Slant: Best Albums and Singles of the 1980s

[kirby2725]

Mar 5, 2012 19:00:26 GMT -5 Honeymoon said:

Mar 5, 2012 18:19:49 GMT -5 Devil Marlena Nylund said:

It's so odd that best of the 80s lists often contain a lot of mainstream or memorable names while a Best of the 2000s list will often contain mostly unknowns and indie music.

Maybe it's a time perspective thing? Maybe in 20 years we will see Gaga, Rihanna, Lil Wayne on top of these lists for the 2000s as they become less ubiquitous and more associated with the time period.

Kanye will no doubt be on those lists.
Other mega-commercial acts to most likely end up there are Alicia Keys, Eminem, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, and Lil Wayne (but only Tha Carter III).

[asg4]

Mar 6, 2012 21:57:36 GMT -5 Honeymoon said:

Mar 6, 2012 21:44:45 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

^How could she not, when she incorporated the following lyrics into "Hung Up":

Time goes by slowly for those who wait
Those who run seem to have all the fun

:)

True, I don't think she's ever acknowledged it otherwise. Which is strange because it was a collaboration between two of the biggest (besides MJ and maybe Whitney) music icons of the 80s. You wouldn't think it would be so ignored.

The MJ song "bad" was originally made to be a collaboration between MJ and Prince but prince turned it down maybe due to lack of artistic control over that song. But prince was also very successful as a song writer he nailed 55+ songs which became either top 40 or top 40 R&B hits for others.

[HolidayGuy]

^I never heard that- interesting. As we know, Madonna and MJ were going to collaborate on "In the Closet"- but MJ did not want to go to the provocative place that Madonna wanted to, so it didn't pan out.

[Linnethia Monique]

If Stevie Nicks The Wild Heart makes it that could also possibly count as a Prince contribution since he did help create and co-write Stand Back. Also if certain albums by Chaka Khan and Patti make the list would be a contribution too. He put in work during the 80's for others.

[d.t.m]

I hope Culture Club's Colour By Numbers & Cyndi Lauper's debut can make the list.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2012 23:14:05 GMT -5 asg4 said:

Mar 6, 2012 21:57:36 GMT -5 Honeymoon said:

True, I don't think she's ever acknowledged it otherwise. Which is strange because it was a collaboration between two of the biggest (besides MJ and maybe Whitney) music icons of the 80s. You wouldn't think it would be so ignored.

The MJ song "bad" was originally made to be a collaboration between MJ and Prince but prince turned it down maybe due to lack of artistic control over that song. But prince was also very successful as a song writer he nailed 55+ songs which became either top 40 or top 40 R&B hits for others.

He didn't like that the song starts with the lyric "your butt is mine". It's been clear in interviews that he didn't particularly like Michael and I think it all started with Michael suggesting he play such a submissive role on "Bad".

[HolidayGuy]

I too hope that Cyndi's debut makes it- it was a landmark album and usually fares decently on these lists.

Prince probably will have three/four of his own albums, at the least, so only so much room for others he had a hand in creating.

[Enigma.]

Cyndi, without a doubt - a brilliant album.

Wonder which will be the highest ranking album by The Smiths. Surely there must be Queen Is Dead above Strangeways... which is #69.

Also, Rio by Duran Duran should make the list.

[HolidayGuy]

41. Peter Gabriel, So
42. New Order, Movement
43. Janet Jackson, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814
44. Laurie Anderson, Big Science
45. Roxy Music, Avalon
46. Sinéad O'Connor, The Lion and the Cobra
47. Eurythmics, Touch
48. Michael Jackson, Bad
49. Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman
50. Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine
51. The Smiths, The Smiths
52. R.E.M., Lifes Rich Pageant
53. Prince, Dirty Mind
54. 808 State, 90
55. Kate Bush, The Sensual World
56. Talk Talk, Spirit of Eden
57. Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska
58. Echo & the Bunnymen, Ocean Rain
59. Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Imperial Bedroom
60. Madonna, True Blue

[#LisaRinna]

43. Janet Jackson, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814

Get it Janet! Flawless album

[HolidayGuy]

Surprised True Blue appeared- it's appeared on some lists before, but, as the critic noted, no denying the greatness of the singles (the title track to a lesser extent).

What will be the highest-ranked female album? Kate Bush's Hounds of Love? Madonna's Like a Prayer? We should see She's So Unusual, Control, perhaps Madonna. TB's appearance may leave Like a Virgin out in the cold, but we'll see.

[bryce]

Mar 7, 2012 9:51:29 GMT -5 #LisaRinna said:

43. Janet Jackson, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814

Get it Janet! Flawless album

Behind True Blue??? You've got to be kidding.

[HolidayGuy]

The True Blue singles have garnered more best-of notices than the Rhythm Nation singles, no doubt, but RN itself has received some acclaim on listasnd via album ratings. RN appeared on Rolling Stone's 500 Albums list, whereas TB did not (though The Immaculate Collection, which contains four TB tracks), did).

Now, if RN appeared higher than Like a Prayer, that would be more of a shocker.

[newpower99]

Cyndi remade Prince's When U Were Mine on She's So Unusual as well . : )

[Mic Technique]

Mar 7, 2012 9:46:25 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

54. 808 State, 90

Yes. And the same nod of approval goes for plenty other entries listed thus far.

[Mr. Wonder]

If Slant puts Control over RN1814, there's a problem.

[Deleted]

Mar 7, 2012 22:10:06 GMT -5 Mr. Wonder said:

If Slant puts Control over RN1814, there's a problem.

Isn't Control generally regarded more highly than Rhythm Nation by critics?

[asg4]

I compiled this list awhile back but i am sure i missed some songs this list is in no way complete and it only covers the singles which were released and became hits

Top 40 Hits written by prince for others

Stevie Nicks "Stand Back" (1983) #5 US
Chaka Khan "I Feel For You" (1984)#3 US #1 UK (yr end charts '85 #5 in us)
Sheila E. "The Glamorous life" (1984) #7 US
The Time "The Bird" (1984) #36US
The Time "Jungle love" (1985) #20 US
Sheena Easton "Sugar walls" (1985) #9 US
Sheila E. "The Belle Of St Mark" (1985) #34 US #18 UK
Bangles "Manic Monday" (1986) #2 US (behind "Kiss, at #1), #2 UK
Sheila E. "A Love Bizarre" (1986) #11 US
Taja sevelle "Love Is Contagious" #7 in the UK
Art Of Noise featuring Tom Jones "Kiss" (1988) #5 UK
Sinead O'Connor "Nothing Compares 2 U" (1990) #1 US #1 UK (#1 in yr end charts in us and #2 in uk)(#1 in 21 countries)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts "The Sex Of It" (1990) #29 UK
MC Hammer "Pray" (1990) #2 US #8 UK (sampled)
The Time "Jerk Out" (1991) #9 US
Tevin Campbell "Round and Round" (1991) #11 US
Martika "Love... Thy Will Be Done" (1991) #10 US #9 UK
Martika "Martika's Kitchen " (1991) #17 UK
Monie Love "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." (1993) #18 UK
Monie Love "In A Word Or 2 / The Power" (1993) #33 UK
New Power Generation "Get Wild" (1995) #19 UK
MoKenStef "He's Mine" (1995) #7 US (sampled "Do Me Baby")
New Power Generation "The Good " (1995) #29 UK
New Power Generation "Get Wild" (1997) #15 UK (reissue)
Ginuwine "When Doves Cry " (1997) #10 UK
Alicia Keys "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore" (2002) #26 UK
Jay-Z featuring Beyonce Knowles "03 Bonnie & Clyde" (2003) #4 US #2 UK (sampled)
Inaya Day "Nasty Girl" (2005) #9 UK


Top 40 R&B Hits only written by prince
"TLC "get it up" #14(also #42 on H100)
"Apollonia 6 "Sex Shooter" #19
"Sheila E "Sister Fate" #36
"Sheila E "Koo Koo" #35
"The Family "The Screams Of Passion" #9
"The Family "High Fashion" #34
"Patti Labelle "Yo Mister" #6
"Madhouse "6" #5
"Mazarati "100 MPH" #19
"Mavis Staples "Melody Cool" #36
"The Time "Get It Up" #6
"The Time "Cool" #7
"The Time "777-9311" #2
"The Time "The Walk" #24
"The Time "Ice Cream Castles" #11
"Vanity 6 "Nasty Girl" #7
"andre cymone" "Dance Electric" #10
"stevie wonder" whats the fuss (on guitar) #34

update 1
added andre cymone and stevie wonder

[BlueSwan]

Very happy to see Ninety by 808 State at #54. That is a GREAT album.

The best albums of the 80's to me are "Please" by Pet Shop Boys and "The Vistors" by Abba. I'm afraid that none of those will make this list though.

[HolidayGuy]

21. Violent Femmes, Violent Femmes
22. Cyndi Lauper, She's So Unusual
23. New Order, Power, Corruption & Lies
24. U2, The Joshua Tree
25. Kraftwerk, Computer World
26. Tom Waits, Swordfishbones
27. David Bowie, Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
28. The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses
29. Leonard Cohen, I'm Your Man
30. Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation
31. Janet Jackson, Control
32. Eric B. & Rakim, Paid in Full
33. Madonna, Madonna
34. Pixies, Doolittle
35. Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A
36. Pixies, Surfer Rosa
37. Guns N' Roses, Appetite for Destruction
38. The Jesus and Mary Chain, Psychocandy
39. The Replacements, Let It Be
40. Grace Jones, Nightclubbing

[BlueSwan]

I would have thought that Doolittle was higher than #34. Isn't that almost universally regarded as one of the very best albums of the 80's?

[HolidayGuy]

^At Acclaimed Music (which hasn't done an albums-list update in a year and a half or so), it's No. 10. A couple of other albums lower on this list than the overall one at AM: The Joshua Tree (No. 6 at AM), Appetite For Destruction (No. 11 at AM).

[#LisaRinna]

31. Janet Jackson, Control

Great!

[Mr. Wonder]

Mar 7, 2012 22:20:02 GMT -5 @jazzysoul47 said:

Mar 7, 2012 22:10:06 GMT -5 Mr. Wonder said:

If Slant puts Control over RN1814, there's a problem.

Isn't Control generally regarded more highly than Rhythm Nation by critics?

Not even. RN1814 is Janet's magnum opus. Control and Velvet Rope usually fight for second place.

It's even in their write up:

"Janet would go on to release more "important" albums (namely Rhythm Nation and The Velvet Rope)..."

[HolidayGuy]

Control is ranked notably higher than RN 1814 at Acclaimed Music, which compiles loads of critics' best-of lists. So, yes, Control has enjoyed more success on critics' best-of lists.

Velvet Rope and janet. have not had comparable critical success to those two albums. Neither is among the current top 3000 albums (though it's possible with the addition of other lists- i.e. Slant's Best of the 90s- they could be).

[renfield75]

Really surprised about the low placement of Appetite for Destruction and The Joshua Tree; they both usually rank higher on these kinds of lists.

[Deleted]

Mar 8, 2012 12:21:53 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

Control is ranked notably higher than RN 1814 at Acclaimed Music, which compiles loads of critics' best-of lists. So, yes, Control has enjoyed more success on critics' best-of lists.

Velvet Rope and janet. have not had comparable critical success to those two albums. Neither is among the current top 32000 albums (though it's possible with the addition of other lists- i.e. Slant's Best of the 90s- they could be).

Thought so.

[HolidayGuy]

Of course, I meant top 3000 albums, not 32000. That's one big reason I usually edit my posts.

[areyoureadytojump]

Yes Madonna, Madonna getting some love.

[Enigma.]

I think Control is Janet's most flawless album and also a commercial breakthrough which always gets some love. RN and TVR are probably more challenging albums but all songs on Control are brilliant which cannot be said on other two. They have different assets.