And now for Round 2: Last month, we launched the successor to our wildly popular best-albums-of-the-’80s polls, asking you, the readers of Slicing Up Eyeballs, to weigh in with your favorite songs of the year 1980, the first step in a year-long series of polls to pick the best tracks of the decade. Today, we move on to the second installment: 1981.
VOTING: For the album polls, we presented you with a list, sometimes hundreds of titles long, to choose from, plus the ability to offer write-ins. We inevitably missed titles, and some argued this skewed the results. So this time, it’s a (mostly) free-for-all. You may vote for any songs you’d like — singles, B-sides, album cuts, etc. It’s all fill-in-the-blanks this time, not multiple choice.
A few important things to note — including some changes from last month’s poll:
- To be eligible, songs must have been released in some format — whether it be on an album, EP or a single — for the first time during the year 1981. That means, for example, that a song that’s released as a single in 1982 will be eligible for the 1981 poll if it first appeared on an album released in 1981. Splitting hairs? Sure, but we have to draw the line somewhere, and the rules for last month’s poll were a bit too vague.
- By popular demand, we’re increasing the number of songs you include on your ballot. This time around, you may vote for up to 25 songs. That, of course, doesn’t mean you must come up with 25 — you can just vote for one, if that’s all you want to do. The votes are not weighted by raking; each album listed counts the same in the final tally.
- In the past, acknowledging the theme of this website, we limited voting to artists that fall under the very loose and ill-defined “alternative” banner, generally acts from the punk, post-punk, goth, college rock, indie, synthpop, industrial, New Wave and related genres. Not the case anymore — although that’s still likely how the results will skew. This time, vote for whatever you want.
- Well, there is one limit. To prevent one-note fans from, say, simply listing every track off REO Speedwagon’s Hi Infidelity, you may only vote for a maximum of two songs by the same artist when filling out your Top 25. Any ballots submitted with more than two songs by the same artist will be disqualified.
DEADLINE: Voting will be open through 5 p.m. EDT Friday, March 13, and results will be posted by the end of the month — after which we’ll launch the 1982 poll and take it from there.
Sound good? Then vote away via the survey widget posted below.
And because there’s not a pre-set list to choose from, we encourage you to lobby for your picks, and maybe sway some votes, in the comments below.
Finally, if you’re drawing a blank on what came out that year, take a look back at our Top 100 albums of 1981 poll results, or check out these other resources:
- Songfacts: Songs released in 1981
- Billboard’s Top 100 songs of 1981
- NME’s albums and tracks of the year: 1981
- Wikipedia: 1981 singles
- KROQ’s Top 106.7 songs of 1981
- CFNY’s Top 81 of 1981
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Top 100 Songs of 1980: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux — Part 1
- Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the 1980s: The Top 100 albums from 1980-1989
So what about the “Radio Free Europe” question — “first released” in 1981 as an obscure 45, then re-recorded and re-released in 1983 as the lead single on what turned out to be the most important album of the decade, “Murmur.” Which way does the hair split on this one — is it a 1981 song, or a 1983 song?
Many votes hang in the balance….
That comment about the most important album of the decade is sure to ruffle some feathers. I happen to agree with you, inasmuch as I think it’s in the top 10 most important (probably closer to top five for me). As for the question, there has to be a reasonableness aspect to the designation of years. Yes, very hardcore REM fans would know that radio free europe was initially released in 81. But no one really knew about then, and everyone associates it with the release of Murmur in 83.
By the way, even though Cure and DM fans will do everything to have their respective band take the No.1 spot, I’m betting on Under Pressure because it has grown in popularity more than any other song of that year. As for me, there is no better song from 81 than Tempted by Squeeze.
I considered “Under Pressure” an ’82 Song off of Hot Space. Was it an earlier single?
It made the KROQ list of 106 songs of 81, so it was in rotation by then.
“Under Pressure” was released as a single in ’81, so it qualifies for the ’81 voting.
I’m going to allow it to be voted in both years, because it’s technically two different recordings (talk about splitting hairs).
I would, however, recommend people vote for it in ’83 as that’s most likely when they heard it and when it had its impact. Some, however, will no doubt have heard the song in 1981, and to them it’s an ’81 song.
Seem fair?
Yep!
Perfect answer. Thanks.
To clarify- you’re talking Radio Free Europe here, yes?
Not Under Pressure. I need Under Pressure on my list.
I think in the case of certain recordings, for instance, Sunday Bloody Sunday live, or some of the tracks from Stop Making Sense, are iconic in their live format, Psycho Killer for instance being almost a different song. so hopefully live recordings also count? :-)
If I can belabor this point a little more… just to clarify… if the early single is NOT significantly different, just an early release compared to the album, then we should vote for it in the single year?
Example: “Who Can It Be Now?” and “Down Under” are listed at ’81, though the album “Business As Usual” is ’82 release date. Vote for them now or lose your chance?
(As a note, strangely, when I look what iTunes says about the album, it lists those tracks as ’82 and every other song on the album as ’81… weird.)
an early version of down under appeared as a b-side to an earlier single by Men At Work… but the one on the album is different. I think that if a song has been re-done, it could feasibly go on more than once… this is such a crazy poll. :-)
Not a big year for me, college rock wise. Here we go…
1. King Crimson – Discipline
2. King Crimson – Frame by Frame
3. Rush – Tom Sawyer
4. Rush – Limelight
5. Stranglers – Golden Brown
6. Midnight Oil – Brave Faces
7. Midnight Oil – Basement Flat
8. Genesis – Keep it Dark
9. Police – Secret Journey
10. Mission of Burma – Outlaw
11. Mission of Burma – Fame and Fortune
12. The Who – Daily Records
13. The Who – Cache Cache
14. Psychedelic Furs – Dumb Waiters
15. Comsat Angels – Our Secret
16. The Tubes – Talk To Ya Later
17. Pretenders – Talk Of The Town
18. Pretenders – Cuban Slide
19. The Stones – Little T&A
20. Stiff Little Fingers – Roots, Radicals, Rockers and Reggae
21.Tom Petty – Nightwatchman
22. Todd Rundgren – Healer
23. The Church – The Unguarded Moment
24. Red Rider – Lunatic Fringe
25. The Kinks – Destroyer
Hey Pop Gun, nice choice on the Stiff Little Fingers cut. It was #26 on my list. And I forgot about The Unguarded Moment. What a stunning song that is. Way to go, my friend.
Woo! It’s time for the 1981 voting. Can’t wait to see what people come up with. Also awesome we can vote for any songs! Here’s my list as follows:
1. Go-Go’s – Skidmarks On My Heart
2. Depeche Mode – Dreaming of Me
3. Adolescents – Kids Of The Black Hole
4. Psychedelic Furs – Dumb Waiters
5. Ramones – The KKK Took My Baby Away
6. Stray Cats – Stray Cat Strut
7. X – The Once Over Twice
8. Cars – Shake It Up
9. Cure – Primary
10. Kim Wilde – Kids in America
11. Ramones – We Want The Airwaves
12. Black Flag – TV Party
13. Siouxsie And The Banshees – Arabian Knights
14. Men At Work – Down Under
15. Soft Cell – Tainted Love
16. Human League – Don’t You Want Me
17. Duran Duran – Girls On Film
18. Tom Tom Club – Genius Of Love
19. Police – Spirits In The Material World
20. Cramps – Goo Goo Muck
21. Boomtown Rats – Up All Night
22. Agent Orange – Bloodstains
23. T.S.O.L. – Code Blue
24. Matt Johnson – Song Without An Ending
25. Oingo Boingo – Only A Lad
Aside from songs like “Tempted” which I assume will take the #1 spot, I found a few one-hit-wonders type of songs that should get the vote, IMO.
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Classix Nouveaux – Guilty
Romeo Void – Never Say Never
Interesting year… with a lot of cross-over into the more mainstream, less ‘new wave’.
Phil Collins – “In The Air Tonight”
Duran Duran – “Girls on Film”
Genesis – “No Reply At All”
Classic Rock…
Rush – “Red Barchetta”
Blue Oyster Cult – “Veteran of the Psychic Wars”
and the most important song of the year…
Rick James – “Superfreak”… which is a crossover mashup of R&B, Disco, Rock and New Wave. hah!
Then plenty of the more typical ones we might see…
Adam & the Ants – “Stand and Deliver”
Depeche Mode – “Just Can’t Get Enough”
Devo – “Working In a Coal Mine”
English Beat – “Doors of Your Heart”
The Go-Go’s – “We Got the Beat”
Human League – “Don’t You Want Me”
Kraftwerk – “Computer Love”
The Police – “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”
The Psychedelic Furs – “Pretty In Pink”
Simple Minds – “Boys From Brazil”
Siouxsie & the Banshees – “Spellbound”
Spandau Ballet – “Chant No. 1”
Squeeze – “Tempted”
The Stranglers – “Golden Brown”
Tom Tom Club – “Genius of Love”
What’s funny, is that I couldn’t really vote for anything from New Order’s Movement, as I don’t think they really hit their stride until 1983’s Power, Corruption & Lies.
Interesting year of music.
Didn’t New Order release “Ceremony” in 1981?
Actually (says a popular online encyclopedia), they released it twice that year — once in March, and again in September. That song should garner a few votes from the NO faithful, I’m guessing.
Good point. I miss some of the “Singles only” tracks, when I’m researching. Like, I missed “This Is Radio Clash” as well.
I guess this is why we can vote more than once! heh.
In no particular order
Souvenir – OMD
Seconds – Human League
Over the wall – Echo & The Bunnymen
Heaven 17 – Fascist Groove Thang
Dreams Never End – New Order
Spellbound – Siouxsie
The American – Simple Minds
Tempted – Squeeze
Bedsitter – Soft Cell
Here is my list ( in know particular order). I’ve got a few that I think might make the cut but I think most of them don’t have a chance.
– Mission Of Burma – Academy Fight Song
– Au Pairs – Come Again
– Delta 5 – Delta 5
– The Psychedelic Furs – Into You Like A Train
– Gang Of Four – What We All Want
– The Cultural Decay – Brave New World
– The Honeymoon Killers – Histoire A Suivre
– Ski Patrol – Extinguish
– Family Fodder – Dazomo
– 13th Chime – Coffin Maker
– Bona Dish – Intense
– Lucrate Milk – Lustiges Tierquartet
– Section 25 – Be Brave
– Malaria – How Do You Like My New Dog
– Devo – Going Under
– The Clean – Tally Ho
– The Birthday Party – Cry
– Siouxsie And The Banshees – Halloween
– Altered Images – I Could Be Happy
– The Cure – Primary
– The Dancing Cigarettes – Pop Doormat
– Digital Dance – Treatment
– Artery – Afterwards
– Method Actors – Commotion
– Minor Threat – Minor Threat
Great list there Nathan. I like the obscure bands you listed there. Some entirely new to me.
Thanks Billy!
Adam And The Ants, Beat My Guest
Aztec Camera, Just Like Gold
Bow Wow Wow, Jungle Boy
The Clean, Tally Ho!
Depeche Mode, Dreaming Of Me
The Gun Club, Sex Beat
Japan, Sons Of Pioneers
Marine Girls, Honey
The Nails, 88 Lines About 44 Women
New Order, Ceremony
Orange Juice, Poor Old Soul (Part One)
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, The Romance Of The Telescope (Unfinished)
Peter Godwin, Images Of Heaven
The Psychedelic Furs, She Is Mine
R.E.M., Sitting Still
Red Cross, Annette’s Got The Hits
The Replacements, I’m In Trouble
Skids, Iona
Social Distortion, Mainliner
Soft Cell, Say Hello Wave Goodbye
Spandau Ballet, The Freeze
The Stranglers, Thrown Away
Tears For Fears, Suffer The Children
U2, Gloria
The Waitresses, Christmas Wrapping
I can’t believe i forgot The Gun Club “Sex Beat”! Great pick.
Images of Heaven, nice pull there
The Cure, All Cats Are Grey
The Cure, Charlotte Sometimes
Siouxsie & The Banshees, Arabian Knights
Soft Cell, Sex Dwarf
Soft Cell, Bedsitter
Sort Sol, Marble Station
Modern English, 16 Days
Bauhaus, The Passion Of Lovers
Bauhaus, Kick In The Eye
Einstürzende Neubauten, Tanz Debil
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft, Der Mussolini
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft, Der Räuber Und Der Prinz
The Birthday Party, Release The Bats
The Birthday Party, Zoo-Music Girl
Wire, Our Swimmer
Depeche Mode, Just Can’t Get Enough
Depeche Mode, Photographic
Serge Gainsbourg, Mickey Maousse
Serge Gainsbourg, Evguénie Solokov
Roxy Music, Jealous Guy
Public Image Ltd., Flowers Of Romance
Billy Idol, Mony Mony
The Comsat Angels, Eye Of The Lens
The Psychedelic Furs, Pretty In Pink
Dead Kennedys, Too Drunk To Fuck
….these are THE ONLY songs worth mentioning from this particular year!
U2’s October was one of their most raw and effective efforts. Say what you will about what they’ve grown into, but give them some votes for that record. Also, Echo and the Bunnymen’s Heaven up Here.
“Hi Infidelity” was released in ’80.
1. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
2. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
3. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
4. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
5. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
6. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
7. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
8. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
9. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
10. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
11. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
12. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
13. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
14. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
15. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
16. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
17. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
18. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
19. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
20. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
21. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
22. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
23. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
24. TRIUMPH — Magic Power
25. TRIUMPH — Fight the Good Fight
YES!!!! And may SUE’s “Allied Forces” continue the voting “Magic”!!!
I think “Fight the Good Fight” should have been #24.
If I could “Like” that response, I would have. It made me laugh.
great to see the Honeymoonkillers, i placed Nationale 7
Great French songs in 1987
Bashung, Rebel
Bashung, Vertige de l’Amour
Taxi Girl, les armées de la nuit
Also
Lyres, Buried Alive
Comateens, Late Night City
My List, in artist alphabetical order…
Adam & the Ants, Stand and Deliver
Altered Images, I Could Be Happy
Laurie Anderson, O Superman
Black Flag, TV Party
The Clash, This is Radio Clash
Phil Collins, In the Air Tonight
Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Clubland
Elvis Costello & The Attractions, From a Whisper to a Scream
Depeche Mode, Just Can’t Get Enough
Devo, Working in a Coalmine
Duran Duran, Girls on Film
The Go-Go’s, Our Lips Are Sealed
The Go-Go’s, We Got the Beat
Human League, Don’t You Want Me
The Nails, 88 Lines About 44 Women
Stevie Nicks/Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around
The Police, Spirits in the Material World
The Pretenders, Talk of the Town
The Psychedelic Furs, Pretty in Pink
Romeo Void, Never Say Never
Soft Cell, Tainted Love
Squeeze, Tempted
Squeeze, Labelled With Love
Tom Tom Club, Genius of Love
The Waitresses, Christmas Wrapping
If you and I are ever in the same bar, I am buying you a drink. We’d have a great talk about all the music we have in common. Love just about every song you listed, with particularly props to Whisper to a Scream (the perfect melding of Squeeze and Elvis in their respective primes). But the CLASSIC pull you have in there is Black FLag’s TV Party. So many memories of that one.
Here is what I submitted if anyone is interested:
Japan, Ghosts
Japan, Visions of China
Simple Minds, Love Song
King Crimson, Elephant Talk
The Human League, Don’t You Want Me
U2, Gloria
Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, Joan of Arc
The Clash, The Magnificent Seven
Ultravox, The Voice
Ultravox, The Thin Wall
Kraftwerk, Pocket Calculator
John Foxx, Europe After the Rain
The Jam, That’s Entertainment
Soft Cell, Sex Dwarf
The Stranglers, Golden Brown
Split Enz, One Step Ahead
Rough Trade, All Touch
Stray Cats, Rock this Town
The Tubes, Talk To Ya Later
Tom Tom Club, Genius of Love
Genesis, Me and Sarah Jane
The Police, Spirits in the Material World
Rush, Tom Sawyer
Rush, Limelight
The Church, The Unguarded Moment
Are we considering “We Got the Beat” as a 1981 song? I know *Beauty and the Beat* was released in 1981, but several sites list a UK single release of 1980, which may mean it’s disqualified for this year. But: it looks like it was re-recorded for the album, so perhaps it fits under the “Radio Free Europe” clause. ;)
Since I didn’t see it on the 1980 vote, I’d assumed it was 1981. There are going to be lots of these “Single or album?” questions out there. I figure Matt will be the decider on what he thinks should count. I mean, he counted Train In Vain as 1980, when London Calling was officially released in 79, so I’m assuming some flexibility.
…but this is the place to ask him for clarification, no? He answered the “Radio Free Europe” question; hopefully he’ll answer this one as well.
Plus the rules were a bit different for the ’80 votes — for that poll, it was “released in some format” and “Train in Vain” fit, given its release in ’80 as a single. Now, we’re submitting songs released “for the first time” in a given year, which causes a bit of a hitch for songs like “Radio Free Europe” and “We Got the Beat” in these new rules for ’81.
It got some votes in the 1980 poll, but not enough to crack the Top 100. And I suspect that’s because most people consider it an ’81 single. I will cite the “Radio Free Europe” ruling, and say, as two different recordings, it’s eligible both years, but it makes more sense to vote for the later, more widely heard version.
Thank you.
The Replacements,If You Were Lonely and Mission of Burma, That’s When I Reach For My Revolver need to make this list.
I forgot this when I voted, but also Rush, Red Barchetta
Einstein-a-go-go by Landscape should make the list too
I came up with twenty, in as close to order of preference as possible:
1. The Cure – The Funeral Party
2. Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
3. The Stranglers – Golden Brown
4. The Go-Go’s – We Got The Beat
5. The Specials – Ghost Town
6. New Order – Ceremony
7. The Who – You Better You Bet
8. The Kinks – Better Things
9. The Sound – Silent Air
10. The Clash – This Is Radio Clash
11. The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink
12. Siouxsie & The Banshees – Spellbound
13. X – Some Other Time
14. Echo & The Bunnymen – A Promise
15. The Cure – Primary
16. George Harrison – All Those Years Ago
17. The Church – The Unguarded Moment
18. Minor Threat – Straight Edge
19. Public Image Ltd. – Flowers Of Romance
20. The Human League – Don’t You Want Me
Better Things is a classic! Well done, good list.
Easy – in no particular order…
1. New Order – Everything’s Gone Green
2. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Souvenir
3. A Certain Ratio – Do The Du(casse)
4. ESG – You’re No Good
5. New Order – Ceremony
6. Kraftwerk – Computer Love
7. The Human League – Don’t You Want Me
8. The Birthday Party – Nick The Stripper
9. The Cure – All Cats Are Gray
10. Depeche Mode – Just Can’t Get Enough
11. Liquid Liquid – Bellhead
12. Wire – Our Swimmer
13. Andreas Dorau & die Marinas – Fred Vom Jupiter
14. Pete Shelley – Homosapien
15. Josef K – Sorry For Laughing
16. Liaisons Dangereuses – Los Niños del Parque
17. Ministry – Cold Life
18. Soft Cell – Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
19. Chris & Cosey – October Love Song
20. The Durutti Column – Sketch For Dawn
21. Crispy Ambulance – The Presence
22. Scritti Politti – The “Sweetest Girl”
23. Section 25 – New Horizon
24. The Clash – The Magnificent Seven
25. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Romance of the Telescope
I think “Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Romance of the Telescope” was 1983.
Ooops…maybe not. Appears that it was a B side for an Architecture and Morality single. See, you learn something new everyday.
Correct – the original “Unfinished” version “Romance of the Telescope” was released as a b-side of “Joan of Arc” in 1981. I, however, screwed up on Chris & Coseys’s “October Love Song.” That wasn’t released until 1983. Not sure what I was thinking?!
Durutti Column! Great pick!
To breakdown rule #1 further…would that mean that the 1982 single from a 1981 album can only be voted on for the 1981 list?
The Police, Invisible Sun
Yello, The Evening’s Young
Siouxsie and the Banshees, Spellbound
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Do You Wanna Touch Me
The Durutti Column, The Missing Boy
Einsturzende Neubauten, Tanz Debil
Missing Persons, Words
Pete Shelley, Homosapien
Novo Combo, Up Periscope
APB, I’d Like to Shoot You Down
Mental As Anything, If You Leave Me Can I Come Too?
The Producers, What’s He Got
Zounds, Demystification
Pigbag, Papa’s Got a Brand New Pig Bag
The Blue Nile, I Love This Life
Fun Boy Three, The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)
New Musik, They All Run After the Carving Knife
Squeeze, In Quintessence
The Cure, Charlotte Sometimes
Black Flag, TV Party
The Specials, Ghost Town
Kim Wilde, Kids In America
Psychedelic Furs, Pretty In Pink
New Order, Dreams Never End
U2, Gloria
Pylon, Crazy
Birthday Party, Release the Bats
The Clash, This Is Radio Clash
Haircut One Hundred, Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
R.E.M., Radio Free Europe
The Cure, Primary
Tom Tom Club, Genius of Love
Adam and the Ants, Stand and Deliver
Dead Kennedys, Too Drunk to Fuck
I know that’s too many… I’m probably going to go with the obscured stuff and count on the masses to do the right thing and supply the votes for The Cure, New Order, Clash, Police, and my beloved Siouxsie.
Google search the WLIR/WDRE Shreik of the Week archive for reference… Lots of great songs I had forgotten about…
The Police, Invisible Sun
Yello, The Evening’s Young
Siouxsie and the Banshees, Spellbound
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Do You Wanna Touch Me
The Durutti Column, The Missing Boy
Einsturzende Neubauten, Tanz Debil
Missing Persons, Words
Pete Shelley, Homosapien
Novo Combo, Up Periscope
APB, I’d Like to Shoot You Down
Mental As Anything, If You Leave Me Can I Come Too?
The Producers, What’s He Got
Zounds, Demystification
Pigbag, Papa’s Got a Brand New Pig Bag
The Blue Nile, I Love This Life
Fun Boy Three, The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)
New Musik, They All Run After the Carving Knife
Squeeze, In Quintessence
The Cure, Charlotte Sometimes
Black Flag, TV Party
The Specials, Ghost Town
Kim Wilde, Kids In America
Psychedelic Furs, Pretty In Pink
New Order, Dreams Never End
U2, Gloria
Pylon, Crazy
Birthday Party, Release the Bats
The Clash, This Is Radio Clash
Haircut One Hundred, Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
R.E.M., Radio Free Europe
The Cure, Primary
Tom Tom Club, Genius of Love
Adam and the Ants, Stand and Deliver
Dead Kennedys, Too Drunk to F
The Police — Invisible Sun
New Order — Ceremony
dB’s — Bad Reputation
Mission of Burma — That’s When I Reach for My Revolver
The Church — Tear It All Away
The Blasters — Border Radio
The Gun Club — She’s Like Heroin to Me
X — White Girl
Gang of Four — Outside the Trains Don’t Run On Time
The Cure — Primary
The Fall — Leave the Capitol
Psychedelic Furs — She Is Mine
Modern English — 16 Days
The Cramps — Goo Goo Muck
U2 — Gloria
Siouxsie/Banshees — Arabian Nights
Pretenders — Talk of the Town
Squeeze — Tempted
Go-Go’s — Our Lips Are Sealed
Wall of Voodoo — Back in Flesh
Human League — Don’t You Want Me
Depeche Mode — Dreaming of Me
Tom Tom Club — Genius of Love
Adam and the Ants — Stand and Deliver
Anyway, I think that’s 25. Random thoughts:
— As a challenge to myself, I resolved to vote for no more than one song per artist this time. I may continue that in subsequent polls.
— I’m not going to vote for “Radio Free Europe” until 1983.
— I am voting for X’s “White Girl” again because it was dumb to vote for it in the 1980 poll.
— I’m upset with myself for overlooking Colin Newman’s “Alone” last time.
— It was a really good year for Psychedelic Furs songs.
— “Dreaming of Me” lyrics, WTF…
— BOC’s “Veteran of the Psychic Wars” was massively good in another context in 1981, and that whole Rush album too.
— Side 2 of “Duran Duran” was better than Side 1.
— Just kidding the other day about TRIUMPH.
Twenty to consider:
1. The (English) Beat: Drowning
2. The Church: The Unguarded Moment
3. Clock DVA: 4 Hours
4. Crass: Big A, little A
5. Dead Kennedys: Moon Over Marin
6. Echo & The Bunnymen: Show of Strength
7. Hazel O’Connor: (Cover Plus) We’re All Grown Up
8. Killing Joke: Butcher
9. Killing Joke: Tension
10. New Order: Dreams Never End
11. Psychedelic Furs: Into You Like a Train
12. The Ramones: The KKK Took My Baby Away
13. Siouxsie & The Banshees: Arabian Nights
14. Siouxsie & The Banshees: Sin My Heart
15. The Sound: New Dark Age
16. The Sound: Skeletons
17. The Stranglers: The Man They Love To Hate
18. Theatre of Hate: Nero
19. 13th Chime: Coffin Maker
20. Zounds: Demystification
Wasn’t The Unguarded Moment first released in 1980?
The band’s debut single She Never Said was 1980. The Unguarded Moment single (and it’s source album) are both from ’81.
I have to go back and vote for Crass “Big A Little A.” One of the greatest punk songs ever, and I forgot what year it came out.
my 25, in particular order
duran duran, girls on film
the jam, absolute beginners
the clash, this is radio clash
the cure, charlotte sometimes
psychedelic furs, pretty in pink
the police, every little thing she does is magic
stray cats, stray cat strut
pretenders, message of love
gang of four, to hell with poverty
pigbag, papa’s got a brand new pigbag
the church, unguarded moment
echo & the bunnymen, a promise
undertones, it’s going to happen
siouxsie & the banshees, arabian knights
siouxsie & the banshees, spellbound
simple minds, love song
depeche mode, just can’t get enough
U2, Fire
human league, love action
new order, ceremony
soft cell, sex dwarf
teardrop explodes, passionate friend
Ub40, one in ten
killing joke, the wait
dead kennedys, holiday in cambodia
i tried not to overlap my 1980 list. fun list again. working on 1982 now . . . . thanks SUE
The most successful and impacting song or single to this day was/is Soft Cell tainted love…you still hear it on the radio all the time…even MANY MANY MANY years after it was released it ruled the top 500 KROQ COUNTDOWN FOR ALL SONGS non stop erotic cabaret with bedsitter, say hello wave goodbye.. and excellent tracks youth and sex dwarf…love DM BUT NOTHING UNTIL 83 CONSTRUCTION TIME AGAIN ERA SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS THIS PRIOR ERA IS WELL….EMBARRASSING!!!!!
the last song from A broken Frame is proto-classic DM though- The Sun and the Rainfall. it kind of makes up for the horrible lyrics of Photograph of you… makes me feel blue… :-P it has the classic breakdown and overlapping keyboard and vocal lines which they would use to great success later. plus, it’s dark. :-)
My current list (subject to change – still getting some I’ve missed from others lists – they are a great help) in a rough semblance of order from best first.
Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
The Birthday Party – Release the Bats
Dead Kennedys – Too Drunk to Fuck
The Cure – Primary
The Specials – Ghost Town
Crass – Big A Little A
The Church – The Unguarded Moment
New Order – Ceremony
Dead Kennedys – Nazi Punks Fuck Off
Pigbag – Papa’s Got A Brand New Pigbag
The Swingers -Counting the Beat
Laurie Anderson – O Superman
Black Flag – TV Party
Romeo Void – Never Say Never
New Order – Everything’s Gone Green
The Birthday Party – Nick The Stripper
Bauhaus – Kick in the Eye
The Fall – Prole Art Threat
Echo & The Bunnymen – A Promise
Kraftwerk – The Model
Devo – Beautiful World
The Stranglers – Golden Brown
Jona Lewie – Louise (We Get it Right)
The Who – You Better You Bet
??? – ??? (I have 5 songs still fighting for this last spot)
(probably) my final list:
Soft Cell, Tainted Love
Psychedelic Furs, Pretty in Pink
Depeche Mode, Dreaming of Me
Blondie, Rapture
Tom Tom Club, Genius of Love
New Order, Ceremony
The Producers, What’s He Got
Human League, Don’t You Want Me
The Church, The Unguarded Moment
Devo, Beautiful World
Police, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
Rush, Red Barchetta
Cars, Shake It Up
Queen + David Bowie, Under Pressure
Human League, Don’t You Want Me
Van Halen, Unchained
Adam & the Ants, Antmusic
Generation X, Dancin’ With Myself
Romeo Void, Never Say Never
Joan Jett, I Love Rock and Roll
The Rolling Stone, Start Me Up
Def Leppard, Another Hit and Run
Pylon, Crazy
Blue Orchids, The Flood
Mission of Burma, This Is Not a Photograph
notes:
– I turned 13 on this year and listened to a LOT of top 40 radio. There were many good songs on top 40 radio then; inevitable that many would make my list, along with others that became important to me in the years to come.
– speaking of AT40: one of these songs I submitted to American Top 40’s “Long Distance Dedication”, just hoping Casey would read it on the air to a crush I had in 8th grade.
Thank you God that particular bit of foolishness never saw the light of day.
– Kids In America and Down Under were such good tracks, released in their respective countries in ’81 and the US in ’82. Hope they don’t get overlooked, but I’m waiting for the 1982 list.
– Van Halen, Rush, and Def Leppard picks acknowledge a flirtation with lite metal on my part. Fine, fine records those three.
I’m not sure anyone had a good a run as VH’s first 6 records. And no one seems to acknowledge that Def Leppard peaked with High n Dry, go figure.
– The Church fans: are we all going to pick different tracks from Of Skins & Hearts, thus diluting the vote? I was afraid so, so I went with Unguarded Moment, when really it’s For A Moment We’re Strangers that grabs me by the neck from the get-go.
But it could have 6 other songs of that record.
– Feel a little bad leaving off Superfreak. But at the time I probably liked Carl Carlton’s Bad Mamma Jamma even more anyway, and what are you gonna do?
My list:
Adam & The Ants – Prince Charming
Altered Images – Happy Birthday
Laurie Anderson – O Superman
Bauhaus – The Passion of Lovers
The Birthday Party – Nick the Stripper
Black Flag – T.V. Party
The Blasters – I’m Shakin’
Blondie – Rapture
Kate Bush – Sat In Your Lap
David Byrne – What A Day That Was
Elvis Costello – Clubland
Dead Kennedys – Too Drunk To Fuck
Devo – Through Being Cool
Gang Of Four – Paralysed
Magazine – About the Weather
Juice Newton – Angel of the Morning
Juice Newton – Queen of Hearts
Public Image Ltd. – Flowers of Romance
Rush – Tom Sawyer
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Arabian Knights
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Spellbound
Stray Cats – Runaway Boys
Tom Tom Club – Genius of Love
Tom Tom Club – Wordy Rappinghood
Kim Wilde – Kids In America
Yeah, I went there on the Juice Newton songs. 3 of her songs are guilty pleasures of mine. The other one will be on my 1982 list. :)
Bravo on the Juice. Angel of the Morning still makes me woozy.
No comment on Juice Newton. But you deserve credit for = I’m Shakin by the Balsters
Blasters, I mean.
Altered Images, Happy Birthday
Bauhaus, Passion of Lovers
The Cars, Since You’re Gone
Classix Nouveaux, Guilty
Depeche Mode, Photographic
Devo, Through Being Cool
Duran Duran, Careless Memories
Echo and the Bunnymen, With A Hip
Go-Go’s, Our Lips Are Sealed
Heaven 17, (We Don’t Need No) Fascist Groove Thang
The Human League, Seconds
Landscape, Einstein A Go-Go
Men At Work, Down Under
New Order, Dreams Never End
Orchestral Manoeuvers In The Dark – Souvenir
The Police, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
The Pretenders, Talk Of The Town
Rush, Red Barchetta
Siouxsie and the Banshees, Spellbound
Slow Children, President Am I
Soft Cell, Sex Dwarf
Spandau Ballet, To Cut A Long Story Short
Split Enz, One Step Ahead
Syl Sylvain and the Teardrops, Just One Kiss
Television Personalities, I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives
Would The Dead Kennedys’ We’ve Got A Bigger Problem Now count as a new song in 1981, as it was a (substantial) updating of California Uber Alles?
Gosh, that was tough! Too many good songs from which to choose. And my list looks quite a bit like many already on here.
1. Squeeze – Tempted
2. The Police – Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
3. U2 – Gloria
4. The Psychedelic Furs – Into You Like a Train
5. Queen with David Bowie – Under Pressure
6. Depeche Mode – Just Can’t Get Enough
7. New Order – Everything’s Gone Green
8. Duran Duran – Girls on Film
9. The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty in Pink
10. The Human League – Dont You Want Me
11. The Jam – That’s Entertainment
12. The Cure – Primary
13. Rush – Tom Sawyer
14. Tom Tom Club – Genius of Love
15. Laurie Anderson – O, Superman
16. The Police – Invisible Sun
17. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Souvenir
18. Red Rider – Lunatic Fringe
19. Duran Duran – Planet Earth
20. The Specials – Ghost Town
21. Grover Washington Jr with Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us
22. The Jam – Absolute Beginners
23. Siouxsie & the Banshees – Spellbound
24. The Pretenders – Message of Love
25. The Boomtown Rats – Up All Night
Honorable Mentions: Dumb Waiters (already had the Furs twice on the list), Be Good Johnny (although Business as Usual was released in Australia in 1981 it didn’t hit the U.S. until 1982 and was not sure S.U.E. would count this as an ’81 tune), The KKK Took My Baby Away (because, Ramones)
Love the nod to Red Rider. I’d completely forgotten about “Lunatic Fringe”
The Specials – Ghost Town
David J & René Halkett – Armour
The Stranglers – Golden Brown
Laurie Anderson – O Superman
Grace Jones – Nightclubbing
Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink
Tom Tom Club – Genius of Love
Ramones – She’s A Sensation
Siouxsie and the Banshees – Spellbound
Wall of Voodoo – Back in Flesh
U2 – October
Gleaming Spires – Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?
The Cure – Charlotte Sometimes
The Police – Invisible Sun
Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Spasticus (Autisticus)
A pretty good year; much better than 1982 which I’ve been looking ahead at in preparation.
Very Hard to only choose 25… I did throw in a Who tune, just to represent the grandfathers of punk…
Tom Tom Club-Genius of Love
Police-Every little thing she does Is magic
Police-Invisible Sun
Go Gos-our lips are sealed
Devo-Beautiful World
REM-Radio Free Europe
Split Enz-History Never Repeats
Bowie/queen-under pressure
Boomtown Rats-up all night
Kraftwerk-Computer love
Pretenders-Message of Love
Pylon-Crazy
Squeeze-Tempted
Black Flag-Rise Above
Minor Threat-Straight Edge
The clash-This is Radio Clash
Mission of Burma-That’s When I Reach for my Revolver
Cramps-Goo Goo Muck
U2-Gloria
Oingo Boingo-Only a Lad
Duran Duran-Girls on Film
Cars-Since You’re Gone
Psychedelic Furs-Pretty in Pink
Ramones-The KKK Took My Baby Away
Ramones-It’s Not My Place in the 9 to 5 World
The Suburbs – Music For Boys
ok, just going to throw this up, I’m sure I left out some other ones… surprised how some of these songs aren’t more represented on the lists here. but it’s kind of hard to figure out what songs came out, with singles and all that. anyways… here’s a few i’ll be voting for.
DEVO- Beautiful World
DEVO- Through Being Cool
Modern English – Smiles And Laughter
Specials- Ghost Town
new order- dreams never end
new order- ceremony
the police- Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Cars- Since You’re Gone
Cars – Shake It Up
Fad Gadget- Life on the Line IV
men at work- down under
men at work- who can it be now
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Oingo Boingo –On the Outside
Oingo Boingo – Only A Lad
Phil Collins – “In The Air Tonight”
Depeche Mode, Photographic
Kraftwerk, Pocket Calculator
human league- don’t you want me
Generation X- Dancing With Myself
I’ve got a question about “Dancing With Myself”… looking it up, the Generation X version was from 1980, but the remake by solo Billy Idol was from 1981. I’d vote for the latter, as it was that version that became such a huge single… but maybe SUE can weigh in here on the appropriateness of the vote?
R.E.M. Radio Free Europe
R.E.M. Sitting Still
Human Switchboard (Say No To) Saturday’s Girl
Rosanne Cash Seven Year Ache
Psychedelic Furs Pretty In Pink
Soft Cell Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Rolling Stones Start Me Up
Tom Tom Club Genius of Love
Kinks Destroyer
Kirsty MacColl There’s A Guy Down At The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis
Blasters Marie, Marie
Squeeze In Quintessence
Human League Don’t You Want Me
Rickie Lee Jones We Belong Together
Mission of Burma That’s When I Reach For My Revolver
Kinks Better Things
U2 Gloria
Beat Doors of Your Heart
Lene Lovich New Toy
Soft Cell Sex Dwarf
Pretenders Message of Love
Elvis Costello & The Attractions New Lace Sleeves
Squeeze Someone Else’s Heart
X Beyond and Back
Romeo Void White Sweater
Bow Wow Wow Golly! Golly! Go Buddy!
“New Toy.” Great pick. Another one I forgot.
This site can help. There is not every album (can’t find Taxi Girl) but it can help with non american/English bands:
http://lyrics.wikia.com/Category:Albums_released_in_1981
Abba – The Visitors
Adam and the Ants – Stand and Deliver
Altered Images – I Could Be Happy
The Cure – The Funeral Party
The Cure – Primary
Depeche Mode – I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead
Thomas Dolby – Europa and the Pirate Twins
Duran Duran – Friends of Mine
Electric Light Orchestra – Hold On Tight
Fad Gadget – Lady Shave
Fun Boy Three – The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum
Peter Godwin – Images of Heaven
Petre Godwin – Torch Songs for the Heroine
The Go-Go’s – This Town
Heaven 17 – Let’s All Make a Bomb
The Human League – Don’t You Want Me
The Human League – Seconds
OMD – Of All the Things We’ve Made
Siouxsie and the Banshees – Arabian Knights
Siouxsie and the Banshees – Into the Light
Soft Cell – Chips on My Shoulder
Soft Cell – Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Spandau Ballet – The Freeze
Sparks – Funny Face
Kim Wilde – Tuning In Tuning On
Nice choice on Go-Go’s – This Town. Great song! I chose Skidmarks On My Heart. The album is just darn good! Great list!
1 Public Image Ltd. – Flowers Of Romance
2 Dead Kennedys – Too Drunk To F**k
3 Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
4 DAF – Der Mussolini
5 Bauhaus – Kick In The Eye
6 The Cure – Primary
7 Kraftwerk – Computer Love
8 The Specials – Ghost Town
9 UB40 – One In Ten
10 The Police – Invisible Sun
11 Heaven 17 – (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang
12 Ultravox – The Thin Wall
13 Japan – Visions Of China
14 The Human League – Love Action (I Believe In Love)
15 Simple Minds – Love Song
16 Soft Cell – Tainted Love
17 Depeche Mode – Just Can’t Get Enough
18 New Order – Ceremony
19 Siouxsie & The Banshees – Arabian Knights
20 The Clash – This Is Radio Clash
21 The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink
22 Blondie – Rapture
23 Pigbag – Papa’s Got A Brand New Pigbag
24 Kim Wilde – Kids In America
25 Spandau Ballet – Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)
I found this year a bit lacking, IMO the 80’s hadn’t quite hit their indie-new wave groove. On the other hand, Duran Duran’s 1st album!
Part of this is because I was only 4 at the time, but I feel like the decade really picked up steam and diversified as it went along. Man, I’m going to have a hard time when we get to 83, 84, 87.
Romeo Void Never Say Never
Girls on film
Every little thing she does
Our lips are sealed
Ghost town
Rock this town
Planet earth
Don’t you want me
Gloria
This is radio clash
Everything’s gone green
Depeche Mode, Just Can’t Get Enough
Tom Tom Club, Genius of Love
Tainted love
Ceremony
The cars – since you’re gone
Kraftwerk – pocket calculator
The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink
Here goes…
Sad Lovers And Giants – Colourless Dream
Sad Lovers And Giants – Things We Never Did
Killing Joke – Tension
Killing Joke – Follow The Leaders
Kraftwerk – Computer Love
Kraftwerk – Pocket Calculator
Icehouse – Can’t Help Myself
Icehouse – Love In Motion
The Sound – Sense Of Purpose
Soft Cell – Sex Dwarf
Visage – Visage
Rush – Red Barchetta
Rush – Tom Sawyer
Devo – Through Being Cool
Spandau Ballet – To Cut A Long Story Short
Human League – Seconds
Human League – Things That Dreams Are Made Of
Police – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Police – Secret Journey
Gang Of Four – To Hell With Poverty
Wire – Our Swimmer
Simple Minds – Love Song
Level 42 – Turn It On
Duran Duran – Planet Earth
The Cure – Primary
Great lists. The only song I haven’t seen mentioned in the comments that I included in my list is The Wipers – Youth of America. Learn it. Know it. Live it.
If “Key Largo” by Bertie Higgins isn’t #1 then this list will lose all credibility.
Dude, you almost made me spit out my coffee all over the laptop screen. :D
1981. The year my older sister came back from college in CA and introduced me to bands not playing on WDVE. It’s amazing how many 1981 songs are still getting radio play – which definitely impacted my thinking on the list.
1 Soft Cell – Tainted Love
2 Squeeze – Tempted
3 The Cure – Primary
4 Depeche Mode – Just Can’t Get Enough
5 The Human League – Don’t You Want Me
6 Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
7 New Order – Ceremony
8 The Go-Go’s – We Got the Beat
9 Men at Work – Down Under
10 Psychedelic Furs – Pretty in Pink
11 Pretenders – Message Of Love
12 U2 – Gloria
13 The Police – Spirits in the Material World
14 Echo & The Bunnymen – A Promise
15 The Cars – Shake it Up
16 Adam & The Ants – Stand and Deliver
17 OMD – Souvenir
18 Duran Duran – Girls on Film
19 Stray Cats – Rock This Town
20 The Nails – 88 Lines About 44 Women
1 New Order – Ceremony
2 Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink
3 The Cure – Primary
4 The Church – The Unguarded Moment
5 Bauhaus – Mask
6 The Cure – Charlotte Sometimes
7 Echo and the Bunnymen – A Promise
8 Psychedelic Furs – Into You Like A Train
9 Minor Threat – Straight Edge
10 Rush – Tom Sawyer
11 The Church – Too Fast For You
12 Echo and the Bunnymen – Turquoise Days
13 Minor Threat – Guilty of Being White
14 The Cars – Since You’re Gone
15 Mission of Burma – That’s When I Reach for My Revolver
16 New Order – Dreams Never End
17 Joy Division – The Only Mistake
18 Bauhaus – The Passion of Lovers
19 Kraftwerk – Pocket Calculator
20 Felt – Something Sends Me to Sleep
no particular order:
Our Lips Are Sealed – Go-Go’s
Only A Lad – Oingo Boingo
Gloria – U2
Everything’s Gone Green – New Order
The Magnificent Seven – The Clash
Love Plus One – Haircut 100
Sitting Still – R.E.M.
Favourite Shirts – Haircut 100
Burnin’ For You – Blue Oyster Cult
I Can’t Go For That – Hall & Oates
Crimson and Clover – Joan Jett
Stone In Love – Journey
Country Comfort – Juice Newton
When It’s Over – Loverboy
I Love Rock And Roll – Joan Jett
Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode
Mony Mony – Billy Idol
Kids In America – Kim Wilde
Girls On Film – Duran Duran
Every Little – The Police
We got the beat – Go-Go’s
I Don’t Need You – Kenny Rogers
Take It Easy On Me – Little River Band
Stop Draggin My Heart Around – Stevie Nicks
The Breakup Song – Greg Kihn Band
The Swingers – Counting The Beat
The Vapors – Jimmie Jones
Magazine – About The Weather
Garland Jeffreys – 96 Tears
Icehouse – We Can Get Together
The Specials – Ghost Town
The Church – The Unguarded Moment
The Jam – Absolute Beginners
The Damned – Disco Man
The Damned – Billy Bad Breaks
Yello – The Evening’s Young
Tenpole Tudor – What You Doing In Bombay
The Buggles – On TV
The Human League – Love Action (I Believe in Love)
The Blasters – So Long Baby Goodbye
Depeche Mode – Just Can’t Get Enough
Split Enz – One Step Ahead
The Stranglers – Golden Brown
Fun Boy Three – The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)
English Beat – Doors Of Your Heart
Madness – Grey Day
Duran Duran – Planet Earth
Ultravox – The Voice
Slow Children – President Am I
The dB’s – Amplifier
1. Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode
2. Love Song – Simple Minds
3. Primary – The Cure
4. Careless Memories – Duran Duran
5. Gloria – U2
6. Ceremony – New Order
7. Everything’s Gone Green – New Order
8. The Things That Dreams Are Made Of – The Human League
9. Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) – Haircut 100
10. Homosapien – Pete Shelley
11. (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang – Heaven 17
12. Rock This Town – Stray Cats
13. Rapture – Blondie
14. Sex Dwarf – Soft Cell
15. Girls on Film – Duran Duran
16. It’s Not Me (Talking) – A Flock of Seagulls
17. Telecommunication – A Flock of Seagulls
18. New Life – Depeche Mode
19. The Freeze – Spandau Ballet
20. Through Being Cool – Devo
21. Stand And Deliver – Adam & The Ants
22. Europe After The Rain – John Foxx
23. The Unguarded Moment – The Church
24. A Promise – Echo And The Bunnymen
25. Genius Of Love – Tom Tom Club
I’m dyin’ here… where are the results?
:)
Is this still happening?
results?
In order of preference:
1. Depeche Mode – puppets
2. Tears for Fears – Suffer the Children
3. Human League – Do or Die
4. Hamilton Bohannon — Let’s Start II Dance Again
5. Human League – Sound of the Crowd
6. The Brothers Johnson – The Real Thing
7. Depeche Mode – Photographic
8. Starsound – Stars on 45
9. Madness – Grey Day
10. Hall & Oates – I can’t go for that
11. Grace Jones – I’ve Seen That Face Before (Libertango)”
12. Grace Jones – Pull up to the Bumper
13. Soft Cell – Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
14. Madness – Cardiac Arrest
15. Japan – Visions Of China
16. Earth wind and Fire – lets groove
17. Duran Duran – My Own Way
18. Jean Michel Jarre – Magnetic Fields
19. Kate Bush – Sat in your Lap
20. Imagination – Body Talk
21. Ottawan – “Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)
22. Duran Duran – Planet Earth
23. Blancmange – Sad Day
24. Spandau Ballet – Chant No 1
25. The Stranglers – Golden Brown