Chrome Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 On the Talking Heads thread, someone (a younger someone) was discussing 1980s music nostalgia ... got me thinking about the Rolling Stones' list of the top 100 albums of that decade ... here's the top 20: 1. London Calling - The Clash 2. Purple Rain - Prince & The Revolution 3. The Joshua Tree - U2 4. Remain In Light - Talking Heads 5. Graceland - Paul Simon 6. Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen 7. Thriller - Michael Jackson 8. Murmur - REM 9. Shoot Out The Lights - Richard And Linda Thompson 10. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman 11. Get Happy - Elvis Costello & The Attractions 12. It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us - Public Enemy 13. Diesel And Dust - Midnight Oil 14. So - Peter Gabriel 15. Let It Be - The Replacements 16. 1999 - Prince 17. Synchronicity - The Police 18. Dirty Mind - Prince 19. New York - Lou Reed 20. Pretenders - Pretenders FWIW, even though I usually consider "pop" music from that decade pretty cringe-worthy, I still can enjoy CDs 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 16 and 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregK Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 I never understood the fascination with the Clash. I tried and tried to make it all the way through London Calling but I got bored quickly. I was, and still am, stunned by these choices for the best albums of the 80s. I don't want to get into one of those "what are they thinking, that album sucks!" debate, so I won't say what I think should be #1, but the Clash it aint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quincy Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 I never understood the fascination with the Clash. I never understood how an album that was released in 1979 can be the best album of the '80s. Love The Clash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 (edited) FWIW, even though I usually consider "pop" music from that decade pretty cringe-worthy, I still can enjoy CDs 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 16 and 20. On my list, I delete 13 and add 3 - otherwise I am in violent agreement B-) There is some excess on London Calling, but for me, I have no problem putting it at no. 1. Some of the then-topical politics aside, it still resonates loudly with me. In any event, it beats the crap out of Exile on Main Street (now THAT is a boring album ) Edited August 20, 2004 by Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 Did they ever do a list like that for the 90's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wesbed Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 (edited) Hmmm... Steely Dan's Gaucho is not on the list? It's #1 on my 1980s list. Edited August 22, 2004 by wesbed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdogus Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 I never understood the fascination with the Clash. I tried and tried to make it all the way through London Calling but I got bored quickly. I was, and still am, stunned by these choices for the best albums of the 80s. I don't want to get into one of those "what are they thinking, that album sucks!" debate, so I won't say what I think should be #1, but the Clash it aint To my ears, London Calling is one of the great rock 'n' roll albums of any decade. The Clash's openly, insistently leftist politics probably wouldn't appeal to a Bush supporter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmirBagachelles Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 The best album of the 80s WAS made in the late 70s. It was Marquee Moon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregK Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 I never understood the fascination with the Clash. I tried and tried to make it all the way through London Calling but I got bored quickly. I was, and still am, stunned by these choices for the best albums of the 80s. I don't want to get into one of those "what are they thinking, that album sucks!" debate, so I won't say what I think should be #1, but the Clash it aint To my ears, London Calling is one of the great rock 'n' roll albums of any decade. The Clash's openly, insistently leftist politics probably wouldn't appeal to a Bush supporter. It has nothing to do with politics, they just suck and THAT record, especially, is boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 I never understood the fascination with the Clash. I tried and tried to make it all the way through London Calling but I got bored quickly. I was, and still am, stunned by these choices for the best albums of the 80s. I don't want to get into one of those "what are they thinking, that album sucks!" debate, so I won't say what I think should be #1, but the Clash it aint To my ears, London Calling is one of the great rock 'n' roll albums of any decade. The Clash's openly, insistently leftist politics probably wouldn't appeal to a Bush supporter. Hey, I am a Bush supporter and I love the Clash Even though I don't agree with all their politics, I respect them and they rock like mothers. The best rock is about passion and spirit and they have truckloads of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 The best album of the 80s WAS made in the late 70s. It was Marquee Moon. Good call ... love those guys too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ariceffron Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 i strongly disagree w/ most of those on that list--- the 2 best albums of the 80s are 90125 and Back in the High Life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 Why bother to include Public Enemy? I would argue that it isn't even close to the best rap album of the 80s and contextually doesn't belong next to the other albums on the list in any way, shape, or form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 (edited) I would have included (just to name five): 1. Charlie Haden - Ballad Of The Fallen 2. Dewey Redman - The Struggle Continues 3. Wayne Shorter - Atlantis 4. Weather Report - Night Passage 5. Old And New Dreams - Playing Phew... At least no Wynton Marsalis album made the list. Bertrand. Edited August 22, 2004 by bertrand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Actually, that is not a bad list. I would have expected much worse from Rolling Stone. I guess that 20 years is enough perspective even for those fools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 How can any list of the 1980s omit: A Spaghetti Western with Uilleann Pipes! Jigs and reels arranged to perfection. Andy Irvine at his heartbreaking best! And Christy Moore in excelsis on the astounding 'Little Musgrave' - the same long ballad better known as 'Matty Groves' but done with a gentleness and deftness of touch (and a different melody) that makes it a very different animal to the Fairport barnstormer. Oh, and then there's the last minute of the record that contains the greatest piece of flute playing ever put to record. Thank you Matt Molloy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son-of-a-Weizen Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Any list without a Tubes lp on it is an Abomination to God!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quincy Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 For a different list check out Pitchfork. I get the feeling the reviewers were toddlers for much of the decade, and sometimes they try too hard to be oh-so-hip. However, it is refreshing to see U2 & the Police get ignored, as well as see the Minutemen get some credit. Pitchfork's List 01. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation 02. Talking Heads - Remain In Light 03. Beatie Boys - Paul's Boutique 04. Pixies - Doolittle 05. R.E.M. - Murmur 06. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead 07. Pixies - Surfer Rosa 08. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs 09. Public Enemy - It Takes A Nations of Millions to Hold Us Back 10. Joy Division - Closer 11. Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones 12. Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain 13. The Fall - The Nation's Saving Grace 14. Sonic Youth - Sister 15. XTC - Skylarking 16. Galaxie 500 - On Fire 17. Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime 18. De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising 19. Public Image Ltd. - Second Edition 20. This Heat - Deceit At least the kids know their years: London Calling makes it to #2 on the best of the '70s list. I'd drop a few from their list (This Heat?) and reinstate (The Replacement's) Let it Be and Elvis's Get Happy. While the critics love Thompson's Shoot Out The Lights I confess I rarely play it. Unless you're looking for a divorce or separation, it's best to keep it on the shelf! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Interesting thing about Paul's Boutique and Three Feet High & Rising--these two albums could never happen under present-day sampling restrictions. The royalties that would need to be paid for the amount of samples on these albums would be astronomical. Albums like that won't ever happen again--legally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 (edited) Interesting that "Remain in Light" is top 4 on both lists. No disagreement here. I bought it when it came out in 80 or so and played the hell out of it in college. You know it is going to be special 5 seconds into the opening cut ("Born Under Punches"). For those that don't know it (and think of the Heads as punk rock or "new wave"), it is hardly either of those. It is a mind-blowing mix of rock, funk and African influences (not to mention an occasional pre-techno blip and rap). I would imagine many open-minded jazzheads would enjoy it too. Brian Eno was all over this one, although it is nothing like Roxy Music. You also get Adrian Belew's whacked out guitar snaking all over the place. There is nothing like it on either the RS or the Pitchfork list, and while traces of "Remain" find their way on to "Speaking Tongues" (the "Burning Down the House" album), the Heads never created anything this wonderous before or after. Edited August 22, 2004 by Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 And how did they miss this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Or this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 (edited) Or this... [That's June Tabor - Abyssinians, 1983] Edited August 22, 2004 by Bev Stapleton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 How about the Starship's Knee Deep In The Hoopla ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Or this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.