Underrated 80s groups

[Good Old Days]

I will like to start with Eighth Wonder, rediscovered this band after the work under personal 1987 charts.



Singles :
1985 : Stay with Me (# 65)
1987 : Will You Remember? (# 83)
1987 : When The Phone Stops Ringing (DNC)
1988 : I'm Not Scared (# 7)
1988 : Cross My Heart (# 13)
1988 : Baby Baby (# 65)

Album :
1988 : Fearless (# 47)

[Good Old Days]

Darling Buds



Singles :
1987 : If I Said (DNC)
1988 : It's All Up To You (DNC)
1988 : Shame On You (DNC)
1988 : Burst (# 50)
1988 : Hit The Ground (# 27)
1989 : Let's Go Round There (# 49)
1989 : You've Got To Choose (# 45)
1990 : Tiny Machine (# 60)
1990 : Crystal Clear (DNC)
1990 : It Makes No Difference (DNC)
1992 : Sure Thing (# 71)
1992 : Please Yourself (DNC)
1992 : Long Day In The Universe (DNC)

Albums :
1989 : Pop Said (# 23)
1990 : Crawdaddy (DNC)
1992 : Erotica (DNC)

[TheThorne]

Don't think either were underrated, they both did very well. Eighth Wonder were forced down our throats and record companies seemed desperate to make Patsy Kensit a star, which didn't really 'take off' until she had a wardrobe malfunction on morning Kids TV. In the end they had to rope in Pet Shop Boys who could do know wrong to finally get her a hit.

Darling Buds were doing really well on the indie scene and were boosted by record companies desperate to have their own Primitives who were the superior band, saying that I have about 7 of their singles. 'Sure Thing' is an underated classic though.

I could list so many underated bands of the 80s Goodbye Me Mackenzie, Silencers, Love & Money, Adventures, Lotus Eaters but my number one will always be

The Bible




"Graceland" (1986), Backs – UK No. 87[7]

"Mahalia" (1986), Backs – UK Indie No. 15

"Graceland" (1987), Chrysalis – UK No. 86[7]

"Crystal Palace" (1988), Chrysalis – UK No. 82[7]

"Honey Be Good" (1988), Chrysalis

"Skywriting" (1988), Chrysalis

"Graceland" (new version) (1989), Chrysalis – UK No. 51

"Honey Be Good" (1989), Chrysalis – UK No. 54

No top 40 hits at all

[vastar iner]

I wonder if "Burst" would have been a bigger hit with a more logical title. I imagine hundreds of people asking for "I Just Can't Take It" and being given some sh*t by Matt Bianco or something instead of one of the most perfect pure pop singles of all time.

I think A Flock Of Seagulls are underrated. If anyone remembers them nowadays, it's normally for Mike Score's ludicrous barnet. But they had some good tunes with powerful hooks.

[TheThorne]

Dec 30, 2020 1:06:56 GMT 1 vastar iner said:

I wonder if "Burst" would have been a bigger hit with a more logical title. I imagine hundreds of people asking for "I Just Can't Take It" and being given some sh*t by Matt Bianco or something instead of one of the most perfect pure pop singles of all time.

I think A Flock Of Seagulls are underrated. If anyone remembers them nowadays, it's normally for Mike Score's ludicrous barnet. But they had some good tunes with powerful hooks.

yes agree they were regarded pretty much as one hit wonders here, many more hits and a bigger deal in the US

[meister]

Dec 27, 2020 14:22:37 GMT 1 Good Old Days said:

1988 : Cross My Heart (# 13)

I remember being obsessed with this song and video at the time. She looked amazing in the video. Also covered by Martika the same year. "Cross my Heart" was written by Michael Jay, who wrote two big hits for Five Star.

[meister]

Although The Jets did very well in the US, they only had one big hit in the UK - "Crush On You". They definitely should have had a couple more top40 hits in my opinion, this one in particular...

[Good Old Days]

All About Eve. Many singles with a peak positions between # 30 and # 40 in UK, but only one hit (Martha's Harbour).

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