The most Influential songs of the 80s

Pop & Rock

Blue Monday - NEW ORDER (maxi single, 1983)

Let Me Go - HEAVEN 17 (LP The Luxury Gap, 1983)

Our Darkness - ANNE CLARK (LP Joined Up Writing, 1984)

Rapture - BLONDIE (LP Autoamerican, 1980)

Soul, Hip-Hop & R&B

Billie Jean - MICHAEL JACKSON (LP Thriller, 1982)

Don't Look Any Further - DENNIS EDWARDS & SIEDAH GARRETT (LP Don't Look Any Further, 1984)

I Can't Go For That - HALL & OATES (LP Private Eyes, 1981)

Just An Illusion - IMAGINATION (LP In The Heat Of The Night, 1982)

Just Be Good To Me - THE S.O.S. BAND (LP On The Rise, 1983)

Rock Me Amadeus - FALCO (LP Falco 3, 1985)

Rockit - HERBIE HANCOCK (LP Future Shock, 1983)

Super Freak - RICK JAMES (LP Street Songs, 1981)

The Message - GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE (single, 1982)

Walk This Way - RUN DMC feat. STEVEN & JOE (LP Raising Hell, 1986)

When Doves Cry - PRINCE & THE REVOLUTION (OST Purple Rain, 1984)

Why You Treat Me So Bad - CLUB NOUVEAU (1987 / LP Life, Love & Pain, 1986)

Word Up - CAMEO (LP Word Up! 1986)

(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!) - BEASTIE BOYS (LP Licenced To Ill, 1986)

Dance

Beat Dis - BOMB THE BASS (single, 1987)

Jack Your Body - STEVE "SILK" HURLEY (single, December 1986)

Love Sensation - LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY (single, 1980)

Pump Up The Jam - TECHNOTRONIC (single, 1989)

Pump Up The Volume - M/A/R/R/S (single, 1987)

She Has A Way - BOBBY 'O' (single, 1982)

Theme From S-Express - S-EXPRESS (single, 1988)

Queer & avant guarde songs of the 80s

Clouds Across The Moon - RAH BAND (LP Mystery, 1985)

Da Da Da - TRIO (1982 / LP Trio, 1981)

Der Mussolini - D.A.F. (single, 1981)

Devil's Rap - OPERA (EP King Of The Night, 1983)

Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz) - GEORGE KRANZ (single, 1983)

Doctorin' The Tardis - THE TIMELORDS (single, 1988)

Doot-Doot - FREUR (LP Doot-Doot, 1983)

I'm In Love With A German Film Star - THE PASSIONS (LP Thirty Thousan Feet Over China, 1981)

I Wanna Be A Cowboy - BOYS DON'T CRY feat. HEIDI LEA (1985 / LP Boys Don't Cry, 1986)

Just Fascination - CABARET VOLTAIRE (LP The Crackdown, 1983)

Kaw Liga - THE RESIDENTS (LP Stars & Hank Forever, 1986)

Love Missile F1-11- SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK (LP Flaunt It, 1986)

My Soul Unwraps Tonight - SAVAGE PROGRESS (LP Celebration, 1984)

New York, N.Y. - NINA HAGEN (LP Angstlos, 1983)

O Superman - LAURIE ANDERSON (1981 / LP Big Science, 1982)

Oh Yeah - YELLO (LP Stella, 1985)

One Night In Bangkok - MURRAY HEAD (OST Chess, 1984)

Rock Me Amadeus - FALCO (LP Falco 3, 1985)

Saturday Night Special - FAD GADGET (LP Incontinent, 1981) 

Sex (I Am...) - BERLIN (LP Pleasure Victim, 1982)

She Blinded Me With Science - THOMAS DOLBY (EP Blinded By Science, 1983)

Shock The Monkey - PETER GABRIEL (LP Peter Gabriel IV, 1982)

Struggle For Pleasure - SOFT VERDICT (LP Struggle For Pleasure, 1983)

The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades - TIMBUK 3 (LP Greetings From Timbuk 3, 1986)

This Is Not A Love Song - PUBLIC IMAGE LTD. (1983 / LP This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get, 1984)

Trapped - COLONEL ABRAMS (1985)

25 Years - THE CATCH (single, 1983)

Vienna - ULTRAVOX (LP Vienna, 1980)

Waiting For A Train - FLASH & THE PAN (LP Headlines, 1982)

Where Are You - 16 BIT (single, 1986)

White Horse - LAID BACK (LP ... Keep Smiling, 1983)

Yacht rock

 

70s

Baby Come Back - PLAYER (LP Player, 1977)

Dance With Me - ORLEANS (LP Let There Be Music, 1975)

Deacon Blues - STEELY DAN (LP Aja, 1977)

Dreams - FLEETWOOD MAC (LP Rumours, 1977)

Easy To Love - LEO SAYER (LP Thunder In My Heart, 1977)

Emotion - SAMANTHA SANG (LP Emotion, 1978)

Escape (The Piña Colada Song) - RUPERT HOLMES (LP Partners In Crime, 1979)

Every Kinda People - ROBERT PALMER (LP Double Fun, 1978)

Fallin' In Love - HAMILTON, JOE FRANK & REYNOLDS (LP Fallin' In Love, 1975)

FM (No Static At All) - STEELY DAN (OST FM, 1978)

Fool (If You Think It's Over) - CHRIS REA (LP Whatever Happened To Benny Santini? 1978)

Gold - JOHN STEWART (LP Bombs Away Dream Babies, 1979)

Him - RUPERT HOLMES (LP Partners In Crime, 1979)

How Long - ACE (1975 / LP Five-A-Side, 1974)

How Much I Feel - AMBROSIA (LP Life Beyond L.A. 1978)

I Can See Clearly Now - JOHNNY NASH (LP I Can See Clearly Now, 1972)

I Can't Tell You Why - EAGLES (LP The Long Run, 1979)

I Just Wanna Stop - GINO VANELLI (LP Brother To Brother, 1978)

If You Leave Me Now - CHICAGO (LP Chicago X, 1976)

Indian Summer - POCO (LP Indian Summer, 1977)

Just When I Needed You Most - RANDY VANWARMER (LP Warmer, 1979)

Kiss You All Over - EXILE (LP Mixed Emotions, 1978)

Let Your Love Flow - BELLAMY BROTHERS (LP Let Your Love Flow, 1976)

Love Is The Answer - ENGLAND DAN & JOHN FORD COLEY (LP Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive, 1979)

Love Will Keep Us Together - CAPTAIN & TENNILLE (LP Love Will Keep us Together, 1975)

Lowdown - BOZ SCAGGS (LP Silk Degrees, 1976) 

Miracles - JEFFERSON STARSHIP (LP Red Octopus, 1975)

Moonlight Feels Right - STARBUCK (LP Moonlight Feels Right, 1976)

New Kid In Town - EAGLES (LP Hotel California, 1976)

Oh Lori - ALESSI (LP Alessi, 1976)

Right Down The Line - GERRY RAFFERTY (LP City To City, 1978)

Sad Eyes - ROBERT JOHN (LP Robert John, 1979)

Sailing - CHRISTOPER CROSS (LP Christopher Cross, 20 December 1979)

Sentimental Lady - BOB WELCH (LP French Kiss, 1977)

Sexy Eyes / Sharing The Night Together - DR. HOOK (LP Sometimes You Win, 1979)

Shake It - IAN MATTHEWS (single, 1978)

So Into You - ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION (LP A Rock & Roll Alternative, 1976)

Stumblin' In - CHRIS NORMAN & SUZI QUATRO (single, 1978)

Summer Breeze - SEALS & CROFTS (LP Summer Breeze, 1972)

Sundown - GORDON LIGHTFOOT (LP Sundown, 1974)

Thank You For Being A Friend - ANDREW GOLD (LP All This & Heaven Too, 1978)

The Way I Feel - ADRIAN GURVITZ (LP Sweet Vendetta, 1979)

This Night Won't Last Forever - BILL LaBOUNTY (LP This Night Won't Last Forever, 1978)

This Is It - KENNY LOGGINS feat. MICHAEL McDONALD (LP Keep The Fire, 1979)

Took The Last Train - DAVID GATES (LP Goodbye Girl, 1978)

Undercover Angel - ALAN O'DAY (single, 1977)

What A Fool Believes - THE DOOBIE BROTHERS (LP Minute By Minute, 1978) 

What You Won't Do For Love - BOBBY CALDWELL (LP Bobby Caldwell, 1978)

Year Of The Cat - AL STEWART (LP Year Of The Cat, 1976)

80s

Africa - TOTO (LP Toto IV, 1982)

Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) - CHRISTOPHER CROSS (OST Arthur, 1981)

Biggest Part Of Me - AMBROSIA (LP One Eighty, 1980)

The Boys Of Summer - DON HENLEY (LP Building The Perfect Beast, 1984)

Cool Night - PAUL DAVIS (LP Cool Night, 1981)

Even The Nights Are Better - AIR SUPPLY (LP Now & Forever, 1982)

Eye In The Sky - THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT (LP Eye In The Sky, 1982)

Goin' Down - GREG GUIDRY (LP Over The Line, 1982)

Guilty - BARBRA STREISAND feat. BARRY GIBB (LP Guilty, 1980)

Hard To Say I'm Sorry - CHICAGO (LP 16, 1982 / OST Summer Lovers, 1982)

Heartlight - NEIL DIAMOND  (LP Heartlight, 1982)

Hearts - MARTY BALIN (LP Balin, 1981)

Hey Nineteen - STEELY DAN (LP Gaucho, 1980)

Hold On - SANTANA (LP Shango, 1982)

I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) - HALL & OATES (LP Private Eyes, 1981)

I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near) - MICHAEL McDONALD (LP If That's What It Takes, 1982)

I.G.Y. (International Geophysical Year) - DONALD FAGEN (LP The  Nightfly, 1982)

If Love Takes You Away - STEPHEN BISHOP (OST Summer Lovers, 1982)

Key Largo - BERTIE HIGGINS (LP Just Another Day In Paradise, 1982)

Livin' It Up - BILL LaBOUNTY (LP Bill LaBounty, 1982)

Living Inside Myself - GINO VANNELLI (LP Nightwalker, 1981)

Missing You - DAN FOGELBERG (LP Greatest Hits, 1982)

More Than I Can Say - LEO SAYER (LP Living In A Fantasy, 1980)

Movin' On Up - RICK MATHEWS (LP California Cologne, 1981)

Nothin' You Can Do About It - AIRPLAY (LP Airplay, 1980)

Radio Me - TOMMY NILSSON (LP Tommy Nilsson, 1982)

Right Before Your Eyes - AMERICA (LP View From The Ground, 1982)

Right Through The Heart - MICHAEL JOHNSON (LP You Can Call Me Blue, 1980)

Running With The Night - LIONEL RICHIE (LP Can't Slow Down, 1983)

Steal Away - ROBBIE DUPREE (LP Robbie Dupree, 1980)

Stronger Than Before - CAROLE BAYER SAGER (LP Sometimes Late At Night, 1981)

Tell Me What You Dream - TIMOTHY B. SCHMIT (LP Playin' It Cool, 1984)

Tempted - SQUEEZE (LP East Side Story, 1981)

That's Love - JIM CAPALDI (LP Fierce Heart, 1983)

The Girl Is Mine - MICHAEL JACKSON & PAUL McCARTNEY (LP Thriller, 1982)

Theme From "The Greatest American Hero" (Believe It Or Not) - JOEY SCARBURY (single, 1981)

Waiting For A Girl Like You - FOREIGNER (LP 4, 1981)

Black artists rocking in the 80s

Back It Up - PHILIP BAILEY feat. PHIL COLLINS on drums (LP Inside Out, 1986)

Beat It - MICHAEL JACKSON (LP Thriller, 1982)

Better Be Good To Me - TINA TURNER (LP Private Dancer, 1984)

Boys In The Street - EDDY GRANT (LP Going For Broke, 1984)

Cuddly Toy - ROACHFORD (LP Roachford, 1988)

Dance Little Sister - TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY (LP Introducing The Hardline According to T.T.D'A, 1987)

Dirty Diana - MICHAEL JACKSON (LP Bad, 1987)

Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark - THE ROBERT CRAY BAND (LP Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark, 1988)

Don't Look Any Further - DENNIS EDWARDS & SIEDAH GARRETT (single, 1984)

Easy Lover - PHILIP BAILEY feat. PHIL COLLINS (LP Chinese Wall, 1984)

Fame - IRENE CARA (OST Fame, 1980)

Fast Car - TRACY CHAPMAN (LP Tracy Chapman, 1988)

Feel The Heat - JEAN BEAUVOIR (OST Cobra, 1986)

Glamour Boys - LIVING COLOR (LP Vivid, 1988)

Great Gosh A'Mighty - LITTLE RICHARD (OST Down & Out In Beverly Hills, 1986)

I'll Give You Everything - TOPPER HEADON feat. JIMMY HELMS

Jumpin' Jack Flash - ARETHA FRANKLIN feat. KEITH RICHARDS

King's Call - PHIL LYNOTT feat. MARK KNOPFLER

Let's Go Crazy - PRINCE & THE REVOLUTION

Love Is The Drug - GRACE JONES

Loverboy - BILLY OCEAN

Mr. Cab Driver - LENNY KRAVITZ (LP Let Love Rule, 1989)

Misled - KOOL & THE GANG

Own The Night - CHAKA KHAN

Protection - DONNA SUMMER

Running With The Night - LIONEL RICHIE

State Of Shock - THE JACKSONS feat. MICK JAGGER

Steamy Windows - TINA TURNER

The Other Woman - RAY PARKER Jr.

Torture - THE JACKSONS 

Walk This Way - RUN-DMC feat. STEVEN & JOE

Where Did Tomorrow Go - ELLIS, BEGGS & HOWARD 

You're A Friend Of Mine - CLARENCE CLEMONS feat. JACKSON BROWNE

Also:

Just Got Lucky - JOBOXERS

80s New Jack Swing

Baby Come To Me - REGINA BELLE (LP Stay With Me, 1989)

Casanova - LEVERT (LP The Big Throwdown, 1987)

Come Into My Life - JOYCE SIMS (LP Come Into My Life, 1987)

Control - JANET JACKSON (LP Control, 1986)

Divine Emotions - NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN (LP Divine Emotion, 1988)

Don't Be Cruel - BOBBY BROWN (LP Don't Be Cruel, 1988)

Girl You Know It's True - MILLI VANILLI (LP All Or Nothing, 1988)

Girlfriend - PEBBLES (LP Pebbles, 1987)

I'm Real - JAMES BROWN with FULL FORCE (LP I'm Real, 1988)

I'm Your Baby Tonight - WHITNEY HOUSTON  (LP I'm Your Baby Tonight, 1990)

I Want Her - KEITH SWEAT (LP Make It Last Forever, 1987)

I Want To Be Your Man - ROGER (LP Unlimited! 1987)

Joy - TEDDY PENDERGRASS (LP Joy, 1988)

Joy & Pain - DONNA ALLEN (LP Heaven On Earth, 1988)

Just Got Paid - JOHNNY KEMP (LP Secrets Of Flying, 1988)

Lean On Me - CLUB NOUVEAU (LP Life, Love & Pain, 1986)

Nite & Day - AL B. SURE! (LP In Effect Mode, 1988)

Partyman - PRINCE (OST Batman, 1989)

Ready Or Not - AFTER 7 (LP After 7, 1989)

Roses Are Red - THE MAC BAND feat. THE McCAMPBELL BROTHERS (single, 1988)

Rumours - TIMEX SOCIAL CLUB (single, 1986)

Secret Rendezvous - KARYN WHITE (LP Karyn White, 1988)

Straight Up - PAULA ABDUL (LP Forever Your Girl, 1988)

The Lover In Me - SHEENA EASTON (LP The Lover In Me, 1988)

The Rain - ORAN "JUICE" JONES (single, 1986)

The Right Stuff - VANESSA WILLIAMS (LP The Right Stuff, 1988)

You Got It (The Right Stuff) - NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK (LP Hangin' Tough, 1988)

You're Gonna Get Rocked - LA TOYA JACKSON (single, 1988)