I have a new favorite 80's song that I never even heard of in the 80's.  "She Sells Sanctuary" by the Cult.  LOVE this song!  I was really more into pop music in the 80's but thanks to VH1 classic I have a new appreciation for some songs I didn't listen to back then.  Anyone else?

'State of the Nation' by Industry would be my favourite.  It was not a hit at all in Canada.  Years ago I was in a thrift store and saw their 1983 self-titled album in cassette form for 99c.  It looked so 80s I just had to have it.  I never even listened to it until I saw in random chart listings that 'State of the Nation' was a minor US hit in 1983.  I gave the cassette a listen, and I loved every song on it!

Last year I discovered an indie band from Liverpool England of the 80s that I never knew existed before called The Wild Swans who recorded great songs like Revolutionary Spirit and Bible Thoughts.

'State of the Nation' by Industry

I actually listened to that off CFNY - fm "The Spirit of Radio" back in the day!
I downloaded it some months back as tracking down their playlists is ever a challenge!
Had not heard that one in years!.great tune......
The Lucy Show
The Stuntchimps
Biff Naked

Here's some really obscure ones...

ArcAngel - Tragedy (1982)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/183622102904ece2/

Suzy Andrews - Teenage Iceage (1982)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/172619812cba5c22/

Space Monkey – Walking Through Wonderland
http://www.zshare.net/audio/18328531f044ae95/

If anyone finds that Suzy Andrews' album, lemme know.

She covers Falco's "Der Kommissar" and Trio's "Da Da Da" on it!  ;D

Many things...

Recently, I found out that Regina's "Baby Love" was from the '80's.

Most 80s songs, I did not know in the 80s because I was very young. Therefore, I could not really buy records or tapes and explore beyond the mainstream songs played on the radio.

I consider myself an 80s connoissuer now, and love 80s music.  So 90% of my 80s songs, I recently discovered in the past 5 or 6 years.  Here are a few of my favorites:

She Sells Sanctuary and State of The Industry are both great and mentioned above.  Regina's Baby Love as well, though that was a big hit.

Japan - Nightporter (well, anything by them)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DNp8K_FsoY

A-ha -  Scoundrel Days (well, anything by them)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUXIo0S0VD0

The Passions - I'm In Love With A German Film Star  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN9cCCxErpw&feature=related

Miguel Bose (Picasso's grandson) - Amante Bandido  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjXGuJDSuoQ

Jesus & Mary Chain - Happy When It Rains    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0QUoWy_lLQ

CC Catch - Cause You Are Young    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4itQnWdCIxQ

The Lover Speaks - No More "I Love Yous" (original better than Annie Lenox IMO) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S4GjHELHaY

Duncan Dhu - En Algun Lugar  (AMAZING En Espanol)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-DC9kQm-sM


I can list dozens of songs from every genre.  LOL

Where do I start? ;)

Even though I can actually remember a pretty decent amount of stuff in the actual 1980s (probably more than most kids) it was still only a small percentage. Usually stuff that my parents liked, or that I heard on the radio and in public (like in the mall or something). Some of it was also from babysitters or other people listening to it...but it's not like I was going out and buying stuff or discovering it.

That didn't start happening at all until I was like 10, when I'd see stuff on VH1 or from other kids at school. I listened to the radio more then, and bought a few tapes on my own, so there was some stuff that I only found out about then.

Here's some 80s songs and bands/singers that I associate with the '90s:

I Can Dream About You - Dan Hartman
Let's Hear it for the Boy - Deniece Williams
High On You - Survivor
Ghostbusters - Ray Parker
Jump - Van Halen
Some Guys Have all the Luck - Rod Stewart
Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
St Elmo's Fire - John Parr
If Ever You're in my arms again - Peabo Bryson
any Bryan Adams
Heaven is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle
Magic, Drive and You Might Think - The Cars
No Reply at all - Genesis
Material Girl - Madonna
Dude Looks like a Lady - Aerosmith
Tender is the Night - Jackson Browne
Oh Sheila - Ready for the World
No One is to Blame - Howard Jones
The Flame - Cheap Trick


Then, there's some I didn't even discover/get into until recently. Nowadays it's usually by doing research (i.e. reading album reviews and other stuff online), looking over Top 40 songs and even seeing stuff on boards like this. Sometimes I've even bought tapes on impulse at Goodwill since they're so cheap lol.

Here's some '80s stuff that I only got into in the last few years (some are more obscure):

The Warrior - Scandal
Loverboy
Walking in LA, Right Now - Missing Persons
Outfield
Metallica (their older stuff, pre-Black album)
Night Ranger
Michael W Smith
Something to Grab For - Ric Ocasek
I Have the Skill - the Sherbs (a very new waveish song from 1980)
West Coast Summer Nights - Tony Carey (sounds like an '80s pop/rock commercial jingle)

Oh my gosh midnite and Marty McFly may I suggest you give the following songs a listen if you haven't already.  These are some of my obscure favorites

Alive and Kicking - Simple Minds
All the Things She Said - Simple Minds
Election Day - Arcadia
Live To Tell - Madonna
Lunatic Fringe - Red Rider
A Million Miles Away - The Plimsouls
Change - John Waite
One For The Mockingbird - Cutting Crew
Perfect Way - Scritti Politti
Something About You - Level 42
Tonight She Comes - The Cars

^ I wouldn't consider some of those to be obscure, but karma to you for mentioning that Red Rider track

In the rock world, that was one of Tom Cochrane's best known songs in America

I didn't know "Oh Shelia" came out in the 80s either. I'd seen the video in the 90s--with the band with the Jherri Kurls, but I didn't know any better. It was the 90s, I was into Michael Jackson and we all know he had some long curly hair, so I thought it was normal.

It was months before my mom told me the song had come out BEFORE I was ever born!

Also, when I was kid, I thought Prince's 1999 had come out in the year 1999. Lord knows everyone played it enough that year. Imagine how many colors I turned when I found out it came out in 1982!  :D


I still dig that jam!  ;D

One day I was at Goodwill and bought a bunch of 45s of artists and songs neither which I had heard of before.  One such single was a 1985 song called 'We Go to Sleep Believing' by Nomo.  Man, what a great song!

I found the whole album on some blog website and downloaded it.  I love it!

Whistledog, were you shopping for clothes at Goodwill.  LOL.  I dont know that Nomo song and can't find it on youtube.   ::)

All good songs above.  Love Oh Sheila as well as Simple Minds and Madonna.  Here are a few other GEMS from the 80s that I discovered in the past few years.

Aldo Nova - Fantasy  (ROCKS!!!!! Sounds like Loverboy but harder)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GylirgHFqeQ

Rick James - Ghetto Life  Title is cary, but feel free to blast it.  Funky as hell.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wWh-3ZN-g0

Silent Circle - Touch In The Night (Italo, Good Synth Lines)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STVhtBondmw

The Police -  When The World Is Running Down... (Of course I knew them in the 80s but not ALL of their music)   
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyOghZum-Io

The Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt  (smooth and jazzy)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-xuE4Gr7tE

Doctor's Cat - Watch Out  (AMAZING Italo)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMVW8E5O3uA

^ I wouldn't consider some of those to be obscure, but karma to you for mentioning that Red Rider track

In the rock world, that was one of Tom Cochrane's best known songs in America


Well no but you really didn't hear them on mainstream radio.  Maybe Lunatic Fringe but I listened to more pop in the 80's.

Whistledog, were you shopping for clothes at Goodwill.  LOL.  I dont know that Nomo song and can't find it on youtube.   ::)


The only Nomo I'm familiar with is Hideo Nomo, who began pitching for the major leagues in the mid 90s. This music act must be totally unrelated to this guy.

lol. 

Gun Club - She's Like Heroin To Me  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGekbbuje6E

Oh my gosh midnite and Marty McFly may I suggest you give the following songs a listen if you haven't already.  These are some of my obscure favorites

Alive and Kicking - Simple Minds
All the Things She Said - Simple Minds
Election Day - Arcadia
Live To Tell - Madonna
Lunatic Fringe - Red Rider
A Million Miles Away - The Plimsouls
Change - John Waite
One For The Mockingbird - Cutting Crew
Perfect Way - Scritti Politti
Something About You - Level 42
Tonight She Comes - The Cars




Oh right on, I loved "Live to Tell" and "Something About You" as a little kid (I liked the group's name 'cause it sounded like a video game, lol). I liked a couple Cars songs, but dont think I heard that one back then. I LOVE "You Are the Girl" though (from 1987 or '88) which sounds like a better version of that, imo.

I've heard some of the others later on too. "Change" isn't as good as Missing You, but it's catchy, same with Perfect Way. I'll have to download the rest 'cause they don't sound familar. :)

In addition to Scritti Politti's Perfect Way, here are a few other Scritti Politti songs I love and recommend.  They are very 80s and very original.
    Hyponitize    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd9fjQTPR2M
    Wood Beez    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMdf1onDkxA
    Absolute        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vng8C5Bj9kA
    The Word Girl    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDkzs1kLBE0&feature=related


These songs are less upbeat but good nonetheless............

Talk Talk - One of my favorite 80s groups.  Everyone knows "It's My Life" and I knew it in the 80s, but these songs I did not know and discovered a couple years ago.
    Give It Up        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_KK3-0HbBQ
    Life's What You Make It    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvMoRVrqx_I
    My Foolish Friend    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyM0BB-pvbo

David Sylvian - frontman of one of my favorite 80s groups, Japan.  I did not know Japan in the 80s or these great David Sylvian songs:
    Orpheus    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2dgMNm64Mg
    Red Guitar    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MT0IqPJsvU
    Forbidden Colours  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1YkHJJi-tc&feature=related


The Blue Nile - Tinseltown In The Rain    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhiQ-a8CkPY

I did not know any of these in the 80s (or 90s, lol).

I never listened to Cinderella's music until just recently, and have downloaded their music onto my Ipod.

LOVE Cinderella, I have the cassette  ;D

LOVE Cinderella, I have the cassette  ;D


So do I, just don't understand how I missed out back then.  I don't think they got a lot of airplay in central Ohio....

So do I, just don't understand how I missed out back then.  I don't think they got a lot of airplay in central Ohio....

I don't know if they did or not, my friend turned me on to them.  Are you in Ohio?  What school did you go to?

The Call - I Still Believe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWhDbkTmJHA&feature=related

I don't know if they did or not, my friend turned me on to them.  Are you in Ohio?  What school did you go to?

Went to a small private school in Columbus, then on to OSU...Go Bucks!

I have a new favorite 80's song that I never even heard of in the 80's.  "She Sells Sanctuary" by the Cult.  LOVE this song!  I was really more into pop music in the 80's but thanks to VH1 classic I have a new appreciation for some songs I didn't listen to back then.  Anyone else?

Yes, that is a cool song. I was 5 years old at the time it came out, but I didn't hear it for the first time until at least ten years later. In fact, there are hundreds of 80's songs that I didn't know in the 80's....especially at the time they were popular. In fact, I can think of maybe a hundred 80's songs that I actually knew (or remember hearing) during the 80's. Now I know at least 600 of them.

I didn't know any of these songs in the 80s.  I think I had heard of Peter Murphy in the 80s because of his affiliation with Bauhaus.  And, I believe Pseudo Echo were very popular in the 80s, though I do not believe they were very popular in the US. 

China is a little gem from Red Rockers.

Red Rockers - China  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmevO2V2JxA

Pseudo Echo - Listening  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDrJKmrOo2s

Peter Murphy - Indigo Eyes    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyCsRvmhL-I

Too many to list, really.  I was into some pretty obscure stuff back then, but there were many that slipped by until I raided the archives of my college radio station in the early '90s:

Kon-Kan: I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised Your a Rose Garden)
Paul Haig: Time/Heaven Help You Now
Twice A Man: Girl
Fischer Z: So Long
The Hunger: Leave Me Alone
Winston Tong: The Hunger/Theoretical China
Annabel Lamb: Riders on the Storm (Doors cover)
Care: Flaming Sword
Red Box: Lean on Me
Pete Shelley: Telephone Operator
Badland: 'Til the Stars Fall
The Sisterhood: Giving Ground (Sisters of Mercy spinoff)

Too many to list, really.  I was into some pretty obscure stuff back then, but there were many that slipped by until I raided the archives of my college radio station in the early '90s:

Kon-Kan: I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised Your a Rose Garden)
Annabel Lamb: Riders on the Storm (Doors cover)
Red Box: Lean on Me


Good ones!!!!

Depeche Mode - See You  (1982)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gur4n-XKBms
  Light, upbeat early Depeche Mode.  Video is good too!

OMD - Promise (1980)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnlApOIM_t0
    Their early dark stuff.  I love this song.

another good one I discovered last year:

Sinful - Pete Wylie

Urgent - Killer Love
http://www.zshare.net/audio/1997132596dd9a33/

   "Sensoria" by Cabaret Voltaire.  I don't think I kew it back then.  Maybe.  Probably not...

"Sensoria" by Cabaret Voltaire.  I don't think I kew it back then.  Maybe.  Probably not...


Or you got it confused with Don't Argue, also by CabVolt. 

(...which never happened to me.  Ever.  No sir.  Don't ask me where I got the idea that anyone might ever get the two tracks confused.  Nuh-uh, not me.  Back in the 80s, I was so cool I even called 'em "CabVolt", and even capitalized the "V" in "Volt" like nobody ever did until the 90s...)

There are at least seven lies in that paragraph, but don't argue.  Don't try to change Foo's point of view...

Speaking of which -- I'm going to give my "songs I didn't know about in the 80s" nod to Doom Zoom off the Radiation compilation.  Recorded in 1987, instrumental, and best described as Sensoria if it had been recorded without lyrics, but with a bass guitar being (ab)used as a percussion instrument.  Awesome stuff, and I didn't discover it until 2003. 

Honestly, I didn't even know Steve Winwood had more hits and also band I've never heard of/or only familiar by name like Queensryche, Krokus, and Femme Fatale

Belly of the Whale - Burning Sensations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeqCqxhxLtc

Sign of the Times - Belle Stars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdH0nIsd-B4

Belly of the Whale - Burning Sensations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeqCqxhxLtc



I LOVE Belly of the Whale.  Great Song!!!!!!!

Toyah Wilcox - I Want To Be Free (1981)     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCHEO477u44
     This song is incredible and could easily have been released in the last couple years.  The only problem - (mainstream) female artists in the 00s are not as rebellious as those in the 80s (Toyah, Benetar, Jett, etc).  But if they were rebellious now, this would be the song!


Chris & Cosey - October (Love Song) (1982)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMLQ4FRsepg
    This song is great.  The video is a bit disturbing.  Probably one of the most distrurbing 80s videos I have seen.

I Still Want You - Del Fuegos

I stumbled across this song a couple years ago and loved it!  I may have heard it back in 1986, but don't remember it.  Either way, great song!

^ Good song - Del Fuegos.

Blind Date - Your Heart Keeps Burning (1985)    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0soNvEPkbNE&feature=related
  Found this song last year.  Truly, a great 80s song.    Can anyone find a clear video?

The Twins - Not The Loving Kind (1983)    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpcTfWD0nuE
  Another classic.  Lead singer looks like the Judge from So You Think You Can Dance.

Balance - Breaking Away (1981)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcVoIFX0iOo
    Great early 80s song representative of its era.

Or you got it confused with Don't Argue, also by CabVolt. 

(...which never happened to me.  Ever.  No sir.  Don't ask me where I got the idea that anyone might ever get the two tracks confused.  Nuh-uh, not me.  Back in the 80s, I was so cool I even called 'em "CabVolt", and even capitalized the "V" in "Volt" like nobody ever did until the 90s...)



I did that too, you know!  I wasn't seen as "cool" so much as "fackin' queeah."  Sorry, it's not Def Leppard!

"Sensoria" was the one that made it onto Rhino's "New Wave Hits of the '80s" series, but I seem to remember "I Want You" actually getting more airplay! 

The "Don't Argue (Extended Mix)" was a great theme post 9/11.  I used to pretend it was John Ashcroft and Condi Rice!
"They've learned no free speech,
They've learned no free press,
The were raised on straight propaganda,
They've been tried to hate!

You will not be friendly!  You will be aloof, suspicious of everyone!

No, no, no, bettah watch yourself, boyyy!

I did that too, you know!  I wasn't seen as "cool" so much as "fackin' queeah."  Sorry, it's not Def Leppard!


It's not safe to stay out, it's not right to stay home.  Don't ask me for my advice, because as the markets implode I'm still stocking up on MREs...


"They've learned no free speech,
They've learned no free press,


You sure about these two lines?  I just queued this up again -- swear to Dobbs, I still hear the samples as "they have had no..." (or "they've had no...")

Lian Ross - Fantasy (1985)     Here is a partial video -    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq_CGmbe0cM
                        Here is complete song (no video) -    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrpchYvkBVw

So - Are You Sure (1988) -  I  LOVE THIS SONG. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONfWpY10tMw

Tom Robinson - Listen To The Radio (1983)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9qz_bnJVlw

Iggy Pop - Cry For Love (1986)    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoGBRQkaPsA

Alive and Kicking - Simple Minds
All the Things She Said - Simple Minds


I prefer 'Sanctify Yourself', which was one of their lesser-known hits off the same album... :)

Pukka Orchestra's version of Listen To The Radio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lpj5cB_uQ0

Flying Pickets - Only You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgDKtLPp46s

Kim Wilde - Water On Glass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mzgO9HEoaI

JoBoxers - Just Got Lucky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-kfmuGHtxo

I found out about the last song, after watching The 40 Year Old Virigin.

JoBoxers - Just Got Lucky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-kfmuGHtxo

I found out about the last song, after watching The 40 Year Old Virigin.

I found out about this one in 1997 or thereabouts, along with at least a couple hundred other eighties songs.

Kim Wilde - Water On Glass

JoBoxers - Just Got Lucky



I stumbled across Joe Boxers about 5 years ago.  That is such a fun song.  They also have another decent song called "Boxer Beat" though I dont think it is as good.

Recently, I have been on an early-80s Kim Wilde kick.  Her early stuff is pretty good such as "The Touch" and "Dancing In The Dark."  During the 80s, I only knew Kids In America and Keep Me Hanging On.

Panther Rex - Goodbye My Love (1986)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrB8T4uHwfs

I stumbled across Joe Boxers about 5 years ago.  That is such a fun song.  They also have another decent song called "Boxer Beat" though I dont think it is as good.


They also had another one called 'Johnny Friendly' which (along with the aforementioned 'Boxer Beat' and 'Just Got Lucky') completes all the Top 40 hits they had in their native UK.  A great group that got seriously overlooked in North America

Boxer Beat was a great one to dance to.  You could really make the needle skip!  ;D

I just heard this on the radio on my way home from work tonight.

I don't recall ever having heard it before, and I certainly didn't know it was the Pointer Sisters (until I looked it up on YouTube), but it's quite catchy.

The Pointer Sisters - He's So Shy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUgxRnmuypQ

I just heard this on the radio on my way home from work tonight.

The Pointer Sisters - He's So Shy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUgxRnmuypQ


I believe this was a fairly big hit by the Pointer Sisters.  But, yes, it doesnt sound like the Pointer Sisters we know from "Jump For Your Love" so I can see why you didn't know it was them.

Another song by the Pointer Sisters that I love is "Automatic."  I knew this song in the 80s, but thought it was a guy.  I had no idea it was the Pointer Sisters until a few years ago.  LOL.      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONWfnkWg6Tc

KB Caps, who is very difficult to find information on.

These two songs are pretty catchy with great synth lines.

Catch Me Now I'm Falling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UJwV4ZUSqY

Julia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaNlZJFAbhk

Kirlian Camera - Blue Room

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FerEkiPeAA

good choices everyone :)

Years ago, I was in Zellers (Canadian dept. store) and they had this rack of 99c cassette tapes and one of them was called 'A Word to the Wiseguy' by Wah! from 1984.  One of the songs on this album is 'Come Back' which I had remember seeing in a UK Chart book of Top 20 hits from 1984.  I figured for that price it wouldn't hurt to find out what it sounds like

I didn't know or remember the song (being that it was not a hit at all in Canada explains why), but that day, I found what would become one of my all-time favourite songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVWA_nw7oc4