Classic 80s singles

Joy Division - Love will tear us apart

A song that was written in 1979 by post punk band Joy Division but was released in April 1980 following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis. The lyrics written by Ian were about his marital issues with wife Deborah and the struggles they had. Following Ian's death, Deborah had the title inscribed on his tombstone. The single reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. The song was recorded for the BBC radio show John Peel Sessions and was then re-recorded for a single release. It is one of the few songs that Ian Curtis played an instrument on, in this he played Guitar. The track was produced by Martin Hannett whose legendary production skills were being courted by many including a youthful band by the name of U2. Although the song in the UK never reached the top 10 it has been recognised as a popular and influential song. It's true legacy is that in the NME poll it was the best single of all time in 2002. To further cement this earlier this year in NME 60th anniversary it was named as top song in the best 100 songs over the last 60 years. It's a song that has been recorded by many artists in differing guises such is the popularity of the song. The remaining members of Joy Division who later went on to reform as New Order never played that song until they were inaugurated into the rock and roll hall of fame. Following that they went onto play more of the Joy Division set. It is one of those songs that has had a profound effect on the music scene and one that never gets tired of hearing.
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The Specials - Ghost Town


The song was released in 1981 just as the band were about to go through a reorganisation they hit number one in the summer of 1981. The song described the issues that were going on in Britain such as unemployment, nationalisation, urban decay. There was inner city violence and the song aptly described Britain very well. The song was written by keyboardist Jerry Dammers who took into account a number of issues that Britain was facing and the song became a story for what the British public was facing. The song was produced by unknown John Collins who managed to produce that eerie ghost sound using the traditional synthesiser which was used at the beginning and end of the song. The song reached number one and stayed there for 3 weeks and was the band's most important contribution in there short existence but what an important message it sent. The cover of the single featured the iconic two skeletons sitting on a chair with one playing a piano. The video featured the band driving in a car around the empty urban streets of London. There was nothing fancy but it depicted the mood of the country and will remain an illustration of what was going on in Britain.
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Ultravox - Vienna


Quite often a song comes along and for what ever reason although popular it never quite hits the top spot. Ultravox suffered that fate in 1981 where the song was number 2 for four weeks. It can be a combination of a better song or the British obsession with novelty records! unfortunatly Ultravox suffered twice the first week to John Lennon and the next 3 weeks Joe Dolce 'shaddap your face'. The song was quite unique in it's sound with a mixture of Grand Piano, a deep synth bass and Viola solos in the middle. The song was based on the 1940s film 'The third man' which was based around the Austrian capital Vienna. This was reflected in the video the band produced which was very grandiose and suited the song. The song was written by all the Ultravox members and was produced by Conny Plank a famous German producer who worked with Kraftwerk and David Bowie amongst others. He was a big name in the synth electro sound and one Ultravox were keen to work with. The song is widely regarded as the anthem for the new romantic/synth pop era in the early 1980s and the song epitomised the new scene of music in the 1980s. The success helped encourage many more bands such as Depeche Mode to dominate the charts.
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Frankie goes to Hollywood - Relax



If there was one single that gained controversy in the 1980s then this was the one. It was the bands first single release and it didn't make much impact when released but when Radio One DJ Mike Read and the BBC refused to play the song for it's sexual natureand subsequently banned it, the song rose up the charts and reached number 1. Such was it's popularity it sold over 2 million copies and was the seventh best selling single in the UK. The song was pretty much in the charts for over a year and when they released there second single Two Tribes, Relax got another surge and was number 2! The band played the song orginally on Channel 4 The Tube and a certain producer Trevor Horn saw this and signed them to ZTT records which he co owned with Paul Morley. He set to work on this and produced a more slick electronic sound. Once produced Paul Morley set to work on the marketing side where the Relax t-shirts etc..became the norm. Soon everyone heard of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
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Alexander O'Neal - Fake

During the late 1980s there was a real surge in the R n B genre and there was no bigger character at the time than Alexander O'neal. He initially made his name as a backing singer and worked with the likes of Prince. He made a real impact when he duetted with Cherelle on Saturday Love. This thrusted him into the market and soon the release of his legendary album Hearsay would soon be in every home. One of the biggest singles was Fake which went to number one in America and hit number four in the UK. This was his only solo top 10 hit in the UK. The song was written and produced by James Harris and Terry Lewis on the Tabu label. The song was a relentless heavy percussioned bass song which became very friendly on the radio as well as the club scene. That was the peak for Alex on the singles charts but never the less made a contribution that wasto make RnB one of the most succesful genres of music in the decades to follow. To download the track

Dexy's Midnight runners - Come on Eileen

If there is one song that sums up the 1980s then this would one of the main tracks. A classic dancefloor filler with Celtic fused foot stomping sound that can get the most non conformist to dance. The song was released in 1982 and stormed it's way to the top and gave the band there 2nd number one in 3 years. The song was written by lead singer kevin Rowland, Jim Paterson and Billy Adams. It was released on the Mercury label and was produced by the Langley/winstanley co-op. The song started with folk sound and built up to a crescendo of foot stomping drumming over a bass line. A true disco floor classic. Also the song was famously renowned for its video, where the band wore Dungarees with no shirts. The Eileen featured in the video and the record sleeve was Maire Fahey who was the sister of Siobhan who was in Bananarama at the time. The song has sold 1.3 million copies and won the BRIT award in 1983 for the best single. To download the track Adam and the Ants - Stand and Deliver


At the height of there power the ants released a track from there album Prince Charming called Stand and Deliver. The single went straight into number 1 and stayed there 5 weeks. The song was released on the CBS label and the song was written by Ant and Pirroni and was produced by Chris Hughes. The song was famous more for it's video which featured Adam Ant as the dandy highwayman and the words stand and deliver was a common phrase for highwaymen. The single sold in excess of 1 million copies amd was easily there best selling single during there short life. To download the single Madness - Baggy Trousers

There was no band more productive in the 1980s than the Nutty Boys in terms of singles and weeks in the chart. One of there most famous singles was Baggy Trousers released in 1980. Madness had just signed to Stiff Records and released the album 'Absolutely' as follow up to 'One Step beyond' and the single Baggy trousers was released in September 1980. The song was written by Suggs and Chris Foreman and was about there schooldays in North London. The song spent 20 weeks in the charts and peaked at number 3 in the charts and was officially the 11th best selling single of 1980. The song would be best remembered for the video that accompained the song. It was shot in Kentish Town and showed sax player Lee Thompson hoisted in the air by a crane playing the saxophone. As a consequence of there wacky videos, they became more popular and every Madness single released was greeted with what the video would be like. The song is a very high paced which last just under 3 minutes but the band tweaked it for a well known beer advert in 2011 where they slowed the song right down and that version became very popular as the original. The song was produced by the duo Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley who worked a lot on the early Madness material.
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The Cars - Drive


This was a classic ballad song from the 1980s just when the ballad era was beginning to take hold on the singles and album charts. The song was released in 1984 and was on there album 'Heartbeat City' and the song proved to be there biggest hit worldwide. the song was written by band member Ric Ocasek and was produced by the legendary Mutt Lange who produced for Def Leppard, AC/DC and Nickelback amongst others and was released on the Elektra record label. The song initially eaked at number 5 in 1984 but the song took an unexpected twist a year later when at the Live Aid concert the song was used as a background montage showing the stricken famine in Africa. The interest in the song developed and the song peaked at number 4 in the charts. This proved to be the last song that made an entry on the charts but what a memorable song. To download the song, click below The Bangles - Manic Monday


Another classic ballady song sung by an all American girl group but the song was written by none other than Prince. Prince had written the song in 1984 which was intended for someone else but the Bangles got the nod in 1986 and was the first release from there second album 'different light'. The song was released on Columbia records and was produced by David Kahne who had previous with Paul McCartney, New Order and Linkin Park amongst others. The song peaked at number 2 in the USA and UK charts but ironically was kept off the top spot in America by Prince with his hit 'Kiss'. One of there most famous hits and only really eclipsed by 'eternal Flame' which hit the top spot both sides of the pond.
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Depeche Mode - New Life



New Life was the second single released by Depeche Mode and the song was a huge hit. The song was written by Vince Clarke before his departure from the band and he did feature on the track. The song was released in June 1981 and it began to gain popularity when the band appeared on Top of the Pops. That appearance was the breakthrough the band needed and the single peaked at number 11 in the UK charts. The song was produced by the band and Dan Miller who was the founder of Mute records. Still one of there popular songs and was generally regarded as one the front runners of the synth pop explosion.
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Kim Wilde - Kids in America


Like a bolt from the blue this young lady came onto the scene in 1981 on the wave of the synth pop/new wave era. The song was very much a family affair. Kim Wilde brother Ricky who had flirted with pop fame a few years earlier had done the music work for this and enlisted the help of his dad Marty who himself was a pop star in the 1950s/1960s to write the lyrics. The track was also produced by Ricky on the RAK label and the single released as Kim Wilde the solo artist. The song was a huge hit in the UK and peaked at number two in the UK singles charts only kept of the top by Shakin Stevens This Ole House and the song hit the top 30 in America a year later. Kim Wilde rock chick appeal ensured the song had a lasting appeal along with the video promo that went with it. The song has been covered by many including Nirvana, Bloodhound Gang to Atomic Kitten and One Direction. A right mix of genres.
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Fiction Factory - Feels like Heaven


Released in 1983 on the back of the rise of new wave and this Scottish band were one of the early movers in the synth era with this classic song. The song was written by lead singer Kevin Patterson and keyboardist Eddie Jordan and the song reached number 6 in the UK single charts. The band also produced the track and was released on CBS records. This was as good as it got for the band as subsequent album and single releases failed to dent the charts in the UK and the band then called it a day. However, this gem they left was well worth it as the song is featured heavily on many 1980 compilations.
  The Adventures - Broken Land

The Adventures were a Northern Irish Pop rock band who found some limited fame in the late 1980s. The band moved to London after being backed by the pop mogul Simon Fuller and the release of the album 'Sea of love' proved to be the catalyst the band needed. The album performed well and broke into the top 30 in the UK album charts but the lead single was a classic. The release of 'Broken Land' was well received and peaked at number 20 in the charts and was reported to be the most played song on BBC Radio 1 during 1988. The song was written by the guitarist Pat Gribben and produced by Garry Bell on Elektra Records and the song spent 10 weeks on the UK charts before disappearing. Following singles released proved a bit harder to follow with not one denting the top 40 but they can be pleased with this Jewell they released.

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Roxy Music - Jealous Guy



There are certain groups and artistes one should avoid when doing covers. The Beatles and John Lennon would be a case in point. Roxy Music did that and put there own unique style to a John Lennon song from the 1970s and transformed the song and earned a number one spot in the UK. The song was recorded and released as a tribute to John Lennon who was murdered in 1980. The song was released on Polydor records and was produced by Bryan Ferry and Rhett Davies. The song was very popular and became one of Roxy Music famous hits. The band also appeared at Live Aid in 1985 and showcased this song. A true classic song with full of emotion in a wonderful tribute to John Lennon. One of the rare occasion where a cover has been fully justified.