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.

There's a handful of songs I don't recognise, but many of these can still be heard on BBC R2 Sounds of the 80s, or Planet Radio's Absolute 80s and Forgotten 80s.

My contributions, mostly not played as much rather than obscure.

Scritti Politti - Oh Patti, I really like Green Gartside's voice.

Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't it be good, and many others.

Pet Shop Boys - Domino Dancing

Robin Beck - First Time, One hit wonder, but I remember this as the Coca-Cola advert.

Gun - Better Days, This was on Forgotten 80s one weekend and I'd never heard of it before. The same Gun who did Word Up. Lead singer is Sharleen Spiteri's first cousin.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don't come around here no more.
I came across L.i.f.e.g.o.e.s.o.n by Noah and the Whale fairly recently which really reminded me of Don't come around here no more.

Fool if you Think It's Over by Elkie Brooks, one of my favourite songs ever.

Snake dance- March Violets
Jimmy Mack - Sheena Easton
New Flame - Simply Red
Got to share - Yazz

Gun - Better Days, This was on Forgotten 80s one weekend and I'd never heard of it before. The same Gun who did Word Up. Lead singer is Sharleen Spiteri's first cousin.

Oh wow! I saw Texas at Leeds Poly in the 80s and I’ve been sure they were supported by Gun but nobody remembers. I guess I didn’t dream it.

Great story! I guess both bands were still in their infancy, as Texas didn't really become big until the late 90s I reckon.

Love comes quickly - Pet Shops Boys
In the name of love - Thompson Twins
Hands to Heaven - Breathe

I’d forgotten - saw Patsy Kensit and Eighth Wonder at Leicester Ploy. She had slim a cute silver dress that I envied so much!

Body Talk and Music and Lights - Imagination

Their outfits made Madonna’s looks conservative 😆

both songs are on a play list and ds has introduced them to his friends they love them

Great thread! A couple of songs that I don't think have been mentioned yet:

Just What I Always Wanted - Mari Wilson

Postcards from Paradise - Flesh for Lulu

This has cheered me up!!

Life In a Northern Town – The Dream Academy

Wishful thinking- China Crisis I think

Another APP fan! Didn’t think anyone outside my uni friendship group had heard of them.

To add to your list of great APP songs: The Same Old Sun, Shadow of a Lonely Man, Limelight, Snake Eyes, Don’t Let it Show.

The mixed metaphors in the Ammonia Avenue lyrics do bother me though: ‘And word by word they handed down the light that shines today…’ 😵‍💫😆

So many good songs that I'd forgotten about mentioned on this thread - I going to have to make a playlist.

Here's my contribution

Witness for the world - Cry Before Dawn
Understanding Jane - The Icicle Works
Forever Young - Alphaville
Gravitate to me -The The
So Alive - Love and Rockets
Brand New Toy - The Jeremy Days
Night Train - Visage
Missing You - John Waite
Major Tom (Coming Home) - Peter Schilling
Drowning in Berlin - The Mobiles

Waiting For A Train by Flash and the Pan
Life In A Northern Town by Dream Academy
Party Fears Two by The Associates

Was going to say Spanish Stroll by Mink Deville but that's 70s!

Paranoimia by Art of Noise/Max Headroom
I Second That Emotion by Japan

E=MC2 by Big Audio Dynamite
Free Nelson Mandela by Special AKA

Calling All The Heroes by It Bites, Dolce Vita by Ryan Paris and Just What I Always Wanted by Mari Wilson. I'm sure I will be back soon with a billion more.

Spellbound by Siouxsie and the Banshees
I'm in Love with a German Film Star by The Passions
Oblivion by Sisters of Mercy
Liberator by Spear of Destiny
Love will Tear us Apart by Joy Division
Pearly Dewdrops'drops by The Cocteau Twins

Turn It Around – Husker Du
Move Me – The Woodentops
Ask The Lord – Hipsway

Haven't read the whole thread, but many of these were big hits at the time, not lesser known by any means.

I’m not sure if this one just squeezes into 1990 but just listening to Because I Love You (The Postman Song) by Stevie B

Yes, 1989. They were very new - had just released I Don’t Want a Lover, and the gig wasn’t very full!

I also saw Then Jerico at Leeds Poly in 87, before everyone had noticed that Mark Shaw was cute, and there was hardly anyone there. They gave it their all though.

I loved The Eye in the Sky album. Happy memories.