1986 was a good year for music.
Madonna - Borderline
Swing out sister - Breakout
Pepsi and shirlie - Its a Heartache
Phil collins - In too Deep
West End Girls - Pet shop Boys
Well, mushymanrob, I like 11 of the 12 in your 'top 12' of 1986 (I don't like Bucks Fizz, but never mind!). However, to pick 'Radio Africa' by Latin Quarter as one of your top songs of a year... superb choice! It's one of those songs that I'm amazed doesn't get played on the radio more often.
The songs from 13 to 28 are excellent too, and I stand by that even with reference to 'Brother Louie.' The SOS Band's 'The Finest' is one of my all-time favourite records. I love pretty much most of the things Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced in the 1980s and that distinctive sound they had but 'The Finest' is for me what the title of the song says. The guest vocals from one Alexander O' Neal are the icing on the cake. I don't know what it is about 'The FInest' but it still sounds 'cool' now. The same goes for quite a few tracks from 1986 in the list (especially Big Audio Dynamite and Sly Fox). You mentioned the year 2003 in the original post and I'm guessing you must be familiar with Richard X's take on 'The Finest,' (which he did with Kelis) called 'Finest Dreams' from 2003? Imagine my surprise when I heard that for the first time.
I don't think anyone can deny that Bruce Hornsby's 'The Way It Is' is a brilliant song that stands the test of time.
13. Fine Young Canibals - Suspicious minds
14. Mr Mister - Broken wings
15. Mel and Kim - Showing out (get fresh at the weekend)
16. Big Audio Dynamite - E=mc2
17. Sly Foxx - Lets go all the way
18. Stranglers - Always the sun
19. Erasure - Sometimes
20. Oran 'juice' Jones - The rain
21. A-Ha - The sun always shines on tv
22. Paul Hardcastle - Dont waste my time
23. SOS Band - The finest
24. Madonna - Live to tell
25. Furniture - Brilliant mind
26. Bruce Hornsby and the Range - The way it is
27. Madonna - Papa dont preach
28. Modern Talking - Brother louie
...
Some of my favourites from 1986 include 'Kyrie' by Mr Mister, which definitely sounds dated compared to 'Broken Wings.' However, that's part of its charm.
I also have a real soft spot for 'Hunting High and Low' by A-Ha, which I still listen to quite a lot now.
Michael McDonald's 'Sweet Freedom' is another 1986 hit I can never grow tired of hearing. No surprise really that it was written by Rod Temperton! 'On My Own' with Patti LaBelle is of course another fave.
Atlantic Starr's 'Secret Lovers' and Five Star's 'Rain or Shine' are also amongst my top hits from 1986.
However, for my ultimate guilty pleasure, 'Smile' by Audrey Hall.
No one had mentioned Prince 1986 hit single 'Kiss' or his excellent album 'Parade' yet with other great songs such as 'Mountains', 'Girls and Boys' and Anotherloverholenyohead'. (The less said about the movie it was attached to the better! ) and of course there was still Sign 'O' The Times to look forward to in 87 for those fans back then!...
I still haven't seen 'Under the Cherry Moon.' However, I'm nearing the end of the latest Prince biography I've read - 'Prince: Inside the Music and the Masks' by Ronin Ro - and the more I've read about the film, the less likely I think I am to watch it. However, the anecdotes about the film's production and things said by Warner at the time and fans etc. are brilliant to read about. The album 'Parade' is indeed excellent.
Who else in 1986 could have pulled off the lyric 'she had the cutest ass he'd ever seen. He did too, they were meant to be?'
1986 is still my fave year for music since 1981, and was my final year when I decided my top 100 songs from the year.
Of the songs you have mentioned so far, I particularly like Imagination and Radio Africa (I knew them from Spring 1985 and was encouraged they were re-released), Land of Confusion, Word Up, Broken Wings, Let's Go All the Way, I Can't Wait and The Honeythief.
My best memories from 1986 is that the Bangles' Walk Like an Egyptian was my fave song from 1986, from the whole of the 80s and eventually my all-time fave song from an all-female group. Also, I believe uniquely, the top 40 from 30th September 1986 featured 4 new entries that all made my top 40 songs of the decade! As well as Walk Like an Egyptian, the others were Status Quo with In the Army Now, A-ha with I've Been Losing You and Madonna's True Blue (still my fave song of hers over 25 years later).
I shall share more memories from 1986 at a later stage!
1986 is still my fave year for music since 1981, and was my final year when I decided my top 100 songs from the year.
Of the songs you have mentioned so far, I particularly like Imagination and Radio Africa (I knew them from Spring 1985 and was encouraged they were re-released), Land of Confusion, Word Up, Broken Wings, Let's Go All the Way, I Can't Wait and The Honeythief.
My best memories from 1986 is that the Bangles' Walk Like an Egyptian was my fave song from 1986, from the whole of the 80s and eventually my all-time fave song from an all-female group. Also, I believe uniquely, the top 40 from 30th September 1986 featured 4 new entries that all made my top 40 songs of the decade! As well as Walk Like an Egyptian, the others were Status Quo with In the Army Now, A-ha with I've Been Losing You and Madonna's True Blue (still my fave song of hers over 25 years later).
I shall share more memories from 1986 at a later stage!
please do, its always interesting hearing from you
Oh WOW, people who have heard of Modern Talking. When I say 'You're my heart. You're my soul' is one of my favourite songs, I am usually met by blank faces.
So many Guilty Pleasures in that list, especially Fine Young Cannibals, Suspicious Minds and Cameo, Word Up.
please do, its always interesting hearing from you
Thanks Rob! Just before I list any more, I notice it is quite a coincidence that your 2 fave years in the last 30 years or so seem to be 1986 and 2003. These were identical years both being Wednesday-Wednesday. So for example, New Year's Day and New Year's Eve were Wednesdays both years, and the August Bank Holiday was August 25th both years.
Anyway, a few of my musical choices are as follows:
Whitney Houston:- How Will I Know?
Public Image Ltd:- Rise
Ruby Turner:- Come Go With Me
Robert Palmer:- Riptide
Survivor:- Burning Heart
Picnic at the Whitehouse:- We Need Protection
Jaki Graham:- Set Me Free
Talking Drums:- Pretend a Stranger
Rouen:- Young for a Day
Haywoode:- Roses (I knew this in Spring 1985 too!)
Princess:- Tell Me Tomorrow
UB40:- Sing Our Own Song
Paul McCartney:- Press
Fight for Ourselves:- Spandau Ballet
Dr & the Medics:- Burn
Stranglers:- Nice in Nice
The Timex Social Club:- Rumours
Big Country:- One Great Thing
Glass Tiger:- Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone
Berlin:- You Don't Know
Thanks Rob! Just before I list any more, I notice it is quite a coincidence that your 2 fave years in the last 30 years or so seem to be 1986 and 2003. These were identical years both being Wednesday-Wednesday. So for example, New Year's Day and New Year's Eve were Wednesdays both years, and the August Bank Holiday was August 25th both years.
Anyway, a few of my musical choices are as follows:
Whitney Houston:- How Will I Know?
Public Image Ltd:- Rise
Ruby Turner:- Come Go With Me
Robert Palmer:- Riptide
Survivor:- Burning Heart
Picnic at the Whitehouse:- We Need Protection
Jaki Graham:- Set Me Free
Talking Drums:- Pretend a Stranger
Rouen:- Young for a Day
Haywoode:- Roses (I knew this in Spring 1985 too!)
Princess:- Tell Me Tomorrow
UB40:- Sing Our Own Song
Paul McCartney:- Press
Fight for Ourselves:- Spandau Ballet
Dr & the Medics:- Burn
Stranglers:- Nice in Nice
The Timex Social Club:- Rumours
Big Country:- One Great Thing
Glass Tiger:- Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone
Berlin:- You Don't Know
has there been any weds-weds since?... lol.. was 65 or 66 weds - weds?.. weird!
has there been any weds-weds since?... lol.. was 65 or 66 weds - weds?.. weird!
good choices there.
Due to the leap year in 2008, there was to be no other Wednesday-Wednesday year until 2014. I deduce that the nearest Wed-Wed year would have been 1969, being 28 years before 1997.
some of my 1986 favourites
i can't wait nu shooz
sinful pete wylie
calling all the heroes it bites
think for a minute housemartins
live to tell madonna
i'll keep on loving you princess
you and me tonight aurra
find the time five star
sun street katrina and the waves
if she knew what she wants bangles
rise pil
radio africa latin quarter
left of center suzanne vega
land of confusion genesis
amityville lovebug starski
lets go all the way sly fox
Youre my favourite waste of time - Owen Paul
Calling all the heroes - It Bites
Lessons in Love - Level 42
Captain of my heart - Double
Just the way it is - Bruce Hornsby and The Range
Breakout - Swing Out Sister
Spirit In the Sky - Dr and the Medics
Aha - Train of Thought
those of us who have contributed to the rare 60's thread wanted it so the archive of great material we have discovered/displayed can be seen and not lost...
Mr Mister:- Broken Wings
Paul Hardcastle:- Don't Waste My Time
Audrey Hall:- One Dance Won't Do
Bronskybeat:- Come On Come On
Big Audio Dynamite:- Medicine Show
The Smiths:- Panic
Fatal Charm:- Images of Fire
Billy Idol:- To Be a Lover
Kim Wilde:- You Keep Me Hanging On
Genesis:- Land of Confusion
Comments
'heartache' was early 87
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvz74xBiSpA
The songs from 13 to 28 are excellent too, and I stand by that even with reference to 'Brother Louie.' The SOS Band's 'The Finest' is one of my all-time favourite records. I love pretty much most of the things Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced in the 1980s and that distinctive sound they had but 'The Finest' is for me what the title of the song says. The guest vocals from one Alexander O' Neal are the icing on the cake. I don't know what it is about 'The FInest' but it still sounds 'cool' now. The same goes for quite a few tracks from 1986 in the list (especially Big Audio Dynamite and Sly Fox). You mentioned the year 2003 in the original post and I'm guessing you must be familiar with Richard X's take on 'The Finest,' (which he did with Kelis) called 'Finest Dreams' from 2003? Imagine my surprise when I heard that for the first time.
I don't think anyone can deny that Bruce Hornsby's 'The Way It Is' is a brilliant song that stands the test of time.
Some of my favourites from 1986 include 'Kyrie' by Mr Mister, which definitely sounds dated compared to 'Broken Wings.' However, that's part of its charm.
I also have a real soft spot for 'Hunting High and Low' by A-Ha, which I still listen to quite a lot now.
I also love a track that 80s soul fans will be familiar with called 'You and Me Tonight' by Aurra, which was a top 20 hit.
Here's the TOTP performance and the original 12" mix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_njoDvX67KY
Michael McDonald's 'Sweet Freedom' is another 1986 hit I can never grow tired of hearing. No surprise really that it was written by Rod Temperton! 'On My Own' with Patti LaBelle is of course another fave.
Atlantic Starr's 'Secret Lovers' and Five Star's 'Rain or Shine' are also amongst my top hits from 1986.
However, for my ultimate guilty pleasure, 'Smile' by Audrey Hall.
I still haven't seen 'Under the Cherry Moon.' However, I'm nearing the end of the latest Prince biography I've read - 'Prince: Inside the Music and the Masks' by Ronin Ro - and the more I've read about the film, the less likely I think I am to watch it. However, the anecdotes about the film's production and things said by Warner at the time and fans etc. are brilliant to read about. The album 'Parade' is indeed excellent.
Who else in 1986 could have pulled off the lyric 'she had the cutest ass he'd ever seen. He did too, they were meant to be?'
Agree, one of the better year, the 80's were great.
Still got boxes full of 7" and 12" and albums, all from the 80's in the loft. Not seen the light of day in 15 years.
"My Favourite Waste Of Time", my girlfriend at the time bought me that, she loved to sing it too me.
Anyway, we got married in 87 and she's still enjoying that Waste Of Time , Oh and she still sings it to me when she hears it
The highlight of 1986 was Madonna releasing her most iconic album, True Blue!;):cool::cool:
Of the songs you have mentioned so far, I particularly like Imagination and Radio Africa (I knew them from Spring 1985 and was encouraged they were re-released), Land of Confusion, Word Up, Broken Wings, Let's Go All the Way, I Can't Wait and The Honeythief.
My best memories from 1986 is that the Bangles' Walk Like an Egyptian was my fave song from 1986, from the whole of the 80s and eventually my all-time fave song from an all-female group. Also, I believe uniquely, the top 40 from 30th September 1986 featured 4 new entries that all made my top 40 songs of the decade! As well as Walk Like an Egyptian, the others were Status Quo with In the Army Now, A-ha with I've Been Losing You and Madonna's True Blue (still my fave song of hers over 25 years later).
I shall share more memories from 1986 at a later stage!
please do, its always interesting hearing from you
So many Guilty Pleasures in that list, especially Fine Young Cannibals, Suspicious Minds and Cameo, Word Up.
So many great songs, Thanks for reminding me.
guilty pleasures?... dont see anything to be guilty with with those tracks!
Thanks Rob! Just before I list any more, I notice it is quite a coincidence that your 2 fave years in the last 30 years or so seem to be 1986 and 2003. These were identical years both being Wednesday-Wednesday. So for example, New Year's Day and New Year's Eve were Wednesdays both years, and the August Bank Holiday was August 25th both years.
Anyway, a few of my musical choices are as follows:
Whitney Houston:- How Will I Know?
Public Image Ltd:- Rise
Ruby Turner:- Come Go With Me
Robert Palmer:- Riptide
Survivor:- Burning Heart
Picnic at the Whitehouse:- We Need Protection
Jaki Graham:- Set Me Free
Talking Drums:- Pretend a Stranger
Rouen:- Young for a Day
Haywoode:- Roses (I knew this in Spring 1985 too!)
Princess:- Tell Me Tomorrow
UB40:- Sing Our Own Song
Paul McCartney:- Press
Fight for Ourselves:- Spandau Ballet
Dr & the Medics:- Burn
Stranglers:- Nice in Nice
The Timex Social Club:- Rumours
Big Country:- One Great Thing
Glass Tiger:- Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone
Berlin:- You Don't Know
has there been any weds-weds since?... lol.. was 65 or 66 weds - weds?.. weird!
good choices there.
Faves of mine.
Five Star were mentioned, I think Rain or Shine is a very good pop song.
I loved Five Star. I saw them live when I was around 10 years old and Denise waved at me in the crowd, which pretty much made my year.
Due to the leap year in 2008, there was to be no other Wednesday-Wednesday year until 2014. I deduce that the nearest Wed-Wed year would have been 1969, being 28 years before 1997.
I can list some more songs from 1986 on Sunday!
i can't wait nu shooz
sinful pete wylie
calling all the heroes it bites
think for a minute housemartins
live to tell madonna
i'll keep on loving you princess
you and me tonight aurra
find the time five star
sun street katrina and the waves
if she knew what she wants bangles
rise pil
radio africa latin quarter
left of center suzanne vega
land of confusion genesis
amityville lovebug starski
lets go all the way sly fox
Bumping the thread back to the top ofd the forum. Don;t want this thread to get lost!
it wouldnt get lost if we had a retro sub forum!
some of us have been pushing for this for some time...its not happening, but should do.
Youre my favourite waste of time - Owen Paul
Calling all the heroes - It Bites
Lessons in Love - Level 42
Captain of my heart - Double
Just the way it is - Bruce Hornsby and The Range
Breakout - Swing Out Sister
Spirit In the Sky - Dr and the Medics
Aha - Train of Thought
Indeed it should!
A retro forum is exactly what we need.:):)
I love that 'I Can't Wait' by Nu Shooz; great track.:cool:
those of us who have contributed to the rare 60's thread wanted it so the archive of great material we have discovered/displayed can be seen and not lost...
Mr Mister:- Broken Wings
Paul Hardcastle:- Don't Waste My Time
Audrey Hall:- One Dance Won't Do
Bronskybeat:- Come On Come On
Big Audio Dynamite:- Medicine Show
The Smiths:- Panic
Fatal Charm:- Images of Fire
Billy Idol:- To Be a Lover
Kim Wilde:- You Keep Me Hanging On
Genesis:- Land of Confusion