Beware: I am about to open Pandora’s Box.
’80s new wave music is my true love. This is the music of MTV. KROQ. Valley Girl. Martha Quinn. The Atari 2600. Members Only. Friday Night Videos. Nina Blackwood. Ms. Pac-Man. Night Flight. Richard Blade. Sixteen Candles. Alan Hunter. Jam boxes. Revenge Of The Nerds. Cabbage Patch Dolls. Parachute pants. J.J. Jackson. Live Aid. Mark Goodman. Rubik’s Cube. Donkey Kong.
This is the music that still makes me feel like a perpetual teenager.
Ecstatic ’80s New Wave: 1984
Eurogliders: “Heaven (Must Be There)” (Lynch)
From the album This Island
Columbia Records, 1984
Eurogliders had a string of hits in their native Australia in the mid-’80s, but “Heaven (Must Be There)” was their only song to receive any significant airplay in the United States. The single reached #21 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart, and nearly broke the Top 60 on the Hot 100. I must have put this song on at least 100 compilation tapes/CDs over the years…
Ultravox: “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes” (Cann/Cross/Currie/Ure)
From the album Lament
Chrysalis Records, 1984
It always amazed me that most of my friends and acquaintances had never heard this song (well, not until I sat them down and forced them to listen to it at least). Did you people not watch MTV? Did you not stare in awe at Midge Ure tearing it up at Live Aid? I fell in love with “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes” the very first time I heard it, but Ultravox remains very under-appreciated in the United States– even “Vienna” didn’t chart over here. Shameful.
INXS: “Original Sin” [Dance Mix] (A. Farriss/Hutchence)
From the 12″ single Original Sin
Original version from the album The Swing
Atco Records, 1984
Vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid
Listen Like Thieves may be the first INXS album I ever purchased, but The Swing will always be my favorite. The album didn’t perform particularly well in the United States, but “Original Sin” was a big hit just about everywhere else. Producer Nile Rodgers crafted The Swing into INXS’ most-danceable record, but it’s also the best batch of songs the Aussies ever committed to vinyl.
XTC: “All You Pretty Girls” [Single Version] (Partridge)
Original version from the album The Big Express
Virgin Records, 1984
“All You Pretty Girls” was the lead single from The Big Express, XTC’s seventh album. By that point, XTC existed only as a studio band due to Andy Patrtridge’s issues with severe stage fright. The lack of touring exposure likely contributed to the poor chart performance of “All You Pretty Girls” (and The Big Express album as well), but it’s still a fantastic song and and one of XTC’s best singles.
Duran Duran: “The Wild Boys” [Wilder Than The Wild Boys Extended Mix] (Duran Duran)
From the 12″ single The Wild Boys
Original version from the album Arena
Capitol Records, 1984
Every time I hear this song, I picture Andy Taylor trying to sneak into the control room (cigarette in mouth, of course) to turn up his guitar. I mean, listen to it– the man is rocking out, and he’s about as loud up in the mix as Yasmin’s backing vocals. Not a surprise, I suppose, that Taylor would soon need a side project (The Power Station) to vent his pent-up guitar frustrations…
“The Wild Boys” peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it is perhaps best known for its futuristic video that almost killed Simon LeBon. The “Simon almost drowned” myth has been dispelled over the years, as has the rumor that Yasmin LeBon provided backing vocals on the song (started by me almost three whole sentences ago!).
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Bonus Tracks!
The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.
Ultravox: “Vienna” (Cann/Cross/Currie/Ure)
From the album Vienna
Chrysalis Records, 1980
Ultravox: “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes” [Extended Version]
From the 12″ single Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
Chrysalis Records, 1984
Vinyl rip courtesy of DJ PaulT and his amazing Burning The Ground site: http://burningtheground.net/
INXS: “I Send A Message” (A. Farriss/Hutchence)
From the album The Swing
Atco Records, 1984
The Power Station: “Murderess” (Taylor/Palmer/Taylor)
From the album The Power Station
Capitol Records, 1985
The Analog Kid 
Never understood why The Swing didn’t catch on. It was sort of their Reckoning, a weird transitional record between a well-received debut and stardom. And yes, Reckoning is my favorite R.E.M. record (and “Harborcoat” may be my favorite R.E.M. song).