Thorneys Top 100s of the 80s (1983-86) complete

[TheThorne]

30 One Thing Leads To Another – The Fixx


Into the top 30 and we have another one of those songs I never discovered till the 00s. From the UK they had quite a few hit sin the US but this was by far the biggest and most famous. They are still touring they played in Norwich 2 years ago. This track reached #4 in the US but only #86 here. A total travesty!

[TheThorne]

29 Mama -  Genesis


I forgot how much I liked this until I was playing it while compiling my retro charts. I never really knew 70s Genesis but must admit I loved all their 80s songs, this definitely one of their best, still has that feel of a band where Peter Gabriel was once was a member. This reached #4 in the UK but just #73 in the US.

[TheThorne]

28 Oblivious – Aztec Camera


The last couple of songs I didn't really know at the time but this one I certainly did. Another great Scottish band and they were actually the 2nd band I ever saw live, that my parents didn't drag me to that is. A  perfect pop song, it reached #18 when re-issued after only making #47 earlier in the year.

[TheThorne]

28 Shadows Of The Night - Pat Benatar

I have made no secret of my love for Pat Benatar this was her biggest song in 1983. Another song that I discovered through my friend Catsy in 1989. this song reached #13 in the US and #50 in the UK.

[TheThorne]

26 Waterfront - Simple Minds

Still very much a big band in my personal charts, this was probably the song that really brought them to my attention although I had heard other songs but didn't know that was them at the time, although the re-issued 'I Travel' was a huge song for me then as well as it came out again in 1983. This reached #13 in the UK and was actually a number one in New Zealand.

[TheThorne]

25 Gold -  Spandau Ballet

Time hasn't been kind to some bands, if I was compiling this as my 12 year old self this would probably be in my top 10 but overplay, loss of credibility etc etc has worn this song down but I still think #25 is a very good result. This reached #2 in the UK and #29 in the US.

[TheThorne]

24 The Lovecats – The Cure

Think its going to get quite controversial what I leave in my top 20 and what just misses but I really do prefer The Cure when they are a bit darker, so this is a brilliant alternative pop track but its not top 20 of the year for me. I wonder if they will make the top 20 in later years. This was their biggest hit yet reaching #7 in the UK but surprisingly flopped in the US.

[TheThorne]

23 I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me – Nik Kershaw

In these less enlightened days, school was a very prejudice/sexist/judgemental place, I guess it still in in the complete opposite way but in 1983 no boy could admit to liking Nik Kershaw as he was too pretty for boys to like, he was a teen heartthrob. Well I was glad I had a younger sister who bough Smash Hits and Just Seventeen so she bought his music. One of the most talented pop stars of the 80s. It reached #2 in the UK. I would actually buy a Nik Kershaw single myself in 1986 one of the first i ever bought.

[TheThorne]

22 (Keep Feeling) Fascination - The Human League


We are always in flux here as the song that was #22 gets a reprieve but really anything this high is a total classic. This is Human League's only single in 1983 but it is a brilliant one. It reached #2 in the UK and #8 in the US.

[TheThorne]

21 Wrapped Around Your Finger -  The Police

This was a close run thing would I let this be in the top 20 as an act that is still too come has three songs in the top 20!! But I let them all stay. This is one of my absolute favourite Police songs its so beautiful, the production just gives me chills and in many ways I prefer it to the song they still have to come. It just so melancholy , the signs of a band hanging on. It was a big hit though reaching #7 in the UK and #8 in the US.

[TheThorne]

So what do we know about the top 20. One band has three songs to come. The Police and New Order have another song to come. And through guessing I think you could probably work out 10 of the others so lets hope we have some surprises left.

[TheThorne]

20 Everything Counts – Depeche Mode

No surprises that Depeche Mode are in the top 20 with their biggest song of the year and my favourite of theirs yet. It equalled their biggest hit so far reaching #6 in the UK.

[TheThorne]

19 True – Spandau Ballet

Well its the slow dance classic now, even more special for me as it was the first song I slow danced with my wife to but at that time she wasn't interested lol, didn't handle it well can't believe that somehow we have been together 26 years!! Yes its schmaltzy but secretly we all love it. It was a number one in the Uk and #4 in the US.

[TheThorne]

18 Hold Me Now – Thompson Twins


Another slow song but one with a bit more street cred. There was two albums I played more than any other in 1983 -1984 and 'Into The Gap' was one of them. Just a perfect album. This was the lead single and it reached #4 in the UK and #3 in the US.



Somehow it missed this list but at #18 it should have been this

[TheThorne]

17 Fields Of Fire – Big Country

My most played album of 1983-1984 was the album this track came from 'The Crossing'. So from this you may deduce this is the band who have three songs in the top 20.  This was their first hit single and it reached #10 in the UK and although Stuart Adamson had hinted at his guitar talent with The Skids - Into The valley, he took his guitar as bagpipes to a whole new level with this song. Their videos are not on Youtube so to Dailymotion we go. I still wonder if they know what that means in the UK.

[TheThorne]

16 Don't Talk to Me About Love – Altered Images

We stay in Scotland with Altered Images last top 10 hit  with an even poppier sound but definitely one of their finest moments. Shame this is the last time we will see Clare Grogan in these lists so enjoy This reached #7 in the UK.

[TheThorne]

15 Overkill – Men At Work


For me they were the Australian Police so not surprising I loved them as well. They will have another song to come which was from their previous album but this was the 2nd single from their 2nd album 'Cargo'. It reached #5 in the US and #21 in the UK.

[TheThorne]

14 Change – Tears For Fears


Another single taken from their brilliant album 'The Hurting', it has such a great feel one of the best synth pop songs ever. It reached #4 in the UK and #73 in US, their first hit there. I think they are going to be very big.

[TheThorne]

13 In A Big Country – Big Country

This was the song that really made them just a brilliant brilliant song. It always makes you smile and gives me chills still. Why is this not my top Big Country song we;ll the one still too come is just too good and shocked it has been knocked out of RAliverpools 80s singoffs. I love the 12" mix of this as well so much that even when I play the original like now , I imagine the scratches myself hehe. This was their breakthrough in the US where it reached #17 as it did here.

[TheThorne]

12 The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats

Well this is very disappointing contender for the video of the year and its no longer available on YouTube UK. Dailymotion has it but the one that used to be available was lovely HD Anyway is it a novelty record, new wave or both who cares its just brilliant and another song that will always make me smile. It reached #3 in the US and #6 in the UK.