69

Grace Jones/Pull Up To The Bumper

No.53/1981

No.12/1986 (re-issue)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/24/Gracebumper.jpg

 

Innuendo alert! Grace Jones quickly established herself as an underground gay icon (her early work in the late 70s panders to the NYC disco movement and is rather fabulous if I do say so myself). To this date, no "pop" artist has managed to eclipse Jones in the shocking images stakes (even todays so-called controversial stars like Lady Gaga looks a little bland in comparison). "Pull Up To The Bumper" is arguably her best loved track... and certainly her most filthiest (it's basically about getting a good rogering up the arse by a well-endowed gentleman, though Jones denies it!)

 

Edited February 23, 201213 yr by ScottyEm

68

Bananarama/Robert De'Niro's Waiting

No:3/1984

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/54/Banana_rdnw.jpg

 

Statistically still the most successful all-girl group of all time (and the greatest in my opinion). For me, this is pure nostalgic pop gold. Yet despite being pop in all its glory, the 3 girls maintained a stubborn approach to their songs, seldom give in to record company enforcements of what would make them sound more commercial (apparently the girls very reluctantly left in the repeated "Talking Italian" backing vocal in the chorus as it was considered too corny). Also... did anyone else think it was "Talking To Tanya"??..... I'll grab my coat.

 

Edited February 23, 201213 yr by ScottyEm

67

Prince/Sign O' The Times

No:10/1987

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/02/Prince_Sign_single.jpg

 

God only knows how many attempts I've made to like Prince. Though I can easily listen to the majority of his songs, I'm never engrossed. There is however an exception. Now, for me music is about escapism and shifting my troubles aside, I don't want to feel challenged or left deep in thought. So it's bizarre how "Sign O The Times", a song with a strong social concience, is the only one of his that makes my list - an outstanding song lyrically with a gorgeous funky guitar hook that really registers with me and is every little bit as relevant 25 years later.

 

66

Madonna/Like A Prayer

No:1/1989

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/Like_a_Prayer_Single_Cover.jpg

 

Here she is again. "Like A Prayer" has rightfully found its place in the home of truly exceptional pop classics. While it's almost too tempting to ridicule Madonnas latest effort, her legacy is almost uncomparable. Madonnas credibility had a bit of a bashing by this point but very quickly turned it round with a killer single and an album which was and some say still is, her most profound and ambitious album to date.

 

Naturally LAP is a classic I think few would argue with. I love RDNW, the kind of slapdash- have a go popstar approach they encompassed was massively endearing, not like nowadays when EVERYONE is a "serious" artist!

65

Belouis Some/Imagination

No.50/1985

No:17/1986 (re-issue)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Imagination.jpg

 

One of the lesser-known tracks to grace this list, Belouis Some is otherwise known as Neville Keighley and was born in Surrey... there, you'll sleep well tonight. However, if you're a bloke (and don't play on the same bus as me), watch the promo video and you may not sleep tonight...! Lots of boobies! Neville, on the other hand, is pretty easy on the eye too so there is something for everyone here! :lol:

 

^ Yes I only watched this video for the first time last week (for some reason) and I thought he was very easy on the eye in an odd 80s way!

64

Farley "Jackmaster" Funk/Love Can't Turn Around

No:10/1986

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41iH7EI42SL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

 

You know that feeling when change in coming, you hear it coming... this is what it was like in pop music 1986. A new sound made in Chicago was about to change the landscape of pop music - for the better. House music had arrived, here fronted by a generously sized, flamboyant bloke by the name of singer Daryl Pandy. Rather like a proto-type SAW track, it's soulful vocals coupled with a hi-energy sensibility proved to be a remarkable marriage. While it's fair to say there were better house tracks on the horizon, we're still left with a bloody great track... though sadly Pandy is no longer with us after his death last year.

 

 

 

Naturally LAP is a classic I think few would argue with. I love RDNW, the kind of slapdash- have a go popstar approach they encompassed was massively endearing, not like nowadays when EVERYONE is a "serious" artist!

 

Yeah I completely agree. Basically a bunch of ex punk/art students that accidentally fell into a recording studio. Now everything just seems so contrived and bland.

63

Hazell Dean/Searchin' (I Gotta Find A Man)

No:6/1984

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Y+FAMCn7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

 

Hazell Dean, or if you're under my roof - Hazell QUEEN! Again it's another classic story of the gay demograph being almost exclusively responsible for their success. In 1984, this was the closest you could get to house music - known as Hi NRG. While the vast majority of Hi NRG tracks remained firmly in gay clubs, some would radiate into the public doman. "Searchin" was one of these exceptions and Hazell is STILL keeping a firm grip on the pink pound, touring gay bars and clubs around the UK! Bless 'er!

 

62

Blondie/Rapture

No:5/1981

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e4/Blondie_-_Rapture_(UK).jpg

 

Talk about genre hopping! They did cutesy pop (Denis), disco (Heart Of Glass) and then, well, what can only be described as a crazy hybrid of nu-wave, jazz and rap. Sounds like a disaster, but only a force like Blondie could carry such a collision of genres with aplomb. Even Debbie Harrys hammy rapping has a certain passing charm to it.

 

61

Madonna/Express Yourself

No:5/1989

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/27/Express_Yourself_Single_cover.jpg

 

A second visit to the "Like A Prayer" era. "Express Yourself" was another blast of euphoric pop, about female empowerment. In fairness, by 1989 Madge literally had planet Earth in her hand like putty so who better then to send the message! A ridiculously glossy video, to date it still remains the third most expensive music video ever made and later provided more than a little inspiration to you know who, 23 years later.

 

60

Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield/What Have I Done To Deserve This?

No:2/1987

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5d/WHIDTDTCD.jpg

 

The debate of what constitutes perfect pop is not one I have any care for, though when push comes to shove, I'd nominate this. Apparently, there were doubts if Dusty could delivery vocally at the time, but those fears were pushed aside when the late great diva dusted off those vocal chords. While PSB continue to write decent pop songs, this period was well and truly their zenith. One of the greatest duets ever.

 

59

Joyce Sims/All & All

No:16/1986

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/419qDYBIeTL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

 

Another micro-genre in the 80s, was Freestyle (think NYC streets and big silver ghettoblasters). Rather like a bridge between Hip Hop and House. Joyce Sims had a relatively modest career in the second half of the decade, enjoying a string of hits but never truly taking off. That said, "All & All" remains a cult classic and was produced by a then almost-unknown Mantronix.

 

58

A-Ha/The Sun Always Shines On TV

1985/No:1

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/Cover-sun-big.jpg

 

From cult club classics... to chart-hogging Norweigan pop! As synomous with the 1980s as Walls Vienetta and filofaxes, A-Ha had a stranglehold on European radio. Personally, I'm not a fan of A-Ha - just this. While "Take On Me" irritates the hell out of me, this does the complete opposite. Like someone opening a window in a stuffy room, the songs just beams!

 

57

New Order/True Faith

No:4/1987

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/18/Truefaithsmall.jpg

 

Being a Mancunian myself, it's automatically assumed I like Oasis (when in actually fact, I hate them). Ask me if I like New Order, you might get a different response... Formed from the ashes of Joy Division, New Order ran pretty much parrallel with The Smiths and were easily Factory's (a highly influential indie record label) most successful act. Bernard Summers vocals are dangerously close to monotone, but still hold much passion and emotion which makes "True Faith" such a track.

 

56

Propaganda/Duel

No:21/1985

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41N0d4UXQUL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

 

Typical Trevor Horn production, epic, glossy and immaculate. Propaganda were from Germany and never really took off here. It has to be said, something must've gone horribly wrong for "Duel" to stall at 21 (when it sounds like a Top 2 hit). I must be honest though, I can almost picture Alan Patridge playing this on Radio Norwich... :blink:

 

Why oh WHY is WHIDTDT only at No 60? :o , surely a top 10 on anyone's list? :lol: Otherwise some sterling work here, my personal favourite A-Ha must be either "Blood That Moves The Body" or "I've Been Losing You".

Why oh WHY is WHIDTDT only at No 60? :o , surely a top 10 on anyone's list? :lol: Otherwise some sterling work here, my personal favourite A-Ha must be either "Blood That Moves The Body" or "I've Been Losing You".

 

Well, it's not the last you'll hear from PSB and we've not had a single S/A/W track yet! Exciting times beckon!!!

 

Like I said, I'm not fussed about A-Ha (though apparently they're great live).

55

Michael Jackson/PYT (Pretty Young Thing)

No:11/1984

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51s11SLoA7L._SS500_.jpg

 

I must be frank, MJ was and is the most over-rated artist in my humble opinion. For every 1 Wacko song I like, there is 10 I dislike. Either self-indulgent tosh (Heal The World) or totally irritating (Billie Jean), I don't really care for his legacy. Putting that aside, "Off The Wall" is a blindin album and is the only album of his I own. Why? It's straight-forward disco funk in the best possible way. This is where I felt Wacko was at his best and most natural and PYT, while not considered a massive hit, is for me his last great track that demands a good booty shake!