Posted July 20, 200619 yr The Top100 Singles Acts of the 1980s In the USA & UK Charts Countdown with videos. Using the book "Hit Singles" which has had monthly Top20 singles rankings. I have based the scoring on 20 pts for #1 song in a month, down to 1 point for #20 song in a month for each monthly UK & USA singles charts. Any duets (example Endless Love by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) - I have split/halved the points for each artist. Also any act where the prominent part has carried on after the band has split (examples Jam/Style Council, Blondie/Debbie Harry, etc) I have combined the points scored. I will start the countdown:
July 20, 200619 yr Author #100 GUNS N' ROSES 116 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTeAsErEda4.swf SWEET CHILD O' MINE video (1988) The best "Poodle Rock" Band of the late 1980s. Chart debut 1988 (Best Year 1989 = 70 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #99 TAYLOR DAYNE 118 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTk6aflVEbo.swf TELL IT TO MY HEART video (1988) The Anastacia of the late 1980s/early 1990s. Chart debut 1987 (Best Year 1988 = 78 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #98 BILLY IDOL 119 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpkGtioflhw.swf WHITE WEDDING video (originally 1983) William Broad went to America to show that there was life outside of Generation X. The punk star character in the novel "Buddha of Suburbia" was allegedly based of Billy Idol. Top 20 Chart debut 1984 (Best Year 1987 = 41 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #97 JIMMY SOMMERVILLE (BRONSKI BEAT/COMMUNARDS) 122 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAoUajLQhTU.swf SMALLTOWN BOY video (1984) Glasgow's Jimmy Somerville had a string of successful hit singles, and arguably expressed his sexuality in a more potent way than Boy George. Debut 1984 (Best Year 1986 = 49 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #96 FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS 122 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPrPNQYBFgU.swf SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY video (1989) Politically aware pop / soul trio from Birmingham featuring 2 ex-members of the Beat & vocals of Roland Gift (Do you remember him in the movie "Scandal" or an episode of "Heartbeat"?) Debut 1985 (Best Year 1989 = 89 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #95 BROS 122 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpQrV0KMca4.swf WHEN WILL I BE FAMOUS video (1988) Twins Matt & Luke Goss & (the talented one) Craig Logan were ridiculously popular in the late 1980s until the Rave scene came along. Debut 1988 (Best Year 1988 = 103 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #94 ULTRAVOX / MIDGE URE 123 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X1fw1cE6eY.swf VIENNA video (1981) As well as co-writing the Band Aid single (with Bob Geldof), Midge Ure was also a member of Slik, Rich Kids & Visage & auditioned for the Sex Pistols & dad of the lead singer of The Faders! Top20 Chart Debut 1981 (Best Year 1981 = 48 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #93 BUCKS FIZZ 125 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwHMVhPiSUk.swf MAKING YOUR MIND UP video (1981) Britain's only Eurovision winners of the decade went on to have quite a few hit singles including two further #1s (The Land Of Make Believe & My Camera Never Lies). Chart Debut 1981 (Best Year 1982 = 61 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #92 INXS 126 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL7FY7rwVtQ.swf NEED YOU TONIGHT / MEDIATE video (1987) It is easy to forget how big INXS were in the late 1980s/early 1990s. RIP Michael Hutchence. Top20 Debut 1986 (Best Year 1988 = 98 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #91 JASON DONOVAN 129.5 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jcl9-SIx8A.swf TOO MANY BROKEN HEARTS video (1989) Neighbours & Stock/Aitken/Waterman had a lot to answer for in the late 1980s. Still it is better than Stefan Dennis "Don't It Make You Feel Good". Debut 1988 (Best Year 1989 = 102.5 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #90 VAN HALEN 131 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSi4WGRcB5Y.swf JUMP video (1984) Eddie Van Halen's band had two lead vocalists in the 1980s - David Lee Roth & Sammy Hagar. Top20 Chart debut 1982 (Best Year 1984 = 67 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #89 O.M.D. 132 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJfKyHR5-1M.swf IF YOU LEAVE video (1986) Andy Mccluskey & Paul Humphrey's Merseyside synth-pop duo had a string of hits in the UK in the early 1980s but they will be most remembered for writing two songs about Joan Of Arc (Joan Of Arc & Maid Of Orleans) & their huge US hit from the "Pretty In Pink" movie. Andy Mccluskey later went on to set up Atomic Kitten (& co wrote Whole Again). Chart Debut 1980 (Best Year 1981 = 36 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #88 ABBA 135 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQgF24MoNPI.swf THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL video (1980) Sweden's finest musical export disbanded in 1983, 9 years after winning Eurovision. 1980s Chart Debut 1980 (Best Year 1980 = 73 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #87 SIMPLE MINDS 137 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb_PMR6SsD0.swf DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) video The most successful band from Scotland in the 1980s, will forever be dogged by unfavourable comparisons to Dublin's U2. Monthly Top20 Chart Debut 1985 (Best Year 1985 = 84 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #86 KENNY LOGGINS 146Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHrRGOAarhI.swf DANGERZONE video (1986) One of a number of acts who was far more successful in America than in the UK. This video was the inspiration for Will Young's Switch It On video. 1980s Debut 1980 (Best Year 1984 = 59 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #85 SOFT CELL / MARC ALMOND 147 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2K6hJkiSuU.swf SAY HELLO, WAVE GOODBYE video (1982) Marc Almond & Dave Ball were one of a number of UK synth-pop duos in the 1980s & certainly one of the best. Chart Debut 1981 (Best Year 1982 = 70 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #84 ERASURE 147 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCgWst0-_2Y.swf A LITTLE RESPECT video (1988) Vincle Clarke (ex Depeche Mode, Yazoo & the Assembly) formed Erasure with Andy Bell in 1985. They came into their own in the second half of the 1980s with hits including this original of the Wheatus song. Debut 1986 (Best Year 1988 = 49 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #83 STEVE WINWOOD 148 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vBb_PTmfU0.swf VALERIE video (1987) The veteran lead singer of Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith & Traffic had major solo success particularly in America with both Higher Love & Roll With It topping the chart, however Valerie has become his best loved track - thanks to Eric Prydz using the chorus in his #1 hit "Call On Me". 1980s Debut 1980 (Best Year 1988 = 68 Pts)
July 20, 200619 yr Author #82 THE CARS 150 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LErWi4CVWOo.swf DRIVE video (1984) This US post punk New Wave band had their greatest success in the 1980s not least due to the haunting ballad Drive. Band Leader Rik Ocasek married the 1980s Supermodel who appeared in this video Paulina Porizkova. 1980s Debut 1982 (Best Year 1984 = 74 Pts)
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