Top of the Pop Culture 80s - Top 20 Singles of the 80s - Numbers 10 to 1

 

1 When Doves Cry – Prince

2 Fame -Irene Cara

3 You Are - Lionel Richie

4 Love is a Battlefield - Pat Benatar

5 Broken Land -The Adventures

6 Running Up that Hill - Kate Bush

7 Martha’s Harbour - All About Eve

8 Caught Up in a Rapture - Anita Baker

 9 So Emotional - Whitney Houston

10 Hide and Seek - Howard Jones 

Top of the Pop Culture 80s - Top 20 Singles of the 80s - Numbers 20 to 11

 11 Piano in the Dark - Brenda Russell

12 Time (Clock of the Heart) - Culture Club

13 Here Comes the Rain Again - Eurythmics

14 Mary’s Prayer - Danny Wilson

15 Move Closer - Phyllis Nelson

16 In a Lifetime - Clannad & Bono

17 You Came - Kim Wilde

18 Long Hot Summer - The Style Council

19 Mated David Grant and Jaki Graham

20 Modern Love - David Bowie

Top of the Pop Culture 80s - Top 20 Albums of the 80s - Numbers 10 to 1

 

Our Top 20 all time 80s favourite albums. Numbers 10 to 1. The criteria is albums we still play today and never tire of, where we never skip any songs or think I've heard that track too many times. Yes, we are aware that Pat Benatar's "In the Heat of the Night" was released in August 1979 in America but it never charted in the U.K. until 1985. 

Listen to some of our favourites:

Play the Number One album

Top of the Pop Culture 80s - Top 20 Albums of the 80s - Numbers 20 to 11

 Our Top 20 all time 80s favourite albums. Numbers 20 to 11. The criteria is albums we still play today and never tire of, where we never skip any songs or think I've heard that track too many times.

Listen to some of our favourites:

Janet Jackson

                                       

”We are a nation with no geographic boundaries, bound together through our beliefs. We are like-minded individuals, sharing a common vision. Pushing toward a world rid of colour lines.” (Janet Jackson 1989)

After recent events in America concerning the murder of George Floyd, it seems we still need to keep pushing, only harder and more determined than ever before!

In 1984 it was announced that Janet Jackson was joining the cast of “Fame”. All I knew about Janet at that time was that she was Michael Jackson’s little sister but as I loved “Fame” so much and as with the other cast members I set out to learn more.

To my surprise I discovered that she had already released 2 albums, her 1982 self titled debut and her 1984 “Dream Street” album. Neither had charted in the U.K. and were difficult to find but I did track them down. Janet had hated being on “Fame” and only did a dozen episodes and left as quickly as she could.

                                    

However that was long enough for me to become a fan.
In 1986 “Fame” had ended in the U.K. even though there were new episodes being made in America. The final episode here a concert special was aired in January 1986. A couple of months later in March Janet (Miss Jackson if you’re Nasty!) was sailing up the charts with her first single from new album, which would be her first U.K. top 40 hit and the start of her accent to mega stardom.

I first saw the “Control” album in the Virgin Megastore in Birmingham on import from America at twice the price of a normal U.K. album. It hadn’t officially been released here at that point but I was already addicted so had to have it. That was the start of a huge collection of Janet memorabilia that grew and grew throughout the 90s and early 00s. Every month I would by Record Collector magazine and go through circling anything listed for Janet, which led me to discovering the wonderful World of record fairs and I made a number of Janet pen pals from around the World.

With no internet at this point it was difficult keeping up with “Fame” and its cast and my love for Janet became a substitute.

                                      

1989 brought “Rhythm Nation 1814” which for years became my favourite album. Although the album reached number 4 on the U.K. charts none of the 7 singles made it any higher than number 15 and weren’t as big as I thought they deserved to be.

1993 brought the “janet.” album which did bring greater success. When an album was released I would book the day off from work, go out and buy the album early and then spend all day listening and enjoying the new music. At times we had to wait up to 4 years between albums and getting one was like receiving a letter from an old friend.

1997 Janet released “The Velvet Rope” album, which felt like an incredibly personal album and one that really touched me. It soon became my favourite Janet album ever and has stayed that way ever since.

For me Janet continued the themes that made “Fame” so special to me. Her “Control message felt similar to Fame’s “believe in yourself” and the messages from “Rhythm Nation 1814” about equality, unity and prejudice had always been part of the ethos of “Fame”. The energy and the dancing was the icing on the cake.

I first saw Janet live on 1990s “Rhythm Nation” tour. I planned to go to both London and Birmingham but the dates got postponed by a month so I couldn’t do London, thankfully she added an extra night in Birmingham for my Birthday. I’ve travelled round the U.K. to see Janet on tour many times after that.

                                   

After she canceled her 2001 all for you tour and the infamous “Wardrobe Malfunction” at the Super bowl, Janet’s career in the U.K. declined. Not helped by the cancellation of her 2016 “Unbreakable” tour.

Still for me that period from 1986 to 2004 was a Janet filled extravaganza unrivaled by any other musical artist and I was a part of Janet’s Rhythm Nation, with people United through Poetry, Music, and Dance.

“In complete darkness we are all the same. It is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us. Don’t let your eyes deceive you”. (Janet Jackson 1989)

Pat Benatar Playlist

Time for a little rock! Not surprisingly I’ve never really been a rocker. However, Rock Music was one area where the men didn’t really do it for me but the women certainly did!

In 1985 “Love is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar was re-released in the U.K. Not that I knew at the time, this song wasn’t really Pat’s usual rock style, it was more an 80s synthesizer pop dance song. They even made Pat dance a little in the music video which she hated doing!

Still it was the kind of stuff I liked so having bought the 12 inch single and loved it, I then went out and bought her current “Tropico” album. 

                                

Again at first I was unaware that this album was a slight change in direction for her and a little softer than her usual style. I loved the album so much that I decided to delve into her back catalogue.

That’s when I discovered her true rock style and her powerful passionate voice. “Heartbreaker”, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, “Fire and Ice”, “Invincible” etc.... featuring the amazing guitar playing of her husband, since 1982, Neil Giraldo.

Her first album “In The Heat Of The Night” was released in 1979 and after I heard it in 1985 it very quickly became one of my all time favourite albums. I simply love every track. The album never originally charted in the U.K. but it did hit the dizzy heights of number 98 in 1985. Which naturally must have been because I'd gone out and bought it!!

                                   

Sadly Pat has never really had the chart success in the U.K. that I feel she deserves. “We Belong” reached number 22 in 1985. “All Fired Up” reached 19 in 1988 and that re-release of “Love Is A Battlefield” peaked at number 17 and remains her biggest hit. A handful of other singles have made the lower regions of the U.K. charts.

Some of her albums have done a little better and her Best of collection in 1987 “Best Shots” reached number 6. Aged 67 Pat is still rocking.

You can enjoy my Pat 80s Playlist on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist…

Alison Moyet - ALF 1984

ALF is the debut album from Alison Moyet, released on 9th November 1984 on CBS/Columbia Records. It was produced by Tony Swain and Steve Jolley.  The album reached No. 1 on the British charts and peaked at No. 45 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.

Listen to the Full album:



Track listing:

Love Resurrection
Honey For The Bees
For You Only
Invisible
Steal Me Blind
All Cried Out
Money Mile
Twisting the Knife
Where Hides Sleep

Smash Hits Review

Number One Magazine Review

1982 synth pop duo Yazoo burst on the U.K. chart. The perfect combination of Vince Clarke's electronic sounds and Alison Moyet's wonderfully powerful voice. I was a big fan and especially loved the singles "Don't Go" and "Only You".

I was still at school at the time and couldn't afford the album "Upstairs at Eric's" but being a member of the record library I borrowed it and was very naughty by copying it so I could keep a copy.

The following year after their second album "You and Me Both" Yazoo (or Yaz in America) split leaving Alison to go solo.

Her 1984 debut album ALF was much anticipated and didn't disappoint. Preceded by the excellent first single "Love Resurrection", Alison had worked with my favourite producers at the time Swain and Jolley, who were responsible for the Imagination sound and also worked with Spandau Ballet and Bananarama.

I had the ALF album for Christmas 1984 and loved every track but "Invisible" is definitely my favourite. Sadly, despite co-writing 8 of the 9 tracks Alison wasn't happy with the pop sound that was forced upon her by the record company and producers. Now she even refuses to sing "Invisible" live.

Thankfully I got to see her in concert at the NEC in 1987 when she was still performing it and I was totally blown away by her voice.

Her 1987 follow up "Raindancing" was good but not up to the perfection of her first album. Then things went a little weird for awhile as Alison rebelled against the pop she'd become associated with for material that she was happier with.

For me ALF remains her best work.

Jermaine Stewart - Word is Out Album, 1984

I’ve been nominated on Facebook to share my musical history. So anything that is 80s related I thought I'd share here too.

“The Word Is Out” by Jermaine Stewart.

Jermaine had started his career as a dancer on American TV show “Soul Train” where he met Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, who would go on to form Shalamar. Jermaine was up for lead vocalist in the group but lost out on the position. He did later tour with Shalamar as a dancer and backing singer. He met Mikey Craig of Culture Club and performed backing vocals for the group. Mikey helped him put together a demo to secure him a record deal.

In the Summer of 1986 Jermaine’s single “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off” was zooming up the charts. I loved it straight away and had bought the 12 inch single which I had on repeat. I not only loved the A side but the B side song “Brilliance” is one of my all time favourite songs.

I was hungry for more and went in search of an album. “We Don’t Have To...” was actually from his second album “Frantic Romantic”, although at this point that album hadn’t been released in the U.K.

Disappointed but undeterred I still kept looking and in the Virgin Megastore in Birmingham I found the only copy of “The Word Is Out”. This was his first album which had actually been released two years earlier in 1984 but had passed everybody, including me by and it didn’t chart in the U.K. at all. Neither did any of the 3 singles that were released from it, but I loved it.

The vocals, the music, the funky beats and Jermaine’s wonderful sense of fashion I loved it all. Although most of all I loved his hair! Of course this was the era of huge 80s hair, with perms and mullets but Jermaine’s was perfectly straight. This was years before it became fashionable for everyone to straighten their hair. Back in 1986 I too had long hair, didn’t we all? And I so wanted my hair to be like Jermaine’s. I never quite achieved that!

Night after night back in 1986 I would play this album on repeat while trying in vain to beat pac man on my newly acquired home computer and devouring bags of wine gums!

I bought all his other albums and singles but nothing compared to the glory of this first album for me.

Despite the number 2 success of “We Don’t Have To....” and a couple of other hit singles “Say It Again” and “Get Lucky” over the next couple of years, Jermaine is largely forgotten and much of his music unknown. Jermaine sadly died of AIDS related liver cancer in 1997 aged 39.

All these years later I never tire of this album and it took me until the early 2000s to finally acquire it on CD. Even now I can taste those wine gums when I listen to it!

Track listing:

The Word Is Out
I Like It
In Love Again
Debbie
Reasons why
Get Over It
Month of Mondays
You
Spies 
Brilliance


Listen to the Full Album  

                                                                    Music Week Review:

Suzanne Vega - Small Blue Thing - 1986

Suzanne Vega "Small Blue Thing"  

 The 2nd Single from Suzanne Vega was released in January 1986 and reached Number 68 on the U.K. singles chart.  Written by Suzanne Vega it was released on A&M records on  7 inch, & 12 inch Single and spent  3 weeks on the chart.

Live Perfromance

 

Number 1 Magazine Review

 

This is one of my all time favourite songs.

Chris De Burgh - Borderline - Favourite Songs

I think Chris De Burgh is underrated both as a songwriter and vocalist. I remember it was mid 80s and in the job I was doing the manager would play music over the P.A. and one of the albums he played was a best of Chris De Burgh. A number of the songs resonated with me and from then I started to investigate Chris' back catalogue and the new albums as they were released.

His songs are often stories of wonderful characters usually from times past and situations that perhaps the listener is always familiar with.  They have a powerful intensity. While listening the stories come to life and are brilliantly emotional. Borderline is one of his best. The line "And it's breaking my heart ..." is sung with such feelings that it really touches me.

For a while in the 80s Chris music would be my cry in my beer music when I felt down and alone.    

Live Performance 1987

 

 

Julia Fordham - Towerblock - 1989 - Favourite Songs

Julia Fordham's 1989 album "Porcelain" is a big favourite of mine. I love her voice and the subtle emotion it conveys. "Towerblock" is my favourite track, such a tender lover song with a twist at the end. Back in the 80s I felt this need to not let anyone see my emotions, which was incredibly difficult as I am a very emotional person. I guess I put it walls that I let very few people through. All the time longing for someone who I could lean on.

 

Interview and Live Performance

 

Jermaine Stewart - Brilliance - Favourite Songs

In 1986 Jermaine Stewart had a hit with "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off". Loving that song I bought it on 12 inch. The B Side was Brilliance. As soon as I heard it I loved it more than the A side. Jermaine seemed really cool, with great dance moves and even better hair. Oh I so wanted my hair like that! 

"Brilliance" wasn't like any other love song I'd ever heard. I hadn't realised that this song actually came from his 1984 "Word is Out" album. I instantly sought out that album and that quickly became one of my favourite albums of all time. Jermaine would release a couple more albums but for me his first album was always the best and "Brilliance" the best song on that album.
  

Pet Shop Boys - I Want A Lover - 1986 - Favourite Songs

A personal favourite from the Pet Shop Boys 1986 album "Please" written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. As an 18 year old struggling with his sexuality this song spoke to me. The Pet Shop Boys weren't out (how didn't we know?) but a couple of songs on their debut album, which I loved, really spoke to the gay guy in me trying to come out. After a couple of drinks there were times when I just wanted to be me and wanted to be with someone who understood and not have to admit to the World who I was and have to face the issues that coming out could bring. 

Neil Tennant Says:

"This was written in 1983, and is a self-proclaimed gay disco song: "When we first started writing together Chris was very keen that we should write sleazy songs - it had never occurred to me before. It's about standing at a corner of a nightclub and everyone's leaving and you've seen someone you fancy, and who's going to make the first approach?" It was recorded with Blue Weaver, who was a regular keyboardist for the Bee Gees."

1984 Demo Version

 

 

 

Spanish TV Performance