About 80s Music

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Peabo Bryson's "If Ever You're in My Arms Again"

2009-11-25T05:44:38Z

Although this track falls far more into the straight adult contemporary category than any kind of authentic R&B or soul, it does stand as a memorable example of elegant pop songcraft and presentation. Bryson happens to hail from upstate South Carolina, a portion of the Southeast within spitting distance of my old stomping grounds of western North Carolina (not that I stomped all that often or all that memorably). However, I don't think I'm allowing a geographical bias to creep into this feature. Rather, Bryson's smooth vocal delivery and the interesting melodic progression of this song remain some of my most vivid musical memories of the early '80s.

Part of this can probably be attributed to the fact that "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" was a major crossover hit in 1983, hitting the Top 10 on Billboard's pop, R&B and adult contemporary charts. Even so, this track doesn't seem to come up too often in a discussion of '80s music or on flashback playlists. Depending on one's perspective, overlooking Bryson's biggest hit not performed in a duet with a female singer may stem from the music's core blandness or its timeless pop appeal that keeps it from being clearly tied to an era. If for no other reason than to save a little face, I'll go with the latter explanation.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Rhino/Elektra

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Peabo Bryson's "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 05:44:38.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - the Cult's "Wild Flower"

2009-11-18T17:55:52Z

One of the few bands to come close to the pure molten majesty of AC/DC, England's the Cult went through a number of transformations before settling on its arguably most successful sound. Starting off as a post-punk band with Goth trappings in terms of both image and sound, the group gradually adapted according to what seemed like a genuine pursuit of artistic distinction. Rather than attempting to fit into a popular format for the sole sake of popularity, band leaders Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy combined a throwback psychedelic fascination with driving, punishing rock and roll. Contemporary styles such as hair metal and early alternative rock rarely allowed for as much stylistic meandering as the Cult favored, and the group's 1987 release Electric may well be the gold standard for music capable of resisting classification in the most organic of ways. Perhaps nothing beats "Love Removal Machine" for grab-you-by-the-throat intensity, but "Wild Flower" proves that simplicity - when done well - provides an immediate advantage for bands unconcerned with genre labels.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Beggars Banquet Records

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - the Cult's "Wild Flower" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 17:55:52.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Leslie (Sam) Phillips' "River of Love"

2009-11-09T23:46:59Z

A keen spirituality has always flowed through the impeccable songwriting and vocals of Sam Phillips, even two decades after the end of her impressive early-'80s career as a Christian pop artist. However, in many ways this tune - written and originally recorded in 1986 by future husband and long-time collaborator T-Bone Burnett - represents her clear transition from niche artist to world-class original.

So why do I choose Phillips' version rather than Burnett's to spotlight here? Easy answer: Phillips was and is one of the finest female singers alive. This is mesmerizing, guitar-based folk-pop of which Phillips would produce plenty more during the next two decades, but the best thing about her as an artist is that she never repeats herself. "River of Love" sounds like it's been a roots rock standard for the past 50 years if not longer, and such staying power stems directly from the impact of the unique Phillips-Burnett artistry. If the Christian music industry had not tried so hard to pigeonhole Phillips by engineering her image, perhaps the world would have been able to enjoy her genius for far longer. Then again, she's far from the first artist (or the last) to be unjustly ignored by pop radio.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Word Records

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Leslie (Sam) Phillips' "River of Love" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 23:46:59.

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Dive into the '80s Deep End of Memorable New Wave Artists

2009-11-05T15:38:39Z

During the past decade, the term "new wave" has come to refer to a new crop of bands obsessed with melody and throwback style almost as much as the notorious, still world-famous Flock of Seagulls hairstyle from the early '80s. This says plenty about the ability of the era's music not only to resist labels such as disposable and unforgettable but also to influence subsequent generations of pop musicians. So feel free to seek out Snow Patrol and the Bravery to your heart's delight, but it never hurts to have a reminder of the artists who first mined the treasures of new wave music and paved the way for many of today's successful alternative/indie pop acts. Check out my list of the Top 10 New Wave Artists of the '80s for a healthy introduction to this rich and still quite relevant pop/rock style.

Dive into the '80s Deep End of Memorable New Wave Artists originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 15:38:39.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Paul Brady's "Crazy Dreams"

2009-11-01T21:12:28Z

Irish singer-songwriter Paul Brady has never quite become a household name across the Atlantic, but his influence on contemporary pop/rock has been substantial. In fact, I first heard Brady's sparkling composition "Crazy Dreams" through a cover version by folk/Americana singer-songwriter Lucy Kaplansky. Aside from the fact that she typically demonstrates impeccable taste in covers, this song fully earns the title of pop/rock masterpiece.

Joyous, conflicted and wonderfully human in its examination of the ongoing fight against loneliness, this track - which first appeared in 1981 on Brady's second solo album, Hard Station - accurately communicates Brady's smooth, accessible and completely dignified transition from a purveyor of Irish traditional music to a full-fledged pop/rock chameleon. Many of us probably didn't know it then, but Irish rock harbored more than just U2 among its well-kept early-'80s secrets. Unfortunately, Brady has remained an underrated musical genius while his fellow countrymen have become worldwide superstars. Still, don't let unjust obscurity keep you from experiencing Brady's insightful, eclectic pop.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Compass Records

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Paul Brady's "Crazy Dreams" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 21:12:28.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Guided by Voices' "The Future Is in Eggs"

2009-10-25T20:17:53Z

Dayton, Ohio's indie rock heroes Guided by Voices - who just happen to sport one of rock music's finest all-time band names - may not garner much mention if any when the conversation turns to '80s music, but that doesn't mean it's excusable to ignore the group's groundbreaking, influential work of its late-'80s formative stage. Bypassing the growing alternative/modern rock movement that would explode in popularity a few short years into the '90s, band mastermind Robert Pollard carved an honorable swath in the developing history of indie rock. Without the benefit of radio airplay or traditional record label support, Guided by Voices simply honed its craft and absorbed well-earned experience years before the so-called "cool kids" had caught wind of the band's lo-fi sound. "The Future Is in Eggs," a mesmerizing track from 1989's Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia probably was heard by only the chosen few during the '80s, a group in which I certainly didn't travel back then. Still, Pollard's genius should be credited for not only its time-capsule, man-out-of-time brilliance but also because it has continued to define what it means to create independent music in a rapidly changing entertainment universe.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Halo

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Guided by Voices' "The Future Is in Eggs" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 20:17:53.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Lucinda Williams' "I Lost It"

2009-10-18T21:19:14Z

Though many listeners probably never heard the tune until its inclusion on the 1998 breakthrough Americana release Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, the passionate, melodic "I Lost It" actually dates back to a very early Lucinda Williams album, 1980's Happy Woman Blues. One of the people in the dark on that fact happened to be myself, until a few short moments ago when I realized that this track was nearly 20 years old when I first added it to my collection. The 1980 version features a slightly inflated sense of Louisiana shuffle primitivism than the more rock-flavored recording I know so well, but Williams' songwriting prowess announces itself forcefully years before she drew the acclaim she now receives. Mournful lyrics combined with Williams' raggedly gorgeous vocal delivery prove here that this artist has not merely grown better with age but has always been a rich contributor to American music culture.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Lucinda Williams' "I Lost It" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 21:19:14.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - the Bats' "Not Easy for Me"

2009-10-11T21:38:59Z

During the last two decades, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jon Brion has cemented a reputation for himself as something of a pop music genius. However, back in 1982 a youthful Brion suffered a fate similar to the one that obscured so many other unique power pop outfits of the early '80s (consider the dBs for comparison's sake). His band, the Bats, generated plenty of critical acclaim with its only release that same year, How Pop Can You Get?, but even a hearty plug from Billboard magazine could not get record buyers to take notice in significant numbers.

But never fear, music aficionados, as one of the most favorable ripples created by the Internet age is the increased availability of formerly out-of-print vinyl records. "Not Easy for Me" trades in some of the Bats' more quirky aspects but sacrifices little in the way of pop music songwriting quality. It should have been a hit, at the very least within the sometimes ignored lower half of the Top 40. Alas, such mainstream airplay was not to be for the Bats, but Brion's considerable pop sensibility would ultimately commune with a kindred spirit - Aimee Mann - who was a bit more fortunate when it came to '80s success.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Gustav Records

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - the Bats' "Not Easy for Me" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 21:38:59.

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Top '80s Soft Rock Artists Not Too Proud to Fit Adult Contemporary Label

2009-10-10T20:24:13Z

In its earlier, more well-known '70s stage, soft rock had a tendency to showcase acoustic music with at least a touch of rootsy folk and rock influences. However, the early-'80s shift toward synthesizers and progressively busier orchestration began to transform this sound, and by the mid-'80s that once highly marketable style had essentially merged with the staid, more pop-based adult contemporary genre, which made its greatest impact of the era during the second half of the decade. Perhaps for that reason, many of the biggest stars of the '80s fit into these categories for much of their peak periods, in some cases splitting the era between accessible forms of both styles. Whether or not you want to call it commercial savvy or artistic versatility remains firmly a matter of perspective, but it's impossible to ignore the distinct contributions of the artists that make my list of the Top 10 Soft Rock/Adult Contemporary Artists of the '80s. Bow your head in shame if you must, but I doubt you'll be able to keep your list of favorite songs by these artists as brief as you'd expect.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Atlantic

Top '80s Soft Rock Artists Not Too Proud to Fit Adult Contemporary Label originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Saturday, October 10th, 2009 at 20:24:13.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Spandau Ballet's "Through the Barricades"

2009-10-04T20:40:30Z

One of England's original synth pop New Romantic outfits, Spandau Ballet enjoyed limited American success during the mid '80s, notching only one Top 10 pop hit in the popular but also quite worthy "True." However, the group dominated the decade in its native U.K., producing some of the most memorable electronic tunes and smoky, melodic bits of neo-soul of the era. With its first tour in 20 years set to begin in Europe later this fall, Spandau Ballet has arrived late to the retro reunion party, but the band has re-emerged on its own terms.

Specifically, the original lineup will release a single, "Once More," in November, and then a full album of original material with the same title will follow early next year. So what better occasion could we have than now to celebrate a lesser-known Spandau Ballet classic? The lovely, acoustic guitar-driven "Through the Barricades" became the band's final Top 10 U.K. single in 1986, and although it deviates somewhat from the typically danceable Spandau Ballet sound, the song offers yet another rich and romantic vocal performance from frontman Tony Hadley.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Capitol

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Spandau Ballet's "Through the Barricades" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at 20:40:30.

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