Some might argue my taste in music sucks. And they're probably right. And you're probably thinking I've ripped this list off from somewhere else. That is definitely wrong - nobody apart from me likes Afterburner by ZZ Top. But I'm bored. So here is a list of 1980s albums that I think are just the cat's posterior:
1980. AC/DC – Back in Black
Brian Johnson's debut with Acca Dacca after the untimely death of Bon Scott is proof that appendicitis can result in a lucrative, long and successful music career with one of hard rock's titans. Featuring classic tracks such as “Hells Bells”, “Shoot to Thrill”, and “You Shook Me All Night Long”, the album would go on to become one of the best selling albums in history, and it isn't difficult to see why, either.
Runner-up: Icehouse – Flowers
1981. The Police – Ghost In The Machine
Drifting away from the reggae infused sound of their earlier works, Ghost in the Machine moves into the synth-driven new wave era with charming ditties aplenty. “Spirits in the Material World”, “Invisible Sun”, “Everything She Does is Magic” are just some of the better known tracks on this album...bugger it, just go listen to the bloody thing.
Runner-up: Van Halen – Fair Warning
1982. Roxy Music - Avalon
The uber cool Bryan Ferry and chums end Roxy Music's recording career on a very high note with the epic Avalon. Something of an acquired taste, but once you get used to it, you'll soon find yourself making a mental note to yourself to save your copy should your house ever happen to burn down.
Runner-up: Michael Jackson – Thriller
1983. Cyndi Lauper – She's So Unusual
Arguably the most surprising album on this list, Cyndi Lauper's debut album is actually excellent. Yeah, you might be thinking songs like “She Bop” and “Time after Time” are all you need, but not really. There's the rest of the album to explore, like the Prince-penned “When You Were Mine”, or “Money Changes Everything.” But sadly for me, my CD copy is degrading thanks to the supposedly rare phenomenon of “disc rot.”
Runner-up: ZZ Top - Eliminator
1984. Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A.
“Hey little girl, is your daddy home?” Given the filthy minds of more modern times, this is perhaps not the most politically correct thing to sing on an album these days, unless, of course, you're Rolf Harris, but for The Boss in 1984, that as-yet politically untarnished 'come on' line that opens “I'm On Fire” shows that Bruce can knock up a love song just as good as he could a number about the plight of the working man. One of those albums that you could quite happily play from start to finish, just like the aforementioned Cyndi Lauper album.
Runner-up: Metallica – Ride the Lightning
1985. ZZ Top – Afterburner
Following on from the excellent Eliminator, The Texas Weird Beards keep on hard rockin' and up the synths in the process. Not as polished as its predecessor, I'm certainly not one to complain, if “Delirious”, “Can't Stop Rockin'” and “Stages” are anything to go by. Oh, and “Sleeping Bag.”
Runner-up: Anthrax – Spreading the Disease
1986. Paul Simon – Graceland
Not an album I like to talk about too much – giving it appraisal can sometimes feel a little too cliché, but damn it, it deserves it anyway. And this album shows that Simon lost little when Simon & Garfunkel ceased to be – and who really needs to talk about a bridge over troubled water when you've got the Mississippi Delta shining like a National guitar?
Runner-up: Slayer – Reign in Blood
1987. Def Leppard – Hysteria
No cliché “greatest albums” list is ever complete without Def Leppard's mammoth Hysteria from 1987. A significant number of songs from this album received airplay, and it isn't hard to 'hear' why. But bugger “Animal” - “Don't Shoot Shotgun” and “Gods of War” are where it's at.
Runner-up: Michael Jackson – Bad
1988. Fine Young Cannibals – The Raw and the Cooked
Roland Gift's somewhat proprietary voice served well as part of the soundtrack to my 1988/1989, as did Toni Childs' Union, which follows behind in second place. A brilliant album from start to finish. And it's a bit of a shame that the band did relatively bugger all following its release.
Runner-up: Toni Childs – Union
1989. Phil Collins - ...But Seriously
The much maligned Phil Collins deserves better, in my opinion. After all, I owe him a great deal for my almost 30 year old appreciation of popular music. And OK, he's made some not so good albums, but then again, I'm still waiting on somebody to deliver that impeccable discography. Indeed, my tumble-weed count so far stands at around 2,374. But hey, I've enjoyed some great music in that time, including this album, Phil Collins' ...But Seriously.
Runner-up: Skid Row – Skid Row
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