Dave's Music Database book: Music of the 1980s

Dave’s Music Database book: Music of the 1980s

AC/DC, Beastie Boys, Bon Jovi, Phil Collins, Def Leppard, Duran Duran, Guns N’ Roses, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, George Michael, the Police, Prince, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Run-D.M.C., Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, U2, Van Halen. All of them and more are in this handy guide to the decade which: Explores pop, rap, new wave, country, R&B, and more. Highlights songs, albums, and videos which won awards each year from 1980 to 1989. Lists the decade’s biggest songs, albums, acts, and videos overall and in different genres. Spotlights 40+ songs and 20+ albums. This book was inspired by a countdown of the top 909 songs of the 1980s done by Kansas City radio station 90.9 The Bridge. That list and this book also became catalysts for the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode “Music of the 1980s.” That episode keys in on songs spotlighted in the book which also appear on the Bridge countdown and the Dave’s Music Database list of The Top 100 Songs of the 1980s. Songs Featured in the Book: AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980) Aha “Take on Me” (1984) Beastie Boys “You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party” (1986) Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986) Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” (1981) Phil Collins “Another Day in Paradise” (1989) Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (1987) Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” (1985) Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982) Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1983) Peter Gabriel “Sledgehammer” (1986) Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing” (1982) Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five “The Message” 1982) Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987) Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O' Mine” (1987) Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me” (1987) The Human League “Don't You Want Me?” (1981) Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1982) Michael Jackson “Thriller” (1982) Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll” (1981) George Jones “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (1980) Journey “Don't Stop Believin’” (1981) Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980) Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time” (1983) Madonna “Like a Prayer” (1989) George Michael “Careless Whisper” (1984) Willie Nelson “Always on My Mind” (1982) Olivia Newton-John “Physical” (1981) Dolly Parton “9 to 5” (1980) The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983) Prince “When Doves Cry” (1984) Public Enemy “Fight the Power” (1989) Lionel Richie & Diana Ross “Endless Love” (1981) Lionel Richie “All Night Long (All Night)” (1983) Kenny Rogers “Lady” (1980) Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton “Islands in the Stream” (1983) Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith’s Steve Tyler & Joe Perry “Walk This Way” Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark” (1984) Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” (1982) Tina Turner “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” (1984) U2 “With or Without You” (1987) Van Halen “Jump” (1983) Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” (1987) Dionne (Warwick) & Friends (Elton John, Gladys Knight, & Stevie Wonder) “That's What Friends Are For” (1985) Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987) Stevie Wonder “I Just Called to Say I Love You” (1984) Albums Featured in the Book: AC/DC Back in Black (1980) Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill (1986) Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (1986) Def Leppard Hysteria (1987) Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985) Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987) Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (1985) Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) Michael Jackson Bad (1987) Madonna Like a Virgin (1984) George Michael Faith (1987) NWA Straight Outta Compton (1989) The Police Synchronicity (1983) Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain soundtrack (1984) Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) R.E.M. Murmur (1983) Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down (1983) Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell (1986) The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986) Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (1984) The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (1989) Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) Van Halen 1984 (1984) Spotify Podcast: Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode Music of the 1980s (debut: 12/14/2021) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database book: Music of the 1970s Dave’s Music Database: “The Top 100 Songs of the 1980s” 90.9 The Bridge: “The Top 909 Songs of the 1980s” Dave’s Music Database: “Other “songs of the decade” lists Dave’s Music Database: “The Top 100 Albums of the 1980s” Dave’s Music Database: “Other “albums of the decade” lists First posted 12/14/2021; last updated 2/28/2024.