TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on May 10, 2023 20:26:02 GMT 1
57 The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
Think I will get banned from Rate Your Music for having this outside the top 50. It is commonly said that this is their best album but it's not my favourite. It is just a bit too noisy and raw for me compared to their next two albums. I really tried and assumed I must be wrong, yes it starts brilliantly with "Just Like Honey" but I think 'Dark Lands' owns this record. This was of course their debut and it reached #31 in the UK and #198 in the US. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 10, 2023 20:31:22 GMT 1
56 Rush - Power Windows
I don't know how they do it, but here is a 5th album of the 80s from them and their 7th album overall. Carrying on with the more synth based sound but they can do no wrong for me, I already suspected they would be one of the best rock bands of the 80s and this project confirmed it. Of course, it is another big hit, reaching #9 in the UK and #10 in the US. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 11, 2023 13:29:13 GMT 1
55 Arcadia - So Red the Rose
We had The Power Station here is the rest of Duran Duran, and basically it is, nothing on here sounds that different from their current Bond Theme 'A View To A Kill'. We do have a lot of guests on this one-off side project from Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and the other Taylor brother Roger. "Election Day" is as good as any Duran Duran hit, and the album reached #30 in the UK and #23 in the US. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 11, 2023 13:33:52 GMT 1
54 Rick Springfield - Tao
Another really good album from him, his 10th release now. Some very catchy singles on this including "State of the Heart" and "Celebrate Youth". It is his most 80s sounding record yet with way more synths and new wave sounds. Just a fun record, It reached #21 in the UK and #88 in the UK. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 11, 2023 13:39:24 GMT 1
53 Orchestral Manœuvres in the Dark - Crush
Their sixth album, they are maybe less groundbreaking and just one of the pack now, but this is still a very good record. Not the strongest singles they have done, although I really like "Secret". The inclusion of "If You Leave" would have assured a top 50 placing, though. A moderate success, it reached #13 in the UK and #38 in the US. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 11, 2023 13:44:19 GMT 1
52 Toto - Fahrenheit
Their sixth album and first with a new vocalist Joseph Williams, which I must admit did hurt this record a bit. It is also quite pedestrian for them with few surprises or really good songs So I am maybe a little generous placing it this high but I can listen to Toto all day so I am never going to be hard on them. I am highly confident their next album will get them back on track. The record only reached #40 in the US and #99 in the UK. Yeh poor for them. 4/5 (but maybe should have been a 3/5)
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Post by TheThorne on May 11, 2023 13:52:36 GMT 1
So who just misses the top 50, it is an amazing top 50 so bad luck really,as it deserves to be in as well. 51 Big Audio Dynamite - This Is Big Audio Dynamite
The debut album by the group formed by ex-Clash guitarist and vocalist Mick Jones. In many ways following on some of the sounds he was bringing to The Clash but adding a few more genres and most noticeably sampling which was huge right now. "E=MC²" is one of my favourite songs of the year and the 80s and it still sounds so vibrant and full of energy today. Many other tracks are pretty close to its level, especially on Side 1. Side 2 is maybe a bit more gimmicky but nothing that you would skip, it is still a fine album, even ifs a little dated in places. It peaked at #27 in the UK and #103 in the US. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 13, 2023 9:06:52 GMT 1
Top 50 time and we go in hard 50 Prince and The Revolution - Around the World in a Day
His 7th album and apart from 'Raspberry Beret' which is definitely one of his best pop songs, it is quite understated for him and maybe gets a bit forgotten in his catalogue. But then how do you follow 'Purple Rain', this is probably the best approach, just make something you like for yourself rather than big commercial success. Even though it had limited promotion, it was still a US#1 and UK #5. Sold 2 million in the US. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 13, 2023 9:20:15 GMT 1
49 Cock Robin - Cock Robin
A band I was looking forward to hearing more from. This was their debut album and I was really surprised they were a US band. Think they are one of the best attempts at sophisto-pop to come from over there. But although their debut single "When Your Heart Is Weak" was a US top 40 hit, it was their only success there. They were one hit wonders in the UK as well but with a different song "The Promise You Made". They were a much bigger deal on Continental Europe. So based on this range of success I had high hopes for the album and I was not disappointed, it is so good, totally gorgeous, although I think the UK got it right, we charted the best song. The record reached #61 in the US 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 13, 2023 9:26:07 GMT 1
48 Bryan Ferry - Boys and Girls
Staying in a similar lane, we have his 6th solo album and I think for me, this is the last of his great albums, yes he still has the odd gem but past this one, my interest lapses a bit. So yes another solid album with big hits "Slave to Love" and "Don't Stop the Dance", The record went to #1 in the UK and #83 in the US. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 14, 2023 8:47:41 GMT 1
47 Thompson Twins -Here's to Future Days
Following up one of my favourite 80s album with their fifth album. Don't think it is anyway as great as 'Into The Gap', change of producer to Nile Rodgers hurts them a little and the songs are just not as good. But saying all that, I think it is still their second-best album. It was still a big hit for them as well, reaching #5 in the UK and #20 in the US. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 14, 2023 8:56:47 GMT 1
46 Bon Jovi - 7800° Fahrenheit
Their second album and I knew I would make some errors on this list, how could I have missed their debut, that is now sorted, and it takes its place #65 in 1984, with 4 stars. Yes I really like Bon Jovi which makes missing it out very weird. This album is a bit stronger overall, but I don't think any of the singles are as great as 'Runaway' of the debut, but it is a more consistent album. The record reached #29 in the UK and #37 in the US so really starting to make names for themselves. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 14, 2023 9:04:57 GMT 1
45 Robert Palmer - Riptide
His eighth album and I am pretty sure it will be my favourite in his catalogue. Taking in more rock after his work in The Power Station, we have the classic 'Addicted To Love' but my favourite was always "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On". And would you believe even at 15 I got what he was doing here. On one hand he gets called sexist for his girls in his videos and then he does this 'Me Too' track away ahead of its time. When I heard it then, I never knew it was a Cherelle song and gender swapping it, made it feel very weird, and I think that was the whole point, certain Hollywood big wigs and others should maybe have taken in the message here. I hope he did get that as he always came off as a bit arrogant, RIP Mr Palmer. The record reached #5 in the UK and #8 in the US. 4/5
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Post by Whitneyfan on May 14, 2023 9:10:04 GMT 1
I love that Bon Jovi album. It's got that definite 80s rock sound, and some really catchy tunes to match - much better than some of their latest efforts.
The lead single from that Prince album, 'Paisley Park' is one that has been long forgotten from his catalogue. In fact, I can't remember ever hearing it on the radio since its release. I really love it though.
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Post by TheThorne on May 14, 2023 9:12:30 GMT 1
44 The Waterboys - This Is the Sea
Very consistent on my list so far and their third album was their real commercial breakthrough, although it finishes the highest on the list, I don't think it's my favourite of the three but they are all 4 stars albums and I already know 'Fisherman's Blues' very well so pretty sure it will score at least the same. This record features their most famous and biggest hit "The Whole of the Moon" and reached #37 in the UK, a bit disappointing maybe thought it would have been a top 10 record. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 14, 2023 9:21:50 GMT 1
43 Mike + the Mechanics - Mike + the Mechanics
The debut album from Mike Rutherford's very successful side project/supergroup. I think I heard somewhere recently why is there no long-running super groups well this is one, their last record was out in 2019. There are so many great things about the band, the vocalists Paul Young(a different one) and Paul Carrack especially. But the problem is they just get a bit boring. This album starts off with two great singles, 'Silent Running', one of the best hits of the year, and "All I Need Is a Miracle" but as you get to the second side it all kind of merges into one. So that's why they will never be up there with the best Genesis. The record reached #26 in the UK and #78 in the UK. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 14, 2023 9:29:37 GMT 1
42 Loverboy - Lovin' Every Minute of It
Their fourth and last great album, still very much a US concern, but their contemporaries are about to leave them behind and take over the music scene for the next few years across the world. Maybe their second-best album, it's a whole lotta fun and that's what you want from them, they are pop metal without all the cheese and excess. The record peaked #13 in the US where it sold over 2 million. 4/5
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Post by TheThorne on May 14, 2023 9:35:54 GMT 1
41 Starship - Knee Deep in the HooplaThere are a few contenders for this placing, and last minute I just swapped a couple about. 'We Built This City' is in my top 5 songs of 1985 and 'Sara' was brilliant as well, but a bit like Mike &TM previous, this album does get a bit forgettable as it goes on. I just didn't think it was right for it to be above records from The Alarm, Kate Bush and Go West. So I really like it, but it can't be in my top 40 of the year. The debut album for their Starship incarnation, it reached #7 in the US. 4/5
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Post by smokeyb on May 14, 2023 21:03:10 GMT 1
Ok, let's see how many I own from this year
76 Phil Collins - No Jacket Required
First one I have, I have always been a huge Genesis fan and have a good few of their albums, I like Phil as a performer as well (even if it's not cool to say it), This is not a bad album with quite a few songs I really like.
47 Thompson Twins - Here's to Future Days
I have this one on vinyl, the singles are all great on this album, plus I quite like their version of "Revolution"
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Post by TheThorne on May 15, 2023 7:46:00 GMT 1
40 The Alarm - Strength
Their second album and the first one I heard by them, 'Spirit Of 76' was my introduction to the band. Even alraedy you know what you are going to get with The Alarm, they have a trademark sound which they rarely deviate from, I think this made them a bit marmite, some people can only take so much of Mike's very earnest vocals, must admit as my mate was such a fan, I did at one point. The record reached #18 in the UK and #39 in the US, their biggest hit there. 4/5
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