Top 50 of the Eighties

David does know any of these.

The Duran Duran fan club put together a Top 50 albums of the Eighties list.

Here are my thoughts:

First note: I was surprised that Cyndi Lauper’s She’s So Unusual didn’t make the list!!!

50. Bruce Springsteen – Born In The U.S.A. (1984) – I had it (but I no longer do) , and I am not surprised it’s on this list

49. Joy Division - Closer (1980) – This was the last Joy Division Album, and not nearly as good as Substance.

48. Lenny Kravitz – Let Love Rule (1989) – Not a big LK fan, never was

47. INXS - The Swing (1984) – A lovely album by a great band, still not as good as Kick though

46. New Order – Technique (1989) – Wow, this shoulda been higher.

45. Sting - The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985) – OK, a good solid album – I like Nothing Like the Sun more

44. Yaz – Upstairs At Eric’s (1982) – The best Yaz album, and better than Alyson Moyet’s initial solo work

43. Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (1985) – Her best album by far

42. U2 – The Unforgettable Fire (1984) – Yeah, I know – this is the start of poeple overplaying them

41. Madonna - Like a Virgin (1984) – Wow, I cannot believe this is not higher

40. Def Leppard – Pyromania (1983) – I cannot stand this album because my brother overplayed it

39. Berlin - Pleasure Victim (1982) – Whatevs – how did this make top 50?!?!

38. New Order – Power, Corruption & Lies (1983) – I don’t think this one is as good as Technique – but it’s still new Order, so it’s still pretty amazing

37. Blondie - Autoamerican (1980) – Sadly, their only 80s album. And not their best

36. Madonna – Like A Prayer (1989) – This shoulda been higher, too!

35. The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987) – This shoulda been WAAAY higher – brilliant album!

34. Pixies – Doolittle (1989) – I do like the Pixies, but don’ love them.

33. a-ha - Hunting High and Low (1985) – It does have a couple quintessential 80s tunes on it, but other than that…

32 Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988) – Wasn’t a fan, still aint.

31. Van Halen - 1984 (1984) – Ugh, another one my brother destroyed for me.

30. Depeche Mode – Music For The Masses (1987) – In my humble opinion, their best album of the 80s.

29. The Police – Ghost in the Machine (1981) – One my sister played too much, but I still kinda like it.

28. AC/DC – Back In Black (1980) – My brother Kevin killed this one for me.

27. Crowded House – Temple of Low Men (1988) – Ah, Crowded House’s best album, period. Would have been waaaaay up in my top 10s.

26. Japan – Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) – They’re good, but a bit twee, and that they’re this hgihg is like giving a lot of weight to a Flock of Seagulls album…

25. Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes (1983) – Yep, and right where it belongs!

24. Depeche Mode – Some Great Reward (1984) – It’s a good album, but should be lower than Music for the Masses

23. Duran Duran – Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983) – Yep, and again, right where it belongs.

22. Duran Duran – Notorious (1986) – Should be a bit higher, a brilliant turn for a band going through changes, and it gave birth to the late 80s Blue Eyed Soul movement

21. U2 – War (1983) – Wow, should be higher, by far their best album (but them I like Zooropa, so what do I know?)

20. Terence Trent d’Arby – Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent d'Arby (1987) – I know a ton of people who love this. I find its egotism fun, but not earth-shattering musically.

19. INXS - Kick (1987) – Should be waaaaaay higher, like top six or seven.

18. George Michael – Faith (1987) – A good album, but this woulda been lower for me.

17. The Power Station - The Power Station (1985) – Again, woulda been in my top 50 but lower, more like 29 or 34.

16. Roxy Music – Avalon (1982) – Ahh, well. Here’s a lovely arthouse pop album, but again would’ve have been 21 or 23, not this high.

15. ABC - Lexicon of Love (1982) – There is a whole contingency of ABC lovers on Duran Duran’s board, but they’re a slight bit too twee for me. Would’ve been in the 40s.

14. David Bowie – Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980) – Nope, not even sure why this is on the list, not a good album – he did better later.

13. The Police - Synchronicity (1983) – My sister played this too much

12. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead (1986) – This would have been 3 or 4 on my list. Pure brilliance.

11. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (1986) – I HATE Bon Jovi!!!

10. Depeche Mode – Black Celebration (1986) – Eh feh – other people love this album. It’s good, not great.

9. Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain (1984) – Whoo hoo!!! EVERYONE had this album! This was the one I made my brothers and sisters sick of.

8. Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair (1985) – Yep, another one in the right spot. Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Shout, Head Over Heels. Lovely album.

7. U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987) – OVERPLAYED – The point where their pretension hit the tipping point.

6. The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (1989) – The best 1-hit alternative crash-and-burn. This album is BRILLIANT, their second one not so much and then complete melt-down! This is crying for a musical version, in that they had such critical praise, indie cred, and fan base, and then BOOM!

5. Guns ‘N’ Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987) – This is a good album, but my little brother Tom overplayed it for me. It's the one of the 80s Heavy Metal I like the most.

4. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982) – I knew this would be high. It was important in my life for about a month.

3. Duran Duran - Duran Duran (1981) – I should burn this for Marcie and Joshie, so they can share in its early New Wave Brilliance. In the real world, this should be in the teens, but....this is a Duran Duran list.

2. Arcadia – So Red The Rose (1985) – Another one that was wonderful, and I should burn this for Marcie and Joshie. Woulda been 8 6 or 7 for me.

1. Duran Duran - Rio (1982) – Again, I knew this would be very high, and it is a classic, but I personally overplayed this one.