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Unlike the theme of my previous music anniversary article, where we looked back on how 1971 is considered one of the best years in the history of popular music (and rightfully so), 1981 isn’t given nearly as much attention. A decade can either kickstart with an artistic movement—like ’71, 1991 or 2001—or take time finding its groove. Disco and punk were dying down by 1981 and new-wave pop was about to break through to the mainstream. Only a year later, in 1982, we would get Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ and Toto’s ‘IV’ for classic pop music. But like with most years, with enough searching and digging, plenty of gems can be found from ‘81.
A lot of the time when revisiting the 1980s, we’re reminded how awkward of an era it was for the original classic rockers. This includes the Rolling Stones, though their 1981 album ‘Tattoo You’ was a success with fans, critics and casual listeners, and originated the hit single ‘Start Me Up.’
The prog-rock legends of Rush continued their tenure in 1981 with ‘Moving Pictures,’ giving us ‘Tom Sawyer’ and ‘Limelight’—two signature tracks of the band’s. The reggae friendly rock band The Police were in the middle of their prime with the release of the album ‘Ghosts in the Machine,’ which featured the singles ‘Spirits in the Material World’ and ‘Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.’ The latter is now considered one of The Police’s best songs.
Pop music kings Hall & Oates reigned on in 1981 with the release of their LP ‘Private Eyes,’ earning them two more mega-hits from the title track and ‘I Can’t Go for That.’ Rock-turned-pop band Journey also fared well releasing their seventh album, ‘Escape,’ resulting in three of their biggest songs: ‘Don’t Stop Believin’,’ ‘Who’s Crying Now’ and ‘Open Arms.’
Two of the most iconic new wave songs of the decade, ‘Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go’ and ‘Don’t You Want Me’ by synth-pop groups Soft Cell and the Human League, were released in ’81 off of SC’s debut ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’ and HL’s third album ‘Dare.’ At the same time, The Go-Gos would officially debut on the charts and in stores with their debut ‘Beauty and the Beat.’ The five young ladies showed the world you could have the aesthetic of a traditional pop girl group, but also the values of a rock band, exemplified on trademark tunes like ‘We Got the Beat’ and ‘Our Lips are Sealed.’
For some post-punk, goth-rock goodness, The Cure, The Church and The Fall would all release records in 1981: ‘Faith,’ ‘Of Skins and Hearts’ and ‘Slates.’ The queen of alternative rock, Nico, released her sixth solo album, ‘Drama of Exile;’ while former Genesis frontman-drummer Phil Collins’ first solo album, ‘Face Value,’ came out featuring his now classic atmospheric song, ‘In the Air Tonight.’ Fleetwood Mac frontwoman Stevie Nicks gave us her own solo debut, ‘Bella Donna,’ also containing the classic tune, ‘Edge of Seventeen;’ while country-rock princess Emmylou Harris dropped her eighth solo record, ‘Evangeline.’
Olivia Newton-John’s iconic ‘Physical’ and the title track proved that the singer-actress could work with pop just as well as her country origins; and Joan Jett certified her turf as hard rock’s top lady on her second album with the Blackhearts: ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ with the equally classic title track. Rod Stewart, the Cars and the J. Geils Band would keep the hits coming with ‘Tonight I’m Yours,’ ‘Shake It Up, and ‘Freeze Frame.’ Radio-friendly rock bands The Pretenders and Jefferson Starship coined the former’s sophomore effort and the latter’s sixth record of ‘Pretenders II’ and ‘Modern Times.’
Marvin Gaye, Grace Jones, Al Green and Diana Ross kept the soul alive with ‘In Our Lifetime,’ ‘Nightclubbing,’ ‘Higher Plane,’ and ‘To Love Again.’ Quite a few staples of ‘80s music would make their official breakthrough in 1981, such as Motley Crue, New Order, the Stray Cats, Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Oingo Boingo and Duran Duran with their first albums ‘Too Fast for Love,’ ‘Movement,’ ‘Stray Cats,’ ‘In the Garden,’ ‘Speak & Spell,’ ‘Only a Lad’ and ‘Duran Duran.’
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And last, but definitely not least, the quintessential ‘80s hard rock band, Van Halen, gave us their fourth LP: ‘Fair Warning.’ Now considered by many the band’s most underrated album, VH fans were also delivered future fan favorites with the songs ‘Mean Street’ and ‘Unchained.’
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Sometimes when you look up a certain period to see what music was popular at the time, it’s surprising how many icons and classics came out in that year. This is exactly what happened for me when I researched and realized all the good records released in 1981.
Do you like popular music from the early 1980s? What are your favorite of 1981’s top songs? Tell us in the comments!
Want More Music Reviews? Read These:
Revisiting 1971’S Greatest Hits, 50 Years Later
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