Playing Back the 80s

Jim Beviglia is the author of Counting Down Bob Dylan: His 100 Finest Songs; Counting Down Bruce Springsteen: His 100 Finest Songs; Counting Down The Rolling Stones: Their 100 Finest Songs; and Counting Down The Beatles: Their 100 Finest Songs, all published by Rowman & Littlefield.In addition, Jim is the featured writer at American Songwriter magazine, where he writes features and reviews on new and classic artists for the print and online editions. He also hosts his own blog at countdownkid.wordpress.com., where he focuses on the back catalogues of some of rock and pop’s greatest artists and songwriters.

• Introduction“Cars” by Gary Numan“Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes“Whip It” by Devo“Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” by The Korgis“Once In A Lifetime” by Talking Heads“All Out Of Love” by Air Supply“Just Like (Starting Over)” by John Lennon“Take It Easy on Me” by The Little River Band“Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield“Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes“Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider“Baby, Come to Me” by Patti Austin and James Ingram“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey“867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone“At This Moment” by Billy Vera & The Beaters“In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins“I Melt with You” by Modern English“Someday, Someway” by Marshall Crenshaw“She Blinded Me with Science” by Thomas Dolby“Shakin’” by Eddie Money“Our House” by Madness“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor“The Safety Dance” by Men without Hats“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson“Shame on the Moon” by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band“Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye“Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood and The Destroyers“Mr. Roboto” by Styx“Suddenly Last Summer” by The Motels“Sister Christian” by Night Ranger“Overkill” by Men at Work“I Want a New Drug” by Huey Lewis & The News“Cruel Summer” by Bananarama“Sunglasses at Night” by Corey Hart“She’s a Beauty” by The Tubes“Every Breath You Take” by The Police“Talking in Your Sleep” by The Romantics“Cherish” by Kool & The Gang“Valotte” by Julian Lennon“Smuggler’s Blues” by Glenn Frey“Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco“St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” by John Parr“Separate Lives” by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin“Life in a Northern Town” by The Dream Academy“Broken Wings” by Mr. Mister“And We Danced” by The Hooters“Cry” by Godley & Crème“Miami Vice Theme” by Jan Hammer“Your Love” by The Outfield“If You Leave” by Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark“Welcome to the Boomtown” by David + David“Keep Your Hands to Yourself” by The Georgia Satellites“The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby & The Range“Shake You Down” by Gregory Abbott“Someday” by Glass Tiger“Seasons Change” by Expose“Don’t Mean Nothing” by Richard Marx“One” by Metallica“Under the Milky Way” by The Church“Cult of Personality” by Living Colour“The Look” by Roxette“So Alive” by Love and Rockets“Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty“Love Shack” by The B-52’s“The Heart of the Matter” by Don Henley

Beviglia brings a critic and fan’s perspective to his examination of 65 of the “finest songs” of the 1980s in this impressive selection. He includes classics such as the Police’s “Every Breath You Take,” one-hit wonders such as Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus,” and psychedelic new wave sounds such as the Church’s “Under the Milky Way.” Beviglia interviewed the songwriter or producer for each song, and their input is fun and insightful. About “Sunglasses at Night,” Corey Hart says, “Lyrically, I was trying to capture the cool rebellious spirit à la James Dean.” Modern English singer Robbie Grey admits to writing “I Melt With You” “in about three minutes sitting on the floor stoned in my house in Shepard’s Bush, London.” Andy McCluskey of Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark recalled the inspiration for their song “If You Leave”: Pretty in Pink filmmaker John Hughes said to them, “So can you write a song that is... 120 beats per minute?” With only three only pages on each song, the coverage can feel light, but for those looking for a glimpse into what made the music of the ’80s a genre that still resonates today, Beviglia has created an excellent time capsule.