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The '80s: Were They Really That Bad?

September 2, 2008 - Were the 1980s the worst years for music? NPR listeners seem to think so, according to the results of our poll. When asked to pick the best year for music, nearly everyone skipped the '80s entirely. On this edition of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen looks back at the decade of synth pop, hair metal, and hardcore with Stephen Thompson, editor of Song of the Day, Robin Hilton, All Songs Considered producer and host of Second Stage, and Carrie Brownstein, writer for the Monitor Mix blog.

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The '80s: Were They Really That Bad?

Cover for Licensed to Ill

Beastie Boys

Album: Licensed to Ill
Song: Fight for Your Right
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    • "Fight for Your Right"
    • CD: Licensed to Ill
    • Artist: Beastie Boys
    • Label: Def Jam
    • Released: 2008
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Original Soundtrack

Album: Footloose [Expanded Edition]
Song: Let's Hear It for the Boy
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    • "Let's Hear It for the Boy"
    • CD: Footloose [Expanded Edition]
    • Artist: Original Soundtrack
    • Label: Sony
    • Released: 1998
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Escape Club

Album: Wild Wild West
Song: Wild, Wild West
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    • CD: Wild Wild West
    • Artist: Escape Club
    • Label: Atlantic
    • Released: 1988
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Hall & Oates

Album: Voices
Song: You Make My Dreams
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    • CD: Voices
    • Artist: Hall & Oates
    • Label: BMG
    • Released: 1980
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Don Johnson

Album: Heartbeat
Song: Heartbeat
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    • CD: Heartbeat
    • Artist: Don Johnson
    • Label: Razor & Tie
    • Released: 1986
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Bruce Springsteen

Album: Tunnel of Love
Song: Brilliant Disguise
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    • CD: Tunnel of Love
    • Artist: Bruce Springsteen
    • Label: Columbia
    • Released: 2008
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The Replacements

Album: Let It Be
Song: I Will Dare
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    • CD: Let It Be
    • Artist: The Replacements
    • Label: Twintone
    • Released: 1984
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Starship

Album: Knee Deep in the Hoopla
Song: We Built This City
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    • CD: Knee Deep in the Hoopla
    • Artist: Starship
    • Label: BMG Japan
    • Released: 1985
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Tracy Chapman

Album: Tracy Chapman
Song: Fast Car

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    • CD: Tracy Chapman
    • Artist: Tracy Chapman
    • Label: Elektra/Asylum
    • Released: 1988
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Guns N' Roses

Album: Appetite for Destruction
Song: Paradise City
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    • CD: Appetite for Destruction
    • Artist: Guns N' Roses
    • Label: Geffen
    • Released: 1987
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Tears for Fears

Album: Songs from the Big Chair [Deluxe Edition]
Song: Head Over Heels
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    • CD: Songs from the Big Chair [Deluxe Edition]
    • Artist: Tears for Fears
    • Label: Mercury
    • Released: 2006
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Talking Heads

Album: Speaking in Tongues [Bonus Tracks]
Song: This Must Be the Place [Naive Melody]

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    • CD: Speaking in Tongues [Bonus Tracks]
    • Artist: Talking Heads
    • Label: Sire
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Minor Threat

Album: Minor Threat [EP]
Song: Straight Edge

This CD is available from the band's Web site.

 
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The Bats

Album: Daddy's Highway
Song: North by North
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    • CD: Daddy's Highway
    • Artist: The Bats
    • Label: Mammoth
    • Released: 1987
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Bush Tetras

Album: Boom in the Night
Song: Too Many Creeps
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    • CD: Boom in the Night
    • Artist: Bush Tetras
    • Label: ROIR
    • Released: 1995
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