
Squeeze - Again, several, but my faves are "Another Nail In My Heart" and "Up The Junction"
Stabilizers - Tyranny
Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday
The Teardrop Explodes - Eh...probably "Passionate Friend"...alas, most of my faves from "Kilimanjaro" are probably too out there.
Tears For Fears - Change (though several from "The Hurting" should've been big)
Tenpole Tudor - Swords Of A Thousand Men
The Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 Motorway
The Toms - Let's Be Friends Again (why didn't power pop like this explode in the early 80's?)
Trees - Delta Sleep (whatever happened to this dude?)
Visage - Fade To Grey
Wire - "Map Ref. 41 N 93 W", "Outdoor Miner" or "Kidney Bingos" (maybe too odd to be hits, but they are amazing pop songs)
Wire Train - "I'll Do You" or "Chamber Of Hellos" (if you like the Church, you'd love the first Wire Train album)
20/20 - Yellow Pills (see my comment about the Toms above)
And that just scratches the surface!
Posted by: Dr. Incognito | May 05, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Funny how the most memorable songs seem to be New Wave or Alternative with the fans here. Were we bigger fans of John Hughes soundtracks than of the Billboard Top 40?
Posted by: Bill in Nokomis | May 05, 2009 at 06:38 AM
Tampa Bay? There's my answer. Most of your pix were hits in Canada. Come on up and see us sometime!
Posted by: DDBurger | May 04, 2009 at 08:43 PM
What's He Got - The Producers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lx2vH2Q5yo
Ah Leah! - Donnie Iris
(mostly homemade videos for this one)
World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa8gYL_SC9o
Dear God - XTC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk41Gbjljfo
Talk of the Town - The Pretenders
(gotta post my copy of the original video as YouTube doesn't seem to have it!)
Posted by: Former Producer Dave, aka Maestro | May 04, 2009 at 07:48 PM
The Cure in the #1 spot....daddy like....is Crystal single? (don't tell my wife)
All the love,
MinA
Posted by: MinA | May 04, 2009 at 03:30 PM
Jeepers! How do I limit my list? Practically everything I liked in the 80s was underrated. Heck, most of it wasn't even on the radar screen. Which makes me wonder, can something be considered a classic AND underrated at the same time? I guess I'm just being pedantic again.
Let's see what I can do...
I Will Dare - The Replacements
Slit Skirts - Pete Townshend
Senses Working Overtime - XTC
Love Is The Law - The Suburbs
Indigo Eyes - Peter Murphy
Up On the Catwalk - Simple Minds
Love Vigilantes - New Order
Another Bubble - Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians
Spring Collection - The Vapors
Ink and Paper - Modern English
Mean To Me - Crowded House
Ok, I'll stop now.
Posted by: Dr. Dim | May 04, 2009 at 02:41 PM
Great picks. I would add:
Rain - The Cult
Just Another Day - Oingo Boingo
Little Mascara - The Replacements
What Do I Know? - Saga
Posted by: Bassnote | May 04, 2009 at 01:17 PM