http://www.abcmartinfry.com/images/TOP_01.gif

ABC - my favourite group of the 80s.  They were not always a duo, so can they really count? 
I say why not!  By 1987, it was just guitarist Mark White and vocalist Martin Fry.  Their 4th album 'Alphabet City' in 1987 was their debut as a duo and for me, it was their greatest album.  Despite only producing 1 lone hit in North America with 'When Smokey Sings', they furthered it in the UK with the fantastic singles 'King Without A Crown' and 'The Night You Murdered Love'. 

ABC - The Night You Murdered Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oodZ6ovaNQY


More to come .. What are some of your favourites?

In 1985, a duo from Canada's capital called One to One hit the Top 20 with their debut single 'There Was A Time'.  The next single 'Angel in My Pocket' made the Top 30, and even reached #92 on the US chart.  They never became BIG stars outside of Canada, but remained popular within scoring 8 more hits on the Canadian chart over 3 albums between 1985-1992. 

Of those 10 hits, 7 of them made the Top 40, 4 of which were in the 80s.  This was the music of my youth and I still love it ...

1986:  There Was A Time | Angel in My Pocket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrCOWoYTdcI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uXIU6bn8Hk

1988:  Hold Me Now | Do You Believe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbGdVyz-MTg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4MZVnLnrqc

Tears for Fears
Petshop Boys
The Buggles

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


Ebony And Ivory- (1982)


That was a duet, not a duo. 

Perhaps an obvious choice, but my favorite 80's duo nonetheless! ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anLfoy2XsFw&feature=related

Your Pal,
Doc
8)

YAZOO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaHuzkyurC0

EURYTHMICS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJE_Sc1Wags

PET SHOP BOYS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3j2NYZ8FKs

TEARS FOR FEARS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTn4o2Z-vZU

Duos that I liked in some shape or form... Mel & Kim, Go West and Bros.

Just racking my brains for 80s duos... Pepsi & Shirley, Wham, Renold Girls... all seem to be British too. Oh Salt & Pepa... and Milli Vanilli.


Mel & Kim "Respectable"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czAQVsIldZ4

More to come .. What are some of your favourites?


Well, since I'm still stuck in 1985, and since everybody's had 27 years to learn How to be a Zillionaire, I'm digging this one out of obscurity:

qnGC7vIK-_0

  - ABC, 15-storey halo.

10, 20, 30, 40, seven miles wide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YleXlgHI1oM

Salt N Pepa Push It

Well, since I'm still stuck in 1985, and since everybody's had 27 years to learn How to be a Zillionaire, I'm digging this one out of obscurity:

qnGC7vIK-_0



I always found the song with its video anthemic of the vulgar nouveau riche of the eighties, especially Donald Trump.  The way Martin sings "how to be" reminds me of Robin Leach, which I think is incidental. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U7O_nBQETI

I never thought of ABC as a duo but a band in which Martin Fry and Mark White were the core members.  Sort of like Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey of OMD (until 1989).

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

BLANCMANGE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK86BNhjDxI

All great choices so far :)

Herre's a few more ...

ERASURE (with the 1989 hit 'Blue Savannah')
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxEBv5U0Yok

BLUE MERCEDES (with their 1988 hit 'I Want to Be Your Property')
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTe5ioGAie0

FUN FUN (with the 1986 hit 'Baila Bolero')
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbWwnK0fyX0

STRANGE ADVANCE (with the 1985 hit 'We Run')
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-SOhjgUxA4

PAT & MICK (with their FANTASTIC 1988 cover of Michael Zager Band's disco classic 'Let's All chant')
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59ymuZdw3_0

^ I said Yazoo, so I figured I let somebody else say Erasure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWy8jnLuA50
Why is it so hard to find the original versions of classic Erasure songs on
Youtube?  There are dozens of tinny live versions and remixes -- crummy
amateur mixes, not the Flood remixes from the legit 12-inches. 

Anyway...

Speaking of Vince Clarke, The Assembly deserves a mention.  Even though Vince Clarke and Feargal Sharkey only released one song...what a song it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9kKzRHSQWw

SOFT CELL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJc7H_kko3g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjP-IOxJx94

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srtuQU20QXA

^ I especially enjoyed that super-long mix of "Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?"

^ I especially enjoyed that super-long mix of "Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?"


I had that 12".  It was awesome!

I had that 12".  It was awesome!

I heard it on the radio once about 15 years ago... and the second time they played it, I had to time it because it seemed reeeeally long. I was shocked to find it close to nine minutes in length.

^ I said Yazoo, so I figured I let somebody else say Erasure.


Anyway...

Speaking of Vince Clarke, The Assembly deserves a mention.  Even though Vince Clarke and Feargal Sharkey only released one song...what a song it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9kKzRHSQWw

Good choice(s); Yazoo (known elsewhere as Yaz) also had hits with "Situation" (another long new-wave song I liked) and "Only You", and Erasure had some great songs in both the 80s and 90s.

^ I especially enjoyed that super-long mix of "Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?"


I enjoyed it too.

Speaking of Vince Clarke, The Assembly deserves a mention.  Even though Vince Clarke and Feargal Sharkey only released one song...what a song it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9kKzRHSQWw


Original versions of Erasure songs are sometimes a struggle to find.  Technically the Assembly were a trio as they only released 'Never Never', but technically, thje group was Vince Clarke and Eric Radcliffe featuring guest vocalst from Feargal Sharkey.  I have the 'Never Never' 12" on vinyl and it is quite a collectors item

Another great duo was the super group Electronic, comprised of New Order vocalist Bernard Sumner and The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.  Their debut single in 1989 was the FANTASTIC 'Getting Away With It' which became a smash hit in Europe that same year, but was not a hit in North America until late 1990. 

The song features a guest appearance from Pet Shop Boys vocalist Neil Tenant and remained Electronic's lone (Top 40) hit in mainstream North America (but not the UK where they had several others)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSP1EPfXxsQ

Original versions of Erasure songs are sometimes a struggle to find.  Technically the Assembly were a trio as they only released 'Never Never', but technically, thje group was Vince Clarke and Eric Radcliffe featuring guest vocalst from Feargal Sharkey.  I have the 'Never Never' 12" on vinyl and it is quite a collectors item


Oh, that's right.  Vince and Eric planned to use The Assembly as a vehicle for different guest vocalists, but the project never panned out.  Vince did produce for Robert Marlow and Paul Quinn before Andy Bell joined him for Erasure.  Clarke also worked with Stephen Luscombe of Blancmange on the West India Company project, which highly recommend if you can find any.

I did see Erasure on their 1990 tour, but their music lost appeal for me after "The Circus" album  It just got so far up on a pride parade pitch that it turned into self-parody.  I liked some tracks on "I Say" because of Martyn Ware's production, and the song "Rock Me Gently" from the eponymous album is one of my favorite Erasure songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhvbFzVQq7k

bBlbPw7WAqM

The Weather Girls

bBlbPw7WAqM

The Weather Girls


They also scored another hit "Just Us".

WPmy2fCuTjs

Mel and Kim

And the greatest farce since the advent of modern pop music..........

sZG-VvlErJY

Milli Vanilli

No wonder Rob Pilatus killed himself?

I've been listening to The Twins on Spotify.  I listened to their album Passion Factory and it sounds a lot like Gary Numan (of whom I am a big fan), in fact the title track sounds likes Numan's "Observer."  The only video I could find with the title track was this one of the album being played by a couple of weird guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_G9b1vehkg

I really liked "Desert Place" which was posted on the Obscure 80s Songs thread, but here's a couple more videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dmTbLI5mA4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tsAhObtS5E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eQmlJxg9bA

Ashford And Simpson- Street Corner (1982)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eQmlJxg9bA

Ashford And Simpson- Street Corner (1982)


I love that song and I love this song too....

w3PoTnkLfxE

Solid

I love that song and I love this song too....

w3PoTnkLfxE

Solid


another good one so sad Nick Ashford died so young.  :(

Speaking of a couple of weird guys:

Buckner and Garcia: Pac-Man Fever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdAPkk8yMM


Don't forget Naked Eyes --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMAe31FFHbo&ob=av2n

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkwwTKma_rM&feature=related

:P

Speaking of a couple of weird guys:

Buckner and Garcia: Pac-Man Fever



I loved "Pac-Man Fever" (and Pac-Man) when I was a kid.  I still have a collection of Pac-Man memorabilia in my room.  Gary Garcia died just this past November.

I loved "Pac-Man Fever" (and Pac-Man) when I was a kid.  I still have a collection of Pac-Man memorabilia in my room.  Gary Garcia died just this past November.


After the success of the 1982 single, they released a whole album.

And when Sony denied them the use of their master tapes from 1982, Buckner and Garcia re-recorded the entire album from scratch in 1999 and sold it on the Internet.  They went to the point of recording samples of real animals because they couldn't find a Mouse Trap machine.

RIP, Gary Garcia.  And thanks for the MAMEories.

If someone asked me to name one song that defined the 80s I'd go for this...

Ollie & Jerry - There's No Stopping Us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_pzk83luwo

Speaking of a couple of weird guys:

Buckner and Garcia: Pac-Man Fever
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdAPkk8yMM


Don't forget Naked Eyes --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMAe31FFHbo&ob=av2n

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkwwTKma_rM&feature=related

:P


I always thought Naked Eyes was only one person. maybe he should just called himself Naked Eye.

If someone asked me to name one song that defined the 80s I'd go for this...

Ollie & Jerry - There's No Stopping Us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_pzk83luwo


can't believe I still remember that guy's name Boogaloo Shrimp. ;D

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

MacKenzie And Gardnier- From Time (1983)

I always thought Naked Eyes was only one person. maybe he should just called himself Naked Eye.


Naked Eyes were Pete Byrne on vocals and Rob Fisher on keyboards.  Sadly, Fisher died in 1999.


http://retrothing.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83452989a69e2013481aac29b970c-800wi

hrTv3OJg8ok

Rob Bass and DJ EZ Rock

jW3PFC86UNI

Jeff Townes and Will Smith aka DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

Naked Eyes were Pete Byrne on vocals and Rob Fisher on keyboards.  Sadly, Fisher died in 1999.


Yeah, I remember when Rob Fisher died.
:(

He was also in another duo -- Climie Fisher with Simon Climie, who had kind of Rod Stewart thing going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPav44v545Y

He was also in another duo -- Climie Fisher with Simon Climie, who had kind of Rod Stewart thing going.


Good one! I always think of Climie Fisher as a one-man act.  ;D

Naked Eyes were Pete Byrne on vocals and Rob Fisher on keyboards.  Sadly, Fisher died in 1999.


http://retrothing.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83452989a69e2013481aac29b970c-800wi


and Pete is still touring The U.K.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-NjbXJBAo4

you've probably never of these guys, they had a few hits

Nollen And Crossley-Ready Or Not (1982)

CABARET VOLTAIRE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcS17lqphXQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4SmFS9yYHY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Yai3s1uk0

^ no Sensoria?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkfzXq0tA3c

^ no Sensoria?



Another great choice!

Here's an earlier CabVolt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN9Xobte0xQ

Kirk and Mallinder were the only constant members of the band from its inception in 1973 to his final dissolution in 1994.  In 1980 Chris Watson was still in the band.  He left a year later and became a a nature recording specialist for the BBC.

another good one so sad Nick Ashford died so young.  :(


Just 70 years old.  Throat cancer got him really fast.  :(  Cancer also got Melanie Appleby of Mel and Kim.  She was young too.  Only 24 when she died.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hViYDn6Tw0

Ray Parker Jr. And Raydio- For Those Who Like To Groove (1982)

One from very late 1989... still a stomping track today!

Rob N Raz - Got To Get

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmSKk4BVtZc&feature=related

EBN OZN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIG7EW9Fkg8

Would Crowded House be considered a band or a duo? Because when I think of Crowded House I usually think of Neil and Tim Finn +1

J9gKyRmic20

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

Air Supply- All Out Of Love (1981)