What else have I forgotten?
Posted by brinehart-cincy@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 169 comments
Every now and then I think I remember every song I ever heard in the 80s. But this week, I heard Stevie Nicks' I Can't Wait. (A minor hit, from 1985.) It's not great, but it's nice to hear something "fresh."
As much as I love my 80s music, sometimes they can feel a little stale and overplayed.
So, I ask you: what else have I forgotten? What gem is out there that's slipped in the couch cushions?
Or to put it another way: What's a decent 80s song that isn't overplayed?
ActuaryFew6884@reddit
Public Image LTD - The Body
Fex - Subways of your Mind
J. Geils Band - Come Back
Nina Hagen - Lucky Number
LASER_Dude_PEW@reddit
I was so into Public Image Ltd back in the day!
AllRushMixTapes@reddit
I love Seattle, even though I didn't hear it for the first time until about five years ago.
Nearby-Pin161@reddit
Stacy Q.
1998no3@reddit
Sunglasses at night
jpowell180@reddit
That’s not exactly a “forgotten” song, lol!
1998no3@reddit
I had forgotten it
OldSkooler1212@reddit
Jesus and Mary Chain - “Happy When It Rains”
Haunting-Job3748@reddit
You Don’t Want Me Anymore - Steel Breeze
jpowell180@reddit
The perfect bench-pressing song!
AllRushMixTapes@reddit
Harden my Heart from Quarterflash.
Let the Music Play from Shannon
cymbaljack@reddit
I Know There's Something Going On by Frida
jpowell180@reddit
Phil Collins does the guitar for that song!
The_Latverian@reddit
Dead or Alive - Something in my House
Platinum Blonde - Doesn't Really Matter
The Fixx - Are We Ourselves?
Substantial-Chip-102@reddit
In the Dark by Billy Squire
NoSummer1345@reddit
Love Everybody Wants You
Itchy_Undertow-1@reddit
This was JUST on my local classic rock radio station.
brianb8976@reddit
Finally someone mentioned a good song that isn't some lame pop song.That whole album is good.
Substantial-Chip-102@reddit
Genially every song on that album was good.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
Was that on the Metropolis soundtrack? Ah. Never mind. I can look it up myself, can't I?
HilariousBosch@reddit
Here's some decent, mostly forgotten power pop-ish songs. I'm using stream of conscious to list these.
Rockpile - Teacher Teacher
Dave Edmunds - Slipping Away
Nick Lowe - I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass
Balance - Breaking Away
The Producers - What's He Got?
The Monroes - What Do All the People Know?
Candy - Whatever Happened to Fun?
b_o_m@reddit
Bless you for remembering the Producers! Such an awesome band and very overlooked! (The Rockpile/Edmunds/Lowe shout-outs are all great too!)
HilariousBosch@reddit
I grew up in the South, and I was really proud of The Producers and other southern artists that made it to MTV. Power pop in particular was my jam back then.
well-it-was-rubbish@reddit
Same, here; I'm from Atlanta.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
I remember a .38 Special song called "Teacher Teacher" but that's all...
Aerwiar@reddit
Go Insane - Lindsey Buckingham
well-it-was-rubbish@reddit
Also, Trouble, by Lindsey Buckingham; very pretty guitar solo.
therelybare5@reddit
Like I al-ways do!
FlyAdministrative886@reddit
You dropped the bomb on me gap band
Carry on my wayward son!
Throttlechopper@reddit
I heard “Sweet Soul Sister” by The Cult recently, it prompted me that I need to visit their catalog of music.
“Boulevard” by Jackson Browne is also a hidden gem.
“A Life of Illusion” Joe Walsh
UneducatedDonkey@reddit
Father__Thyme@reddit
Harden My Heart - Quarterflash
I remember the week this hit the top 30 on Solid Gold
NoSummer1345@reddit
Also loved their Find Another Fool
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
Quarterflash! Everyone expected them to be huge and then... pffft. Which was too bad.
I can't hear Toto's Roseanna without thinking about the Solid Gold Dancers.
Itchy_Undertow-1@reddit
Talk talk
_bondgirl007@reddit
Stevie Nicks Violet & Blue
Useful-Ad1489@reddit
No Myth - Michael Penn
The Void - Daniel Ash
Let the Music Play - Shannon
(Goonies are) Good Enough - Cyndi Lauper
Fantasy - Aldo Nova
limprichard@reddit
No Myth is a perfectly written song. One of my favorites of all time.
Sometimesunaware@reddit
Concrete Blonde - Joey (and Caroline)
Til Tuesday.
NoSummer1345@reddit
I used to crank Til Tuesday! Coming Up Close especially
lazygerm@reddit
The Perfect Way by Scritti Politti
Let's Go All The Way by Sly Fox
Extension-Wedding-74@reddit
Asia- Heat of the Moment, Only Time Will Tell, Alan Parsons Project-Eye in the Sky
Minute-Teacher-5702@reddit
Notice Me - New Model Army
Itchy_Undertow-1@reddit
Anything by World Party (except Ship of Fools was overplayed.)
Useful-Ad1489@reddit
woah - flashback! Did they do that Message In The Box song? i liked that band!
Itchy_Undertow-1@reddit
Yes!
irishgator2@reddit
Go Ahead Mr Wendell - Arrested Development
1Wicked1@reddit
So underrated!
Kayleighbug@reddit
Wouldn't it be Good by Nik Kershaw popped into my head the other day. Hadnt heard it in at least 15 years
Livid-Cat4507@reddit
Also love The Riddle ❤️
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
You gotta find the recent live version. He has a live horn section, and, as the kids say, it slaps. (Do they still say that?)
person_8688@reddit
Why Me? - Planet P Project is a banger
CroslandHill@reddit
All Fired Up - Pat Benatar
The Greatness and Perfection of Love - Julian Cope
She’s a Mystery to Me - Roy Orbison
Out of Reach - The Primitives
One Thing Leads to Another - The Fixx
Circle in the Sand - Belinda Carlisle
Reward - Teardrop Explodes
Livid-Cat4507@reddit
Perfect Day - Fischer Z
ieatsilicagel@reddit
Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie
CelestineSkies@reddit
ABC - The Look of Love
dafuqizzis@reddit
Maybe some Smithereens? “Behind The Wall of Sleep”
Remember Henry Lee Summer? Maybe listen to “Just another Day”
Adam Ant “Stand and Deliver”
Figures on a Beach - “Accidentally 4th Street”
KeepYourMindOpen365@reddit
“A Promise” by Echo and the Bunnymen. “Love Song” by Simple Minds.
Pattycakes1966@reddit
Seeing Echo and the Bunnymen tomorrow!
KeepYourMindOpen365@reddit
Happy for you. I am in Detroit and they’re coming here also. Them and Wet Leg in Windsor, ON are the hardest tickets to get right now 🤷🏻
nstebb@reddit
There's the Girl - Heart. Their poppies, eighties-est song.
Majestic-Selection22@reddit
Boy or I Touch Roses by Book of Love.
Mindless-Ad2125@reddit
Breakfast Club - Right on Track
Useful-Ad1489@reddit
Dude I was going to put this. I still play this on the regular!
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
Love that one!!!
TheRealScutFarkus@reddit
All You Zombies - The Hooters (That whole album was amazing)
Scrotchety@reddit
Freeez - IOU
Ignignokt73@reddit
Dead or Alive - Brand New Lover
Godley & Creme - Cry
The Fixx - Secret Separation
oep87@reddit
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes by Asia
Aerwiar@reddit
LOVE this song!
umeboshiplumpaste@reddit
I listen to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 regularly. There are constantly songs I forgot about.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
I need to find a station that airs those and tune in. That's a great idea.
umeboshiplumpaste@reddit
Sadly, most of the archives have been pulled. So it's hard to find full years where you can pick what week you want to play. There are some on YouTube, but not a ton. I listen to those sometimes, but the only place to get Casey 24/7 is the iHeartradio station. They play shows all day long. But it's annoying that you dont' know what you're listening to, what year, etc. It just plays.
umeboshiplumpaste@reddit
Side note: Casey just said Boston's "Long Time" moved up to #28! The show makes me so goddamn happy. It seriously helps my body. Nostalgia, inner peace, and an inner child/sad adult hybrid combo all in one. I also freaking love the trivia as it was happening live, the dedications, all of it. I have very few joys in life, but Casey's show is one of them.
freerangeXkid@reddit
I listen to 70s on 7 and 80s on 8 on Sirius and they air Casey's countdown often. On the 80s channel the original MTV VJs constantly run the top 20 countdowns from the era
Double_Fisherman6817@reddit
One Simple Thing - The Stabilizers
mfk_1974@reddit
Seven Wonders by Fleetwood Mac. Such a wonderful song, and even though it was popular at the time, it missed getting the longevity that so many of their other songs enjoyed. Nowadays, it's played so infrequently that I'll forget all about it. I'll never get tired of the delight I get when I 'discover' it the next time around.
ActuaryFew6884@reddit
Yes, and the whole "Tango in the Night" album, especially "Big Love", "Isn't it Midnight", and "Caroline" (the whole album takes me back to 5th grade; my dad got the CD brand new at the time)
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
Lindsey's solo stuff qualifies that way too. I never hear him on the radio.
ApplicationUpper9229@reddit
(Not Another) Lonely Night by Franke & the Knockouts
ActuaryFew6884@reddit
Yes! And of course the song they played on the show "Fridays", which was "Sweetheart"
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
That sounds vaguely familiar, but the band does not ring a bell. I'll investigate. Thanks!!
stain57@reddit
Might As Well Go For A Soda by Kim Mitchell.
ActuaryFew6884@reddit
Yes! And the whole soundtrack to the movie "Oddballs" (Kim Mitchell did it)
Double_Fisherman6817@reddit
That’s a good one
7eregrine@reddit
100 Games of Solitaire - Concrete Blonde
b_o_m@reddit
Virtually anything by Concrete Blonde! One of the most criminally overlooked bands of the 80s & 90s
MaximumJones@reddit
Welcome to the Boomtown by a one hit wonder called David and David
Live-Cat9553@reddit
Miss Christina drives a 9 4 4…
MaximumJones@reddit
Satisfaction oozes from her por or or ors...
knudude@reddit
Apparently, I have heard this song but a local radio DJ reminded me of the late ‘89 time I was hearing it a lot. She played this & instantly brought me back : Frazier Chorus - Dream Kitchen!
funkymonkeyPhD@reddit
A Fine Fine Day - Tony Carey Tragedy - John Hunter Love In Store - Fleetwood Mac Dream House - John Eddie Only You - Yazoo
looseseal_2@reddit
I like to start a workday with De La Soul's "Me, Myself, and I." It's a jaunty little ditty that gets my otherwise stressful day off to a nice start.
irishgator2@reddit
I heard Magic Number a few weeks ago - it had been a while and I love that song
delldarlin@reddit
Blotto - I Wanna Be a Lifeguard
Utopia - Feet Don't Fail Me Now
And of course there's always Dog Police
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
I would love to find a copy of Dog Police. Or Rick Dees' Get Nekked.
HilariousBosch@reddit
I did get my hands on a copy of the Dog Police album ages ago. One listen later, I got rid of it.
PanTroglo@reddit
"Don't Change" by INXS
chocoholic24@reddit
Yes! Also, Suicide Blonde by them too
MaxDoor@reddit
Love Plus One by Haircut 100
garnteller@reddit
Ooh, I got one. In 1982, me and my nerdy DnD playing nerdy friends loved the cheesy “Don’t Pay the Ferryman” by Chris DeBurgh. I heard it a year or two ago and realized I’d completely forgotten about it.
https://youtu.be/pwEMfLjxq8M?si=efae9F0G6khmx_nO
Detroitdays@reddit
So I’ll listen to the top 40 countdowns on the 80’s channel. Man do you hear some long forgotten gems.
ChanceBuckman@reddit
I have a local station that plays a complete Casey Kasem American top 40 from the 80's every Friday. On right now in fact. Always interesting to hear some of the more obscure lower charting songs that never made it any higher, but I'd say way more often than not I recognize the song.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
That's exactly what I need to do.
ttbyrne@reddit
Games People Play - The Alan Parsons Project
yossarian8pizza@reddit
Mostly one hit wonders. The other day someone had Caribbean Queen playing at the store late at night. I'd forgotten that one even existed.
TheRPM3@reddit
“Pocket Calculator“ by Kraftwerk
Giantandre@reddit
I’m mostly a bass centric music lover (think house techno New Order, Manchester music etc)
But I love Stone Cold by Rainbow
I was going to say Jane by Jefferson Starship by Spotify says it was released Nov of 1979
Kaa_The_Snake@reddit
Omg I love Stone Cold! Rainbow is a great band.
I was just listening to Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple the other day, another awesome song.
Detroitdays@reddit
Mine is On The Loose by Saga. A tune!
ttbyrne@reddit
Memory unlocked! Thank you.
rikerismycopilot@reddit
80s on 8 played Self Control by Laura Branigan the other day as a "forgotten hit" which... Is it? Either way, a good one especially if you're a Stevie fan. It has that kind of witchy energy
Kayleighbug@reddit
I was listing 45s for sale yesterday and ran across a later Laura Branigan song - which reminded me to go queue up Self Control, Ti Amo, and Gloria. Ti Amo and Self Control, especially, still hold up
Pattycakes1966@reddit
Just the other day I was listening to 80s and 8 and heard Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes. I haven’t thought about that song in years.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
I found a dance cover of Self Control that was subtitled "Self Control-- the annual remake."
mspuffins@reddit
der kommisar always gets me.
NHmountain-man@reddit
Inxs "don't change" hardly any air play where I live
KurtStation68@reddit
That song was an official pick for Australia during Live Aid; then in the 90s I heard a version by punk band, Face to Face - both are equally good that they're part of my AZ rotation
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
Would you believe I'd never even heard the song until about 4 years ago!?!?
NewtLevel@reddit
Came up on my Pandora station earlier this year and it was the first time I remember ever hearing it. Great song!
woooly-bear@reddit
I heard the forgettable “the one you love” by Glenn fry which I had totally forgotten about.
KaramazovFootman@reddit
I Think We're Alone Now
HLAW8S@reddit
The Honeythief by Hipsway.
KurtStation68@reddit
wow - I remember when that was a hit (probably in Australia) many moons ago. Now I need to listen to it. Deep time
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
I'm frustrated I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy of Peter Wolf's Lights Out.
Live-Cat9553@reddit
AEIOU Sometimes Y by Ebn Ozn. I listened to it for the first time in a long while the other day and it made me smile.
LieOhMy@reddit
Making Plans for Nigel - XTC
brianb8976@reddit
I listened to On the Loose recently because that song just popped into my head. Since we can stream everything now, I decided to listen to the whole album and couldn't believe how good it was.
LieOhMy@reddit
Yeah I loved that song. It’s strange to me that it didn’t get picked up in the classic rock list of songs that continue to be played by radio stations.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
Their Christmas song always gets heavy rotation in my household in December.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
I didn't hear Run Runaway until years after college! (I must have led a sheltered life.)
mentalgymnatician@reddit
Blame it on the rain—milli vanilli
Fatenoir@reddit
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7y3D7znx3BSNoCKzwehMHn?si=IVG51nrcR5irOG8S_kkXIg&pi=YbEIG4G6QuSHY
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1roVTwpw1GFm1oWOGUR7dF?si=5t-xV6tySTCthp9i5sSidw
ryancementhead@reddit
Transvision Vamp - I want your love
Thirty_Helens_Agree@reddit
And Tell That Girl to Shut Up!
MrMilesRides@reddit
Oh wow - listening to it now, and I'd completely forgotten about it too (and I've played in more than one Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac tributes😂)
But - Never mind 'forget' - I completely missed out on Altered Images until recently. Heard them for the first time during the pandemic/lockdown while I was YouTubing old Top Of The Pops shows.
They had three records and they're all killer. Fantastic. Right up my alley. They lasted a year as my New Favorite Band. 😁
mybloodyballentine@reddit
Oh, weird! I was thinking about Happy Birthday just 5 minutes ago! I loved Altered Images so much.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
Adding Altered Images to the growing list of "bands I've never ever even heard of." Thanks!!
brianb8976@reddit
Fight the Good Fight by Triumph. My favorite band when I was a teenager.
DearGabbyAbby@reddit
Heartbreaker - Dionne Warwick
Runnin’ Down a Dream - Tom Petty
In My House - MaryJane Girls
Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan
Mandolin Rain - Bruce Hornsby
HappyCat51@reddit
White Horse by Laid Back
ImaginaryBadger3492@reddit
Happened to me recently. ‘71 born GenX. Couldn’t remember ironically another Fleetwood Mac song lol… Hold me.
HappyCat51@reddit
That's a solo Christine McVie tune, but yeah.
tk-093@reddit
Great topic. The song I Know You're Out There Somewhere by The Moody Blues is one. A month or two ago a friend on Facebook made a post about it and I realized I have not heard it in forever.
brianb8976@reddit
Love that song. What a great band.
Every_Cheesecake_477@reddit
Dance Away - Roxy Music
Velcrocowboy@reddit
Ship of Fools by World Party
Moondra3x3-6@reddit
From start to end. I love that CD. I was bummed to find out that he passed away. 😔
Velcrocowboy@reddit
Me too! I actually just bought tickets to a concert in his memory. https://www.worldparty.net/
Ok_Ad3036@reddit
Blood and Roses Blues Before and After The Smithereens
DaddyOhMy@reddit
God I love the Smithereens
Cubbance@reddit
Mexican Radio, by Wall of Voodoo. I freaking love that song.
spkrause@reddit
Devo - Girl you want
ActuaryFew6884@reddit
Rick James - Can't Stop
Peabo Bryson - Positive
Roachford - Cuddly Toy
Time Bandits - Shooting Love
Watson & Beasley - Breakaway
Alides Hidding - Hollywood Seven
Greg Phillinganes - Playin' with Fire
locothedas@reddit
iTunes Radio used to have a channel that was 80s songs that didn’t chart, or never got a lot of radio play. They definitely had a thing for Yaz; a similar channel might still be out there somewhere.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
Good thinking. Thanks!!
Heavymetal73@reddit
Wife and I were listening to pandora a couple of weeks ago and climax blues band “I love you” came on. Jogged memories from liking it as a kid. Reminds me of McCartney. Been ages since I heard it.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
At the bar I hang out in, we like to declare "theme nights" where you can only play songs on the jukebox that are part of the theme. We keep talking about doing a late 70s early 80s easy listening/yacht rock night. This would be a great fit for that.
(Easy listening/yacht rock isn't really what I'd call that song, but you know what I mean. Exile, Ambrosia, 10ccs. That sort of thing.)
Ed_Robins@reddit
"Life in a Northern Town" by The Dream Academy
aquinashaditright@reddit
This one anyways gives me the feeling of being back in the 80s again: https://youtu.be/O8-JPyVRkiE?si=slNoby3IDc-lzB3p
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
I just found the extended version on iTunes a couple of months ago! (But yeah. Love it.)
DoctorFrick@reddit
I heard Translator's "Everywhere That I'm Not" last month for the first time in ages, and had forgotten how much I liked it. Got that spooky early-80s feel to it.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
Never ever heard of them, but I'll look 'em up! Thanks!!
DoctorFrick@reddit
Awesome. Tell me what you think!
And if you want more semi-obscure 80s sadness, Romeo Void's "A Girl in Trouble" is another one I heard revently that had been lost to time in the dusty corners of my brain.
brinehart-cincy@reddit (OP)
I always loved Never Say Never! Thanks!!
Melodic_Caramel1777@reddit
I loved Swing Out Sister from the first time I heard “Breakout” in ‘87. Still love them but never hear their songs anywhere - not even the grocery store.
SunMyungMoonMoon@reddit
Lene Lovich - Lucky Number
Thirty_Helens_Agree@reddit
I was recently reminded of Lloyd Cole - She’s A Girl and I’m A Man from 1991.
La_Mano_Cornuta@reddit
The Dead Milkmen's - Punk Rock Girl