Lesser Known 80s Songs that You Like

[MuddledMadge]

Inspired by a recent discussion on Reddit.

I am interested in any brilliant 80s songs that you think should be better known.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

The Word Girl - Scritti Polliti
Kind of Rick and Roll - Prefab Sprout
Martha's Harbour - All About Eve
Live it up - Mental as Anything
Since Yesterday - Strawberry Switchblade

Also:

Something Inside So Strong - Labi Siffre
The State of Independence - Donna Summer

I am very pleased to see all the 'All about Eve' mentions. I loved Julianne Regan's voice- and 'In the Clouds' is one of my favourite songs. It's a shame they are remembered for the TOTP thing more than anything else.

I used to love Cuddly Toy. Loved it. Then Alan Partridge rocked out to it in the car and it was ruined forever

Oooh yes loved that Kim Wilde one.

I don't think the OP meant that, she means 80s songs that are less well known today
eg I've had a million 80s compilations over the years and they seem to have a very similar set of songs on them - wham!, dexy's, soft cell kind of thing.

I saw Roachford live in 1991 at the Summer XS. Main act was INXS also someone called Jellyfish, Blondie, Jesus Jones and Hothouse Flowers.
My two favourite lesser known songs are :-
Lick The Tins.. Can't Help Falling In Love.
The Adventures... Broken Land.

Oh and Donna Summer and Musical Youth.. Unconditional Love.

I was at this and don’t remember Roachford being there at all! I do remember Blondie were disappointing.

i also really love Broken Land.

Driving Away from Home - It's Immaterial

Ahh, Jellyfish -were brilliant- but now we're getting into lesser known 90s songs ('Baby's Coming Back' and 'Now she knows she's wrong' both tunes but 1990 ).

she means 80s songs that are less well known today

I think we've thrown the original remit out the window long ago tbh - I mean St Elmo's Fire is on the radio all the time and is famously evocative of the 1980s. It couldn't be better known, and the same is true of half the songs mentioned.

Stan Ridgeway - camouflage.
That was a strange song but listening to it takes me straight back to my friend Allison's house.

I love that song. One of the great narrative songs of all time.

I think a lot of you would enjoy Forgotten80s on Absolute80s radio every Sunday 9-11pm (you can also listen again whenever you like).

The show is stuffed full of underplayed 80s gems you rarely hear anywhere else.

https://planetradio.co.uk/absolute-80s/shows/forgotten-80s/

I loved All About Eve too. Saw them play at Southampton Uni c1989. Her voice was amazing. I also loved The Cult and The The.

Big Decision - That Petrol Emotion
Young at Heart - The Bluebells

Lick the Tins - I’d forgotten all about that song! I loved it so much - thanks for the reminder, have just listened to it for the first time in many years 😊

Ah! So did I. There in 1989.

TPE. Love.

Maybe we know each other!

@adriftabroad I'm from Southampton originally, was at 6th form.

Ocean Blue - ABC
Telegraph - OMD
She loved like diamond - Spandau Ballet

Someone Somewhere In Summertime - Simple Minds
Club Country - Associates
Election Day - Arcadia
Welcome To The Monkey House - Animal Magnet
Calling Your Name - Marilyn
Christian - China Crisis
Love Like Blood - Killing Joke
Sidewalk Talk - Jellybean
War Baby - Tom Robinson
E=MC2 - Big Audio Dynamite

There's A Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis - Kirsty McColl
Good Year For The Roses - Elvis Costello
Big In Japan - Alphaville
I Touch Myself - Divinyls
Rock This Town - Stray Cats
68 Guns - The Alarm

I was thinking of that one! Love it!!

I will definitely give that a listen, thanks!

UnctuousUnicorns - I was thinking of songs that aren't really played much now, but also songs that maybe didn't get the attention they deserved at the time even though they're brilliant songs.

I like hearing about songs that were popular in other countries but didn't really enjoy any success in the UK.

I'm not fussy

Anyway, thanks for all these responses.