[Note: Every Friday on First Thoughts we host a discussion about some aspect of pop culture. Today’s theme is music from the 1980s. Have a suggestion for a topic? Send them to me at jcarter@firstthings.com]
I hail from Generation X while my sixteen-year-old daughter is a member of Generation Y. Yet despite the alphabetical proximity, there is a vast generational chasm between us musically. I came of age in a time of FM radio, cassette tapes, and hoping they showed my favorite artist on Friday Night Videos; she grew up in an era of satellite radio, iPods, and when any video can be found on YouTube. To her—a girl who thinks N’Sync is “old school”—the music of my high school years is positively prehistoric.
Perhaps because of a lack of exposure, she isn’t able to grasp the strange and subtle beauty of music from the 1980s. So in order to refine her musical sensibilities, I’ll need to open her ears so that she may hear. Which raises a question that I will put to the collective wisdom of First Thoughts readers:
What handful of essential but non-obvious albums would you recommend to a teen to persuade them that the 1980′s were not a musical wasteland?
The emphasis is on non-obvious. Anything by REM, U2, The Clash, Springsteen, or the soundtracks of any John Hughes movie is automatically disqualified. And be prepared to defend your choices—especially if your selections include hair/glam metal bands.
Also, if you’re your list includes RATT, Culture Club, or Kajagoogoo, please close your browser and never, ever visit this blog again.
Here are a few of my candidates:
  |
The Smiths The Queen is Dead & World Won’t Listen — The soundtracks for the lives of future meterosexuals. |
 |
The Tubes Outside/Inside — ‘She’s a Beauty’ was the most played song of my junior year (though ‘Wild Women of Wongo’ came a close second). |
 |
Randy Travis Storms of Life — This debut album marked both the birth of neo-traditional country and the peak of Travis’ career. |
 |
A-ha Hunting High and Low — But only for the stuff that didn’t make it on the radio (e.g., ‘Sun Always Shines On T.V.’). |
 |
The Lost Boys Original Soundtrack — The coolest album of alternative music ever made for alt-wannabes. |
 |
Peter Gabriel So — The one with ‘Big Time’ and ‘Sledgehammer’. ‘Nuff said. |
 |
Kate Bush The Whole Story – The godmother of Lilith fair-type fem alt-rock. |
 |
George Strait Greatest Hits — Even after 50+ albums, Strait has yet to top this collection from 1986. |
 |
Luther Vandross The Best of Luther Vandross — Vandross was Johnny Mathis for Generation X. |
 |
James Ingram It’s Your Night — This one has been in my tape deck/CD player/iPod since 1986. It never gets old. |
 |
Steve Taylor I Predict 1990 — The man who saved us from a lifetime of Amy Grant and Petra clones. |
 |
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms — Mark Knopfler isn’t a great singer (he sounds like a coherent Bob Dylan) but this album would make the cut even if had nothing but “Your Latest Trick.” |
 |
Garth Brooks Garth Brooks — Difficult as it is to imagine now, Brooks was once a great artist. Sadly, he peaked with his debut album (indeed, peaked with his first single—”Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”—and all-time greatest song). |
| Honorable mentions: | Crowded House Crowded House
Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent d’Arby White Heart Greatest Hits Sade Stronger Than Pride Duran Duran Rio Whodini Escape Squeeze Singles 45′s and Under |
| What would you add to the list? |
February 26th, 2010 | 9:42 am
Also would add to your very good list:
Paul Simon Graceland
Steve Winwood Back in the High Life
Huey Lewis & the News Sports and Fore!
Bruce Hornsby The Way It Is
February 26th, 2010 | 10:01 am
I saw Crowded House live in Glasgow in the 1990′s, probably the best live band I’ve ever seen, great entertainers.
I’d also add U2′s ‘War’ (1983), INXS ‘Kick’ (1987)
My last one is probably completely non-obvious to those who weren’t in Scotland in the 1980′s but for me it’s a classic 1980′s album, Deacon Blue ‘Raintown’ (1987).
Their single ‘Dignity’ is great, if you haven’t heard it you can listen here:http://www.last.fm/music/Deacon+Blue/Dignity+-+The+Best+Of
February 26th, 2010 | 10:04 am
The Go-Go’s – “Beauty and the Beat” (1981)
February 26th, 2010 | 10:07 am
What? Another music discussion??
I can’t resist. I’ll add just two essentials:
The Vapors – New Clear Days (1980)
Best known for the single “Turning Japanese” this album proved, to anyone who listened, that The Vapors were no one-hit-wonder.
Marshall Crenshaw – Marshall Crenshaw (1982)
For all the comparisons to Buddy Holly and The Beatles, Chenshaw’s debut effort really sounds like no one else.
More obscurely I’d make pitches for:
Parthenon Huxley – Sunny Night (1988)
and
Richard Thompson – Across A Crowded Room (1984)
February 26th, 2010 | 10:15 am
Best overlooked album of the ’80s: “The Crossing,” by Big Country.
Dire Straits: their debut album came out around 1978, but “Sultans of Swing” was re-released in the ’80s, so could that count?
And The Police, “Synchronicity.”
February 26th, 2010 | 10:18 am
Scritti Politti, Cupid and Psyche ’85
Pet Shop Boys, Introspective
Elvis Costello, Imperial Bedroom
Au Pairs, Playing with a Different Sex
Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions…
Morrissey, Viva Hate
Prince, Purple Rain
February 26th, 2010 | 10:24 am
Thin Red Line by The Cretones (1980)
Gospel Nights by Maria Muldaur (1981)
Inner City Front by Bruce Cockburn (1981)
All Four One by The Motels (1982)
Infidels by Bob Dylan (1983)
Proof Through the Night by T-Bone Burnett (1983)
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher by Van Morrison (1986)
Reconciled by The Call (1986)
People by Hothouse Flowers (1988)
Spike by Elvis Costello (1989)
February 26th, 2010 | 10:33 am
The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs
Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense (Greatest live album of all time.)
Iggy Pop – Instinct (Underrated, but pure Iggy.)
February 26th, 2010 | 10:38 am
You hit it right with Garth Brooks.
What about The Police with Synchronicity or does that fall into the obvious category?
What about some John Cougar (Melloncamp)?
February 26th, 2010 | 10:50 am
Rush, “Permanent Waves” (1980) and “Moving Pictures” (1981)
Dire Straits, “Love over Gold” (1982)
To provide some heavy ballast, Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” (1986)
February 26th, 2010 | 11:05 am
I haven’t heard most of the albums of your list, Joe, but I’m going to look into some of them. In the meantime, I can’t believe that nobody has mentioned two of the greatest albums of that decade: Guns N Roses’ Appetite for Destruction and Tom Waits’ Rain Dogs. The former is the great rock ‘n roll album of the 80s (though I’d not recommend letting your daughter hear it), and the latter is simply a brilliant, brilliant record.
I would also vote for U2′s Joshua Tree and Springsteen’s Nebraska, but they are obvious so I’ll be quiet about them.
Steve Taylor’s I Predict 1990 is an interesting choice. It has been a long time since I heard it, but I remember thinking very highly of it.
February 26th, 2010 | 11:24 am
“The Good Earth” by Feelies
“Repercussion” by the dB’s (great power pop)
“Power Corruption & Lies” by New Order
“Scary Monsters” by David Bowie (his last great album)
“Pleased to Meet Me” by the Replacements
“The La’s” by the La’s (I think this was released in 1990, but it was created over many years in the ’80s)
February 26th, 2010 | 11:57 am
These are fairly obvious, but they haven’t been mentioned:
Invisible Touch – Genesis
The Traveling Wilburys
Full Moon Fever – Tom Petty
February 26th, 2010 | 12:23 pm
“Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense (Greatest live album of all time.)”
Yep.
February 26th, 2010 | 12:48 pm
“Express” (1986) and “Earth, Sun, Moon” (1987) by Love & Rockets — they are sort of a poor man’s Cure, but I always thought they made sad but beautiful power pop.
“Lowlife” (1985) and “Brotherhood” (1986) by New Order — two of the greatest albums of the 80s and maybe of all time. New Order did more with electronic music that just about anyone before or since (maybe with the exception of Trent). Serious at times but also lots of fun and your daughter won’t be able to resist dancing along.
“Candy Apple Grey” (1986) and “Warehouse: Songs and Stories” (1987) by Husker Du — before there was 90s grunge, there was Husker Du. I miss these guys and although Bob Mould is still making solo records, his hard rocking days with this band stand out as an amazing artistic achievement in crafting intense power rock that had something interesting to say.
“Eliminator” by ZZ Top (1983) — really a guilt pleasure and not necessarily appropriate for young women. But these guys and their videos were such a part of the 80s for awhile that it is hard not to include them, even though they do get overlooked by the bigger artists of the decade.
February 26th, 2010 | 12:54 pm
Is Kraftwerk’s 1981 album “Computer World” meritorious? Does it only have geek cred?
February 26th, 2010 | 1:11 pm
Best album of the 1980s, hands down, ‘Pleased to Meet Me’ by The Replacements.
February 26th, 2010 | 1:29 pm
I took my 17 yr old son to see a band very very heavily influenced by The Clash. He loved it! When I played “London Calling” (Jan 1980) for him he asked to make a copy and plays it regurlarly going on 2 months now.
Also, according to Wikipedia: “Critically acclaimed, it was declared the best album of the 1980s a decade later by Rolling Stone magazine”
February 26th, 2010 | 1:33 pm
From Wiki -
“The Forest is an instrumental album by recording artist David Byrne, and released in 1991. Some of the music from this orchestral album was originally used in a Robert Wilson directed theatre piece with the same name. The Forest premiered at the Theater der Freien Volksbühne, West Berlin in 1988.”
Since it premiered in 1988, it slips under the wire :)
February 26th, 2010 | 2:00 pm
Though it has songs older than the 80s, Bob Marley’s Legend (1984) is a fantastic compilation, one that caused me to delve deeper into Marley and Jamaican music.
Another compilation is David Byrne’s compilation of Brazilian (specifically MPB) music, Brazil Classics Vol 1: Beleza Tropical (1989). The opening track, Ponta de Lança Africano (Umbabarauma), is killer and the rest of the comp is full of solid selections.
Though I’ve never heard the soundtrack, Crossroads (1986) had the masterful slide guitar of Ry Cooder and the fretboard shredding histrionics of Steve Vai.
Three of the Pixies’ discs from the late 80s are non-obvious essential listening: Come On Pilgrim (1987), Surfer Rosa (1988), Doolittle (1989). That trio of releases paved the way for so much music in the 90s.
Mentioned earlier, Tom Waits’ Rain Dogs is amazing, but I’d also have to recommend Swordfishtrombones (1982), which really opened the doors on a new period in his music, and the often-underrated Franks Wild Years (1987).
February 26th, 2010 | 2:04 pm
Agree with others here that both Bowie and Dylan have great 80s stuff, and certainly the Talking Heads belong on the list. I’d add the Violent Femmes–either the self-titled debut or the Jerry Harrison-produced The Blind Leading the Naked.
Also: shouldn’t we be talking about Thriller? Too obvious?
February 26th, 2010 | 2:07 pm
I suppose if you’re only going to have one representation of the incredible genius who calls herself Kate Bush, then The Whole Story, which is a greatest hits collection, will have to do. But The Dreaming, followed closely by Hounds of Love, is a real masterpiece of an album, showing Our Kate’s mergence from teen wunderkind to mature artist with unique voice. Both of those albums are in fact superior to The Whole Story. BTW, the version of “Wuthering Heights” (Kate’s runaway #1 debut hit song) which is on the Whole Story has a re-recorded vocal. See The Kick Inside for the original version with the ethereal, little girl voice that made her famous.
February 26th, 2010 | 2:11 pm
I forgot to add that Kate Bush is sevreal orders of magnitude superior to any of her countless alt-fem wannabe imitators. Tori Amos? Don’t make me laugh. Happy Rhodes? Paula Cole? Sarah McLachlan?Please, try to be serious. Kate is in a class by herself.
February 26th, 2010 | 3:15 pm
“Candy Apple Grey” (1986) and “Warehouse: Songs and Stories” (1987) by Husker Du — before there was 90s grunge, there was Husker Du. I miss these guys and although Bob Mould is still making solo records, his hard rocking days with this band stand out as an amazing artistic achievement in crafting intense power rock that had something interesting to say.”
Yep, again. Also, when did “Copper Blue” come out, by Sugar, also Bob Mould’s band? Was that ’80s or ’90s? Anyway, I liked Sugar even better than Husker Du. Beautiful, thoughtful pop songs with the feedback on the guitar turned WAY UP.
And–so I don’t have to post again–does anyone else remember “Craps” by Big Dipper? It had the song on it “Ron Klaus Wrecked His House,” an anthem during my undergrad years.
February 26th, 2010 | 3:27 pm
I’ve gone through the comments pretty carefully, and it seems the whole citizenry of the Paisley Underground was overlooked, especially:
The Days of Wine and Roses by The Dream Syndicate
Gas Food Lodging by Green on Red
State of Our Union by The Long Ryders
And here’s a hodgepodge of other essential 80′s albums:
Double Nickels on the Dime by The Minutemen
Ocean Rain by Echo and the Bunnymen
High Land, Hard Rain by Aztec Camera
Suzanne Vega by Suzanne Vega
One Step Beyond by Madness
Specials by The Specials
(The last two are both 1979 releases, but they would dominate in the early 1980′s.)
February 26th, 2010 | 3:31 pm
Cocteau Twins.
Yes to Costello, Big Country, Waits.
If you could only choose one album, though, it should be Hounds of Love.
February 26th, 2010 | 3:41 pm
Pixies – Doolittle. Best alt-rock album ever – 13 out of 15 songs are classics, and it doesn’t have a naked lady on the cover like Surfer Rosa. There’s a reason why they’ve been able to do three or four separate reunion tours – their original audience loves ‘em that much, and the younger generation gets ‘em too. You can even set your daughter down to discuss the biblical themes covered in masterpieces like ‘Monkey Gone to Heaven’ and ‘Gouge Away.’
Public Image Limited – Second Edition (think it was released stateside in 1980). Basically created the post-punk sound that U2 struck gold with in With or Without You
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures – The other classic dark post-punk band, besides PiL. If your daughter wants to feel like her angst is dark and deep, you can’t go wrong with Joy Division. Especially considering their popularity’s had a resurgence the last several years.
Minor Threat – Discography. Seminal DC hardcore, but nothing you’d have to worry about your kids hearing
Beat Happening – Everything. Like a lo-fi version of the Smiths, and just as witty. The fact that they’re unattractive people makes them singing about their teen angst that much funnier. True originals.
Siouxsie and the Banshees – Superstition
NoMeansNo – 0 + 2 =1. Punk rock, German philosophy, and proggy jazz stylings? Yes, please! Can’t go wrong with “A memory is a loaded gun/ and I remember everyone”
February 26th, 2010 | 3:47 pm
[...] Creed apologist Joe Carter has assembled a list of the 80s’ essential but-not-too-obvious albums. I missed out on the decade, but I’ll go ahead and nominate The Replacements’ back [...]
February 26th, 2010 | 4:14 pm
“From Langley Park To Memphis” by Prefab Sprout (or any of their 1980s albums).
“If I Should Fall From Grace With God” by the Pogues.
“Shot of Love” by Bob Dylan
“Bennett/Berlin” by Tony Bennett
Of-course, the 1980s was no musical wasteland. There was plenty of wonderful and gorgeous music being made. Good taste, however, did not generally reign at the top of the charts.
February 26th, 2010 | 4:39 pm
Dylan’s Biograph and the Cowboy Junkies’ Trinity Session
February 26th, 2010 | 4:45 pm
I didn’t think anyone else in the world would remember a-ha–thank you for listing that album! And, as a lifelong Duran-ie, I appreciate “Rio” (Hold Back the Rain is a classic) and raise you a ” Seven and The Ragged Tiger”.
February 26th, 2010 | 4:49 pm
No Nena?
February 26th, 2010 | 4:56 pm
Don’t forget the redoubtable Weird Al Yankovic, whose star first rose in the ’80s and whose parodic oeuvre is nearly as essential as (sometimes far MORE essential than) its inspirations.
Some of Al’s funniest, most underrated pieces from this decade aren’t direct parodies of any particular song, but original, lovingly bent reflections of ’80s Americana such as “Nature Trail to Hell,” “Midnight Star,” and “The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota.”
For these and other aesthetic delights, “Permanent Record: Al in the Box” is the compilation to go for.
February 26th, 2010 | 5:08 pm
[...] another blog I just picked the album From Langley Park to Memphis by Prefab Sprout as “one of the [...]
February 26th, 2010 | 5:08 pm
Props to Sean for mentioning PiL. Second Edition/Metal Box among the greatest and weirdest pop records ever. A few more, in no particular order, which also meet a more stringent definition of 80s-ness:
The Mekons, Edge of the World
The Replacements, Let It Be
X, Under the Big Black Sun
February 26th, 2010 | 5:17 pm
This may have been a Midwestern obsession, but does anyone else remember Trip Shakespeare? Especially “Are You Shakespearianced?”
February 26th, 2010 | 5:45 pm
“Second Edition/Metal Box among the greatest and weirdest pop records ever.”
Ain’t it, tho? And if he buys it, it’ll be like he’s getting 32 albums for the price of one.
February 26th, 2010 | 5:48 pm
Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man
(Couple the best songwriting and the worst production and you somehow get the best album).
Tom Waits – Rain Dogs.
(Pure genius)
February 26th, 2010 | 6:35 pm
Joe Jackson, “Night and Day”
Rickie Lee Jones – “Pirates” and “Girl at Her Volcano” (her debut album was 1979, otherwise, I would have included that too).
Dead Can Dance – “Within the Realm of a Dying Sun”
Lucinda Williams – “Lucinda Williams”
There must be at least one by Elvis Costello that belongs on this list, but I do not know his discography well enough to select any particular ones.
You didn’t put it on the “obvious” list, so I’ll add John Lennon’s “Double Fantasy”.
Ditto to the recommendations others have made for Sade, Cowboy Junkies, Tom Waits, Suzanne Vega and Kate Bush. For Vega, I would add “Solitude Standing”.
And, finally, a gratuitous, knee-jerk “ugh” to Rush (I try to emphasize the positive, but some difficult truths must be spoken – I realize that may open me up to a cheap shot against, say, Rickie Lee Jones, but that is the price of speaking truth.)
February 26th, 2010 | 6:37 pm
Oh, how did I miss Leonard Cohen? Good call, R.B.
February 26th, 2010 | 9:07 pm
“Meet Julie Miller.” By Julie Miller.
February 27th, 2010 | 1:02 am
No Lyle Lovett? I’d say Pontiac, but all of his ’80s albums are pretty great.
February 27th, 2010 | 10:01 am
All Thompson Twins albums. They are absolutely essential!!! Especially “Into the Gap”. Also, don’t forget New Order!!!! One of the greatest bands of all time!
February 27th, 2010 | 11:12 am
Not even a mention of Stevie Ray Vaughan. What’s the point of even talking to you people?
February 27th, 2010 | 12:49 pm
I agree with many of the recommendations made, but would add:
Roxy Music’s “Avalon”
Pete Townshend’s “All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes”
David and David’s “Boomtown” – One of the greatest, but overlooked, albums of the decade.
Pat Metheny Group’s “Travels”
February 27th, 2010 | 6:41 pm
not my decade but 2 leap to mind
marshall crenshaw:field day
robert cray: strong persuader
February 27th, 2010 | 9:09 pm
Sorry to post again, but they keep coming to mind:
“Gretchen Goes to Nebraska” by King’s X.
“All of This and Nothing” by The Psychedelic Furs. (Released in 1990, but it was a best-of collection from the ’80s.)
February 27th, 2010 | 9:10 pm
“This Is the Sea” by The Waterboys. (Please see above apology.)
February 28th, 2010 | 2:11 pm
Hmmm….good discussion here…I think that Cheap Trick would also be worthy of consideration…how about Eddie Brickell and the New Bohemians and The Judd’s?
February 28th, 2010 | 7:39 pm
What about the Stone Roses’ eponymous album (1989)? A Britpop essential if there ever was one.
March 1st, 2010 | 2:12 am
I would go with “Power, Corruption & Lies” by New Order, or possibly “Substance” although that’s a compilation of non-album hits. Independent rock meets disco. Absolutelly fabulous!
March 1st, 2010 | 2:34 pm
I’m often surprised at how many people don’t include Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland,’ in their 80s lists – an essential album if there ever was one.
March 1st, 2010 | 9:33 pm
Of course, Stop Making Sense should top the list. Some others that I am surprised not to see up here yet:
Speaking in Tongues (also by the Talking Heads, would be deserving of the list on Naive Melody alone)
R.E.M – Out of Time
U2 – War
New Grass Revival (early Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, John Cowan & Pat Flynn)
King Crimson – Discipline
UB40 – Labor of Love
B-52s – Cosmic Thing
Robert Cray – Strong Persuader
Stevie Ray Vaughn – The Sky is Crying
March 8th, 2010 | 4:41 am
OK:
2 classic Australian LPs from the 80s:
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 by Midnight Oil
16 Lovers Lane by the Go Betweens
March 9th, 2010 | 5:13 pm
Here are a few of the albums I remember listening to on hazy evenings in the 80′s–I have left off the ones i’d consider “obvious”, although many of these were quite popular
Not all the greatest 80′s music actually happened in the 80′s so a few of my choices might not qualify under the strictest of terms:
Gary Numan : The Pleasure Principle
The Cars : The Cars
Genesis : Duke
Killing Joke : Killing Joke
Bauhaus : Mask
Eno / Byrne : My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
Cure : Faith
Men at Work : Business as Usual
Psychedelic Furs : Talk Talk Talk
Ultravox : Rage in Eden
Cocteau Twins : Garlands
Laurie Anderson : Big Science
The Replacements : Stink
Ric Ocasek : Beatitude
Robert Plant : The Principle of Moments
Echo & The Bunnymen : Porcupine
Fixx : Reach the Beach
Freur : Doot Doot
Thomas Dolby : The Flat Earth
The Cult : Love
King Crimson : Three of a Perfect Pair
Jesus and Mary Chain : Psychocandy
’til tuesday : everything’s different now
Cluster & Eno : Old Land
Sonic Youth : Evol
XTC : Skylarking
Jane’s Addiction : Nothing’s Shocking
Love & Rockets : Earth Sun Moon
Public Image Limited : Happy?
Pixies : Come on Pilgrim
Sisters of Mercy : Floodland
Camper Van Beethoven : Key Lime Pie
Daniel Lanois : Acadie
Peter Murphy : Deep
and I should just stop……
Links
Blogs
Find Us
Contact