TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 8:31:42 GMT 1
34 Heaven 17 - The Luxury Gap
Now we have one of those forementioned synth pop pioneers. This was their second album and their best-selling and probably their best as well, with so many great singles; "Crushed by the Wheels of Industry","Temptation", "Let Me Go" and "Come Live with Me". Yes, an impressive string of hits. The record peaked #4 in the UK and #72 in the US, So the US preferred Wang Chung, with only 'Let Me Go' charting there, that is a bit mad. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 8:38:55 GMT 1
33 Heart - Passionworks
Back with their seventh album and this time with the sound that will make them hugely successful again and this time worldwide but not yet, this album is really good but the songs are just not in that league yet, only "How Can I Refuse?" shows what they are capable of with their new mainstream rock sound, I am sure they will get it perfect next time. It is just lacking something, and simply it's tunes. The album reached #39 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 8:45:13 GMT 1
32 Genesis - Genesis
Their twelfth album and their highest placing yet and this is definitely my favourite album of the 80s so far from them, I know what is coming with their next one, and it's just a different beast and I suspect it may finish higher still, but this one has something special. This record reached #1 in the UK and #8 in the US and sold over 6 million worldwide. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 8:53:24 GMT 1
31 Echo & The Bunnymen - Porcupine
A very consistent run for them in these lists, this was their third album and most successful yet and features one of my favourite songs of theirs "The Cutter". The thing is, none of their records are going above a 4/5 for me, and that is unlikely to change. Sometimes you are spoiled by a compilation, and 'Songs To Learn And Sing' is one of the best ever. None of these records can hold me to the end, or I love every track, but they are all great, just I don't love any of them. Maybe why they never managed to match U2 and live up to their full potential. This LP reached #2 in the UK and #137 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 9:01:55 GMT 1
30 Altered Images - Bite
Their third album and last until they reformed in 2022, and they move to a more pure pop sound and with that they have one last gem in "Don't Talk to Me About Love" but the rest of the album is pretty great as well but some of it is not really what the fans would like, I think more like 'Another Lost Look' and it would have done better, and maybe they wouldn't have split. Why, that wasn't a single!! It reached #16 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 9:07:26 GMT 1
29 Madonna - Madonna
Ooh, this might upset someone, placing this above Altered Images. This is of course her debut album, and it is not perfect by any stretch, she does sound too squeaky on many of these songs, but when she nails it she does. 'Borderline' and 'Lucky Star' especially, but Side B does let it down a bit. The record reached #6 in the UK and #8 in the US and has gone on to sell over 10 million worldwide. 4/5
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Post by Whitneyfan on Apr 10, 2023 13:38:09 GMT 1
I got into Echo and the Bunnymen quite late, but I do love that album.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 18:38:10 GMT 1
28 China Crisis - Working with Fire and Steel
Their 2nd album and I prefer this one overall, although the debut has more great singles, this album has one brilliant one "Wishful Thinking", the others are good but not as memorable. To be fair, China Crisis were always a nearly band. This record though reached #20 in the UK, but their next record will do even better. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 18:43:08 GMT 1
27 Spandau Ballet - True
It is quite hard to rate and talk about their 3rd album. I can't listen to 'True' it has too many memories and 'Gold' is so overplayed, but they are both classic songs, so I have to be fair. There is plenty to enjoy otherwise the other two singles are very high quality as well and there really isn't any filler. The record reached #1 in the UK and #19 in the US 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 18:47:14 GMT 1
26 Men At Work - Cargo
Their second album and includes probably my favourite Men At Work song now 'Overkill'. Just love Men At Work but this album just isn't a high enough standard to make the top 2- this time as there are a couple of forgettable tracks but when it's oi, it's really on. Still a big hit for them though, reaching #3 in the US and #8 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 18:54:36 GMT 1
25 Simple Minds - Sparkle in the Rain
Simple Minds continues their run of top 30 albums with their seventh album. This is though their 2nd lowest peak and that's only because side A is so much better than B. Side B is great and all that but Side A is Simple Minds at their best 'Up on the Catwalk', 'Speed Your Love to Me', 'Waterfront' and 'East at Easter'. So a 5/5 side A is let down by a 3/5 side B. But it is their biggest hit yet, reaching #1 in the UK and #64 in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 18:59:59 GMT 1
24 Yes - 90125
Their 11th album and the one where I discovered them on, thanks to my song of the year 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart' and now I know why I loved that song and now the album so much, yes it's Trever Horn again. This in some ways still sounds like the Yes you know, but in other ways it's like a new band, these are pop songs with prog trimmings. The record peaked #5 in the US but less well here reaching #18. 4/5 a high one
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 19:05:43 GMT 1
23 David Bowie - Let's Dance
In my prelisten list I was sure this would be top 20 maybe been top 10, but a few shocks flew up the list and pushed it out. His 15th album and definitely is most 80s sounding. The record kicks off three of his best songs but drops off a little in the middle with 'Cat People (Putting Out Fire)' the highlight on Side 2. So again a couple of weaker tracks stops this getting a higher score, but its still great. The album reached #1 in the UK and #4 in the US and has sold nearly 11 million worldwide. 4/5 another high one
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 19:14:33 GMT 1
22 Depeche Mode - Construction Time Again
Their third album, and I am already suspecting this will be my least favourite of the 80s. Yes 'Everything Counts' is a classic, but the rest of the album isn't amazing. I feel I am maybe overrating it #22, but a mostly average Depeche Mode album is still something I really like listening to, just not as much as their other stuff. So maybe this should have been about 26. Oh, well. A big hit in the UK though, reaching #8 here. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 10, 2023 19:21:51 GMT 1
21 Rainbow - Bent Out of Shape
This is one of the shocks, by looking at the tracklisting I wasn't expecting to know any songs or like it as much as their previous albums but no, it's my favourite, out of their 80s output anyway. It is just flawless for me, amazing production, hooks, vocals, the lot. It is maybe not as heavy as past records, but that is where we are in the decade. I will play this again. It reached #11 in the UK and #34 in the US. It got an extra half point for this forgotten classic, which I think I might have heard on Ken Bruce. 4.5/5
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Post by Good Old Days on Apr 10, 2023 20:12:17 GMT 1
Debut Madonna album is her second best after "Like A Virgin". Non-singles were better on the first LP, but nothing can't beat her signature hit "Material Girl".
After non-successful debut with "Everybody" she had 8 consecutive # 1 songs in my chart (Burning Up, Holiday, Lucky Star, Borderline, Like A Virgin, Material Girl, Crazy For You, Angel). It's the best result for solo singers.
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Post by smokeyb on Apr 10, 2023 21:30:37 GMT 1
32 Genesis - Genesis
Their twelfth album and their highest placing yet and this is definitely my favourite album of the 80s so far from them, I know what is coming with their next one, and it's just a different beast and I suspect it may finish higher still, but this one has something special. This record reached #1 in the UK and #8 in the US and sold over 6 million worldwide. 4/5 I own a few of their albums including this one. However I only picked this one up in 2020, but some cracking songs on it, especially Mama & That's All.
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Post by smokeyb on Apr 10, 2023 21:37:54 GMT 1
23 David Bowie - Let's Dance
In my prelisten list I was sure this would be top 20 maybe been top 10, but a few shocks flew up the list and pushed it out. His 15th album and definitely is most 80s sounding. The record kicks off three of his best songs but drops off a little in the middle with 'Cat People (Putting Out Fire)' the highlight on Side 2. So again a couple of weaker tracks stops this getting a higher score, but its still great. The album reached #1 in the UK and #4 in the US and has sold nearly 11 million worldwide. 4/5 another high one I own pretty much all his studio albums, this one I got the day it came out, it's certainly got 3 of his biggest hits on it, but he sort of lost his way a bit after this. It certainly made him a superstar at the time, bringing him to a whole new audience.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 11, 2023 8:44:13 GMT 1
23 David Bowie - Let's Dance
In my prelisten list I was sure this would be top 20 maybe been top 10, but a few shocks flew up the list and pushed it out. His 15th album and definitely is most 80s sounding. The record kicks off three of his best songs but drops off a little in the middle with 'Cat People (Putting Out Fire)' the highlight on Side 2. So again a couple of weaker tracks stops this getting a higher score, but its still great. The album reached #1 in the UK and #4 in the US and has sold nearly 11 million worldwide. 4/5 another high one I own pretty much all his studio albums, this one I got the day it came out, it's certainly got 3 of his biggest hits on it, but he sort of lost his way a bit after this. It certainly made him a superstar at the time, bringing him to a whole new audience. Yes agree, his albums after this point will not do so well, in fact one is going to struggle to stay in the top 100
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Apr 11, 2023 8:54:15 GMT 1
Ok we are into the top 20 20 Rick Springfield - Living in Oz
There is maybe no 'Jessie's Girl' on this, but I think his 7th album is his best, of the 80s anyway, and also it features his only UK top 40 hit "Human Touch" but of course 'Jessie's Girl' has zoomed way past that on streaming. 2 million vs 475 million, lol. But even though I think this is his best and most consistent, he is falling out of favour in his native country, where this album only reached #45 but #12 in the US. 4.5/5
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