80s Bands

How the band decade played out

25 essential tracks

Twenty-five essential 80s bands, one song each, in release order. Tap a title to play it, or play all 25 in a row.

1. 1. Call Me — Blondie (1980)

   Blondie started in New York's punk clubs and became one of the first new wave bands to top the American charts. "Call Me", written with Giorgio Moroder for the film American Gigolo, spent six weeks at No. 1 and was Billboard's top single of 1980.

2. 2. Celebration — Kool & The Gang (1980)

   Kool & the Gang had been making funk records since the 60s, and "Celebration" was their only No. 1. It is now one of the most-played party songs in the world, and in 1981 it was played to welcome home the American hostages released by Iran.

3. 3. Whip It — Devo (1980)

   Devo came out of Akron, Ohio, with matching jumpsuits, red "energy dome" hats and a theory that humanity was going backwards. "Whip It" was their only Top 20 hit, reaching No. 14, and its strange video was an early MTV favourite.

4. 4. Let's Groove — Earth, Wind & Fire (1981)

   Earth, Wind & Fire were one of the great bands of the 70s, and "Let's Groove" carried their sound into the 80s with a vocoder and synthesizers. It reached No. 3 on the Hot 100 and spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the R&B chart.

5. 5. Down Under — Men at Work (1981)

   The Australian band's song about a traveller abroad went to No. 1 in both the US and the UK in early 1983. Their debut album Business as Usual spent 15 weeks at No. 1 in America, and they won the Grammy for Best New Artist.

6. 6. Should I Stay or Should I Go — The Clash (1982)

   The Clash were the most political band of the punk era, but this is a simple, rough rock and roll song, sung by Mick Jones. It became their only UK No. 1 in 1991, after it was used in a Levi's jeans commercial.

7. 7. Rio — Duran Duran (1982)

   Duran Duran were the band MTV was made for. The video for "Rio", with the band in suits on a yacht in Antigua, is one of the most famous of the decade. The album Rio made them stars in America as well as the UK.

8. 8. Come On Eileen — Dexys Midnight Runners (1982)

   Dexys mixed Celtic fiddles, soul and overalls into one of the strangest No. 1s of the decade. "Come On Eileen" topped the charts in both the UK and the US. It is still a guaranteed floor-filler at parties. Kevin Rowland wrote it with Jim Paterson and Billy Adams.

9. 9. I Ran (So Far Away) — A Flock of Seagulls (1982)

   Remembered for singer Mike Score's famous hairstyle, A Flock of Seagulls were really a sharp, guitar-and-synth new wave band from Liverpool. "I Ran" reached No. 9 in the US and was one of the first hits driven almost entirely by MTV.

10. 10. Mountain Music — Alabama (1982)

    Alabama brought a rock band's sound and a group's harmonies to country music. "Mountain Music" was one of their long run of country No. 1 singles, and the band became one of the best-selling country acts of all time. Randy Owen, Jeff Cook and Teddy Gentry were cousins.

11. 11. Back on the Chain Gang — Pretenders (1982)

    Chrissie Hynde wrote it for guitarist James Honeyman-Scott, who died in 1982, and recorded it with a new line-up. It reached No. 5 in the US, the Pretenders' biggest American hit. The band showed a woman could lead a rock group on her own terms.

12. 12. Karma Chameleon — Culture Club (1983)

    Boy George's androgynous look made Culture Club one of the most talked-about bands of the decade, but their songs were pure pop. "Karma Chameleon", with its harmonica and singalong chorus, went to No. 1 in both the UK and the US.

13. 13. Candy Girl — New Edition (1983)

    Five teenagers from Boston, clearly modelled on the Jackson 5. "Candy Girl" went to No. 1 on the R&B chart and in the UK. New Edition later gave the world Bobby Brown and Bell Biv DeVoe, and set the pattern for the boy bands that followed.

14. 14. Burning Down the House — Talking Heads (1983)

    Talking Heads were art-school thinkers who made brilliant dance music. "Burning Down the House" was their only US Top 10 hit, reaching No. 9, and their 1983 tour became the famous concert film Stop Making Sense. David Byrne's nervous, jerky vocal made the band instantly recognizable.

15. 15. Pride (In the Name of Love) — U2 (1984)

    U2 wrote this tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. for The Unforgettable Fire. It reached No. 3 in the UK and gave them their first US Top 40 hit. Three years later The Joshua Tree made them the biggest band in the world.

16. 16. Shout — Tears for Fears (1985)

    Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith named the band after an idea from primal therapy. "Shout" was their second US No. 1 in 1985, after "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", and Songs from the Big Chair made them one of the biggest bands of the year.

17. 17. Don't You (Forget About Me) — Simple Minds (1985)

    Simple Minds did not write it and at first did not want to record it. The song, written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff for The Breakfast Club, became the Scottish band's only US No. 1 and the anthem of a generation of teen movies.

18. 18. In Between Days — The Cure (1985)

    The Cure started as a gloomy post-punk band and became one of the biggest alternative acts of the decade. "In Between Days", with its bright acoustic guitars, was their first US chart single, and a sign of how far their sound could stretch.

19. 19. What You Need — INXS (1985)

    The Australian band mixed funk and rock with Michael Hutchence's swagger. "What You Need" reached No. 5 in the US in 1986, their breakthrough there, and set up the huge success of Kick two years later. It came from the album Listen Like Thieves.

20. 20. (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) — Beastie Boys (1986)

    The Beastie Boys wrote it as a joke about party-rock anthems, and a lot of people took it straight. It reached No. 7, and Licensed to Ill became the first rap album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

21. 21. It's Tricky — Run-D.M.C. (1987)

    Run-DMC were the first rap group to have a gold album, to be played on MTV, and to go multi-platinum. "It's Tricky", from Raising Hell, borrows the riff from The Knack's "My Sharona", and its video features magicians Penn & Teller.

22. 22. Everywhere — Fleetwood Mac (1987)

    Fleetwood Mac were already rock royalty from the 70s, and Tango in the Night gave them one more huge run of hits. Christine McVie's shimmering "Everywhere" reached No. 14 in the US and No. 4 in the UK, and it has only grown more popular since.

23. 23. The One I Love — R.E.M. (1987)

    R.E.M. built their audience on college radio from Athens, Georgia. "The One I Love" was their first US Top 10 hit, reaching No. 9, though many listeners missed that it is a bitter song about using someone. It came from the album Document.

24. 24. Paradise City — Guns N' Roses (1988)

    Guns N' Roses brought danger back to hard rock at the end of the decade. "Paradise City", with its singalong chorus and breakneck finish, reached No. 5, and Appetite for Destruction became the best-selling debut album in US history. It was the third Top 10 hit from the album.

25. 25. Personal Jesus — Depeche Mode (1989)

    Depeche Mode ended the decade with a bluesy guitar riff and a dark, sly lyric. It reached No. 28 in the US and was a hint of how big their 1990 album Violator would become. It was later covered by Johnny Cash and Marilyn Manson.

Where to go next

• New wave and synth-pop
• 80s rock and roll
• 80s alternative music
• 80s hip hop
• Build your own 80s playlist

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