Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
I am reaquainting myself with some 80's music today - I picked up 3 albums by Japan (Tin Drum, Quiet Life and Gentlemen Take Polaroids). These are all albums which I had taped onto cassette many years ago, and due to the introduction of CD's just lay gathering dust along with all my other "stolen music".
But I had picked these albums up several times over the last few months but never got around to buying them.
Until today.
I guess you have to like this stuff to want to hear it, but David Sylvian's vocal style (bit Bryan Ferry-ish) and the wonderful fretless bass work of Mick Karn overlaying the percussion of Richard Barbieri and keyboards of Steve Jansen are something I never tire of. The lyrical content may not be exactly up to some of the best songs of the decade but they are great sing-a-long-a-songs.
Ah, memories.....................
[881 byte] By [
Bob] at [2007-11-9 13:39:41]
# 1 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
80's, eh? I was a bit young then, and not that deep into music yet, but for me, only 2 bands from the 80's mattered to me then, and matter to me now. The Cure and the Smiths. Robert Smith and Morrisey, two fellow tortured souls who made my miserable adolescent life a bit more bearable coz I knew they had it worse than me, at least that's how it seemed from the way they sang. There is a Light That Will Never Go Out and Pictures of You will always bring tears to my eyes....
Ah memories.....................
# 2 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Ah yes. Three albums I have on vinyl, but not, alas, on CD, unless some kind soul.....
# 3 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Originally posted by reorx24
80's, eh? I was a bit young then, and not that deep into music yet, but for me, only 2 bands from the 80's mattered to me then, and matter to me now. The Cure and the Smiths.
Well, it doesn't get much better than those two, but there was a LOT of great 80s alternative bands that were as good and still matter to me to this day (I spent the 80s in jr. high, high school and college):
R.E.M.
Depeche Mode
The Clash
The Police
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
New Order
U2
The Pixies
INXS
Jane's Addiction
Echo and the Bunnymen
Yaz
Erasure
The Church
Ministry
The House of Love
Nine Inch Nails
Bauhaus/Peter Murphy/Love and Rockets
Psychedelic Furs
Sinead O'Connor
Violent Femmes
B-52s
Front 242
Jesus and Mary Chain
Husker Du
The Cult
The Jam
Midnight Oil
The Replacements
Siousxie and the Banshees
Sisters of Mercy
The Cars
And these are all more or less "well-known" alternative artists of the 80s. I won't even mention the more obscure bands. (I know some of these became more mainstream as time went on, and others are probably more "college rock" than true alternative).
(Sorry for the thread hijack. To get back on topic, I'm not real familiar with Japan. Will have to track them down and give a listen).
# 4 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
I am so glad I ran accross this thread because it reminded me of what a great album "Secrets of the Beehive" is, I am ordering another copy since mine was misplaced during a move.
PugPod at 2007-11-15 17:37:27 >
# 5 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
wolfpacker,
No thread hijack - it is all about 80's music. I have quite a lot of stuff on tape from that period - just need to sit down and go through it all one day.
Bob at 2007-11-15 17:38:26 >
# 6 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
This Mortal Coil
Cocteau Twins
Nitzer Ebb
Clan of Xymox
Killing Joke
Split Enz
Joy Division
Paul Haig
Wire
Wolfgang Press
Lush
Stephen Duffy
The Residents
Coil
The Swans
Some of my favs - I loved the all of the 4AD stuff.
NiTRO at 2007-11-15 17:39:25 >
# 7 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
As you may have noticed I have edited the title to take in the 70's too.
I picked up "The Free Story" this very day for the grand sum of ?5. I have always liked the music I have heard from Rogers/Kossof/Fraser/Kirke although for some strange reason I have never actually bought one of their albums.
19 songs for a fiver works out at just over 26p per song - better value than Apple Music Store!!
This has of course whetted my appetite for getting some of their albums. (OK I know they formed in '68 so maybe the title should read 60's, 70's and 80's!!)
Which of course will lead me onto Bad Company as again I have none of their albums but 'dig' their early stuff.
At this rate I'll be needing a new iPod. :D
Bob at 2007-11-15 17:40:29 >
# 8 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Dare I confess that I actually bought ALPHAVILLE'S Afternoons in Utopia a month ago because of Carol master? (I must be the only one who loved that song sigh)
I actually have a playlist on my ipod called blast from my past where I have the music that was VERY important to me as a teenager. It includes
RUSH - Tom Sawyer is the best there is!
POLICE - Synchronicity 2
AHA - Hunting high and low
10,000 maniacs - what's the matter here?
and
Edie Brickell and the new Bohemians - from Shooting rubberbands at the stars (was that their only album?)
Memories...
# 9 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Bad Co. will be Bob-bound shortly.... and legally, cos one of the band said it would be OK!
Name drop, who me?
# 10 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Intrigued......
Bob at 2007-11-15 17:43:27 >
# 11 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Anyone know of like the best 70's/80's music? (suggestions)
# 12 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
As this thread is all about 70's and 80's music, and there are some "recommendations" here I am merging this post into it.
Bob at 2007-11-15 17:45:34 >
# 13 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Anybody remember Shona Laing, or the Mighty Lemon Drops? OK, not the greatest, but they put out some good stuff. :)
dcx693 at 2007-11-15 17:46:30 >
# 14 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Originally posted by NiTRO
This Mortal Coil
Cockteau Twins
Nitzer Ebb
Clan of Xymox
Killing Joke
Split Enz
Joy Division
Wire
Wolfgang Press
Lush
Stephen Duffy
The Residents
Coil
The Swans
Some of my favs - I loved the 4AD stuff.
4AD was indeed great NiTRo.
Cocteau Twins...ah, heaven. Got everthing I've been able to find by them. :D
Adam
# 15 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Originally posted by dcx693
Anybody remember Shona Laing, or the Mighty Lemon Drops? OK, not the greatest, but they put out some good stuff. :)
MLD's "Inside Out" is just a great, classic song.
# 16 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Lets not forget:
The Nails
Blancmange
PhD
Ultravox
The Plimsouls
Madness
The Style Council
New Order
Gil Scott-Heron
Todd
The Fixx
Talk Talk
The Church
Midnight Oil
Help! I can't stop!!!!
The 80s were the best!!!
kojak at 2007-11-15 17:49:32 >
# 17 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
The 80's for me meant Metallica, Anthrax, etc...
Ahhh Memories...
MikeM at 2007-11-15 17:50:42 >
# 18 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Undoubtedly for me, THE BEST YEARS of pop music. For many reasons but the most important, the creativity and the creation of impressive jewels that won't repit.
My favourites among the most famous:
Blue nile with the two first cd's (extraordinary pop, gorgeous)
New order with almost every song
Prefab sprout
Depeche mode
Tears for fears
The weathermen with "punishment park"
The go-betweens with "the streets of your town"
The lotus eaters with "you don't need someone new"
The smiths
The cure
...
And so many many independent bands who hardly released one or two songs, but how beautiful they were. English pop was absolutely fascinating in those years (from 1979-1986)
Independent bands like:
Comesat angels
Fra lippo lippi
Vitamine Z
Cast of thousands
The bible
Friends again "great great great their "trapped and unwrapped""
etc etc etc
I miss so much that times...
# 19 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
If we are talking 70's, I definitely listen to all the 70's Rush albums, with A Farewell To Kings my personal favorite. I also enjoy Who's Next, and Zep from that era.
# 20 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
I don't believe anyone has mentioned Queen or Marillion. Oft maligned bands but were near the top of my collections in my 80s schooldays.
Alphaville, Thompson twins, Nik Kershaw, Duran Duran all deserve a mention too though as does Eric Clapton who didn't really have his finest hour in the eighties except for the Live Aid perfromance of Layla which is the main reason i ever picked up a guitar.
loGan at 2007-11-15 17:53:35 >
# 21 Re: Kicking Up The 80s (& the 70s!)
Supertramp
Dire Straits
Iron Maiden
Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin
Rush
Steve Miller
-Dan
