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I guess I do need a job...
because I decided to try doing this last night. Comments are welcome, of course....
Michaelangelo Matos’s Top 100 Singles of the 1980s
1. Funky 4 + 1: “That’s the Joint” (Sugarhill 1981)
2. New Order: “Temptation” (Factory 1982)
3. Prince & the Revolution: “Kiss” (Paisley Park 1986)
4. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5: “The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel” (Sugarhill 1981)
5. Taana Gardner: “Heartbeat” (West End 1981)
6. Yoko Ono: “Walking on Thin Ice” (Geffen 1981)
7. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force: “I Wonder If I Take You Home” (Columbia 1985)
8. George Clinton: “Atomic Dog” (Capitol 1983)
9. Prince: “When Doves Cry”/“17 Days” (Warner Bros. 1984)
10. Joy Division: “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (Factory 1980)
11. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock: “It Takes Two” (Profile 1988)
12. Public Enemy: “Rebel without a Pause” (Def Jam 1987)
13. George Jones: “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (Epic 1980)
14. Dominatrix: “The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight” (1984)
15. Public Enemy: “Fight the Power” (Motown 1989)
16. Rythim is Rythim: “Strings Of Life” (Transmat 1989)
17. Prince: “U Got The Look (Long Look)”/“Housequake” (Paisley Park 1987)
18. Crowded House: “Don’t Dream It’s Over” (1987)
19. Tone-Loc: “Funky Cold Medina” (Delicious Vinyl 1989)
20. Diana Ross: “Upside Down” (Motown 1980)
21. Prince: “Little Red Corvette” (Warner Bros. 1983)
22. The Pretenders: “Back on the Chain Gang”/“My City Was Gone” (Sire 1983)
23. Wayne Smith: “Under Me Sleng Teng” (Greensleeves 1985)
24. The Police: “Every Breath You Take” (I.R.S. 1983)
25. K-Rob vs. Rammelzee: “Beat Bop” (Tartown 1983)
26. Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force: “Planet Rock” (Tommy Boy 1982)
27. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five: “The Message” (Sugarhill 1982)
28. Marvin Gaye: “Sexual Healing” (Columbia 1982)
29. Gregory Isaacs: “Night Nurse” (Island 1982)
30. Bruce Springsteen: “Glory Days” (Columbia 1985)
31. Prince: “1999”/“How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?” (Warner Bros. 1982)
32. N.W.A: “Straight Outta Compton” (Ruthless 1989)
33. Double Dee & Steinski: “Play that Beat Mr. DJ (Lesson 1: the Payoff Mix)”/“Lesson 2: the James Brown Mix”/“Lesson 3: History of Hip-Hop Mix” (Mastermix promo 1985)
34. Madonna: “Like a Prayer” (Sire 1989)
35. Public Enemy: “Welcome to the Terrordome” (Def Jam 1989)
36. New Order: “Bizarre Love Triangle” (Qwest 1986)
37. Roxanne Shante: “Go on Girl” (A&M 1988)
38. Guns N’ Roses: “Sweet Child o’ Mine” (Geffen 1988)
39. Chaka Khan: “I Feel For You” (Warner Bros. 1984)
40. Public Enemy: “Bring the Noise” (Def Jam 1987)
41. Prince: “Let’s Go Crazy”/“Erotic City” (Warner Bros. 1984)
42. Tom Tom Club: “Genius Of Love” (Sire 1981)
43. Michael Jackson: “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” (Epic 1983)
44. R.E.M.: “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (I.R.S. 1987)
45. Hüsker Dü: “Eight Miles High” (SST 1984)
46. Van Halen: “Jump” (Warner Bros. 1984)
47. Elbow Bones & the Rackateers: “A Night in New York” (EMI America 1982)
48. Inner City: “Good Life” (1989)
49. Prince: “Controversy”/“When You Were Mine” (Warner Bros. 1981)
50. The Specials: “Ghost Town”/“Why?”/“Friday Night, Saturday Morning” (2 Tone 1981)
51. Neil Young: “Rockin’ In The Free World” (Warner Bros. 1989)
52. The Time: “Jungle Love” (Warner Bros. 1984)
53. De La Soul: “Say No Go” (Tommy Boy 1989)
54. Madonna: “Holiday” (Sire 1983)
55. Flipper: “Sex Bomb”/“Brainwash” (Subterranean 1982)
56. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: “I Love Rock and Roll” (Blackheart 1982)
57. Indeep: “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life” (1983)
58. Michael Jackson: “Billie Jean” (Epic 1983)
59. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel: “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)” (Sugarhill 1983)
60. Janet Jackson: “When I Think Of You” (1986)
61. Tenor Saw: “Ring the Alarm” (1985)
62. ZZ Top: “Gimme All Your Lovin’” (Warner Bros. 1983)
63. The Rolling Stones: “Start Me Up” (Rolling Stones 1981)
64. Madonna: “Into the Groove” (Sire 1985)
65. Run-D.M.C.: “Walk This Way” (Profile 1986)
66. The Pretenders: “Brass in Pocket” (Sire 1980)
67. AC/DC: “You Shook Me All Night Long” (Atlantic 1980)
68. The Go-Gos: “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981)
69. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5: “Freedom” (Sugarhill 1980)
70. Dennis Brown: “Sitting & Watching” (Taxi 1981)
71. Talking Heads: “Once in a Lifetime”/“Seen and Not Seen” (Sire 1981)
72. Young MC: “Bust a Move” (Delicious Vinyl 1989)
73. Soul II Soul: “Keep On Movin’” (1989)
74. Audio Two: “Top Billin’” (First Priority 1987)
75. Madonna: “Open Your Heart” (Sire 1987)
76. The Beat: “Mirror in the Bathroom” (Go Feet 1980)
77. Young Marble Giants: “Final Day” (Rough Trade 1980)
78. Sheila E.: “The Glamorous Life” (Warner Bros. 1984)
79. Afrika Bambaataa/Zulu Nation/Cosmic Force: “Zulu Nation Throwdown” (Winley 1980)
80. Eric B. & Rakim: “I Know You Got Soul” (Zakia 1987)
81. Kool & the Gang: “Celebration” (Mercury 1980)
82. Bruce Springsteen: “Brilliant Disguise” (Columbia 1987)
83. Michelle Shocked: “Anchorage” (Cooking Vinyl 1988)
84. Guns N’ Roses: “Welcome to the Jungle” (Geffen 1988)
85. Pebbles: “Mercedes Boy” (MCA 1988)
86. Billy Idol with Generation X: “Dancing With Myself” (1981)
87. Billy Joel: “The Longest Time” (Columbia 1983)
88. N.W.A: “Express Yourself” (Ruthless 1989)
89. Eddy Grant: “Electric Avenue” (1983)
90. Herbie Hancock: “Rockit” (Columbia 1983)
91. L.L. Cool J: “I Can’t Live without My Radio” (Def Jam 1985)
92. Michael Jackson: “Beat It” (Epic 1983)
93. De La Soul: “Eye Know” (Tommy Boy 1989)
94. Laurie Anderson: “O Superman”/“Walk The Dog” (One Little Indian/Warner Bros. 1981)
95. Tracy Chapman: “Fast Car” (1988)
96. Prince & the Revolution: “Raspberry Beret” (Paisley Park 1985)
97. Paul Simon: “Late in the Evening” (Warner Bros. 1980)
98. Change: “Paradise” (Atlantic 1983)
99. Loose Joints: “Tell You (Today) (Vocal)” (Island 1983)
100. Madonna: “Crazy for You” (Sire 1985)
Runners up:
1980
Diana Ross: “I’m Coming Out” (Motown 1980)
James Brown: “Rapp Payback” (T.K. Disco)
Joy Division: “Atmosphere”/“She’s Lost Control” (Factory)
Blondie: “Call Me” (Chrysalis)
Spoonie Gee: “Spoonin’ Rap” (Sound of New York)
Treacherous Three: “The Body Rock” (Enjoy)
Black Uhuru: “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (Island)
Kurtis Blow: “The Breaks” (Mercury)
Liliput: “Split” (Rough Trade)
Tanya Winley: “Vicious Rap” (Winley)
Lipps Inc.: “Funkytown” (Casablanca)
The Police: “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” (I.R.S.)
The Clash: “Train In Vain”/“London Calling” (CBS)
John Lennon: “Just Like Starting Over”/Yoko Ono: “Kiss Kiss Kiss” (Geffen)
Bush Tetras: “Too Many Creeps”/“Snakes Crawl”/“You Taste Like The Tropics” (99)
Donna Summer: “On the Radio” (Casablanca)
The Beat: “Hands Off…She’s Mine”/“Twist & Crawl” (Go Feet)
Jim Carroll Band: “People Who Died”
The Manhattans: “Shining Star” (Columbia)
The Clash: “Bankrobber”/“The Call Up” (CBS)
Loleatta Holloway: “Love Sensation” (Goldmind)
The S.O.S. Band: “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” (Tabu)
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: “New Amsterdam” (F-Beat)
Junior Delgado: “Fort Augustus” (Island)
Robert Wyatt: “At Last I Am Free” (Rough Trade)
Devo: “Whip It” (Warner Bros.)
1981
The Romantics: “What I Like About You”
Kim Carnes: “Bette Davis Eyes” (EMI America)
R.E.M.: “Radio Free Europe” (Hib-Tone)
Flipper: “Ha Ha Ha” (Subterranean)
ESG: “Moody” (99)
Psychedelic Furs: “Pretty in Pink”
Rick James: “Super Freak” (Motown)
Romeo Void: “Never Say Never”
Afrika Bambaataa & the Jazzy 5: “Jazzy Sensation (Bronx Version)” (Tommy Boy)
Billy Joel: “Allentown” (Columbia)
Liliput: “Eisiger Wind”/“When the Cat’s Away” (Rough Trade)
Gang Of Four: “To Hell with Poverty” (EMI)
AC/DC: “Back in Black” (Atlantic)
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5: “Birthday Party” (Sugarhill)
Pigbag: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag”
Soft Cell: “Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?”
New Order: “Ceremony” (Factory)
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5: “It’s Nasty (Genius of Love)” (Sugarhill)
Coati Mundi: “Me No Pop I”
Black Flag: “Louie Louie” (Posh Boy)
Stevie Nicks: “Edge of Seventeen (Live)”
The Gap Band: “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)” (Mercury)
Smokey Robinson: “Being With You” (Tamla)
Earth, Wind & Fire: “Let’s Groove” (Columbia)
Liquid Liquid: “Cavern” (99)
Pete Shelley: “Homosapien”
1982
Sylvester: “Do You Wanna Funk?”
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: “Man Out of Time” (Columbia)
Fleetwood Mac: “Hold Me” (Warner Bros.)
Musical Youth: “Pass the Dutchie”
The Gap Band: “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” (Mercury)
NYC Peech Boys: “Don’t Make Me Wait” (West End)
The Human League: “Don’t You Want Me” (A&M)
The Jam: “A Town Called Malice”
Imagination: “Just an Illusion”
Modern English: “I Melt with You” (Sire)
Yaz: “Situation”/“Don’t Go” (Island)
The Clash: “Rock the Casbah” (CBS)
Fearless Four: “Rockin’ It” (Enjoy)
Rhoda & the Special AKA: “The Boiler” (2 Tone)
ABC: “The Look Of Love”
The Waitresses: “I Know What Boys Like”
Dexys Midnight Runners: “Come on Eileen”
Hall & Oates: “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”
Flipper: “Get Away”/“The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” (Subterranean)
The English Beat: “Save It For Later” (I.R.S)
Toni Basil: “Mickey”
C-Bank: “One More Shot” (Next Plateau)
1983
Run-D.M.C.: “It’s Like That”/“Sucker MCs” (Profile 1983)
New Order: “Blue Monday” (Factory)
John Cougar Mellencamp: “Pink Houses” (Riva)
Newcleus: “Jam on Revenge (the Wikki-Wikki Song)” (Sunnyview)
Shannon: “Let the Music Play” (Emergency)
Van Halen: “Running with the Devil” (Warner Bros.)
U2: “New Year’s Day” (Island)
Culture Club: “Church Of The Poison Mind” (Epic)
Bob Marley & the Wailers: “Buffalo Soldier” (Island)
Culture Club: “Karma Chameleon” (Epic)
Eurythmics: “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” (EMI)
Talking Heads: “Burning Down The House” (Sire)
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: “Everyday I Write The Book” (Columbia)
Jackson Browne: “Lawyers in Love”
Run-D.M.C.: “Hard Times”/“Jam Master Jay” (Profile)
Dimples D: “Sucker DJs (I Will Survive)” (Party Time)
C Bank featuring Jenny Burton: “One More Shot”
Freeez: “I.O.U.”
The Imposter: “Pills & Soap”
The Gap Band: “Outstanding” (Mercury)
1984
Cyndi Lauper: “Money Changes Everything” (Epic)
Frankie Paul: “Pass the Tusheng Peng” (Greensleeves)
Bruce Springsteen: “Born In The USA” (Columbia)
John Waite: “Missing You” (EMI America)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood: “Relax” (Island)
Cyndi Lauper: “Time After Time” (Epic)
U2: “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” (Island)
Madness: “Our House”
L.L. Cool J: “I Need a Beat” (Def Jam)
Strafe: “Set It Off” (Jus Born)
UB40: “Red Red Wine”
The Staple Singers: “Slippery People” (Private I)
Fat Boys: “Jailhouse Rap” (Sutra)
Madonna: “Borderline” (Sire)
Tina Turner: “What’s Love Got To Do With It”
Don Henley: “The Boys Of Summer” (Geffen)
T La Rock & Jazzy Jay: “It’s Yours” (Partytime)
Thompson Twins: “Hold Me Now”
The Pretenders: “Middle Of The Road”/“2000 Miles” (Sire)
Debarge: “Time Will Reveal” (Gordy)
Bruce Springsteen: “Dancing In The Dark”/“Pink Cadillac” (Columbia)
R.E.M.: “(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville” (IRS)
Newcleus: “Jam On It”
Grandmixer D.ST: “Megamix II (Why is It Fresh?)” (Celluloid)
Time Zone: “World Destruction” (Celluloid)
Smiley Culture: “Cockney Translation”
R.E.M.: “South Central Rain” (IRS)
The Replacements: “I Will Dare” (Twin/Tone)
Davy DMX: “One for the Treble (Fresh)” (Tuff City)
1985
Tears For Fears: “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”
Barrington Levy: “Here I Come (Broader Than Broadway)” (Greensleeves)
The Smiths: “How Soon Is Now?” (Rough Trade)
L.L. Cool J: “Rock the Bells” (Def Jam)
Hüsker Dü: “Makes No Sense At All”/“Love Is All Around” (SST)
Beastie Boys: “Rock Hard” (Def Jam)
Prince & the Revolution: “Pop Life” (Paisley Park)
The Commodores: “Nightshift”
Talking Heads: “And She Was” (Sire)
Beastie Boys: “She’s on It” (Def Jam)
Colonel Abrams: “Trapped”
1986
Eric B. & Rakim: “Eric B. is President”/“My Melody” (Zakia)
Beastie Boys: “Hold It, Now Hit It” (Def Jam)
Bangles: “Manic Monday”
R.E.M.: “Fall On Me” (IRS)
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: “Tokyo Storm Warning”
Cameo: “Word Up”
Boogie Down Productions: “South Bronx” (B-Boy)
Run-D.M.C.: “My Adidas”/“Peter Piper” (Profile)
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: “I Want You”
Beastie Boys: “The New Style”/“Paul Revere” (Def Jam)
Sly Fox: “Let’s Go All the Way”
Sheila E: “A Love Bizarre” (Warner Bros.)
Half Pint: “Greetings” (Sonic Sounds)
Madonna: “Where’s the Party” (Sire)
David & David: “Welcome to the Boomtown”
Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald: “On My Own”
Marshall Jefferson: “Move Your Body (the House Music Anthem)”
Pet Shop Boys: “West End Girls” (EMI)
MC Shan: “The Bridge” (Bridge)
Ice-T: “6 ‘n the Mornin’” (Techno-Hop)
Gregory Abbott: “Shake You Down”
Pet Shop Boys: “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” (EMI)
Gwen Guthrie: “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But the Rent” (Polydor)
Farley “Jackmaster” Funk featuring Daryl Pandy: “Love Can’t Turn Around (Club Mix)”
Prince & the Revolution: “Mountains” (Paisley Park)
Sweet Tee & DJ Jazzy Joyce: “It’s My Beat” (Profile)
Steve “Silk” Hurley: “Jack Your Body”
1987
Lou Gramm: “Midnight Blue” (Atlantic)
Boogie Down Productions: “The Bridge is Over” (B-Boy)
Pet Shop Boys featuring Dusty Springfield: “What Have I Done to Deserve This” (EMI)
Salt-n-Pepa: “Tramp”/“Push It” (Prism)
Public Enemy: “You’re Gonna Get Yours” (Def Jam)
Pet Shop Boys: “Rent” (EMI)
Prince: “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man”/“Hot Thing” (Paisley Park)
New Order: “True Faith”/“1963” (Qwest)
Prince: “If I Was Your Girlfriend” (Paisley Park)
Roxanne Shante: “Have a Nice Day” (Cold Chillin’)
Expose: “Point of No Return” (Arista)
Eric B. & Rakim: “I Ain’t No Joke” (Zakia)
Grateful Dead: “Touch Of Grey” (Arista)
Nitro Deluxe: “This Brutal House”
Bon Jovi: “Livin’ on a Prayer”
M/A/A/R/S: “Pump Up the Volume”
Big Daddy Kane: “Raw” (Prism)
Levert: “Casanova”
Pet Shop Boys: “It’s a Sin” (EMI)
Madonna: “La Isla Bonita” (Sire)
R.E.M.: “The One I Love” (I.R.S.)
Alexander O’Neal: “Criticize”
The Pogues featuring Kristy MacColl: “Fairytale of New York”
Alexander O’Neal: “Fake”
Kool Moe Dee: “Go See the Doctor”
1988
Eric B. & Rakim: “Microphone Fiend” (Uni)
Prince: “Alphabet St.” (Paisley Park)
Public Enemy: “Don’t Believe the Hype”/“Prophets of Rage” (Def Jam)
L.L. Cool J: “Goin’ Back to Cali”/“Jack the Ripper” (Def Jam 1988)
Boogie Down Productions: “My Philosophy” (Jive)
Mudhoney: “Touch Me I’m Sick” (Sub Pop)
Royal House: “Can You Party”
Tone-Loc: “Wild Thing” (Delicious Vinyl)
Prince: “I Wish U Heaven” (Paisley Park)
De La Soul: “Jenifa (Taught Me)”/“Potholes in My Lawn” (Tommy Boy)
Bobby Brown: “My Prerogative”
Ice-T: “Colors” (Sire)
Inner City: “Big Fun” (Lo)
Pet Shop Boys: “Left To My Own Devices” (Parlophone)
A Guy Called Gerald: “Voodoo Ray” (Rham)
Randy Travis: “On the Other Hand”
Fingers Inc.: “Can You Feel It”
Boogie Down Productions: “Jack of Spades”/“I’m Still #1 (Numero Uno)” (Jive)
The Jungle Brothers: “Because I Got It Like That” (Idlers)
Eric B & Rakim: “Paid in Full (Seven Minutes of Madness Remix)” (4th & B’way)
Tony! Toni! Tone!: “Little Walter”
De La Soul: “Plug Tunin’” (Tommy Boy)
L’Trimm: “Cars With The Boom” (Atlantic)
Ice-T: “I’m Your Pusher” (Sire)
1989
Biz Markie: “Just a Friend” (Cold Chillin’)
Beastie Boys: “Hey Ladies”/“Shake Your Rump” (Capitol)
Ice-T: “You Played Yourself” (Sire)
Aerosmith: “Janie’s Got a Gun” (Geffen)
Technotronic featuring Felly: “Pump Up the Jam”
The D.O.C.: “It’s Funky Enough” (Ruthless)
Living Colour: “Cult of Personality” (Epic)
De La Soul: “Me Myself & I” (Tommy Boy)
Lucinda Williams: “Passionate Kisses” (Chameleon)
Fine Young Cannibals: “She Drives Me Crazy”
De La Soul featuring Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest & Monie Love: “Buddy (Native Tongues Decision)” (Tommy Boy)
The B-52s: “Love Shack” (Sire)
Digital Underground: “Doowutchyalike” (Tommy Boy)
Black Box: “Ride on Time” (Deconstruction)
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