My Top Thirteen 1989

1. Alice Cooper - Poison - 08-1989
2. Chris Rea - The Road To Hell (Part 2) - 10-1989
3. Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine - 06-1989
4. Mike & The Mechanics - The Living Years - 01-1989
5. Cher - If I Could Turn Back Time - 10-1989
6. Queen - The Miracle
7. Tina Turner - The Best - 09-1989
8. Billy Joel - We Didn't Start The Fire - 10-1989
9. Chaka Khan - I'm Every Woman - 05-1989
10. Texas - I Don't Want A Lover - 02-1989
11. Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings - 07-1989
12. Lisa Stansfield - All Around The World - 10-1989
13. Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love - 09-1989

And the ones bubbling under:

Aerosmith - Love In An Elevator - 09-1989
Stevie Nicks - Rooms On Fire - 05-1989
Kate Bush - This Woman's Work - 12-1989
Queen - The Miracle - 12-1989
Richard Marx - Right Here Waiting - 09-1989
The Bangles - Eternal Flame - 03-1989
Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning - 04-1989
Roxette - The Look - 05-1989
Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down - 06-1989
Deacon Blue - Fergus Sings The Blues - 05-1989
Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy - 01-1989
Def Leppard - Rocket - 02-1989
Guns N' Roses - Patience - 07-1989
Deborah Harry - I Want That Man - 10-1989
Bon Jovi - Lay Your Hands On Me - 09-1989
Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine - Rhythm Is Gonna Get You - 01-1989
Phil Collins - Another Day In Paradise - 11-1989
INXS - Mystify - 04-1989
Iron Maiden - Infinite Dreams (Live) - 11-1989
Belinda Carlisle - Leave A Light On - 10-1989
The Beautiful South - You Keep It All In - 09-1989
Kirsty MacColl - Days - 07-1989
Black Box - Ride On Time - 08-1989
Boy Meets Girl - Waiting For A Star To Fall - 01-1989
Cyndi Lauper - I Drove All Night - 06-1989
Michael Jackson - Leave Me Alone - 02-1989

1980s Gadgets & Inventions

The 1980s was truly an innovative time, dominated as it was by music, fashion and more than anything, gadgets. A lot of important technology, most of which is either still in use today or lay the foundation for things we couldn’t live without. Smartphones, tablets and streaming services being a few. we use now. Without the creation of the Graphical User Interface in 1984, where would personal computing be today? And the world’s most popular operating system, Microsoft Windows, entered the market in 1985. The invention of the first camcorder in 1983 changed how people create and even consume media. Some of these were relatively short lived, quickly superseded by smaller, faster, more portable developments. I’m sure to have missed a few – if you spot something, let me know via a comment.

MTV, 1981
MTV went on the air for the first time on Aug. 1, 1981, with the words: "Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll." The first music video to air on the new television station was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.

The Columbia space shuttle 1981
Following the successful lunar missions in the late 60s and early 70s, the great minds at NASA decided to utilize their resources to create a new type of vehicle that could travel into space and return home safely. Launched in 1981, the Space Shuttle was far more than just a transportation vehicle; it could become an orbiting laboratory allowing astronauts and researchers to conduct a host of experiments with the aim of better understanding our universe. Even more so, the space shuttle has helped transport important maintaining equipment in space.

Stealth Planes 1981
Stealth technology would go on to change warfare. Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co. performed a test flight of the world’s first radar-resistant aircraft, the F-117 Nighthawk, in 1981. Even though the plane was delivered to the United States Air Force in 1982, the plane was kept secret until 1988.

Camcorder, 1982
Prior to the invention of the camcorder, a bulky camera with heavy equipment was used (most usually for recording news) along with a separate sound recorder. Because both devices were bulky/heavy, it meant video recording was a two person job. The invention of this device combined the recoding and voice functions in a camera, eliminating the cable between them and increasing the recording freedom. In 1982, Sony released its Betamax camera for the use of news organizations. Only a year later, the company refined the Betamax and released it for the consumer market, where it quickly picked up in popularity. However, the competition between Betamax and VHS continued to boil and by 1985, Panasonic released a VHS camcorder and people began favouring this format over the Betamax.

Compact Disc player 1982
Though the Walkman (released in 1979) was the ultimate 80s symbol, cassettes degraded in quality over time. Sony and Phillips created an answer to this, the compact disc. The tremendous impact of the CD can not be overstated - it almost completely killed both the cassette and vinyl markets. Even more so, it also shifted the emerging computer industry. By the late 90s, the CD took over the markets. Sony released the world's first commercial CD player, the CDP-101 which sold for around £540 (nearly £2,000 today), while CDs themselves cost around £12 each (£40 today). CD players were viewed as products for the wealthy, but as they slowly became more mainstream, prices dropped.

Mobile Phone, 1983
In the UK, The first mobile phone service was a car radio phone system that started in Manchester in 1959 by the GPO12. The first mobile phone sold in the UK was the Vodafone VM1, a Panasonic in-car handset that cost £1,200 and weighed nearly 5kg34. The first mobile phone that ordinary consumers could buy and use was the Motorola DynaTac 8000X, also known as The Brick, that launched in 1983 and cost around £2,5005. It had the dimensions of 300 x 44 x 89mm and weighed about 785g. It had an LED display and allowed an hour of talk time. Across the pond, although portable phone using radio links to make and receive calls were available in the late 70s, research was hampered because the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) placed restrictions on the allocation of frequencies. AT&T introduced the ideas of a cellular system, and with this new approach, it became easier to research and invent the mobile phone.

Apple Mackintosh, 1984
It’s predecessor, the Apple Lisa, released in 1983 was hailed by BYTE magazine as "the most important development in computers in the last five years, easily outpacing the IBM PC." The Macintosh was introduced by a US$1.5 million Ridley Scott television commercial, "1984" which aired during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984, and is now considered a masterpiece more successful than the Mac itself. Again, BYTE quoted that the Macintosh attracted people who previously hated computers, saying there is, apparently, something about mice and pull-down menus and icons that appeal to people previously intimidated by DOS-based operating systems.

DNA Fingerprinting 1984
British geneticist Alec Jeffreys was studying hereditary family diseases, trying to trace genetic markers, when he accidentally discovered that every person has a unique DNA profile. The unique genetic profiles are derived from the profiles of one’s parents, which means that lineage can be traced back through generations with DNA testing. He successfully tested his discoveries when two murders occurred near the university. The new method worked to exonerate a suspect and convict a guilty one. Alec Jeffreys was knighted for his invention that changed the face of science forever. The world of forensic science owes its development to DNA fingerprinting.

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) 1985
Although available in Japan from 1983, this console suffered from a glut in the market (and the rise of PCs) so its release in the US in 1985 (partnered with Atari) tanked. The United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Australia and New Zealand all received the system in 1987, where it was distributed exclusively by Mattel. In Europe, the NES received a less enthusiastic response than it had elsewhere, and Nintendo lagged in market and retail penetration, though the console was more successful later.

Windows operating system 1985
Since its initial launch, Microsoft has released 10 major versions of the operating system. While Windows today looks a lot different than it did decades ago, it was the 1980s when it really got its start. Windows 1, spearheaded by Bill Gates, was an iconic moment in the tech industry because the new system relied heavily on the use of a mouse to input information, while other systems typically used keyboards.

CD-ROM, 1985
The first laser disc, an analogue storage device invented in 1978, developed into the Compact Disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). This pre-pressed compact disc contains data which can be accessed but not written onto. It was released with the intention of feeding it with music, but later it was made into a form by which any binary data could be stored in it. It was used to transfer games and other computer software. Ccertain CD types which hold only audio, while others can store audio, as well as data. The data CDs can be played only on computers, whereas the audio can be played on CD players as well.

Disposable Camera, 1986
Fujifilm’s Utsurun-Desu took the world by storm, with photography companies like Kodak, Canon, and Nikon quickly flooding the market and suddenly, instead of an expensive hobby, disposable cameras were ideal for kids to record the world around them, being cheap, easy to use and readily available.

Nintendo Game Boy 1989
This personal gaming device meant users could play different games by switching out the cartridges. The Gameboy was originally only released in Japan, but months after much success, it was available in the U.S. and Europe with games such as Super Mario Land and Tetris.

Other inventions, particularly in the field of medicine, included:
MS-DOS 1981
Scanning tunneling microscope 1981
Artificial Human Heart 1982
Human growth hormone 1982
Synthetic skin 1986
Hepatitis B Vaccine (DNA recombinant), 1986
Prozac 1987
Disposable Soft Contact Lenses, 1987
First 3-D video game1987
The RU-486 (abortion pill) 1988
Doppler radar 1988
Indiglo nightlight 1988
High-definition television 1989

My Top Thirteen from 1988

1. Robbie Robertson - Somewhere Down The Crazy River - 08-1988

2. Deacon Blue - Dignity - 02-1988
3. Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine - 09-1988
4. INXS - Never Tear Us Apart - 07-1988
5. The Bangles - Hazy Shade Of Winter - 02-1988
6. All About Eve - Martha's Harbour - 08-1988
7. The Commodores - Easy - 09-1988
8. Robert Palmer - She Makes My Day - 10-1988
9. The Christians - Harvest For The World - 10-1988
10. Whitesnake - Give Me All Your Love - 02-1988
11. George Michael - Kissing A Fool - 12-1988
12. Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana - 07-1988
13. Patrick Swayze featuring Wendy Fraser - She's Like The Wind - 04-1988

And the ones that got away:
The Hothouse Flowers - Don't Go - 05-1988
Bon Jovi - Bad Medicine - 09-1988
Def Leppard - Armageddon It - 04-1988
Iron Maiden - Can I Play With Madness - 03-1988
Glenn Medeiros - Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You - 06-1988
Climie Fisher - Love Changes (Everything) - 03-1988
Whitney Houston - One Moment In Time - 09-1988
Danny Wilson - Mary's Prayer - 04-1988
Womack & Womack - Teradrops - 08-1988
Freiheit - Keeping The Dream Alive - 12-1988
Everything But The Girl - I Don't Want To Talk About It - 07-1988
Tnita Tikaram - Twist In My Sobriety - 11-1988
Fairground Attraction - Perfect - 04-1988
U2 - Angel Of Harlem - 12-1988
Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky - 02-1988
Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight - 06-1988
Enya - Orinoco Flow - 10-1988
The Travelling Wilburys - Handle With Care - 11-1988
Cher - I Found Someone - 01-1988
Billy Idol - Hot In The City - 01-1988
New Order - Blue Monday 1988 - 05-1988
Art Of Noise featuring Tom Jones - Kiss - 10-1988
Belinda Carlisle - Circle In The Sand - 05-1988
The Christians - Ideal World - 02-1988
Deacon Blue - Real Gone Kid - 10-1988
Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal - 11-1988
Phil Collins - Groovy Kind Of Love - 09-1988
Rick Astley - Together Forever - 02-1988
Scritti Politti - Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy) - 05-1988
S-Express - Theme From S-Express - 04-1988
Pet Shop Boys - Left To My Own Devices - 11-1988
Prefab Sprout - The King Of Rock 'N' Roll - 05-1988
Aztec Camera - How Men Are - 03-1988
Bananarama - Nathan Jones - 11-1988
Bros - When Will I Be Famous - 02-1988
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth - 02-1988
Tracey Chapman - Fast Car - 06-1988
Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance - 12-1988
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry, Be Happy - 10-1988

1980s Men’s Fashions

’80s fashion was bold, bright and decadent. And that was just the men! In many ways, the 1980s were like any other decade, they just contained a little bit more of everything. Although the 60s and 70s had brough bright primaries and psychedelic combinations, the 80s had to up the ante with day-glo pink, orange and red (all in close proximity), and for me the stand-out colour: lime green – the neon version, of course. Fluorescent (aka neon) colours took over the decade, not just restricted to fashion, hair dyes and advertising.
Here’s a top-to-toe of some of the 80s classic men’s fashion choices.

Crowning Glory – the Mullet
Every bit as important as the gear was the hairstyle. 80s were synonymous with big hair – back-combed to within an inch of life and kept in place with gel and mousse. The subject of much ridicule, nothing shouts 80s more than the mighty mullet. Popular among jocks, movie stars and everyone in between, it consists of hair that’s short in the front and on the sides, and then long in the back. Also popular were heavy metal perms, spiky mohawks, slicked-back ‘dos, buzzcuts, and casual side parts.

Highlights and a Pierced Ear
Ear piercings and highlights were to 1980s what tattoos are today. Whereas some guys had indulged in the 70s, it was mostly hippies and more often than not a single ear. Punk in the late 70s had people piercing all manner of body parts, and all of a sudden a discrete stud in the ear was okay for even the most conservative of guys. And the likes of George Michael paved the way for blonde highlights as lads attempted to emulate this bronzed Adonis.

Shirts: Oversized Printed/Hawaiian
With loud patterns and bright colours, the oversized printed shirt was NEVER tucked in, and often worn unbuttoned over a figure-hugging sports vest. The more garish the better – the tropical designs turned it into a full on Hawaiian, as popularised by Tom Sellick in Magnum PI. Frequently teamed with a curly-perm and moustache.

Slogan and Logo T-shirts
Logo t-shirts were definitely nothing new in ’80s men’s fashion, but the decade saw merchandising and sloganeering go to extremes, as brands and logos all but took over the nearest apparel store or gift shop. Certain (cheeky) slogans made your attitude/affiliations perfectly clear and rock band shirts advertised your musical tastes for all to see.

Baggy Jumpers
At least 2 sizes too big, with the sleeve seam so far off the shoulder it nearly reached the elbow, the baggy jumper usually featured loud, contrasting colours and bold patterns, although not as loud as the women’s, whose sweaters often featured puffed sleeves or my personal favourite, the batwing sleeve.

Jackets: Bomber, Letterman or Leather
Even before Top Gun in 1986, leather bomber jackets were popular, as were their close cousin the letterman (or varsity) jackets, brought over here from the US via movies like the Breakfast Club, Teen Wolf, and the ground-breaking Thriller video from Michael Jackson. You weren’t officially an ’80s bad boy if you didn’t have at least one leather jacket, if not a closet full of them. Continuing a trend set forth by previous decades, the popular item was worn by bikers, punks, heavy metal rock gods, and pretty much anyone with a sense of fashion.

Double Denim

Started in the 70s with Status Quo being the poster boys, this scandalous pairing of blue jeans and denim jacket (and/or shirt) trended throughout the decade.

Tracksuits/Shell suits
It was definitely hip to be hoppin’ in any kind of sports gear, and the heavily branded, conservatively-coloured gym gear popularised by the coolest of hip-hop acts evolved into the most disastrous colour combinations (lime green and purple or pink was de-rigeur) in shiny, crumpled lightweight materials.

Power Suits
No list of ’80s men’s fashion trends is complete without the power suit – the choice suit for powerful businessmen or those who sought to become such, as popularised by Gordon Gekko in Wall Street. Power suits will only die when mob-films stop being made i.e. never. As much a uniform as it was a style statement, the most common examples delivered sharp cuts and wide shoulder pads, worn with brightly-coloured braces (known as suspenders across the pond). Designers like Armani Versace employed bolder colours and lighter fabrics than his predecessors.

Shoes: Sporty, high-top sneakers
Air Jordans struck a balance between fashion and function while paving the way for an industry-wide trend. Originally available as high tops, these more than must-have footwear, also turned Nike into the global behemoth it is today. Notable mentions go to the Converse Chuck Taylor and Adidas Tennis shoes such as the Stan Smith, Superstar, or Spezial.

My Top 13 from 1987

1. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - (I've Had) The Time Of My Life - 11-1987
2. Heart - Alone - 07-1987
3. Gary Moore - Over The Hills And Far Away - 01-1987
4. Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe - Barcelona - 11-1987
5. Kiss - Crazy Crazy Nights - 10-1987
6. Level 42 - Running In The Family - 02-1987
7. Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me - 09-1987
8. Europe - Carrie - 05-1987
9. John Farnham - You're The Voice - 05-1987
10. Black - Sweetest Smile - 07-1987
11. Randy Crawford - Almaz - 01-1987
12. Chris Rea - Let's Dance - 06-1987
13. Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - 05-1987


Here's the first lot of bubbling unders - more to come.
The Bee Gees - You Win Again - 10-1987
George Michael & Aretha Franklin - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead Or Alive - 04-1987
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth - 12-1987
The Christians - Ideal World - 12-1987
Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over - 06-1987
Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies - 10-1987
The Gap Band - Oops Upside Your Head - 07-1987
Terence Trent D'Arby - If You Let Me Stay - 03-1987

1980s TV Shows

1980
First Children in Need, first Ceefax transmission, Corrie celebrates 20 years and 2000th edition,
Hi-de-Hi!, Yes Minister, Hammer House of Horror, The Gentle Touch, Juliet Bravo, Family Fortunes, Play Your Cards Right, Russ Abbot’s Madhouse
From USA: Hart to Hart, Taxi, Knots Landing (Dallas spinoff), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Battlestar Gallactica, Diff’rent Strokes

1981
Dr Who: Tom Baker last show, UK wins Eurovision (Bucks Fizz), Ken marries Deirdre 2 days before Charles marries Lady Di, ORACLE teletext (Scotland)
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Only Fools and Horses, Bergerac, Brideshead Revisited, Sense & Sensibility, Great Expectations, Sons & Lovers, Tenko, Wood & Walters, A Fine Romance, Kenny Everett TV Show, Three of a Kind, Game for a Laugh, Bullseye, Postman Pat, Danger Mouse, Stig of the Dump,
From USA: Scoobie Doo, Magnum, PI

1982
Falklands War, Satellite Channel launch, Pope John Paul II visit’s UK, Channel 4 starts broadcasting in November, Dr Who: Peter Davidson 1st show
Shine on Harvey Moon, Boys from the Blackstuff, Harry’s Game, Brookside, The Tube, The Young Ones, Shogun, An Inspector Calls, ‘Allo, ‘Allo!, Smiley’s People, Muck & Brass, Brookside, Countdown, The Bounder, Odd One Out, Wogan (chat show), Late, late Breakfast Show, Saturday Superstore replaces Multi-Coloured Swap Shop,
From USA: The Fall Guy, Cagney & Lacey, Dynasty, Fame (series), Hill Street Blues, Falcon Crest

1983
Top of the Pops 1000th episode, Dr Who 20th anniversary, Michael Jackson’s Thriller video
Black Adder, The Godfather (miniseries), Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Dombey & Son, Mansfield Park, Brass, Widows, Taggart, Who Dares Wins, Blockbusters, SuperTed, Tucker’s Luck
From USA: Cheers, Knight Rider, T.J. Hooker, The A-Team, St Elsewhere Sons & Daughters (Aus)

1984
Torvill & Dean win Olympic Gold for Bolero, DR Who: Peter Davidson replaced by Colin Baker, Band Aid
Alas Smith & Jones, Spitting Image, Robin of Sherwood, The Bill, Miss Marple, Ever Decreasing Circles, The Living Planet, The Price is Right, Surprise, Surprise, Crimewatch UK, Bob’s Full House, Thomas the Tank Engine
From USA: The Thorn Birds, Fraggle Rock, V, Airwolf, Prisoner: Cell Block H (Aus)

1985
First televised debate in House of Lords, Live-Aid, 1000th episode of Emmerdale Farm, CBBC, First Red Nose Day
Eastenders, No Limits, Howard’s Way, Open All Hours, Girls on Top, The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Dempsey & Makepeace In Sickness & in Health, Copycats, Telly Addicts, Blind Date, Victoria Wood As Seen on TV, Max Headroom
From USA: Miami Vice, The Cosby Show, Murder, She Wrote, Family Ties, A Woman of Substance

1986
Prince Andrew marries Sarah Ferguson
Lovejoy, Boon, Bread, A Very Peculiar Practice, Kane & Abel miniseries, Brush Strokes, Casualty, Life & Loves of a She-devil, The Singing Detective, First Among Equals, Catchphrase, Every Second Counts, The Russ Abitt, The Really Wild Show, Equinox, Strike it Lucky, Beadle’s About, Yes, Prime Minister, The Chart Show
From USA: Moonlighting, The Golden Girls, The Equalizer, North & South, Neighbours (Aus)

1987
Dr Who: Colin Baker replaced by Sylvester McCoy, Ireland's Johnny Logan wins the Eurovision Song Contest
Blackadder the Third, French and Saunders, Filthy Rich & Catflap, Tutti Frutti, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Northanger Abbey, Spitting Image, Robin of Sherwood, Inspector Morse, The Dame Edna Experience, The Charmer Fireman Sam, Chucklevision
From USA: Prisoner Cell Block H (Aus)

1988
First televised debate in House of Commons, Live-Aid, Winter Olympics from Calgary, Alberta
London’s Burning, Red Dwarf, You Rang, M’Lord, Hale and Pace, Whose Line is it Anyway, Countryfile, Fifteen to One, Wheel of Fortune, Playdays, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
From USA: Beauty and the Beast, Oprah, The Flying Doctors (Aus)

1989
Launch of Sky TV & Discovery Channel, Mike Tyson beats Frank Bruno in Vegas, Second Red Nose Day, 3000th episode of Coronation Street
Desmond’s, Challenge Anneka, Blackadder goes Forth, Birds of a Feather, Making Out, A bit of Fry & Laurie, The Manageress, The Late Show, Children’s Ward, Mike and Angelo, Byker Grove
From USA: Roseanne, MacGyver, The Wonder Years, Home & Away(Aus)

My Top Thirteen from 1986

Yet another year when I was spoilt for choice, although I will admit some of the also-rans are only there to remind of the diversity of music in this decade, and were NOT songs I'd ever have on a playlist.

1. ZZ Top - Rough Boy - 05-1986
2. Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush - Don't Give Up - 11-1986
3. Spandau Ballet - Through The Barricades - 11-1986
4. Status Quo - In The Army Now - 10-1986
5. Mr Mister - Kyrie - 03-1986
6. Lionel Richie - Dancing On The Ceiling - 08-1986
7. Queen - A Kind Of Magic - 03-1986
8. Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer - 11-1986
9. Robert Palmer - I Didn't Mean To Turn You On - 07-1986
10. Berlin - Take My Breath Away (Love Theme From 'Top Gun') - 10-1986
11. Simply Red - Holding Back The Years - 05-1986
12. The Style Council - Have You Ever Had It Blue - 04-1986
13. Level 42 - Lessons In Love - 04-1986


Some of the bubbling unders - more to come.
David Bowie - Underground - 06-1986
Cutting Crew - (I Just) Died In Your Arms - 09-1986
The Damned - Eloise - 02-1986
Bon Jovi - You Give Love A Bad Name - 09-1986
Europe - The Final Countdown - 11-1986
The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me '86 - 10-1986
Cindi Lauper - True Colours - 10-1986
Swing Out Sister - Breakout - 11-1986
Van Halen - Why Can't This Be Love - 05-1986
Run-DMC/ Aerosmith - Walk This Way - 09-1986
Blow Monkeys - Digging Your Scene - 03-1986
Wham! - The Edge Of Heaven - 06-1986
George Michael - A Different Corner - 04-1986
Dire Straits - Walk Of Life - 01-1986
Billy Ocean - When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going - 01-1986
Double - The Captain Of Her Heart - 01-1986
A-ha - Cry Wolf - 12-1986
The Bangles - Manic Monday - 02-1986
Big Country - One Great Thing - 09-1986
It Bites - Calling All The Heroes - 08-1986
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done For Me Lately? - 04-1986
Mike & The Mechanics - Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground) - 03-1986
Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald - On My Own - 05-1986
The Pretenders - Don't Get Me Wrong - 10-1986
Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is - 08-1986
Whitney Houston - The Greatest Love Of All - 05-1986
Genesis - Land Of Confusion - 11-1986
The Housemartins - Happy Hour - 06-1986

1980s Sporting Events

A round-up of some of the popular sports in the UK in the 80s.

1980
Wimbledon singles winners were Björn Borg (SWE) and Evonne Goolagong (AUS).
World Snooker champion was Cliff Thorburn (CAN) and World Darts Champion was Eric Bristow (ENG).
FA Cup – West Ham United won 1–0 over Arsenal.
Tour de France – Joop Zoetemelk of the Netherlands
Robin Cousins (Figure skating) won BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, beating Sebastian Coe (Athletics).
The 1980 Summer Olympics, held in Moscow, were boycotted by 65 countries, led by the United States in protest of the 1979 Soviet–Afghan War.

1981
Wimbledon singles winners were John McEnroe (USA) and Chris Evert Lloyd (US).
World Snooker champion was Steve Davis (ENG) and World Darts Champion was Eric Bristow (ENG).
FA Cup – Tottenham Hotspur won 3-2 over Manchester City.
Tour de France – Bernard Hinault of France.
Ian Botham (Cricketer) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Steve Davis (Snooker).

1982
Wimbledon singles winners were Jimmy Connors (USA) and Martina Navratilova (USA).
World Snooker champion was Alex Higgins (NIR) and World Darts Champion was Jocky Wilson (SCO). FA Cup – Tottenham Hotspur won 1–0 over Queens Park Rangers.
Tour de France – Bernard Hinault of France
Daley Thompson (Athletics) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Alex Higgins (Snooker).

1983
Wimbledon singles winners were John McEnroe (USA) and Martina Navratilova (USA).
World Snooker champion was Steve Davis (ENG) and World Darts Champion was Keith Deller (ENG).
FA Cup – Manchester United won 4–0 over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Tour de France – Laurent Fignon of France
Steve Cram (Athletics) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Torvill and Dean (Figure skating).

1984
Wimbledon singles winners were John McEnroe (USA) and Martina Navratilova (USA).
World Snooker champion was Steve Davis (ENG) and World Darts Champion was Eric Bristow (ENG).
FA Cup – Everton won 2–0 over Watford.
Tour de France – Laurent Fignon of France
Torvill and Dean (Figure skating) were voted Sports Personalities of the Year, beating Sebastian Coe (Athletics).
The 1984 Summer Olympics, held in Los Angeles, are widely considered to be the most financially successful modern Olympics, despite a Soviet-led boycott of 14 Eastern-bloc countries.
The 1984 Winter Olympics, commonly known as Sarajevo, ’84 saw Torvill and Dean winning the ice dance competition with their memorable routine to Bolero.

1985
Wimbledon singles winners were Boris Becker (FRG) and Martina Navratilova (USA).
World Snooker champion was Dennis Taylor (NIR) and World Darts Champion was Eric Bristow (ENG).
FA Cup – Manchester United won 1–0 over Everton.
Tour de France – Bernard Hinault of France
Barry McGuigan (Boxer) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Ian Botham (Cricketer).

1986
Wimbledon singles winners were Boris Becker (GDR) and Martina Navratilova (USA).
World Snooker champion was Joe Johnson (ENG) and World Darts Champion was Eric Bristow (ENG). FA Cup – Liverpool won 3–1 over Everton.
Tour de France – Greg LeMond of the United States
Nigel Mansell (Formula One) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Fatima Whitbread (Athletics).

1987
Wimbledon singles winners were Pat Cash (AUS) and Martina Navratilova (USA).
World Snooker champion was Steve Davis (ENG) and World Darts Champion was John Lowe (ENG).
FA Cup – Coventry City won 3–2 over Tottenham Hotspur.
Tour de France – Stephen Roche of Ireland
Fatima Whitbread (Athletics) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Steve Davis (Snooker).

1988
Wimbledon singles winners were Stefan Edberg (SWE) and Steffi Graf (GDR).
Steve Davis (Snooker) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Adrian Moorhouse (Swimming).
World Snooker champion was Steve Davis (ENG) and World Darts Champion was Bob Anderson (WAL).
FA Cup – Wimbledon won 1–0 over Liverpool.
Tour de France – Pedro Delgardo of Spain
The 1988 Summer Olympics, held in Seoul, saw the boycotts virtually disappeared, only 5 socialist countries led by North Korea,

1989
Wimbledon singles winners were Boris Becker (GDR) and Steffi Graf (GDR).
World Snooker champion was Steve Davis (ENG) and World Darts Champion was Jocky Wilson (SCO).
FA Cup – Liverpool won 3–2 over Everton.
Tour de France – Greg LeMond of the United States.
Nick Faldo (Golf) was voted Sports Personality of the Year, beating Frank Bruno (Boxing).

Who sang what? Rock Bands 70s/80s

There are certain songs from the 70s/80s/90s that I struggle to figure out which band sang because there were a number of similar sounding bands out at the time who never quite caught my imagination. Hopefully this list will straighten things out. We'll start with the heavier, hard rock bands.

AC-DC (1973) Aus Dirty deeds done dirt cheap 1976 Whole lotta Rosie 1977 Rock 'n' roll damnation 1978 Highway to hell 1979 Too much 1980 You shook me all night long 1980 Rock 'n' roll ain't Noise Pollution 1980 Back in Black 1980 For those about to rock 1982 Shake your foundations 1985 Who Made Who 1986 Heatseeker 1988 Thunderstruck 1990 Hard as a rock 1995	Kiss (1973) US Then she kissed me 1977 I was made for loving you 1979 A world without heroes 1981 Creatures of the night 1983 Lick it up 1983 Heaven's on fire 1984 Tears are falling 1985 Crazy crazy nights 1987 Reason to live 1987 Turn on the night 1988 Hide your heart 1989 Forever 1919 God gave rock 'n' roll to you 1991 Unholy 1992
Iron Maiden (1975) UK Run to the hills 1982 The number of the beast 1982 The trooper 1983 2 minutes to midnight 1984 Aces high 1984 Running Free 1985 Wasted years 1986 Can I play with madness 1988 The evil that men do 1988 Bring your daughter to the slaughter 1990 Be quick or be dead 1992 Fear of the dark 1993 Hallowed be thy name 1993 Man on the edge 1995	Judas Priest (1969) UK Take on the world 1979 Living after midnight 1980 Breaking the law 1980 United 1980 Don't go 1981 Hot rocking’1981 You've got another thing coming 1982 Freewheel burning 1984 Some heads are gonna roll 1984 Love bites 1984 (not same as Def Leppard song) Johnny be Goode 1988 Painkiller 1990 A touch of evil 1991 Nightcrawler 1993

And now for some slightly softer rock bands.

Aerosmith (1970) US Walk this way 1975 Dude (looks like a lady) 1987/90 Angel 1988 Love in an elevator 1989 Janie’s got a gun 1989 The other side 1990 Living on the edge 1993 Crying 1993 Amazing 1993 Crazy 1994 Falling in love 1997 Hole in my soul 1997 Pink 1997 I don't want to miss a thing 1998 (Armageddon) Jaded 2001	Def Leppard (1977) UK Photograph 1983 Rock of Ages 1983 Too late for love 1983 Animal 1987 Pour some sugar on me 1987 Hysteria 1987 Armageddon it 1988 Love bites 1988 Rocket 1989 Let's get rocked 1992 Make Love like a man 1992 Have you ever needed someone so bad 1992 Heaven is 1993 Tonight 1993 When love and hate collide 1995 Promises 1999	Guns ’N’ Roses (1985) US Welcome to the jungle 1987 Sweet child o’ mine 1988 Paradise city 1988 Patience 1989 You could be mine 1991 Don't cry 1991 Live and let die 1991 November rain 1992 Knocking on heaven's door 1992 Yesterday's 1992 Civil war 1993 Since I don't have you 1994 Sympathy for the devil 1994
Foreigner (1976) UK/US Feels like the first time 1977 Cold as ice 1977 Hot blooded 1978 Double vision in 1978 Blue morning, blue day 1978 Dirty white boy 1979 Head games 1979 Women 1980 Urgent 1981 Waiting for a girl like you 1981 Jukebox hero 1981 I want to know what love is 1984 Say you will 1987 I don't want to live without you 1988 Low down and dirty 1991 I'll fight for you 1991	Styx (1972) US Lady 1973 Come Sail Away 1977 Blue Collar Man 1978 Sing for the Day 1978 Renegade 1979 Babe 1979 Boat on the River 1980 Borrowed Time 1980 The Best of Times 1981 Too Much Time on my Hands 1981 Nothing Ever Goes as Planned 1981 Rockin the Paradise 1981 Mr Roboto 1983 Don’t let it End 1983 Show me the Way 1990 Love at First Sight 1991	Whitesnake (1978) UK Fool for your loving 1980 Ain't no love in the heart of the city 1980 Don't break my heart again 1981 Would I lie to you 1981 Here I go again 1982 Guilty of love 1983 Give me more time 1984 Standing in the shadow 1984 Love ain't no stranger 1984 Still of the night 1987 Is this love 1987 Give me all your love 1988 Crying in the rain 1988 The deeper the love 1990 Now you're gone 1990 Too many tears 1997

My Top Thirteen from 1985

With Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s the Power of Love still riding high in the charts after its release in December last year, there were two further songs with the same name by Jennifer Rush and Huey Lewis and the News. Which was your favourite?
Personally, I’ve always defended the 70s as being way better musically than the 80s. I still think that, but was kinda surprised by quite how many of this year’s releases deserved a mention. However, I suspect quite a few of these made it into the also-rans pile simply because people would expect to see them there and may even riot if they’re not.
As if!

1. Don Henley - The Boys Of Summer - 02-1985
2. Ashford & Simpson - Solid - 01-1985
3. Mr Mister - Broken Wings - 12-1985
4. Katrina & The Waves - Walking On Sunshine - 11-1985
5. Starship - We Built This City - 11-1985
6. Sister Sledge - Frankie - 06-1985
7. Gary Moore & Phil Lynott - Out In The Fields - 05-1985
8. Glenn Frey - The Heat Is On - 03-1985
9. Marillion - Kayleigh - 05-1985
10. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill - 08-1985
11. Jimmy Nail - Love Don't Live Here Anymore - 07-1985
12. John Parr - St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) - 09-1985
13. Tina Turner - We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) - 07-1985

Here are some of the ones which didn't make the cut:
Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me) - 04-1985
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World - 03-1985
Bonnie Tyler - Holding Out For A Hero - 08-1985
A-Ha - Take On Me - 09-1985
The Rah Band - Clouds Across The Moon - 03-1985
Lionel Richie -Say You, Say Me - 11-1985
Billy Ocean - Suddenly - 05-1985
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark - 01-1985 (re-entry)
Freddie Mercury - I Was Born To Love You - 04-1985
REO Speedwagon – Can’t Fight this Feeling - ??-1985
Kool & The Gang - Cherish - 05-1985
Level 42 - Something About You - 09-1985
Kirsty MacColl - A New England - 01-1985
Jennifer Rush - The Power Of Love - 06-1985
Huey Lewis & The News - The Power Of Love - 08-1985
Simply Red - Money's Too Tight (To Mention) - 06-1985
The Style Council - Walls Come Tumbling Down! - 12-1985
The Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin - Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves - 11-1985
Bryan Adams - Run To You - 01-1985
The Commodores - Night Shift - 01-1985
DeBarge - Rhythm Of The Night - 04-1985
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms - 10-1985
Duran Duran - A View To A Kill - 05-1985
Bryan Ferry - Slave To Love - 05-1985
The Fine Young Cannibals - Johnny Come Home - 06-1985
Aretha Franklin - Who's Zoomin' Who - 11-1985
James Ingram & Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There - 01-1985
Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You - 11-1985
Queen - One Vision - 11-1985
David Bowie & Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street - 09-1985
Sarah Brightman & Paul Miles-Kingston - Pie Jesu - 03-1985
UB40 Feat Chrissie Hynde - I Got You Babe - 08-1985
Philip Bailey & Phil Collins - Easy Lover - 03-1985
Paul Young - Every Time You Go Away - 03-1985
Midge Ure - If I Was - 09-1985
Billy Idol - White Wedding - 07-1985
Wham! - I'm Your Man - 11-1985
Alison Moyet - That Ole Devil Called Love - 03-1985
Phyllis Nelson - Move Closer - 02-1985
Elaine Page & Barbara Dickson - I Know Him So Well - 01-1985
The Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls - 11-1985
Prince & The Revolution - 1999 / Little Red Corvette - 01-1985
Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm - 10-1985
Madonna - Crazy For You - 06-1985
Howard Jones - Things Can Only Get Better - 02-1985
Go West - We Close Our Eyes - 02-1985
David Grant & Jaki Graham - Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - 03-1985
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Pleasure Dome - 03-1985
Paul Hardcastle - 19 - 05-1985
The Eurythmics - There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart) - 07-1985
Dire Straits - Money For Nothing - 07-1985
Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy - Kiss Me - 03-1985
Far Corporation - Stairway To Heaven - 10-1985
Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F - 06-1985
Five Star - Let Me Be The One - 07-1985
King - Love And Pride - 01-1985
Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) - 03-1985
The Talking Heads - Road To Nowhere - 10-1985

1980s Food and Drink

In the 1980s the increasing number of working women helped to change the face of food in the UK. The reduction in fresh vegetables started in the 70s continued, with a marked reduction in root vegetables and others, especially carrots, turnips, parsnips, cabbages and sprouts. Out went the standard meat, potato and two veg; in came sauces, casseroles, the microwave and meals based on pasta. This was also the decade in which takeaway hamburger began to eat its way into our culture. More people were living on their own, further fuelling the market for fast food. Milk was no longer something always found in glass bottles, now it came in waxed cardboard or plastic cartons.

It was at once the era of convenience-driven microwave dinners and the newly popular global-inspired fine dining, known as “Haute Cuisine” which we remembered as lots of courses with artistically presented food, but very little on each plate. More exotic world foods gained popularity, e.g. sushi, beef stroganoff, and pesto. Vegetarian options were still limited, especially when eating out, many vegans and vegetarians built their diets around tofu, lentils, chickpeas and brown rice, with foods like nuts and homemade granola for snacks and breakfast.

Back in the sixties, my mum used to add salt to everything savoury and sugar to anything sweet, especially corn flakes and strawberries. Probably why I never add either, and cannot bear the majority of processed foods because they’re aimed at people with similarly inactive taste buds. In an effort to get kids to eat cereal, the cynical bods added sugar and used cartoon characters to appeal to the kids. Probably most famous in the UK are Tony the Tiger’s Frosties “They’re Grrrreat!” Originally billed as Sugar Frosted Flakes (basically Corn Flakes plus extra sugar) they prudently dropped the sugar when it suffered from poor press. Kellogg’s also sugar-coated Rice Crispies and called them Ricicles, and there were plenty of other examples like Sugar Puffs (subsequently changed to Honey Monster Wheat Puffs).

The artificial flavourings used in crisps such as Walkers and Golden Wonder originally only available in ready salted, Salt and Vinegar and Cheese and Onion, had branched oy in the 70s with roast chicken and prawn cocktail. The snack market burgeoned with many other corn, wheat and non-potato vegetables being used, whose texture made them a good marriage with all manner of obscure flavours such as bacon and mushroom. The 80s saw attempts at every flavour known to man from Oxo (or Bovril/Marmite), through spicy beef to good old fish and chips. These included: sweet chilli, chicken tikka, beef and mustard, tomato ketchup, pickled onion, scampi.

Here are some foods and drinks popular in the 1980s in the UK, many of which are no longer available. With some memorable slogans.
Heinz Baked Beans Pizza, Cadbury’s Smash “for mash get smash”
McCain Microchips, Birdseye Potato Waffles “waffily versatile”
Pot Noodle “just add boiling water”

Smiths Salt ‘n’ Shake Crisps, KP Space Raiders corn snacks
Cadbury Wildlife Bars, Burton’s Cartoonies (biscuit snacks filled with chocolate)
Rowntree Mackintosh’s Toffo, McVitie’s Trio “I want one now!”
St Ivel Fiendish Feet Yogurts
Bird’s Ice Magic and Angel Delight “it’s delicious, it’s delovely”
Walls’ Cornetto “Just one cornetto – give it to me”
Drinks
Quosh “ready to drink” cartons (complete with plastic straw!)
Cresta pop “it’s frothy, man”
Coffee-mate “coffee tastes nicer with …”
Puddings
Jelly and blancmange
Bananas and custard
Banana split
Mousse


80s Party Food
Not much different to 70s, with sandwiches being the staple – usually on sliced white bread, but brown was creeping in. They would generally have the crusts cut off and sliced into triangles. Fillings would be ham, cream cheese, tuna or salmon and cucumber and maybe egg mayonnaise.

The cheese and pineapple hedgehog was still a firm favourite, as were cocktail sausages (in sticks), sausage rolls and the much-maligned vol-au-vents, although the fillings were more adventurous than their stodgy 70s counterparts. New, tastier recipes included various fish/seafood as well as the addition of more exotic flavourings such as fennel, turmeric and coriander. The quiche fillings became more adventurous, and the more adventurous tried salmon rillettes, samosas and spring rolls.

So many snacks to choose from, but you couldn’t go wrong with a big dish of ready salted crisps, and some twiglets, hula hoops, mini cheddars, skips, wotsits and quavers.

Puddings: Good old Trifle, Black Forest Gateau and Arctic Roll were joined by Viennetta
Drinks: Babycham, Pina Colada

My Top 13 from 1984

Two things I remember from this year: firstly Frankie Goes to Hollywood dominated the charts, with The Power of Love, the awesome Two Tribes and their single Relax was banned, so of course it made #1. And there were two songs in the chart called Jump, by Van Halen and the Pointer Sisters (which I can never hear without seeing Hugh Grant's dad dancing scene in Love Actually).

1. Billy Joel - An Innocent Man - 03-1984
2. Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun - 02-1984
3. George Michael - Careless Whisper - 07-1984
4. Sister Sledge - Lost In Music - 09-1984
5. Jim Diamond - I Should Have Known Better - 11-1984
6. Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is - 12-1984
7. Van Halen - Jump - 03-1984
8. Queen - I Want To Break Free - 04-1984
9. Lionel Richie - Hello - 03-1984
10. Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark - 05-1984
11. Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It - 06-1984
12. John Waite - Missing You - 09-1984
13. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax - 01-1984

And the bubbling unders:
The Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love) - 06-1984
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time - 06-1984
Kenny Loggins - Footloose - 05-1984
The Cars - Drive - 09-1984
Chicago - Hard Habit To Break - 10-1984
Tears For Fears - Shout - 12-1984
Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It For The Boy - 05-1984
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love - 12-1984
U2 - Pride (In The Name Of Love) - 09-1984
Phil Collins - Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) - 04-1984
Wham! - Last Christmas/Everything She Wants - 12-1984
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - 04-1984
Kool & The Gang - Joanna/Tonight - 03-1984
Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You - 08-1984
Chaka Khan - I Feel For You - 10-1984
The Bluebells - Young At Heart - 07-1984
Madonna - Like A Virgin - 11-1984
Alison Moyet - All Cried Out - 10-1984
Nena - 99 Red Balloons - 02-1984
Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) - 10-1984
Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters - 08-1984
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain - 09-1984
The Thompson Twins - Doctor Doctor - 02-1984
Nik Kershaw - The Riddle - 11-1984
Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes - 06-1984
The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men - 03-1984
Joe Fagin - That's Living (Alright) - 01-1984
Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride - 02-1984
Murray Head - One Night In Bangkok - 11-1984

1980s Movies

Some of the most iconic movies - by no means a comprehensive list.

1980

Friday the 13th
Caddyshack
The Blues Brothers
Airplane!
The Shining
Raging Bull
9 To 5
Superman II
The Fog
American Gigolo
Any Which Way You Can
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

1981

Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Time Bandits
Das Boot
Escape From New York
Excalibur
An American Werewolf In London
The Cannonball Run
Escape To Victory
Arthur
On Golden Pond

1982

Poltergeist
Tootsie
Blade Runner
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Tron
Conan The Barbarian
Deathtrap
Star Trek II – Wrath Of Khan
48 Hours
Sophie’s Choice
Annie
An Officer And A Gentleman
Deathwish II
Victor/Victoria

1983

Flashdance
Terms Of Endearment
Scarface
Trading Places
National Lampoon's Vacation
Splash
Never Say Never Again
War Games
Christine
Superman III
Staying Alive
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi

1984

A Nightmare On Elm Street
Ghostbusters
Dune
Amadeus
The Karate Kid
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom
Gremlins
This Is Spinal Tap
The Terminator
Footloose
Beverly Hills Cop
Purple Rain
Police Academy
Star Trek III – Search For Spock
Romancing The Stone

1985

Desperately Seeking Susan
The Goonies
Back To The Future
The Breakfast Club
St. Elmo's Fire
Silverado
Mask
Cocoon

1986

Highlander
Labyrinth
Little Shop Of Horrors
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Stand By Me
The Transformers: The Movie
Top Gun
The Fly
9½ Weeks
Three Amigos
Peggy Sue Got Married
Star Trek II – Voyage Home
The Karate Kid II

1987

Dirty Dancing
The Lost Boys
Wall Street
Moonstruck
Lethal Weapon
Full Metal Jacket
Robocop
Predator
The Princess Bride
Raising Arizona
The Running Man
Beverly Hills Cop II
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
The Untouchables
Fatal Attraction
Mannequin
3 Men And A Baby
Overboard

1988

The Naked Gun
Die Hard
A Fish Called Wanda
Big
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Rain Man
Working Girl
The Land Before Time
Willow
Beetlejuice
Coming To America
Young Guns
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Cocktail
Scrooged
Twins

1989

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Field Of Dreams
When Harry Met Sally...
The Little Mermaid
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
Dead Poets Society
Road House
Batman
Back To The Future Part II
Steel Magnolias
Honey I Shrunk The Kids
Licence To Kill
Ghostbusters II

My Top 13 from 1983

This has never happened before - I just couldn't pick between 2 songs for the number 1 slot. I would be up dancing to both of these for many hours in 1983 - probably days if you consider the ensuing 4 decades ... The fact they're both by MJ allows me to squeeze an extra one in.

1. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - 02-1983
1. Michael Jackson - Beat It - 04-1983
2. Billy Joel - Uptown Girl - 11-1983
3. Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out - 01-1983
4. Lionel Richie - All Night Long (All Night) - 10-1983
5. David Bowie - Modern Love - 09-1983
6. Elton John - I'm Still Standing - 08-1983
7. Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart - 03-1983
8. Irene Cara - Flashdance (What A Feeling) - 06-1983
9. Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes - Up Where We Belong - 02-1983
10. The Maisonettes - Heartache Avenue - 01-1983
11. Men At Work - Down Under - 01-1983
12. Toto - Africa - 02-1983
13. Culture Club - Church Of The Poison Mind - 04-1983

For those of you who don't remember no 10, this was a band formed by the fabulous Lol Mason from City Boy - my favourite British band (tying with Queen), both second to my #1 fave band, Journey.
And, as usual, a whole bunch of also-rans.

Beat - Can't Get Used To Losing You - 05-1983
David Bowie - Let's Dance - 03-1983
Rod Stewart - Baby Jane - 06-1983
Laura Branigan - Gloria - 02-1983
Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack - Tonight I Celebrate My Love - 09-1983
Siouxsie & The Banshees - Dear Prudence - 10-1983
Slade - My Oh My - 12-1983
Billy Joel - Tell Her About It - 12-1983
Wham! - Club Tropicana - 08-1983
Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) - 07-1983
Tears For Fears - Change - 02-1983
The Thompson Twins - We Are Detective - 05-1983
Tina Turner - Let's Stay Together - 12-1983
Indeep - Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life - 02-1983
U2 - New Year's Day - 02-1983
The Mighty Wah - The Story Of The Blues - 01-1983
Dionne Warwick - All The Love In The World - 01-1983
UB40 - Red Red Wine - 09-1983
Spandau Ballet - True - 04-1983
The Style Council - Long Hot Summer - 08-1983
Tracey Ullman - They Don't Know - 10-1983
The Belle Stars - Sign Of The Times - 02-1983
George Benson - In Your Eyes - 10-1983
Phil Everly & Cliff Richard - She Means Nothing To Me - 03-1983
Level 42 - The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up) - 09-1983
Duran Duran - Union Of The Snake - 11-1983
Mike Oldfield - Moonlight Shadow - 07-1983
Iron Maiden- The Trooper - 07-1983
Orange Juice - Rip It Up - 03-1983
New Order - Blue Monday - 04-1983
The Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - 03-1983
Culture Club - Karma Chameleon - 09-1983
Joboxers - Just Got Lucky - 06-1983
Spandau Ballet - Gold - 08-1983
Elton John - I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues - 06-1983
Howard Jones - What Is Love - 12-1983
Kajagoogoo - Too Shy - 02-1983

1980s Women’s fashions

My memory of 80s centred around business suits - but I always cut out the shoulder pads *shudders*. I really hated those pencil skirts, so I tended to go for flared ones - my two were in navy and red tartan, and I only chucked them out this decade. I still wear a black-and white batwing-sleeved jumper, and my daughter borrowed a roll neck polar-bear jumper which she still wears. And I kept one pair of sparkly blue legwarmers for those wintry evenings when my knees need a little help.

The 80s were the decade for designer denim, with Gloria Vanderbilt, Jordache, Calvin Klein, and Guess leading the pack. Designer jeans came in lots of colours and styles: wide leg, stretch pull-on and coloured jeans — especially pink, khaki, and white. They had a high waistline and a snug fit through the hips in the early 80s and a pleated waist and fuller hip in the mid to late 80s. Acid wash or stonewash jeans, previously only worn by subcultures like punks, entered mainstream 1980s fashion in the middle years. The marbled effect could be found on light, dark and black washed denim jeans.

Most people, if asked about the 80s will think of bright/pastel colours and some manner of leisure wear, whether it’s tracksuits (or their close relation, shell suits), leotards or dolphin shorts paired with crop tops. Inevitably accompanied by Lycra leggings, legwarmers and sweatbands.
At the other end of the spectrum were power-dressing suits, pencil skirts and the ubiquitous shoulder pads. And in-between were a stack of large, sloppy jumpers and 40s inspired stylings from practical shirtwaist dresses to farm-girl dungarees (in candy-stripe pink rather than khaki).

Here’s a summary of some of the most popular 80s fashions:
• High waist denim jeans especially in pastel colours and acid wash finishes
• Baggy oversize blouses with shoulder pads, held in by a wide belt
• Ugly sweaters: loose knit sweaters wild patterns and colours
• Off-the-shoulder tops/dresses and especially jumpers
• Rollnecks (aka turtle-necks), polka dots and batwing sleeves all played a part
• Denim jackets, leather jackets, blazer jackets with big buttons layered over shirts and sweaters
• Padded shoulder dresses- metallic fabrics, Victorian lace, satin party dresses
• Track suits, leotards, running shorts were worn all day. Add a terry cloth headband for Jazzercize class
• Power suits: Peplum skirt suits, padded dresses, silky blouses, dressy slacks and heels
• Leggings- Colourful leggings worn under oversize tops. Add leg warmers and white high top sneakers
• Flat shoes with all outfits. White or neo sneakers for sporty looks. Slouch boots for winter
• Tassels and fringes on everything: clothes, boots and handbags
• Huge glasses/sunglasses with bright, primary-coloured frames. Gloves esp lace/elbow-length