TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 1, 2023 12:55:31 GMT 1
30 Bangles - Different Light
Their second album and the one that really broke them across the world. Pretty much all their best songs are on this one and it has 5 singles including 'Manic Monday' and "Walk Like an Egyptian", I used to love the latter song but a bit tired of it now prefer all the other singles and most of the album tracks. the album reached #2 in the US and #3 in the UK selling over 3 million in the US. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 1, 2023 13:14:44 GMT 1
29 Steve Winwood - Back in the High Life
In 1986, I had no idea who he was, seemingly he had been in a lot of important bands in the 60s and 70s, oh the group who did 'Keep Out Running' I know that one. That was about my limit, I totally loved this album though, his mega hit "Higher Love" which is known even to Gen Zs and younger now thanks to the recent Whitney cover remix. But my favourite was always "Back in the High Life Again" which was another 'No Limits 'stalwart tracks, usually for playing over montages of them walking over hills. I am maybe not as in to this as much today found side 2 just a bit tiring by then end so it will finish the best 4/5 album. His fourth album and biggest seller reaching #3 in the US selling over 3 million there and #8 in the UK. 4/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 1, 2023 13:20:08 GMT 1
28 a-ha - Scoundrel Days
So that makes 1986 the most stacked year so far. This is the Norwegian band's second album, and it's only by a small margin a less brilliant album than their debut. The singles are all brilliant even though "Cry Wolf" is a little cheesy and the album has a whole has that same classic pop vibe of their debut, just screams quality. "I've Been Losing You" was a great first single but it did not ignite in the US, so the album only reached #74 there but in the UK, its all fine with a #2 record. The record sold nearly 2 million in Europe. 4.5/5
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Post by smokeyb on Jun 1, 2023 23:16:11 GMT 1
31 Hipsway - Hipsway
Now a debut album from a Scottish band who I think have been forgotten. They were, for a moment, a big deal. If you havent heard them imagine a cross between Simple Minds and Duran Duran. Their third single "The Honeythief" was a bona fide international hit, reaching #19 in the US and charting in many countries, including #17 here. Apart from the big two Simple Minds and Big Country, no other Scottish band in this era managed a top 20 hit in the US. It was no fluke either as the album had other brilliant singles like "Ask the Lord" and "Long White Car", But if you are Scottish the most famous song maybe more so even than "The Honeythief" was "Tinder" which featured in a McEwans Lager ad, a big deal at the time, the lager was pish though and still is. The album did not do amazing though, reaching #42 in the UK and #66 in the US. 4/5 Bonus video You are right about them should have had more success. You are also correct about the lager awful. Remember the advert very well
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 3, 2023 7:44:40 GMT 1
27 Lone Justice - Shelter
Their second album and I had a feeling I would like this one more and I loved it. Starting with the double header of "I Found Love" and "Shelter" two brilliant songs that I knew but the rest which I heard for the first time was brilliant as well. Not one of my most experienced genres but this has to be one of the best country rock albums ever. The record reached #65 in the US and #84 in the UK 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 3, 2023 8:01:47 GMT 1
26 Magnum - Vigilante
Their sixth album and for me, it is their best yet.I think Magnum are a really underrated rock band. Yes they do get bigger but these albums deserved more attention. "When the World Comes Down" is one of the best rock ballads ever, it is just so atmospheric and anthemic. The record reached #24 in the UK. I do wonder if the cover was an issue, though. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 3, 2023 8:12:48 GMT 1
25 FM - Indiscreet
Another UK AOR/Rock band and this time a debut album. The band are still going strong actually seen them twice. This album features their most famous song "Frozen Heart" which missed the top 40 but did chart in Scotland. Another album that I loved, such a great year, 1986. The record reached #76 in the UK 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 4, 2023 8:00:36 GMT 1
24 is an error and is a 1987 album, of course we will adjust all this later 23 Berlin - Count Three & Pray
Their fourth and final album, after the success of "Take My Breath Away" on this album, they really didn't know where to go next. Why they didn't do a Simple Minds and just leave that song of your album. It is one of my least favourite songs on there, yes I would never have found Berlin without it but I would rather hear almost any track."You Don't Know" might be my favourite song by the band, it was another of the first singles I bought. It has so much atmosphere, 80s music at its best. It's a shame you can't get these on Spotify. The record reached #32 in the UK and #81 in the US. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 4, 2023 8:24:10 GMT 1
22 The Big Dish - Swimmer
Now we have a Scottish band who will become one of my favourite bands over the next 5 years or so. If you like bands like The Bible or Lloyd Cole, you will really like Big Dish as well. Oddly for a jangle-pop/Sophisti-Pop I first heard them on 'No Limits', not a sound they usually pushed, with one of their all-time best songs 'Christina's World', which just makes me smile all over whenever I hear it. This kind of pop rock was everywhere in the next 2 years and I love it. This was their debut album and reached #85 in the UK. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 4, 2023 8:29:37 GMT 1
21 Big Country - The Seer
Their third album and I think one of their most commercial albums, the hits are very sing along anthems with maybe less of the more interesting sounds that made their first two albums so special. Yes, I still love this album but you need to go deeper for the real gems. It was still a single and a hit, but "The Teacher" for me is the masterpiece on this record. "Look Away" is always great, though. Still a huge hit here though, reaching #2 in the UK and #59 in the US where they are starting to fade. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 4, 2023 13:27:27 GMT 1
20 Honeymoon Suite - The Big Prize
The second album from Canadian rock band and their most successful. Four hit singles on this album including their biggest hit "Feel It Again,". It was nominated for album of the year in Canada and was triple platinum there. One of my favourite 21st century discoveries, this album barely puts a foot wrong. The record reached #61 in the US. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 4, 2023 13:32:49 GMT 1
19 Cutting Crew - Broadcast
The debut album from the English rock band, although many can be forgiven for thinking they were a US act with their AOR sound. Their success was achieved with the classic power ballad "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" which reached #4 in the UK/US but they don't deserve to be considered one hit wonders as the single "I've Been in Love Before" is just as good if not even better, the whole record is pretty brilliant, I have it on vinyl. The record reached #16 in the US and #41 in the UK. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 4, 2023 13:37:58 GMT 1
18 Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring
Their third album which is often regarded as their best, it is a bit lower than some of their previous records, but it is due to completion more than this being less liked, I totally love this album as well. The biggest hit is "Life's What You Make It" which is so good but the whole record is brilliant. The record reached #8 in the UK and #58 in the US. 4.5/5
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Post by smokeyb on Jun 4, 2023 22:12:26 GMT 1
18 Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring
Their third album which is often regarded as their best, it is a bit lower than some of their previous records, but it is due to completion more than this being less liked, I totally love this album as well. The biggest hit is "Life's What You Make It" which is so good but the whole record is brilliant. The record reached #8 in the UK and #58 in the US. 4.5/5 Brilliant album, love it. Living In Another World is my favourite, but Life's What You Make It pretty close,also like Give It Up & I Don't Believe In You.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 5, 2023 7:16:51 GMT 1
17 Van Halen - 5150For the seventh album Van Halen have a new singer after Dave Lee Roth left and for me I think they are even better now. Sammy Hagar was fine as a solo artist but he seems back on fire as a frontman, better in every way. Not sure if it is just this era is the one I knew better at the time. It is by far their most consistent record, nearly every previous record has a dud or two or a dodgy cover, none of that here. The record reached #1 in the US and #16 in the UK. It sold over 6 million in the US alone. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 5, 2023 7:26:56 GMT 1
16 XTC - Skylarking
Back in the top 20 after a 4-year absence with their ninth album. For me this is them back at their best produced by Todd Rundgren, it is not unusual for anyone to say this is their best record. I wouldst go that far, but it is totally great with some of their best ever singles. It is a long album though and side A is noticeably better than B, if B was as brilliant as side 1. This would be a 5 star top 10 album. The version I listened to had a trick of its sleeve by including "Dear God" as a last track that was left off the album in 1986 but then included in 1987. I will count it as it is probably their second-best ever song. The album still flopped in the UK reaching only #90 but did better in US reaching #70 thanks to "Dear God" which was a hit there. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 5, 2023 7:34:09 GMT 1
15 Survivor - When Seconds CountTheir sixth album and it is their second to make my top 20 in a row. So many of my favourite songs on this album, and they didn't even include " Burning Heart" their latest big hit from the new 'Rocky' movie. That of course is brilliant, but the album is all about the ballads they are all so good "Is This Love" is one of my favourite songs of the year, It's just as great as the Whitesnake song. If we counted "Burning Heart" as it is on the CD re-issue, this would probably be my favourite Survivor album. Thought it would have done better in the US maybe too many ballads for the rockers, it reached #49 there. 4.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 5, 2023 7:42:07 GMT 1
14 Genesis - Invisible Touch
Their thirteenth album and wow things have changed. This may not be their most experimental or inventive album but omg the hits. They are on fire right now with pop rock bangers, look at all these "Invisible Touch","Tonight, Tonight, Tonight", "Land of Confusion", "In Too Deep" and to a lesser extent "Throwing It All Away". Those first four tracks are side 1, that is 5/5 quality. Side two does dapple a little with prog but only one track. Phil solo career has improved his songwriting so much when he returned to Genesis you just could not stop making hits. That is what this is a hits album, I know Genesis aficionados are quite snobby about it but I am not one of them, this is just 80s pop rock at its best. 4.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on Jun 5, 2023 7:54:00 GMT 1
13 Crowded House - Crowded House
The debut album from the ex Split Enz guys, who I had never heard at the time, although it turns out I had as 'I Got You' was played in the 'Neighbours' café almost every week. Some songs just hit you the first time you hear them , that was "Don't Dream It's Over". I was counting the days until I could buy that single, it seemed to take months for it to be released. Well, it turns out I didn't have to wait, I could have bought the album on import, but I didn't have that kind of money in 1987. Also it is a gamble buying an album on the strength of one song, I shouldn't have worried as the album is brilliant and probably my favourite of theirs. It turns out that wasn't even the best song. Side A is perfection but the best song is "Something So Strong". It has what makes "Don't Dream It's Over" brilliant, but it is just more fun. I love "World Where You Live" and "Now We're Getting Somewhere" almost as much as those two songs. The album was a big hit in the US reaching #12 but just #99 in the UK, after "Something So Strong" flopped here, I thought oh well another great band who will remain a one hit wonder in the UK, who knew.... 4.5/5
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Post by greendemon on Jun 5, 2023 9:29:49 GMT 1
I frigging adore their debut, it was actually the 3rd or 4th album of theirs I got but I think it's only surpassed by 'Together Alone'. Not a bad song on there imo.
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