Subject: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: midnite on 10/08/11 at 10:58 pm

I am trying to find out more information on the 80's West Coast (AOR / Adult Contemporary) genre. This is not Hip Hop or Rap. Example songs are below. Can anyone provide more info on the genre? Much appreciated.

Marc Jordan - I'm A Camera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB0-Y2fHkD4

Roby Duke - Seasons Of Change (1982)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdRurjDDjQY

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: whistledog on 10/09/11 at 4:53 am

Marc Jordan - I'm A Camera

I know this one. It was a popular A/C hit in Canada in late 1979

Here's some good early 80s AOR ...

The Dirt Band (featuring Linda Ronstadt) - An American Dream (1979; 1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdmbeZnaAvA

Nielsen/Pearson - If You Should Sail (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXHumvprzq0

Silver Condor - You Could Take My Heart Away (1981)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkSuXSSR5Bo

Chris Christian - I Want You, I Need You (1982)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0_QD-rrWuo

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: Howard on 10/09/11 at 6:36 am

I am trying to find out more information on the 80's West Coast (AOR / Adult Contemporary) genre. This is not Hip Hop or Rap. Example songs are below. Can anyone provide more info on the genre? Much appreciated.

Marc Jordan - I'm A Camera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB0-Y2fHkD4

Roby Duke - Seasons Of Change (1982)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdRurjDDjQY

This is really good music.

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: thegibby on 10/09/11 at 11:55 am

....'Soft Rock'.... I had this LP on the other day (classic stuff): Robbie Dupree. 8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwKawAZk7f4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpk4-_ENCVw

How about: Paul Davis.....again very 8) IMHO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzcM4ikD5Bo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-9RQn36XUg

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: Howard on 10/09/11 at 5:52 pm

....'Soft Rock'.... I had this LP on the other day (classic stuff): Robbie Dupree. 8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwKawAZk7f4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpk4-_ENCVw

How about: Paul Davis.....again very 8) IMHO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzcM4ikD5Bo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-9RQn36XUg

I enjoy "Steal Away". :)

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: Howard on 10/09/11 at 5:54 pm

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

Michael McDonald-"I Keep Forgetting" (1982)

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: Claybricks on 10/13/11 at 9:59 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoT1HD7y1b0

Wrabit - Say Lady Say {1983}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe7iYcIwArw

Zebra - Who's Behind The Door? {1983}

Dan

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: midnite on 10/22/11 at 11:52 pm

thank you for posting these great songs!!!! I am trying to gather information about west coast (aor) music. It seems to be a predecessor of smooth jazz music with vocals. Many songs have sax solos.

Ali Thomson - Foolish Child
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN6ouO87dgY

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: Claybricks on 11/13/11 at 2:49 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v50khe9hg9o

Stabilizers - One Simple Thing {1986}

Dan

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: yelimsexa on 11/14/11 at 7:53 am

To me, when I think "80s Power Ballad" now, I immediately thing of this "West Coast Music" sound that you described. Some of the "softer" hits by the hair metal bands that were Top 10 pop hits also fit this description well. Pretty much anything Van Halen did in the '80s describes this, and this style which matured in the '80s got it's start in the mid-70s. To me it stereotypes the "yuppie" sound that was prevalant back then.

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: nally on 11/14/11 at 2:31 pm

Michael McDonald-"I Keep Forgetting" (1982)

I liked that one.

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: midnite on 11/18/11 at 10:25 pm

To me, when I think "80s Power Ballad" now, I immediately thing of this "West Coast Music" sound that you described. Some of the "softer" hits by the hair metal bands that were Top 10 pop hits also fit this description well. Pretty much anything Van Halen did in the '80s describes this, and this style which matured in the '80s got it's start in the mid-70s. To me it stereotypes the "yuppie" sound that was prevalant back then.

Good info. I see alot of AOR songs posted on youtube and per my research, Album Oriented Rock, came about because DJ's would pick any random song off of an album and played it. I agree that many AOR songs from the mid 80s seem to be Light Hair Bands or Power Ballads. I think West Coast may be slightly different but I am not sure. Perhaps the soft rock yuppie music you mention.

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: Howard on 11/19/11 at 6:17 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR8D2yqgQ1U

True-Spandau Ballet (1983)

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: Claybricks on 01/07/12 at 3:53 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn33s9ZMTgE

Marc Tanner Band - Hot And Cold {1981}

Dan

Subject: Re: 80's West Coast Music (AOR / Adult Contemporary - NOT Hip Hop or Rap)

Written By: midnite on 02/12/12 at 12:09 am

That Marc Tanner song is good. thanks.

Steve Kipner - Knock The Walls Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHaljrhGMxo&feature=related

Marc Jordan - Generalities
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7KqyVJXNzw

David Roberts - Anywhere You Run To
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQFppRQ--fM