Can anyone recommend any good 80s alternative semi-obscure-but-good songs?

[Arugula Latte]

I'm mining I-tunes to see if there is something I'm not thinking of... Stuff that might have gotten a little airplay on alternative/college stations in the 80s but that has slipped into the mists of time. I like stuff along the lines of "Watusi Rodeo" by Guadalcanal Diary or "Drive That Fast" by Kitchens of Distinction or "Uncertain Smile" by The The or "Inside Out" by the Mighty Lemondrops or "Rattlesnakes" by Lloyd Cole, etc ...

Thanks :hi:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. This might be useful. Or not.

http://www.onehitwondercentral.com/80s.cfm

[Arugula Latte]

2. Thanks ... That's a fun list. Haven't thought of some of those songs in years.

I'm going to read over it, but in the meantime, I'm going to go download "I've Never Been to Me." :rofl:

:hi:

[taterguy]

3. What about that eighties alterna-supergroup the Golden Palominos

The one with Michael Stipe and Chris Stamey and Richard Thompson and John Lydon and Jack Bruce and a bazzillion other music legends. I really like their Moby Grape cover Omaha.

[Arugula Latte]

5. Thanks. I'll check it out.

:hi:

[myrna minx]

4. How about Let's Active:

Horizon or In Little Ways.

or Easterhouse: Contenders.
http://www.amazon.com/Contenders-Easterhouse/dp/B00005CDUC

Shriekback: Lined up or anything from Oil and Gold.

Carry Bag Man by The Fall

[Arugula Latte]

6. I remember the names "Let's Active" but never knew their stuff.

I'm unfamiliar with Easterhouse ... I'll check into them.

Shiekback sounds like a good contender.

Thanks! :hi:

[taterguy]

14. High quality Let's Active Youtube clip here

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pMCQNZk1RG0

[underpants]

26. Cypress and A foot are great albums so is "Big plans for everybody"

Let's Active is one of my all time favorites.

[RandomKoolzip]

7. Christmas: "Stupid Kids."

Oh man, there's hundreds I could name right now....but I gotta go to class.

[taterguy]

8. The Long Ryders: Looking For Lewis and Clark

[fudge stripe cookays]

30. Crap! Ya beat me!

One of my favorites!

[enigmatic]

36. "And She Rides"- The Long Ryders

The original 45; what a band...

[Le Taz Hot]

9. I highly recommend:

Tonio K. Here's an excerpt from "Funky Western Civilization."

There's a fire in the courthouse
There's a riot in the streets
There's a sinner being trampled by a thousand pious feet.
There's a baby every minute being born without a chance.
But just because we're hypnotized that don't mean we can't dance . . .

Let's do the Funky . . .
The Funky Western Civilization.
It's so very spunky.
Just like summertime vacation.
Grab your partner by the hair,
Throw her down and leave her there.

[InternalDialogue]

10. Here's a few still hanging around my collection

House of Freaks "When The Hammer Came Down"

Ghost of an American Airman "Bring On The Mystery"

Voice of the Beehive "Monsters And Angels"

The Del-Lords "Judas Kiss"

Jules Shear "The Trap Door"


A couple of those might be bleeding over into the early '90s, but I went through them all at the same time, starting at the college radio station in 1989.

[Arugula Latte]

19. That's great. My i-Pod playlist is called "The 80s (or close enough)"

and has some early 90s stuff which retained the spirit of the earlier decade.

[vi5]

11. I would do an amazon search for...

the Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the 80's on Rhino. There are several volumes out and most of them aren't really the big, obvious hits (although there are some of those).

[asthmaticeog]

12. A few. You may know 'em, you may not.

Plimsouls - "A Million Miles Away"

The Wedding Present - "Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft"

The Close Lobsters - "Let's Make Some Plans"

That Petrol Emotion - "Genius Move"

Dramarama - "Anything Anything"

I'm just going off the top of my head here, so maybe more later when they come to me.

[Arugula Latte]

17. The Plimsouls and Dramarama tunes are two of my favorites!

Good choices! :thumbsup:

I'm going to try to check out the others. Thanks!

[NightWatcher]

13. Rock Lobster, B52's is good this time of year for your party song needs

[Arugula Latte]

18. Indeed. As well as "Private Idaho."

Look out for the pool! :D

[JCMach1]

74. Strobe Light is awesome... and a bit obscure as well

'Wanna make love to you under the strobe light...'

[JCMach1]

75. Almost anything by Robyn Hitchcock...

[LibraLiz1973]

80. LoL- thats my ringtone

I love rock lobster

[Debi]

15. Obviously anything by Laura Branigan would be a mandatory addition

http://www.laurabraniganonline.com/default.php

[xmas74]

27. Are we going for flames already?

[ghostsofgiants]

16. Some of my favourites...

I was born in '85 so I'm not sure how popular or obscure these might have been at the time.

Mission of Burma - "That's When I Reach For My Revolver"
Rites of Spring - "For Want Of You"
Husker Du - "Pink Turns To Blue"
Psychedelic Furs - "All Of This And Nothing"
Dead Milkmen - "Punk Rock Girl"
Gang of Four - "To Hell With Poverty"
Public Image Ltd. - "The Order Of Death"
Bad Brains - "I Against I"

[vi5]

20. Oh....I just remembered..."China" by Red Rockers...

Highly recommended.

[Arugula Latte]

41. Love that tune!

:thumbsup:

[LynneSin]

21. Romeo Void: "I'd like you better if we slept together"

:D

[idgiehkt]

25. love that song

wow. Haven't heard that one in ages.

[Coventina]

49. FYI: "Never Say Never" is the name of the song.

Might help people find it more easily.

:hi:

[Lautremont]

22. One of my favourite songs ever: "Sex Beat" by The Gun Club.

The Nails' "88 Lines About 44 Women" is a classic. How about "Not Waltz Away" by Passion Fodder? Or "Southern Mark Smith" by The Jazz Butcher? "Lazarus, Lazarus" off the first Apartments album is good, and then you've got "When The Girls Get Here" by The Young Fresh Fellows.

[unpossibles]

23. hmm. I'm not so good at knowing if these got airplay

but here are some that semi-surfaced as far as I remember:

"Running Up That Hill" or "Hounds of Love" - Kate Bush
"Everyday Sunshine" - Fishbone
"Catholic School Girls Rule" - Chili Peppers
"Perfect Circle" - REM
"Ted Just Admit It" - Jane's Addiction
"This Corrosion" - Sisters of Mercy
"When I Win The Lottery" - Camper Van Beethoven
"Kingdom of Rain" - The The
"No New Tales To Tell" - Love & Rockets
"Personal Jesus" or "Just Can't Get Enough" - Depeche Mode
"A Little Respect" - Erasure

Let me think of more....

[NewWaveChick1981]

24. Oooh, I know lots of them...

Anything by Rubber Rodeo
Anything by Bronski Beat
Jackie Onassis by Human Sexual Response (their song What does Sex Mean To Me? is great too!)
Teenage Enema Nurses in Bondage by Killer Pussy (freaking hilarious song!)
Happy Birthday and I Could Be Happy by Altered Images
Still In Hollywood by Concrete Blonde

Lots of others too. I'll post when I think of them. :)

[Arugula Latte]

31. Thanks to everyone for all the great suggestions!

I'll be busy checking songs out! :hi:

[ceile]

28. "Breather" Chapter House

"I Wanna Be Adored" Stone Roses
"All Night Long" Peter Murphy
"The Only One I Know" Charlatans UK
"Twisterella" RIDE
"Christine" House of Love

Can you tell I love shoe gazer music?

[underpants]

29. "Praying Mantis" by Don Dixon-"Ivory Tower" by the Longryders

Anything by the db's or Hodoo Gurus. Not really 80's but Soul Asylum's "And the horse they rode in on" is a great album (story telling wordsmith) IMHO

Oh see if you can find Waxing Poetics "Manakin Moon" or anything by them. I wore that out.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention The Fleshtones especially "Roman Gods" and Game Theory's "Lolita Nation" both are out of print but they are IMHO two of the best albums ever made especially "Lolita"

This has me wondering if iTunes has Roman Gods or Waxing Poetics-I have looked everywhere for Game Theory no luck yet.

[driver8]

39. "Praying Mantis" is an awesome song!!

Don Dixon and Mitch Easter produced and recorded my favorite album ever -- REM's "Murmur."

[NashVegas]

57. Whenever I Hear The Raconteurs "Steady As She Goes"

That's all I can think of.

[Rabrrrrrr]

32. Yes.

[WCGreen]

33. Cry...

By Godley and Creme...

[Arugula Latte]

42. Oh, yeah ... I remember that "morphing" video where one face melted into another.

That was way ahead of its time ...

[MAGICBULLET]

34. ¡ enjoy !

i believe in you -talk talk
shoot you down - apb
rip it up - orange juice
enola gay - omd
generals and majors - xtc
our lips are sealed - funboy 3
what i like most about you is your girlfriend - the specials
lucky number - lene lovich
this night has opened my eyes - the smiths
god on my side -world party
if i could keep it for myself - gang of four

[enigmatic]

35. Here's a bunch

"Hyacinth Girl"- Winter Hours

"The Backyard" and "Steven Are You There"- Miracle Legion

"The Other Side"- Moving Targets

"Island"- Dumptruck

"The Days Of Wine And Roses"_ The Dram Syndicate

"Sit With Me In The Dark"- The Outnumbered

"Coca-cola And Liquorice"- The Death Of Samantha

"Pretty Blue"- The Squalls

"Live It Up"- Cryin' Out Loud

"Drive Somewhere" and "Change The World"- The Vulgar Boatmen

"A Few Hundred Thank You's" and "Tennessee Fire"- The Silos

"Overtown"- Charlie Pickett and The Eggs

"At My Mercy"- American Music Club

"Jolene"- Lone Justice

"Only Ghosts Remain" and "Sameway Tomorrow"- Bobby Sutliff ("Only Ghosts Remain" is the best power-pop album of the 80's)

"Sun God"- Squirrel Bait (the embryo of Slint; better than Husker Du, and Bob Mould admitted as much)

"The Rain Won't Hurt You When It's Over"- The True Believers

"I Am, I Said"- Killdozer

"(I Want To) Help You Ann- The Lyres

"Emotion"- DFX2

"Everywhere That I'm Not"- Translator

I have to stop, I could go all night :D

[enigmatic]

37. A few more

"Carolyn's Song"- The Rain Parade

"And Then The Rain" (The version off "Drifters")- True West

"Marjorie Tells Me"- The Three O' Clock

"Hair And Skin"- Green On Red

"Everywhere Girl"- Dreams So Real

"Poor Old Tom" and "Two Angels"- Peter Case

"In Your Eyes"- The Reivers

"Come Back Jim"- The Gun Club

"Judgement" and "Posession"- The Sound ( their "From The Lion's Mouth" album is better than anything Echo and The Bunnymen have released)

[enigmatic]

38. I can't stop, dammit!

"Middle Of The Night"- Chris D/Divine Horsemen

"25 Pills"- 28th Day

"We Don't Need A Tan"- Los Illegals

"2541"- Grant Hart

"Try"- Blue Rodeo

"Blow At High Dough"- The Tragically Hip

"Backward Town"- The Grapes Of Wrath

[asthmaticeog]

45. Excellent lists, enigmatic!

I just found that DFX2 ep last week in cherry condition for a buck. Scoooooooore!

[Coventina]

50. Yes, enigmatic is obviously the God of Jangle Pop.

Haven't seen the names of Dreams So Real or Green on Red or Dumptruck for many a long day.

However, I do agree with driver8 that slander against Echo & The Bunnymen is fightin' words!!

on edit: was so mad about Echo & the Bunnymen that I couldn't type straight!
:D

[asthmaticeog]

52. It's funny...

When I was doing my list upthread, I was trying my damndest to remember Dreams So Real. I saw them in like 88 or 89 and enjoyed the show, but their name totally slipped my mind until enigmatic's posts. :D As for Dumptruck, I wish the "For the Country" album would be reissued by like Bloodshot or something - I think that album gives 'em a legit claim to altcountry godfatherhood.

And yeah, messin' with Echo is touchy business.

[Coventina]

53. Agreed. I have all of Dumptruck's stuff on vinyl.

Which I never listen to anymore. "For the Country" is a masterwork.

I hate this business of having to re-buy all of one's music every time the format changes.

:argh:

[enigmatic]

56. D Is For Dumptruck is great

I almost put "Repitition" on the list but I was running out of gas:D

[Coventina]

60. I remember finding a copy of "D is for" at our local indie record store

My bf at the time was so pissed that he didn't find it first!

Every time I look at that record I remember the incident fondly.....

You know, there's just something about vinyl.

I certainly don't have memories attached to my mp3s. A few CDs have memories attached to them.

But my records? I remember buying almost each and every one of them. Who I was with. What my life was like at the time, etc.

Sorry, got caught in a riptide of nostalgia.

Damn, so this is what it's like to get old?

[enigmatic]

61. I hear you

Vinyl sounds better, and you can't hold an mp3 in your hand the way you can a record. I'm the same way, too; I've got unopened copies of some of my favorite records from that time I still pull out and look at every so often....

[asthmaticeog]

62. I found that album on eMusic...

...so I went straight from vinyl to MP3 without having to buy a CD inbetween, or spend the afternoon ripping the album. That was happymaking. :D

[Coventina]

65. My husband promises that someday he'll hook me up

with the technology to burn my vinyl into mp3 format.

Just thinking about it makes my heart palpitate......

[asthmaticeog]

68. It's SOOOO easy to do now.

Numark makes a Mac and PC compatible turntable with a USB connector built in, so you don't have to worry about noisy preamp hiss. And it's only like $150, including the cartidge and slipmat. I bought one as soon as I found out they existed.

[enigmatic]

54. haha

I love The Bunnymen, I think the Ocean Rain album is a classic. But The Sound (and Adrian Boreland) were one of the most underappreciated band out of Britain at that time, and I could never figure out why they didn't get the love like The Teardrop Explodes, Echo, etc did. "From The Lion's Mouth" is really brilliant; if you've never heard it, I'd highly recommend it..

[asthmaticeog]

64. I'll bookmark this thread so I don't forget to keep an eye out, then.

That's some pretty high praise.

[enigmatic]

63. "For The Country" and The Silos "About Her Steps.", too

The Silos have been one of my favorite bands for 20 or so years, and "About Her Steps" really sent me into the whole alt-country thing when I picked up way back when. "Cuba" is their best record, but I'll always have a soft spot for the songs off "Steps"; Walter Salas-Humara is another underappreciated guy in a decade of them..

[Coventina]

66. I'm starting to think you ARE my ex-bf!

Or maybe his long-lost twin.

Do you like the Feelies by chance?

How do you feel about Game Theory?

[enigmatic]

67. "The Good Earth" is Godly

It's better than "Crazy Rhythms" IMO (which will get be stoned to death by some indie people), and there's not a bad cut off it. I've seen them 5 or 6 times; Game Theory's "Lolita Nation" is great, too...

[asthmaticeog]

69. Damn, Game Theory...

Is that guy doing anything these days? I loved that combination of pristine-yet-slightly-aggressive pop with that castrati voice of his.

[enigmatic]

70. He's playing under a different name

He was recording under The Loud Family for awhile after Game Theory, but I haven't kept up w/ him in a few years. The whole Lolita Nation album is so lilting; it's really beautiful in spots..

[driver8]

84. Enigmatic is my brother -- we were seperated at birth...

We have very similar tastes in music, movies, and women!!

[driver8]

85. I love me some Game Theory!

I have a friend named Scott Miller who played guitar on the John Lombardo / Mary Ramsey albums (from 10,000 Maniacs.). Anyhow, Scott Miller from Game Theory got credit in an article my friend Scott Miller read. He was so pissed that he sent Game Theory Scott Miller a nasty letter. I told him it wasn't Scott Miller's fault, but he said he felt better anyhow.

I used to play a song called (I think) "This City" (lyrics are, "This city brings me down..." It's on the "Real Nighttime" album. I also love that song, "Erica's word."

Good stuff!

[fudge stripe cookays]

76. And I am the Goddess...

reprehensor gets so annoyed at my love for jangle!!

I saw the Grapes of Wrath several times back in the day, in addition to the Smithereens, the Long Ryders, and a couple of other folks who escape me right now.

WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO RELEASE "CRASHING DREAM" by RAIN PARADE ON CD, DAMMIT!!!?????

I'll add several of my favorites:

"Find You" - Jason and the Scorchers
"Jet Fighter Man" - 3 O'Clock
"Hero Takes a Fall"- Bangles
"O Lucky Man"- Grapes of Wrath
"Deep Black"- Smithereens
"I Want You Bad"- Long Ryders
"Out of the Grey"- Dream Syndicate
"Tried to Please Her"- Reckless Sleepers

I know there are more...my jangle spidey sense is not tingling the way it should!

[enigmatic]

58. whoa

That's a great one, and pretty much vanished after very little airplay on MTV. I'd love to know what the twins are doing these days.

[driver8]

40. Blasphemer!!

How can you say that about "Echo and the Bunnymen"??

Them's fightin' words...

[enigmatic]

59. I knew I'd get flak for that

I love The Bunnymen, I just love The Sound even more; I will say "Broke My Neck" (the long version) is one of my favorite guitar freakouts from that time...

[Arugula Latte]

81. I'm a big Bunnymen fan, too, so I'll definitely check out The Sound.

:hi: Thanks!

[enigmatic]

73. One more, and it's a great one

Though not 80's (1978, I think), The Fans "True" is one of the great power-pop 45's of all-time. Kevin Dunn was a guiding light in the Atlanta/Athens scene in the 80's, and there's a Fans live tape that Peter Buck has promised to release for years.

Well worth checking out..

[Coventina]

43. Here's my list...on the pop-ish side:

1. Messages - OMD
2. Mesopotamia - B-52's
3. Complete Control - The Clash
4. Little Fluffy Clouds - The Orb
5. Eurotrash Girl - Cracker
6. Inbetween Days - The Cure
7. Would I Lie To You? - The Eurythmics
8. Trail of Tears - Guadalcanal Diary
9. Happy When It Rains - The Jesus and Mary Chain
10. Ball of Confusion - Love and Rockets
11. Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
12. This Wheel's On Fire - Siouxsie & the Banshees
13. Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
14. Strangelove - Depeche Mode
15. Yes Or No - The Go-Go's
16. Here Comes Your Man - The Pixies
17. Jerry Was A Race Car Driver - Primus
18. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker - The Ramones
19. Carry Go Bring Come - The Selector
20. God Save The Queen - The Sex Pistols
21. Everything That Rises (Must Converge) - Shriekback
22. Lucky Ball and Chain - They Might Be Giants
23. In God's Country - U2
24. Watershed - Indigo Girls
25. The Kick of Love - Nick Heyward

I think I may have some stuff from the late 70s and early 90s, but you get the idea.....

[Coventina]

48. Another 25 goodies:

1. Superman - REM
2. These Things Take Time - The Smiths
3. American Music - Violent Femmes
4. Give Me Back My Man - B-52's
5. Let's Go To Bed - The Cure
6. But Not Tonight - Depeche Mode
7. Shiny Cage - The Dukes of Stratosphere
8. Always Saturday - Guadalcanal Diary
9. April Skies - The Jesus and Mary Chain
10. Tesla Girls - OMD
11. Pale Shelter - Tears For Fears
12. Rudi, A Message to You - The Specials
13. She's An Angel - They Might Be Giants
14. Blood Bitch - The Cocteau Twins
15. All Women Are Bad - The Cramps
16. The Cutter - Echo & The Bunnymen
17. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes - Elvis Costello
18. Turn To You - The Go-Go's
19. Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) - Haircut 100
20. Blood And Fire - Indigo Girls
21. Sidewalk Talk - Jellybean
22. Shelter - Lone Justice
23. One Step Beyond - Madness
24. Nemesis - Shriekback
25. World Destruction - Time Zone

[taterguy]

44. Jason and the Scorchers cover of Dylan's Absolutely Sweet Marie

I think this actually got a fair amount of airplay on MTV, or maybe it was on some local video channel back in 1983 or so.

[begin_within]

46. "I Like..." by Men Without Hats is far superior to their hit "Safety Dance"

[auburngrad82]

47. King Crimson- Discipline is an awesome album

Adrian Belew on guitar and vocals, Bill Bruford on drums, Fripp on guitar and Tony Levin on stick.

[driver8]

86. That is an amazing album!!

"Elephant Talk" is one of my favorite songs, ever!"

[blondeatlast]

51. Fishbone -- edgy political ska with a decided sense of humor

"U. G. L. Y."--protesting Reagan

"Party at Ground Zero" Prince's "1999" for party punks

Also, they did an intense coer of "Freddie's Dead"

Great band and pitifully underrated. Their shows are incredible--they are still at it after 25 years.

[NashVegas]

55. "Do It Clean" (If You Know What I Mean)

If you don't, don't worry about it but if you do, look for the live version from the blue EP. Rocks. The. House.

[riverdale]

71. oo

Bitch Make Sandwich by Freaky Fukin Weirdoz
Good luck finding that one!

[electricmonk]

72. Fetchin Bones

Fetchin Bones

The Washington Squares were a fun band.

The Rain Parade were cool if you needed to mellow out.

[fudge stripe cookays]

77. I love those guys.

Saw them open for REM in '86 at the State Fair Bandshell here in Dallas.

I had a chain around my boot that fell off somewhere between us and the stage, and the FB lead guitarist helped me look for it afterwards when we were all standing around chatting with the bands. He was so cool!

And how can you not love lyrics like:
"Got a wig and I flipped it...
I dig you like a grave..."

I ask you...
:D

[DBoon]

78. Gidget Goes to Hell by the Suburban Lawns

Fascists Eat Donuts by Joe Pop'O Pies
I love Living in the City by Fear

[carly denise pt deux]

79. Whirly Girl by oxo

minimum wage rock n roll album-Bus Boys
all the songs on the Aldo Nova album

[LibraLiz1973]

82. Some songs (With youtube links) for your consideration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqOVpFv1jFk
King- Love & Pride


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNhR-PrTAFE
The Church- Under the Milky Way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmvTTxsCP-I
The Smithereens- Behind the Wall of Sleep

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh67nklWHfM
Social Distortion- Ball & Chain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg
Oingo Boingo- Dead Mans Party


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6dFU-pN9zM
The Motels- Shame

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVY2uI_mQ3c
Berlin- The Metro

[martymar64]

83. Ca Place Pour Moi by Plastic Bertrand

Fun song.