July 21, 200619 yr Author #64 JOURNEY 176 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYZK2y5mRuw.swf OPEN ARMS live (1981) This US AOR rock band never had a UK Top40 hit. This song their biggest hit as covered by Mariah Carey in the 1990s. Debut 1981 (Best Year 1981 = 50 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #63 DEBBIE GIBSON 179 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjP5uXWrpqo.swf ONLY IN MY DREAMS video (1987) Debbie (or Deborah as she liked to be known as) had a string of US Top5 Hit singles in the late 1980s. She is STILL the youngest person to write, perform & produce a US#1 hit (with Foolish Beat 1988). As her music was self-produced it probably explains why this track has not dated as much as other similar acts from the same period. But she is now more famous for her work in musicals in the USA. Debut 1987 (Best Year 1988 = 83 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #62 BOBBY BROWN 189 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkHv8b-TaV8.swf MY PREROGATIVE video (1989) The former New Edition singer had his breakthrough with this New Jack Swing classic, long before Britney Spears spoiled this song & Bobby Brown spoiled Whitney Houston's career. Debut 1988 (Best Year 1989 = 159 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #61 A-HA 189 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NxTCk-o0U0.swf TAKE ON ME video (1985) This Norwegian trio got their break thanks to this award winning video which topped the US singles chart but had to settle for #2 in the UK behind Jennifer Rush - The Power Of Love. Debut 1985 (Best Year 1986 = 85 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #60 HEART 192.5 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugan1-TCIUA.swf ALONE video (1987) Californian born sisters Ann & Nancy Wilson became giants of the AOR Rock scene with songs like this US chart-topper. 1980s debut 1980 (Best Year 1987 = 79 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #59 GENESIS 195 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56QSkTnTTDg.swf LAND OF CONFUSION video (1987) 1970s Progressive Rock band had streamlined in the 1980s to the trio of Phil Collins, Tony Banks & Mike Rutherford & became a huge stadium band thanks to a series of albums including Invisible Touch containing this song with the Spitting Image commissioned video. 1980s Debut 1980 (Best Year 1987 = 62 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #58 SHEENA EASTON 200 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjRJLNbHDds.swf MORNING TRAIN (NINE TO FIVE) video (1980) In 1980 Esther Rantzen hosted a TV music talent reality series to find a future Pop star & then they followed this person around to see whether they would be successful (See Popstars/Hear'Say was not an original concept!). The winner was Scottish singer Sheena Easton - who became far more successful in the USA then in the UK. Debut 1980 (BesT Year 1981 = 67 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #57 RICHARD MARX 203 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQF9kpwupeU.swf RIGHT HERE WAITING video (1989) Richard Marx had a string of hit singles in the USA in the late 1980s. This was the only one from the 1980s that made the UK Top40. Debut 1987 (Best Year 1989 = 95 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #56 ALISON MOYET / YAZOO 205 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKOaeCuqHCs.swf IS THIS LOVE video (1986) Alison Moyet was a member of the synth pop duo Yazoo with Vince Clarke in 1982-3, after they split Alison continued to have a very successful solo career. Debut 1982 (Best Year 1982 = 61 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #55 SURVIVOR 209 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6FjTsz5QCw.swf EYE OF THE TIGER video (1982) In America Survivor had more hits than those for Rocky3 & Rocky4 but the theme for Rocky3 remains their anthem. Debut 1982 (Best Year 1982 = 106 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #54 UB40 218 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zX2-51a0v0.swf RED RED WINE video (1983) Birmingham's based the Status Quo of reggae started their long run of hit singles in 1980. Debut 1980 (BesT Year 1985 = 55 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #53 RICK ASTLEY 222 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onrzgB_-0sM.swf WHENEVER YOU NEED SOMEBODY video (1987) Stock Aitken & Waterman's "teaboy" with the soulful voice had a string of pop hits in the late 1980s. Two of which Never Gonna Give You Up & Together Forever topped the US singles chart. Debut 1987 (Best Year 1988 = 118 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #52 U2 222 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7FKhudaRyM.swf PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) video (1984) Dublin's most famous musical act started the 1980s as a debut act on the Island record label & ended the 1980s as the biggest band in the world. Top20 Debut 1983 (Best Year 1987 = 113 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #51 BANGLES 223 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e_L6EWB6VA.swf ETERNAL FLAME video (1989) California's Bangles possessed girl power as well as love for 1960s vocal harmonies long before Atomic Kitten spoilt this song. Debut 1986 (Best Year 1986 = 87 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #50 GLORIA ESTEFAN & MIAMI SOUND MACHINE 227 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cURGg1XvPQ4.swf CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM YOU video (1988) Miami Sound Machine affectively changed themselves to a backing band for their singer to maximise their chart potential with Gloria being the focal point on more ballad-type songs. The strategy worked. Debut 1984 (Best Year 1988 = 79 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #49 JANET JACKSON 227 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoU0BvRdkIc.swf MISS YOU MUCH video (1989) Michael's little sister hit the big time with the Jam & Lewis produced Control album in 1986. She repeated the trick with 1989s Rhythm Nation 1814 album from which this was the lead track. Debut 1986 (Best Year 1986 = 114 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #48 TINA TURNER 227.5 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia4stir_uk8.swf WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT video (1984) With her Private Dancer album, Tina produced arguably the greatest comeback in the history of Rock'N'Roll so far. 1980s debut 1983 (Best Year 1984 = 93 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #47 JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP 232 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IqjVnNw6ac.swf JACK AND DIANE video (1982) Yet another act who were big in the USA in the 1980s yet, this US chart-topper was his only UK Top40 hit in the 1980s. Debut 1982 (Best Year 1982 = 115 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #46 FOREIGNER 232 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVt1PVzvQiQ.swf I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS video (1985) Foreigner continued their AOR Rock success from the late 1970s climaxing with this trans-atlantic chart-topper. 1980s debut 1981 (Best Year 1985 = 82 Pts)
July 21, 200619 yr Author #45 POINTER SISTERS 233 Pts [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQTJLzXDXbA.swf I'M SO EXCITED video (1984) June, Anita & Ruth Pointer had a good deal of success on both sides of the Atlantic in the first half of the 1980s. 1980s debut 1980 (Best Year 1984 = 114 Pts)
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