Category Archives: 1980

1980

Mixes By Year: Best of 1980- Most Recommended Albums

These are my twenty most recommended albums of 1980 (in no specific order).

1980 was a great year- a year dominated by great heavy metal bands- especially the New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead & Diamond Head.  Punk music morphed into the more eclectic radio-ready New Wave & Post-punk which would help set the tone for the alternative music movement of the late 80’s-early 90’s.

U2 & The Pretenders released their first full length albums- both New Wave/Post-Punk masterpieces. Xdefined L.A. Hardcore with their brilliant debut “Los Angeles”.  Rap music was still bubbling underground while black music was dominated by the Funk by groups like the Gap Band & The Brothers Johnson.  Prince released his first fully great album with “Dirty Mind” which combined Funk with New Wave and would set the course for his many great albums to come later in the decade.  The Talking Heads released perhaps their best album and Joy Division sadly their last before becoming the more Techno group New Order after the very unfortunate suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis.

In my opinion an amazing year and one of the best, if not THE best, music years of the 80’s.



AC/DC/Back in Black

Buy Amazon Back in Black










Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band/the River

Buy Bruce Springsteen - The River Buy AmazonThe River










David Bowie/Scary Monsters

Buy David Bowie - Scary Monsters Buy Amazon Scary Monsters










Dexys Midnight Runners/Searching for the Young Soul Rebels

Buy Dexy's Midnight Runners - Searching for the Young Soul Rebels Buy Amazon Searching for the Young Soul Rebels










Elvis Costello & the Attractions/Get Happy!!

Buy Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Get Happy!! Buy Amazon Get Happy!!










Iron Maiden/Iron Maiden

Buy  Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden










Joy Division/Closer

Buy   Joy Division - Closer (Collector's Edition) Buy Amazon Closer










Motorhead/Ace of Spades

Buy Motörhead - Ace of Spades Buy Amazon Ace of Spades










Prince/Dirty Mind

Buy  Prince - Dirty Mind Buy Amazon Dirty Mind










The Talking Heads/Remain in Light

Buy Talking Heads - Remain In Light (Remastered) Buy Amazon Remain in Light










The English Beat/I Just Can’t Stop It

Buy  The English Beat - I Just Can't Stop It Buy Amazon I Just Can’t Stop It










The Feelies/Crazy Rhythms

Buy  The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms Buy Amazon Crazy Rhythms










The Jam/Sound Affects

Buy The Jam - Sound Affects (Remastered) Buy Amazon Sound Affects










The Police/Zenyatta Mondatta

Buy The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta Buy Amazon Zenyatta Mondatta [Digipak]










The Pretenders/The Pretenders

Buy  Pretenders - Pretenders (Remastered) Buy Amazon Pretenders











The Raincoats/The Raincoats

Buy Amazon The Raincoats











The Soft Boys/Underwater Moonlight

Buy Amazon Underwater Moonlight . . . And How It Got There











U2/Boy

Buy  U2 - Boy (Remastered) Buy Amazon Boy











Young Marble Giants/Colossal Youth

Buy  Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth Buy Amazon Colossal Youth











X/Los Angeles

Buy X - Los Angeles Buy Amazon Los Angeles

Mixes By Year: Best of 1980 Volume 1

Best of 1980  Volume 1 (4/17/02)

1.  X- Los Angeles

Buy X - Los Angeles - Los Angeles

2.  Motorhead- Ace of Spades

Buy Motörhead - Ace of Spades - Ace of Spades

3.  AC/DC- Hells Bells

*Not Available through iTunes

Buy  Back in Black album through Amazon

4.  David Bowie- Ashes to Ashes

Buy David Bowie - Scary Monsters - Ashes to Ashes

5.  The Police- Don’t Stand So Close to Me

Buy The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta - Don't Stand so Close to Me

6.  The Talking Heads- Once in a Lifetime

Buy Talking Heads - Remain In Light - Once In a Lifetime

7.  Prince- When You Were Mine

Buy Prince - Dirty Mind - When You Were Mine

8.  S.O.S. Band- Take Your Time (Do it Right)

Buy The S.O.S. Band - Soufside So Real - Take Your Time *This version is re-recorded from the original

9.  Diana Ross- Upside Down

Buy Diana Ross - Diana Ross: All the Great Hits - Upside Down

10.  Blondie- Rapture

Buy Blondie - The Best of Blondie - Rapture

11.  The Pretenders- Precious

Buy Pretenders - Pretenders (Remastered) - Precious

12.  Devo- Whip It

Buy Devo - Freedom of Choice (Deluxe Version) [Remastered] - Whip It

13.  Gary Numan- Cars

Buy Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle - Cars

14.  The Jam- That’s Entertainment!

Buy The Jam - Sound Affects (Remastered) - That's Entertainment

15.  U2- Twilight

Buy U2 - Boy (Remastered) - Twilight

16.  The English Beat- Mirror in the Bathroom

Buy The English Beat - I Just Can't Stop It - Mirror In the Bathroom

17.  Liliput- Split

Buy Liliput - Kleenex/Liliput - Split

18.  Mission of Burma- Academy Fight Song

Buy Mission of Burma - Signals, Calls and Marches (Remastered) - Academy Fight Song

19.  Joy Division- Love Will Tear Us Apart

Buy Joy Division - Closer (Collector's Edition) - Love Will Tear Us Apart

20.  Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band- Hungry Heart

Buy Bruce Springsteen - The River - Hungry Heart

21.  Elvis Costello & the Attractions- New Amsterdam

Buy Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Get Happy!! - New Amsterdam

22.  John Lennon- Watching the Wheels

BuyJohn Lennon - Double Fantasy (Remastered) - Watching the Wheels

Mixes By Year: Best of 1980 Volume 2

Best of 1980 Volume 2 (4/19/02)

1.  Van Halen- Everybody Wants Some!!

Buy Van Halen - Women and Children First - Everybody Wants Some!!

2.  The Pretenders- Tattooed Love Boys

Buy Pretenders - Pretenders (Remastered) - Tattooed Love Boys

3.  The Cure- Play for Today

Buy The Cure - Seventeen Seconds - Play for Today

4.  The Jim Carroll Band- People Who Died

Buy The Jim Carroll Band - Catholic Boy - People Who Died

5.  Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band- Out in the Street

Buy Bruce Springsteen - The River - Out In the Street

6.  Jackson Browne- That Girl Could Sing

Buy Jackson Browne - Hold Out - That Girl Could Sing

7.  Tom Waits- Jersey Girl

Buy Tom Waits - Heartattack and Vine - Jersey Girl

8.  Steely Dan- Hey Nineteen

Buy Steely Dan - Gaucho - Hey Nineteen

9.  Prince- Dirty Mind

Buy Prince - Dirty Mind - Dirty Mind

10.  The Clash- Police On My Back

Buy The Clash - Sandinista! - Police On My Back

11.  The Dead Kennedys- Holiday in Cambodia

Buy Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - Holiday In Cambodia

12.  Mission of Burma- Max Ernst

Buy Mission of Burma - Signals, Calls and Marches (Remastered) - Max Ernst

13.  X- Your Phone’s Off the Hook, But You’re Not

Buy X - Los Angeles - Your Phone's Off the Hook, But You're Not

14.  The Police- Man in a Suitcase

Buy The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta - Man in a Suitcase

15.  Diana Ross- I’m Coming Out

Buy Diana Ross - Diana (Deluxe Edition) - I'm Coming Out

16.  Donna Summer- On the Radio

Buy Donna Summer - On the Radio - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & 2 - On the Radio

17.  U2- I Will Follow

Buy U2 - Boy (Deluxe Edition) [Remastered] - I Will Follow

18.  Joy Division- Isolation

Buy Joy Division - Closer (Collector's Edition) - Isolation

19.  Squeeze- Pulling Mussels from the Shell

Buy Squeeze - Argybargy - Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)

20.  Blondie- The Tide is High

BuyBlondie - Autoamerican - The Tide Is High

Mixes By Year: Best of 1980 Volume 3

Best of 1980 Volume 3 (9/2/05)

1.  The Soft Boys- I Wanna Destroy You

*Not available through iTunes

Buy Underwater Moonlight . . . And How It Got There album through Amazon

2.  The Jam- Going Underground

Buy The Jam - The Sound of The Jam - Going Underground

3.  Young Marble Giants- Credit in the Straight World

Buy Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth - Credit In the Straight World

4.  Joy Division- Atmosphere

Buy Joy Division - The Best Of Joy Division - Atmosphere

5.  Peter Gabriel- Games Without Frontiers

Buy Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers

6.  XTC- Generals and Majors

Buy XTC - Black Sea - Generals and Majors

7.  The Brothers Johnson- Stomp!

Buy The Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23: The Very Best of the Brothers Johnson - Stomp!

8.  Kurtis Blow- The Breaks

Buy Kurtis Blow - Kurtis Blow - The Breaks

9.  The Rolling Stones- Emotional Rescue

Buy The Rolling Stones - Emotional Rescue (Remastered) - Emotional Rescue

10.  Dexys Midnight Runners- Geno

Buy Dexy's Midnight Runners - Searching for the Young Soul Rebels - Geno

11.  The English Beat- Best Friend

Buy The English Beat - Beat This! The Best of the English Beat - Best Friend

12. The Selector- Too Much Pressure

Buy The Selecter - Three Minute Hero - Too Much Pressure

13.  The Talking Heads- Cross-Eyed and Painless

Buy Talking Heads - Remain In Light (Remastered) - Crosseyed and Painless

14.  Elvis Costello & the Attractions- I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down

Buy Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Get Happy!! - I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down

15.  AC/DC- Have a Drink on Me

*Not available through iTunes

Buy Back in Black album through Amazon

16.  X- Johnny Hit and Run Paulene

Buy X - Los Angeles - Johny Hit and Run Paulene

17.  The Pretenders- Brass in Pocket

Buy Pretenders - Pretenders (Remastered) - Brass In Pocket

18.  U2- A Day Without Me

Buy U2 - Boy (Remastered) - A Day Without Me

19.  Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band- Independence Day

Buy Bruce Springsteen - The River - Independence Day

20.  Bob Marley & the Wailers- Redemption Song

BuyBob Marley - Uprising - Redemption Song

Mixes By Year: Best of 1980 Volume 4

Best of 1980 Volume 4  (9/8/05)

1.  AC/DC- Back in Black

*Not available through iTunes

Buy Back in Black album through Amazon

2.  Iron Maiden- Prowler

Buy Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden - Prowler

3.  The Pretenders- Up the Neck

Buy Pretenders - Pretenders (Remastered) - Up the Neck

4.  X- The World’s A Mess it’s in My Kiss

Buy X - Los Angeles - The World's a Mess; It's In My Kiss

5.  The Soft Boys- Kingdom of Love

*Not available through iTunes

Buy Underwater Moonlight . . . And How It Got There album through iTunes

6.  U2- Into the Heart

Buy U2 - Boy (Remastered) - Into the Heart

7.  Echo & the Bunnymen- Do It Clean

Buy Echo & The Bunnymen - Crocodiles - Do It Clean

8.  Joy Division- Heart and Soul

Buy Joy Division - Closer (Collector's Edition) - Heart and Soul

9.  The Talking Heads- Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)

Buy Talking Heads - Remain In Light (Remastered) - Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)

10.  The Feelies- Fa-Cee-La

Buy The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms - Fa Cé-La

11.  Squeeze- Another Nail in My Heart

Buy Squeeze - Argybargy - Another Nail In My Heart

12.  The Gap Band- Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)

Buy The Gap Band - Gap Band: Ultimate Collection - Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)

13.  The Whispers- And the Beat Goes On

Buy The Whispers - Greatest Hits - And the Beat Goes On

14.  Prince- Uptown

Buy Prince - Dirty Mind - Uptown

15.  David Bowie- Fashion

Buy David Bowie - Scary Monsters - Fashion

16.  The Clash- Magnificent Seven

Buy The Clash - Sandinista! - The Magnificent Seven

17.  The Jam- Pretty Green

Buy The Jam - Sound Affects (Remastered) - Pretty Green

18.  Dexys Midnight Runners- There, There My Dear

Buy Dexy's Midnight Runners - Searching for the Young Soul Rebels - There There My Dear

19.  George Jones- He Stopped Loving Her Today

BuyGeorge Jones - George Jones: 16 Biggest Hits - He Stopped Loving Her Today

Mixes By Year: Best of 1980 Volume 5

Best of 1980 Volume 5 (6/22/07)

1.  Bauhaus- Dark Entries

Buy Bauhaus - In the Flat Field - Dark Entries

2.  The B-52s- Private Idaho

Buy The B-52's - Wild Planet - Private Idaho

3.  Iron Maiden- Sanctuary

Buy Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden - Sanctuary

4.  The Cure- A Forest

Buy The Cure - Seventeen Seconds - A Forest

5.  The Soft Boys- Underwater Moonlight

*Not available through iTunes

Buy Underwater Moonlight . . . And How It Got There album through Amazon

6.  Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band- The River

Buy Bruce Springsteen - The River - The River

7.  Orange Juice- Blue Boy

Buy Orange Juice - Mister Foe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Blue Boy

8.  The Jam- Monday

Buy The Jam - Sound Affects (Remastered) - Monday

9.  Dexys Midnight Runners- Seven Days Too Long

Buy Dexy's Midnight Runners - Searching for the Young Soul Rebels - Seven Days Too Long

10.  Elvis Costello & the Attractions- High Fidelity

Buy Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Get Happy!! - High Fidelity

11.  The Treacherous Three- The Body Rock

*Not available through iTunes

Buy Back To The Old School – Turn It Up compilation through Amazon

12.  The Talking Heads- The Great Curve

Buy Talking Heads - Remain In Light (Remastered) - The Great Curve

13.  The Pretenders- Mystery Achievment

Buy Pretenders - Pretenders (Remastered) - Mystery Achievement

14.  Siouxsie & the Banshees- Christine

Buy Siouxsie & The Banshees - The Best of Siouxsie and The Banshees - Christine

15.  U2- Out of Control

Buy U2 - Boy (Remastered) - Out of Control

16.  Devo- Freedom of Choice

Buy Devo - Freedom of Choice - Freedom of Choice

17.  Split Enz- I Got You

Buy Split Enz - History Never Repeats - The Best of Split Enz - I Got You

18.  John Lennon- Woman

Buy John Lennon - Double Fantasy (Remastered) - Woman

19.  Josef K- Final Request

Buy Josef K - Entomology - Final Request

20.  David Bowie- It’s No Game (Part 2)

Buy David Bowie - Scary Monsters - It's No Game, Pt. 2

21.  Young Marble Giants- Final Day

BuyYoung Marble Giants - Colossal Youth - Final Day

Mixes By Year: Best of 1980 Volume 6

Best of 1980 Volume 6 (6/23/07)

1.  The Jam- Start!

Buy The Jam - The Sound of The Jam - Start!

2.  The Ramones- Do You Remember Rock N’ Roll Radio

Buy The Ramones - Hey Ho Lets Go - Greatest Hits (Remastered) - Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio

3.  The Fall- Totally Wired

Buy The Fall - Grotesque (After the Gramme) - Totally Wired

4.  OMD- Electricity

Buy Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark - Electricity

5.  Young Marble Giants- Searching for Mr. Right

Buy Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth - Searching for Mr Right

6.  U2- 11 O’Clock Tick Tock

Buy U2 - Boy (Deluxe Edition) [Remastered] - 11 O'Clock Tick Tock

7.  The Pretenders- The Wait

Buy Pretenders - Pretenders (Remastered) - The Wait

8.  Joy Division- Twenty Four Hours

Buy Joy Division - Closer (Collector's Edition) - Twenty Four Hours

9.  Echo & the Bunnymen- Rescue

Buy Echo & The Bunnymen - Crocodiles - Rescue

10.  Queen- Another One Bites the Dust

Buy Queen - The Game - Another One Bites the Dust

11.  Madness- Embarrassment

*Not available through iTunes

Buy Absolutely album through Amazon

12.  Devo- Girl U Want

Buy Devo - Freedom of Choice - Girl U Want

13.  Blondie- Call me

Buy Blondie - Greatest Hits - Call Me

14.  Elvis Costello & the Attractions- Love for Tender

Buy Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Get Happy!! - Love for Tender

15.  Bob Marley & the Wailers- Pimper’s Paradise

Buy Bob Marley - Uprising - Pimper's Paradise

16.  The Clash- Bankrobber

Buy The Clash - The Clash - The Singles - Bankrobber

17.  Lakeside- Fantastic Voyage

Buy Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage - Fantastic Voyage

18.  Dexys Midnight Runners- Tell Me When My Light Turns Green

Buy Dexy's Midnight Runners - Searching for the Young Soul Rebels - Tell Me When My Light Turns Green

19.  Willie Nelson- On the Road Again

Buy Willie Nelson - 16 Biggest Hits: Willie Nelson - On the Road Again

20.  The Police- De Doo Doo Doo, De Da Da Da

Buy The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta - De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

21.  The English Beat- Whine & Grine/Stand Down Margaret

Buy The English Beat - I Just Can't Stop It - Whine and Grine/Stand Down Margaret

22.  Billy Joel- It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me

BuyBilly Joel - The Essential Billy Joel - It's Still Rock and Roll to Me

Mixes By Year: Best of 1980 Volume 7

Best of 1980 Volume 7 (2/27/10)

1.  Rush- The Spirit of Radio

Buy Rush - Permanent Waves - The Spirit of Radio

2. Van Halen- And the Cradle Will Rock…

Buy Van Halen - Women and Children First - And the Cradle Will Rock...

3.  Iron Maiden- Running Free

Buy Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden - Running Free

4.  Motorhead- Jailbait

Buy Motörhead - Ace of Spades - Jailbait

5.  AC/DC- You Shook Me All Night Long

*Not available via iTunes       Buy Back in Black Album

6.  Pat Benatar- Hit Me with Your Best Shot

Buy Pat Benatar - Crimes of Passion - Hit Me with Your Best Shot

7.  Pete Townsend- Let My Love Open the Door

Buy Pete Townshend - Empty Glass - Let My Love Open the Door

8.  Orange Juice- Simply Thrilled Honey

*Track not available via iTunes.         Buy The Glasgow School Album

9.  Young Marble Giants- Brand-New-Life

Buy Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth - Brand - New - Life

10.  John Lennon & Yoko Ono- (Just Like) Starting Over

Buy John Lennon - Double Fantasy (Remastered) - (Just Like) Starting Over

11.  Bob Marley & the Wailers- Could You Be Loved

Buy Bob Marley - Uprising - Could You Be Loved

12.  The Pretenders- Kid

Buy Pretenders - Pretenders (Remastered) - Kid

13.  The Police- Driven to Tears

Buy The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta - Driven to Tears

14.  Joy Division- Atrocity Exhibition

Buy Joy Division - Closer (Collector's Edition) - Atrocity Exhibition

15.  The Fall- New Face in Hell

Buy The Fall - Grotesque (After the Gramme) - New Face In Hell

16.  The Raincoats- Fairytale in the Supermarket

*Track not available via iTunes             Buy The RaincoatsAlbum

17.  The Specials- Stereotype

Buy The Specials - Stereo-Typical - A's, B's & Rarities - Stereotype

18.  The Feelies- Crazy Rhythms

Buy The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms - Crazy Rhythms

19.  Madness- Baggy Trousers

*Track not available via iTunes           Buy Ultimate CollectionAlbum

20.  Paul Simon- Late in the Evening

Buy Paul Simon - One Trick Pony - Late In the Evening

Mixes By Year: Best of 1980 Volume 8

Best of 1980 Volume 8 (2/27/10)

1.  The Treacherous Three- The New Rap Language

*Not available via iTunes or Amazon

2.  Zapp- More Bounce to the Ounce

Buy Zapp - Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce

3.  Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five- Freedom

Buy Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel & The Furious Five - The Best of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel & The Furious Five - Freedom

4.  Stevie Wonder- Master Blaster (Jammin’)

Buy Stevie Wonder - Hotter Than July - Master Blaster (Jammin')

5.  Generation X- Dancing with Myself

Buy Generation X - Anthology - Dancing With Myself

6.  The Feelies- Loveless Love

Buy The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms - Loveless Love

7.  Squeeze- If I Didn’t Love You

Buy Squeeze - Argybargy - If I Didn't Love You

8.  Dire Straits- Romeo and Juliet

Buy Dire Straits - Making Movies - Romeo and Juliet

9.  The Clash- Somebody Got Murdered

Buy The Clash - Sandinista! - Somebody Got Murdered

10.  Diamond Head- Am I Evil?

Buy Diamond Head - Am I Evil - Am I Evil

11.  Joy Division- A Means to an End

Buy Joy Division - Closer (Collector's Edition) - A Means to an End

12.  Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band- Fade Away

Buy Bruce Springsteen - The River - Fade Away

13.  Martha & the Muffins- Echo Beach

Buy Martha and The Muffins - Faraway In Time - Echo Beach

14.  ABBA- The Winner Takes It All

Buy ABBA - Super Trouper - The Winner Takes It All

Mixes By Year: Best of 1980 Volume 9

  1. Steve Winwood- While You See A Chance
  2. Genesis- Turn It On Again
  3. AC/DC- Shoot To Thrill
  4. Rush- Freewill
  5. Gary Numan- We Are Glass
  6. David Bowie- Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
  7. Grace Jones- Warm Leatherette
  8. Prince- Head
  9. Loretta Holloway- Love Sensation
  10. Loose Joints- Is It All Over My Face (Larry Levan Remix) (Female Vocal Version)
  11. Robert Palmer- Johnny And Mary
  12. Grateful Dead- Althea
  13. Peter Gabriel- I Don’t Remember
  14. The Alan Parsons Project- Time
  15. Visage- Fade To Grey