For me, the early 1980s was one of the greatest eras in popular “rock” music. It was as if the great tidal wave that was punk rock swept away all the rules about who could make music and what that music had to sound like. Once the flood waters receded a million flowers bloomed.
I write this with full awareness that everyone probably thinks that the music of their college-age era is the best. In spite of this obvious bias, I think I can make the case that the early 80s were pretty special. My intention is to create song mixes for each year of the early 80s to hopefully convince myself that the music was as good as I remember.
This first mix (in two parts) includes music released in 1980, which was by any measure an exceptional year. For example, this mix includes tracks from eight bands that released their debut albums in 1980: U2, The Suburbs, Rockpile, The English Beat, Bauhaus, The Pretenders, UB40, and X (as well as the debut singles from Hüsker Dü and Minutemen). Several veterans released music in 1980 that was as good as anything they ever put out, including David Bowie (Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)), Peter Gabriel (Peter Gabriel 3 aka “Melt”), Pete Townshend (Empty Glass), Joy Division (Closer), Rush (Permanent Waves), Tonio K (Amerika), and Talking Heads (Remain in Light).
And maybe best of all are the wonderful tracks from bands that never really hit it big, or lingered in obscurity for all of their (often short) careers. The Petticoats released one single. Manicured Noise released two singles. Stiff Little Fingers were a terrific band that never achieved anything like the prominence of their peers (especially in the US).
Part 1: All Them Tiny Insects Look Like You
- Gotta Gettaway – Stiff Little Fingers
- Fashion – David Bowie
- Double Dare – Bauhaus
- A Forest – The Cure
- Delta Rain Dream – Jon Hassell & Brian Eno
- Final Day – Young Marble Giants
- When I Write the Book – Rockpile
- If I Didn’t Love You – Squeeze
- Kingdom of Love – The Soft Boys
- High Fidelity – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
- Girl Crazy – Tonio K
- Mirror in the Bathroom – The English Beat
- Cig Machine – The Suburbs
- Ace of Spades – Motörhead
- The Wait – The Pretenders
- Private Life – Grace Jones
- King – UB40
- Paranoid Chant – Minute Men
- Wardance – Killing Joke
- Komakino – Joy Division
- Crosseyed and Painless – Talking Heads
Part 2: Someday You’ll Meet Your Rocking Chair
- Are You Glad to be in America? – James “Blood” Ulmer
- The Man in the Dark Sedan – Snakefinger
- Lawnchairs – My Daughters Wedding
- Statues – Hüsker Dü
- Going Underground – The Jam
- I Don’t Remember – Peter Gabriel
- Rock ‘n’ Roll High School – Ramones
- Bad Reputation – Joan Jett
- Johny Hit and Run Paulene – X
- Interlude No. 2/Bill Lee – Warren Zevon
- It’s Her Factory – Gang of Four
- Dub – Pylon
- Bandrobber – The Clash
- Towers of London – XTC
- Another Day – U2
- When You Were Mine – Prince
- Power of Love – T-Bone Burnett
- Faith – Manicured Noise
- Dancing in the Street/My Enemy is a Bad Man – Fred Frith
- Normal – The Petticoats