What were the best and worst years of the eighties?

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A decade that started strongly, slumped in the middle, and revived somewhat at the end. The best years were 1980-1982 - I'll plump for 1980. New Wave, Joy Division, Bowie's last good album, lots of good synth pop, some tail-end disco, etc. etc. Worst year was 1985 or 1986. I'll go for the former.

― James R., Monday, 25 October 2004 09:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Whatever year "Male Stripper" by Man 2 Man Meets Man Parrish was a hit.

― Clive Beckenham, Monday, 25 October 2004 09:55 (twenty-one years ago)

1982 was the best year for chart pop in teh evah. 1985 & 6 was pretty crumbs except for Tom Waits's "Rain Dogs".

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 25 October 2004 10:05 (twenty-one years ago)

1981 and 1982 are tied for the best in r&b/funk/rap/dance/postpunk.
1984 ruled for chart pop.
1986 and 1987 sucked big time -- cept for some indie rock highlights.
1988 was a pretty groovy time for hip-hop (though not quite as great as some people said then/remember now).

― lovebug starski (lovebug starski), Monday, 25 October 2004 10:16 (twenty-one years ago)

As far as pop music goes, 1984 was radio-wise the greatest year of my own personal adolescence, and possibly my entire lifetime. (I'm surprised to find that I own relatively few '84 LPs, but I suppose that's appropriate for a year defined by singles.) Album-wise, it's close, but '88 has the edge over '80 or '81, thanks to Sonic Youth, Public Enemy, Last Exit, NWA, Slammin' Watusis and Prince (not for Lovesexy but for the "Black Album".)

Worst year all around: 1986.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 25 October 2004 12:30 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, 1980 was probably the best all-around album year.

― lovebug starski (lovebug starski), Monday, 25 October 2004 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

i used to think 1985 was bad but the tracklist for the CDR compiled by (can't remember - was this a Matos one?) in the archives says otherwise

― Freelance Hiveminder (blueski), Monday, 25 October 2004 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Well I remember watching re-runs of Australia's Countdown recently and this 1980 episode was seriously brilliant. All Blondie, Bowie, Stevie's Masterblaster, Devo, Michael Jackson's Off the wall, Pretenders, Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart, Cheap Trick etc.

By the time it got to 1982/3, I noticed a definite drop in quality. Of course, just to shatter my own illusion, here's the track listing of "1982 The Winners" (18 Original Hits) which I adored as a 8 year old.

SIDE 1:

COME ON EILEEN by Dexy's Midnight Runners
IF YOU WANT MY LOVE by Cheap Trick
THE QUEEN & ME by Mondo Rock
I DIDN'T MEAN TO BE MEAN by Mental As Anything
SOLID ROCK by Goanna
ROSANNA by Toto
JACK & DIANE by John Cougar
LADY WHAT'S YOUR NAME by Swanee
AVALON by Roxy Music

SIDE 2:

GLITTERING PRIZE by Simple Minds
GREAT SOUTHERN LAND by Icehouse
THE RHYTHM OF THE JUNGLE by The Quick
THE LOOK OF LOVE by ABC
ABRACADABRA by Steve Miller Band
BETTER KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY (Potential New Girl Friend) by Doug Parkinson
EVER SO LONELY by Monsoon
DA DA DA I DON'T LOVE YOU, YOU DON'T LOVE ME AHA AHA AHA by Trio
SEVEN TEARS by Goomday Dance Band

Come On Eileen was so great. Only really bettered by Rosanna (haha!) and Ever So Lonely.

― Piers (piers), Monday, 25 October 2004 13:01 (twenty-one years ago)

1981 had the best number one of all time, namely 'Ghost Town'.

― Wooden (Wooden), Monday, 25 October 2004 13:13 (twenty-one years ago)

1980 was a great year but the decline had already set in, since 1979 was better.

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Monday, 25 October 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

88 had surfer rosa too...

― doc oc, Monday, 25 October 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

'84 was one of the best ever! In addition to great singles like "Jump," "Neverending Story," "World Destruction," and "Run Runaway," you've got at least four complete albums that offer up endless delights: Born In the USA, Purple Rain, Zen Arcade, and Ride the Lightning. Wonderful year. 1985, on the other hand, was a rebuilding year.

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Monday, 25 October 2004 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd say the greatness and crap were pretty even divided. Each year had good stuff and bad stuff.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 25 October 2004 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd say the greatness and crap were pretty evenLY divided. Each year had good stuff and bad stuff.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 25 October 2004 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

1980-1989.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Monday, 25 October 2004 16:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't forget Double Nickels when considering 1984, rock-wise at least.

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Monday, 25 October 2004 16:34 (twenty-one years ago)

add meat puppets 2 and let it be to that 1984 list. my favorite year ever.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 25 October 2004 18:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Best: 1981
Worst: 1985

― Ian Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I vote '86 as worst.

― billstevejim, Tuesday, 26 October 2004 21:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Worst definitely 1985. My opinion hasn't changed since then. Best probably 1989; in 1989 I would probably have said 1980.

― Keith Watson (kmw), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Best: 1980-1983; 1988-1989
Worst: 1984-1987

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Tuesday, 26 October 2004 21:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Worst: 1282
Best: 1984

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 06:10 (twenty-one years ago)

C'mon, there was some great hymns written in 1282 man!

― Piers (piers), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 07:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not having it.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 10:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Shit, I'm switching my "worst" vote to 1985. I just tried writing up "favorite songs" lists for both years, and I got 30 songs for '85 and 50 songs for '86, so there you go.

― billstevejim, Friday, 29 October 2004 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)

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