Best Songs of 1980
I started loosely working on this list sometime in 2013, and it took until 2015 to finish it. As I did in 2014, I’m releasing 100-song lists from 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, and 5 years ago, along with a list for this year. My end goal is to produce a list for every year I’ve been live, which means in 2015 I also get to make a 35-year-old list.
A good chunk of this Best of 1980 (close to half) were new to me as of 2013 or later. It was a unique and eye-opening process going back to the sounds of a time before I knew anything about music (AKA back when my age was still measured in months), and in so doing, I discovered that we are probably more likely to go back to a time before we were alive (say, for me, the early ’70s), than to explore sounds from our baby days. (My guess is that it’s a parental thing—they were too busy raising us to listen to new music in those early years.)
In the end, however, I have come across a great number of songs that are now very important to me, and, oddly, remind me vaguely of that era of my life, even though I may have just heard them for the first time in the past couple years.
For these year-end lists, I like to undertake the seemingly impossibly task of creating an hours-long mix. The order you see below represents that effort, which you can listen to via Spotify. Sadly all 100 tracks aren't available, but you get the general idea. Track notes to come eventually or maybe never.
November 11, 2015
—list last updated April 10, 2019
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Once in a Lifetime
Talking Heads
Remain in Light
Sire
via TK library: 12/31/2005Notes
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Video Killed the Radio Star
Buggles
The Age of Plastic
Island
via TK library: 7/14/2012Notes
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Do You Dream in Colour
Bill Nelson
Quit Dreaming (And Get on the Beam)
Mercury
via TK library: 11/5/2013Notes
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Mirror in the Bathroom
The English Beat
I Just Can’t Stop It
I.R.S.
via Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) library: 12/18/2011Notes
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Could You Be Loved
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Uprising
Island
via TK library: 1/26/2012Notes
-
The Magnificent Seven
The Clash
Sandinista!
Epic
via TK library: 11/12/2011Notes
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Rapture
Blondie
Autoamerican
Capitol
via TK library: 5/19/2011Notes
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Monster Jam
Spoonie Gee Meets The Sequence
Monster Jam 12"
Sugar Hill
via TK library: 3/28/2013Notes
-
Stomp!
The Brothers Johnson
Light Up the Night
A&M
via TK library: 6/22/2013Notes
-
8th Wonder
The Sugarhill Gang
8th Wonder 12"
Sugar Hill
via TK library: 3/28/2013Notes
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I’m Coming Out
Diana Ross
Diana
Motown
via TK library: 1/7/2012Notes
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When You Were Mine
Prince
Dirty Mind
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 6/26/2007Notes
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More Bounce to the Ounce
Zapp
Zapp
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 11/19/2003 (11/9/1993)Notes
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That’s the Joint
Funky 4 + 1
That’s the Joint 12"
Sugar Hill
via TK library: 3/28/2013Notes
-
The Breaks
Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Mercury
via TK library: 5/26/2013Notes
-
Give Me the Night
George Benson
Give Me the Night
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 5/19/2013Notes
-
Just the Two of Us
Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers
Winelight
Columbia
via TK library: 11/5/2003 (7/15/1999)Notes
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Can You Feel It
The Jacksons
Triumph
Epic
via TK library: 11/8/2009Notes
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Did I Hear You Say You Love Me
Stevie Wonder
Hotter Than July
Motown
via TK library: 6/22/2013Notes
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Burnin’ Hot
Jermaine Jackson
Let’s Get Serious
Motown
via TK library: 2/3/2015Notes
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Celebration
Kool & The Gang
Celebrate!
De-Lite
via Sonics home victories in the Coliseum library: 3/4/2011Notes
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Emotional Rescue
The Rolling Stones
Emotional Rescue
Universal
via my family’s record collection library: 5/26/2013 (ca. 1982)Notes
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Coming Up
Paul McCartney
McCartney II
Columbia
via TK library: 5/25/2015Notes
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Woke Up Laughing
Robert Palmer
Clues
Island
via TK library: 2/3/2015Notes
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Late in the Evening
Paul Simon
One-Trick Pony
Sony
via TK library: 6/13/2007Notes
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Hey Nineteen
Steely Dan
Gaucho
MCA
via TK library: 11/10/2003 (12/25/2001)Notes
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Drivin’ My Life Away
Eddie Rabbitt
Horizon
Elektra
via TK library: 6/22/2013Notes
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Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Queen
The Game
Elektra
via TK library: 3/2/2011Notes
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It’s All Right
Curtis Mayfield
Something to Believe In
RSO
via TK library: 2/2/2011Notes
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Open Your Eyes
Bobby Caldwell
Cat in the Hat
Clouds
via the Common sample library: 10/20/2009Notes
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You’re the Only Woman
Ambrosia
One Eighty
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 2/5/2014Notes
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More Than I Can Say
Leo Sayer
Living in a Fantasy
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 2/3/2015Notes
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Oh God, I Wish I Was at Home Tonight
Rod Stewart
Foolish Behaviour
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 2/21/2015Notes
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How Do I Make You
Linda Ronstadt
Mad Love
Elektra
via TK library: 2/3/2015Notes
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9 to 5
Dolly Parton
9 to 5 and Odd Jobs
RCA
via TK library: 2/9/2015Notes
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On the Road Again
Willie Nelson
Honeysuckle Rose
Columbia
via TK library: 7/13/2012Notes
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What Do You Expect
J. J. Cale
Shades
MCA
via TK library: 9/6/2014Notes
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Hawks & Doves
Neil Young
Hawks & Doves
Reprise
via TK library: 10/27/2015Notes
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You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)
Bruce Springsteen
The River
Columbia
via TK library: 1/17/2013Notes
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Nightshift
The Heats
Smoke
Chuckie Boy
via TK library: 2/12/2008Notes
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Ain’t Even Done With the Night
John Cougar
Nothin’ Matters and What If It Did
Mercury
via TK library: 10/31/2003 (5/28/1998)Notes
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Romeo and Juliet
Dire Straits
Making Movies
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 2/13/2010Notes
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New Amsterdam
Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Get Happy!!
Columbia
via TK library: 6/3/2015Notes
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When I Write the Book
Rockpile
Seconds of Pleasure
Columbia
via TK library: 7/27/2008Notes
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Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)
Squeeze
Argybargy
A&M
via TK library: 5/10/2010Notes
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Embarrassment
Madness
Absolutely
Sire
via TK library: 2/3/2015Notes
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Geno
Dexys Midnight Runners
Searching for the Young Soul Rebels
Parlophone
via TK library: 2/3/2015Notes
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Beat Crazy
Joe Jackson
Beat Crazy
A&M
via TK library: 11/29/2009Notes
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That’s Entertainment
The Jam
Sound Affects
Polydor
via TK library: 10/8/2011Notes
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Drinking About My Baby
The Damned
The Black Album
Chiswick
via TK library: 9/19/2013Notes
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Totally Wired
The Fall
Totally Wired 7"
Rough Trade
via TK library: 2/16/2015Notes
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Dirty Blue Gene
Captain Beefheart
Doc at the Radar Station
Virgin
via TK library: 9/19/2013Notes
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Ace of Spades
Mötorhead
Ace of Spades
Sanctuary
via TK library: 7/28/2012Notes
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Los Angeles
X
Los Angeles
Slash
via TK library: 12/18/2011Notes
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I Wanna Destroy You
The Soft Boys
Underwater Moonlight
Armageddon
via TK library: 3/28/2013Notes
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Nine Times Out of Ten
The Undertones
Hypnotised
Armageddon
via TK library: 9/19/2013Notes
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Do the Method
The Method Actors
This Is It 7"
Armageddon
via TK library: 8/22/2014Notes
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Salad Days
Young Marble Giants
Colossal Youth
Rough Trade
via TK library: 2/16/2015Notes
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Love Will Tear Us Apart
Joy Division
Love Will Tear Us Apart 12"
Factory
via TK library: 10/7/2011Notes
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Looks
Student Teachers
Marty Thau Presents 2x5
Red Star
via TK library: 9/12/2009Notes
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Falling and Laughing
Orange Juice
Falling and Laughing 7"
Postcard
via TK library: 2/16/2015Notes
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Feast on My Heart
Pylon
Gyrate
dB Recs
via TK library: 5/25/2015Notes
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Give Me Back My Man
The B-52’s
Wild Planet
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 3/8/2013Notes
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Antmusic
Adam & The Ants
Kings of the Wild Frontier
CBS
via TK library: 2/9/2015Notes
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Whip It
Devo
Freedom of Choice
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 2/13/2010Notes
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Do It Clean
Echo & the Bunnymen
Crocodiles
Korova
via TK library: 9/19/2013Notes
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I Will Follow
U2
Boy
Island
via TK library: 11/18/2003 (8/26/1994)Notes
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Enola Gay
Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark
Organisation
EMI
via TK library: 2/3/2015Notes
-
Touch and Go
The Cars
Panorama
Elektra
via TK library: 4/22/2009Notes
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De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
The Police
Zenyatta Mondatta
A&M
via TK library: 12/1/2003 (10/22/1993)Notes
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Imitation of Christ
The Psychedelic Furs
The Psychedelic Furs
CBS
via TK library: 2/9/2015Notes
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Babooshka
Kate Bush
Never for Ever
Parlophone
via TK library: 2/3/2015Notes
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When I’m With You
Sparks
Terminal Jive
Virgin
via TK library: 8/13/2016Europe-only release
-
Ashes to Ashes
David Bowie
Scary Monsters
RCA
via TK library: 12/8/2007Notes
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And Through the Wire
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Geffen
via TK library: 1/17/2013Notes
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Misunderstanding
Genesis
Duke
Charisma
via TK library: 9/23/2013Notes
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Over You
Roxy Music
Flesh and Blood
Reprise
via TK library: 9/19/2013Notes
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Hearts in Her Eyes
The Records
Crashes
Virgin
via TK library: 2/21/2015Notes
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Respectable Street
XTC
Black Sea
Virgin
via TK library: 2/21/2015Notes
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I Got You
Split Enz
True Colours
A&M
via TK library: 3/28/2013 -
What I Like About You
The Romantics
The Romantics
Sony
via TK library: 3/6/2011Notes
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Baby Loves to Rock
Cheap Trick
All Shook Up
Epic
via TK library: 2/9/2015Notes
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You Shook Me All Night Long
AC/DC
Back in Black
Columbia
via TK library: 11/21/2011Notes
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Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Pat Benatar
Crimes of Passion
Chrysalis
via TK library: 7/14/2012Notes
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I’m Alright
Kenny Loggins
Caddyshack
Columbia
via TK library: 9/18/2011Notes
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9 to 5 (Morning Train)
Sheena Easton
Take My Time
EMI
via TK library: 6/22/2013Notes
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Kiss on My List
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Voices
RCA
via my dad, who had this on tape library: 8/8/2008Notes
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Brass in Pocket
Pretenders
Pretenders
Sire
via TK library: 2/7/2010Notes
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Let My Love Open the Door
Pete Townshend
Empty Glass
Atco
via TK library: 12/28/2010Notes
-
How Do You Speak to an Angel
Lou Reed
Growing Up in Public
RCA
via TK library: 12/10/2013Notes
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Play It All Night Long
Warren Zevon
Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School
Elektra
via TK library: 2/3/2015Notes
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Fascist Architecture
Bruce Cockburn
Humans
True North
via TK library: 2/16/2015 -
Sharp Cutting Wings (Songs to a Poet)
Lucinda Williams
Happy Woman Blues
Folkways
via TK library: 3/28/2013Notes
-
Wayfaring Stranger
Emmylou Harris
Roses in the Snow
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 6/26/2013Notes
-
Jersey Girl
Tom Waits
Heartattack and Vine
Asylum
via TK library: 2/21/2015Notes
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Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Double Fantasy
Geffen
via TK library: 7/24/2008Notes
-
Sweet Little Mystery
John Martyn
Grace & Danger
Island
via TK library: 4/10/2019Notes
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Don’t Ask Me Why
Billy Joel
Glass Houses
Columbia
via my dad’s vinyl copy of Greatest Hits I & II library: 12/1/2003 (12/28/1997)Notes
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Theme From New York, New York
Frank Sinatra
Trilogy
Reprise
via TK library: 8/6/2012Notes
-
America
Neil Diamond
The Jazz Singer
Capitol
via my parents’ tape collection library: 10/13/2010Notes