80s song that are far greater than Thriller but never mentioned

[monkfromhavana]

Ettika - Ettika
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKVS9Ab_W7I

[kalowski]

Atomic Dog

[Ferris]

That one we all like by Prefab Sprout. All together now!

Hot dog! Jumping frog! I'm a turkey!

[non capisco]

If this is a thread about great undersung 80s tunes then please do let Gwen McCrae's 'Keep The Fire Burning' get all rapturous up in your chops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5rMfLJKwIE&frags=pl%2Cwn

WHAT a hoofer.

[non capisco]

Susan Fassbender - Twilight Cafe (1981) - Bass & Keyboard Noodles

The Passions - I'm in Love with a German Film Star (1981) - inventing Six by Mansun 17 years earlier

Ahhhh, you know I love these two, daf-o.

[non capisco]

Change - A Lover's Holiday - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZCRS8b0XoY&frags=pl%2Cwn

Change - Heaven Of My Life - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DygZrQv1kOY&frags=pl%2Cwn

Donna Allen - Serious - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVpBW4eYWxw&frags=pl%2Cwn

I'm just getting started, undersung 80s fans!

[pigamus]

SOS Band - Just Be Good To Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khj9jyNvhpQ

As a kid I only knew Dub Be Good To Me (which I love) - when I heard the original I was knocked out, it's fantastic

[Auntie Beryl]

I suppose there are some people out there who only know the Professor Green and Lily Allen version.

[riotinlagos]

Here's a very infectious song that should have fared far better than it did on the pop charts - Finis Henderson - Skip To My Lou

[Bobby Ralgex]

'Love Wars' by Womack and Womack.

What a belter.

[peanutbutter]

Thriller the album? I'd've thought the song was considered at best the 3rd or 4th strongest song on the album.


Regarding the album, the sales are fucking insane, was it inescapable in a way that people who weren't alive at the time cannot comprehend? Or did it benefit hugely from people buying it on multiple formats (initially vinyl, then a cassette for their walkman, then on CD when Bad/the one after bad with Macauley Culkin came out)

[Better Midlands]

Yes to Change and SOS Band - I'm a massive Jam & Lewis fan.

Change - Angel In My Pocket

SOS Band - Take Your Time

My favourite mid 80s R&B track ever

Rene & Angela - I'll Be Good

[Better Midlands]

SOS Band - Just Be Good To Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khj9jyNvhpQ

As a kid I only knew Dub Be Good To Me (which I love) - when I heard the original I was knocked out, it's fantastic

When I heard Guns Of Brixton after DBGTM I was knocked out too.

[Urinal Cake]

Thriller the album? I'd've thought the song was considered at best the 3rd or 4th strongest song on the album.

Yes I thought the deal with Thriller was the music video, Vincent Price etc not the song by itself.

[Pseudopath]

Atomic Dog

I see your absolute banger and raise you this slice of Teeside space-funk madness from 1983:

Rah Band - Messages From The Stars

[SpiderChrist]

Working Week - Sweet Nothing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGFVo59V_G0

Another shout here for Duel by Propaganda, too

[SpiderChrist]

I see your absolute banger and raise you this slice of Teeside space-funk madness from 1983:

Rah Band - Messages From The Stars

Fuck yes. Also Stars Across The Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL8AgEzg5fI

[Pseudopath]

My favourite mid 80s R&B track ever

Rene & Angela - I'll Be Good

Damn...that sounds fresh.

Fuck yes. Also Stars Across The Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL8AgEzg5fI

Genuinely one of my favourite songs of all time. Fond memories of seeing that cheap-ass video on MTV in the early nineties. Richard Anthony Hewson is sorely underrated.

[SpiderChrist]

Genuinely one of my favourite songs of all time. Fond memories of seeing that cheap-ass video on MTV in the early nineties. Richard Anthony Hewson is sorely underrated.

Me too. It's been known to reduce me to snotty tears, on occasion.

[Pseudopath]

Me too. It's been known to reduce me to snotty tears, on occasion.

Yeah...must admit my eyes did get a bit sweaty listening to it just now. What a tune.

[wosl]

State Of Independence, the Donna Summer version, is greater (and the Anderson/Vang original could take it on, as well).

[Better Midlands]

Rah Band - Electric Fling was an underground disco hit in Italy in the 80s, nothing like SATM but an interesting instrumental track.

[non capisco]

My favourite mid 80s R&B track ever
Rene & Angela - I'll Be Good

Agreed, an absolute belter!

How about songs by 80s one hit wonders that are better than the hit? I think 'Just Got Lucky' by Jo Boxers pisses all over 'Boxer Beat'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2IUDF-p2Ug

[Pseudopath]

Rah Band - Electric Fling was an underground disco hit in Italy in the 80s, nothing like SATM but an interesting instrumental track.

Definitely a crowd-pleaser, but actually from 1978. From the same album as The Crunch.

[Dr Syntax Head]

https://youtu.be/Yu2fOtMDEXY

This is a jam. Imagination Belouis Some

[Better Midlands]

Definitely a crowd-pleaser, but actually from 1978. From the same album as The Crunch.

My mistake, The Crunch is a banger too.

Really been digging Human League's - Love Is All That Matters produced by Jam & Lewis the last few months, such a fat sound in the extended version.

[Pseudopath]

Really been digging Human League's - Love Is All That Matters produced by Jam & Lewis the last few months, such a fat sound in the extended version.

Oh wow...that is stunning.

[alan nagsworth]

Great thread!

Ryan Paris - La Dolce Vita

Total shimmering, whirling dream of a song.

[Brundle-Fly]

Hyperactive! by Thomas Dolby.. Brilliant promo video but I suppose this would be deemed as 'too clever-clever/ too quirky' for some folk?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmGxh1FhtxE

[phantom_power]

If we are talking 80s soul pop that is better than Thriller then I put forward two from Odyssey:

Going Back To My Roots - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3RGP2imSk0

If You're Looking For A Way Out - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyRVTNsp2gs