Friday, August 28, 2015

Brad Carl: 50 Songs from the 70s and 80s That Still Hold Up

Brad Carl:

50 Songs from the 70s and 80s That Still Hold Up

Brad Carl is a former radio personality who wrote this book (published 8/28/2015) in which he picked 50 songs he believes still sound good against today’s popular music. He doesn’t claim it to be a definitive list, but one which hopefully sparks conversation.

Below are the 50 songs featured in that book, as ranked by Dave’s Music Database. The top 20 songs appear in the top 1%, or roughly top 1000 songs of all time, according to Dave’s Music Database. The top 5 songs are featured in Dave’s Music Database’s book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999.

Click here to see other lists from critics and individuals and here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations


DMDB Top 1%:

1. Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1982)
2. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
3. Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)
4. Eagles “Hotel California” (1977)
5. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1988)

6. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981)
7. The Knack “My Sharona” (1979)
8. AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980)
9. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” (1983)
10. The B-52’s “Love Shack” (1989)
11. Tracy Chapman “Fast Car” (1988)
12. Boston “More Than a Feeling” (1976)
13. Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” (1985)
14. Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1980)
15. Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
16. Phil Collins “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” (1984)
17. Ramones “I Wanna Be Sedated” (1978)
18. R.E.M. “The One I Love” (1987)
19. The Clash “Should I Stay or Should I Go” (1982)
20. Aerosmith “Sweet Emotion” (1975)

DMDB Top 2%:

21. UB40 “Red, Red Wine” (1983)
22. Cheap Trick “I Want You to Want Me (live)” (1979)
23. Billy Idol “White Wedding” (1982)
24. War “Low Rider” (1975)
25. Cameo “Word Up” (1986)

DMDB Top 5%:

26. Elton John “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” (1983)
27. Stevie Nicks “Edge of Seventeen” (1981)
28. Katrina & the Waves “Walking on Sunshine” (1985)
29. U2 “Angel of Harlem” (1988)

DMDB Top 10%:

30. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians “What I Am” (1988)
31. The Church “Under the Milky Way” (1988)
32. Billy Joel “The Longest Time” (1984)
33. Enya “Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)” (1988)
34. Billy Vera & the Beaters “At This Moment” (1981)
35. The Jacksons with Mick Jagger “State of Shock” (1984)
36. Whitesnake “Still of the Night” (1987)
37. Georgia Satellites “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” (1986)
38. Bangles “Hazy Shade of Winter” (1987)
39. Echo & the Bunnymen “The Killing Moon” (1984)
40. Traveling Wilburys “Hande with Care” (1988)
41. Rainbow “Since You’ve Been Gone” (1979)

DMDB Top 20%:

42. Benny Mardones “Into the Night” (1980)
43. Pixies “Where Is My Mind?” (1988)
44. Scandal “The Warrior” (1984)
45. Frida Lyngstad “I Know There’s Something Going On” (1982)
46. John Lennon “Nobody Told Me” (1984)
47. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band “Turn the Page (live)” (1976)
48. The Jeff Healy Band “Angel Eyes” (1988)
49. Sammy Hagar “I Can’t Drive 55” (1984)
50. The Firm “Radioactive” (1985)


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First posted 11/14/2019; last updated 10/11/2021.

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