101 Best Songs of 1986 vs 1996: #1 There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths / A Long December - Counting Crows (2 Viewers)

[scorchy]

#91

These are the exact kinds of songs @Gr00vus and @shuke were just complaining about. Sorry...

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

Wither the days when a soulless British “rock” bands could a score a #1 U.S. single with a power ballad named after the french phrase for orgasm. And what’s the deal with the parentheses?

Counting Blue Cars - Dishwalla

The perfect distillation of generic mid-90s alt-rock radio. From their 1995 album Pet Your Friends, second single Counting Blue Cars crossed over to #14 on the pop charts. Not really a fan, but here because it screams 1996 to me, and I felt like I couldn’t leave it off.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

Wither the days when a soulless British “rock” bands could a score a #1 U.S. single with a power ballad named after the french phrase for orgasm. And what’s the deal with the parentheses?

That lead singer has the vibe of "I could be the next Sting if you just give me a chance."

 

[Pip's Invitation]

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

Wither the days when a soulless British “rock” bands could a score a #1 U.S. single with a power ballad named after the french phrase for orgasm. And what’s the deal with the parentheses?

That lead singer has the vibe of "I could be the next Sting if you just give me a chance."

There was a lot of that in the 80s. See also Level 42, Mister Mister, etc.

 

[plinko]

Cutting Crew song still feels like a .. cut above?
Nothing special, but the best of the last four

Dishwalla had a great Carpenters cover

 

[massraider]

Don’t Forget Me (When I'm Gone) - Glass Tiger

This is pretty high on my list of worst songs of all time. Not because the technical execution of playing music is bad, but because it's so formulaic, overproduced, empty, and balless. It's everything that was wrong with music in the 80's.

If Facebook had existed in the 80's, and my mom shared with me her result from the Automatic Hair Band Name Generator, this would have been the result.

 

[scorchy]

Cutting Crew song still feels like a .. cut above?
Nothing special, but the best of the last four

Dishwalla had a great Carpenters cover

How dare you besmirch The Cramps?

 

[plinko]

Cutting Crew song still feels like a .. cut above?
Nothing special, but the best of the last four

Dishwalla had a great Carpenters cover

How dare you besmirch The Cramps?

I meant Glass Tiger and Da Dip..
(4 acts not years)

 

[scorchy]

How dare you besmirch The Cramps?

I meant Glass Tiger and Da Dip..
(4 acts not years)

How dare you besmirch Freak Nasty?

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Don’t Forget Me (When I'm Gone) - Glass Tiger

Glass Tiger came from nowhere (well actually, suburban Toronto) to score two top 10 hits in 1986 before disappearing back to north of the border. Before going on hiatus in 1993, they managed to chart a dozen more times in Canada but nothing really stuck down here.

Always wondered if they added the parenthetical part of the title to avoid confusion with the also parenthetical "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds.

Also helps to differentiate it from my own, lesser known, single "Don't Forget Me (If You're Getting Donuts)."

 

[plinko]

Cramps are top notch for Halloween parties

Circling back to Gravity Kills, since I'm still out sick
I preferred the follow up Enough
And they were bro bands with another St. Louis act called Stir
I had the Stir CD but not Gravity Kills
But no way I was gonna spring for Bloodhound Gang, nuh-uh

St. Louis doesn't spit out many almost-good rock bands, like say a Baltimore might, but millennial crud rock gave us these two

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I want to lock that annoying precocious kid from Counting Blue Cars in a Porta-Potty with the couple from Breakfast at Tiffany's and push it over a cliff.

 

[zamboni]

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

Wither the days when a soulless British “rock” bands could a score a #1 U.S. single with a power ballad named after the french phrase for orgasm. And what’s the deal with the parentheses?

Yeah, just spell the mofo out.

I mean, even this song didn't bother that infernal punctuation.

 

[Gr00vus]

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

Wither the days when a soulless British “rock” bands could a score a #1 U.S. single with a power ballad named after the french phrase for orgasm. And what’s the deal with the parentheses?

That lead singer has the vibe of "I could be the next Sting if you just give me a chance."

There was a lot of that in the 80s. See also Level 42, Mister Mister, etc.

I never really made the connection of Mark King as a Sting wannabe. But looking back at some of their pictures from the time, I guess he did try and cop some of that look. They actually opened for the Police on tour in 81. Their sound was very different from the Police though. Their drummer Phil Gould (for their most productive years anyway) did ape Stewart Copeland quite a bit, though he leaned into funk a bit more than Stewart.

Further connected to your observation, Stewart Copeland pulled Mark King, Adrian Belew and Vittorio Cosma into a collaboration called Gizmodrome back in 2017. I guess Stewart sees something similar to you?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

Wither the days when a soulless British “rock” bands could a score a #1 U.S. single with a power ballad named after the french phrase for orgasm. And what’s the deal with the parentheses?

That lead singer has the vibe of "I could be the next Sting if you just give me a chance."

There was a lot of that in the 80s. See also Level 42, Mister Mister, etc.

I never really made the connection of Mark King as a Sting wannabe. But looking back at some of their pictures from the time, I guess he did try and cop some of that look. They actually opened for the Police on tour in 81. Their sound was very different from the Police though. Their drummer Phil Gould (for their most productive years anyway) did ape Stewart Copeland quite a bit, though he leaned into funk a bit more than Stewart.

Further connected to your observation, Stewart Copeland pulled Mark King, Adrian Belew and Vittorio Cosma into a collaboration called Gizmodrome back in 2017. I guess Stewart sees something similar to you?

Would listen merely for the presence of Copeland and Belew.

 

[zamboni]

Further connected to your observation, Stewart Copeland pulled Mark King, Adrian Belew and Vittorio Cosma into a collaboration called Gizmodrome back in 2017.

Little boy Belew - he needed the money. Ohh... #dice

 

[Gr00vus]

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

Wither the days when a soulless British “rock” bands could a score a #1 U.S. single with a power ballad named after the french phrase for orgasm. And what’s the deal with the parentheses?

That lead singer has the vibe of "I could be the next Sting if you just give me a chance."

There was a lot of that in the 80s. See also Level 42, Mister Mister, etc.

I never really made the connection of Mark King as a Sting wannabe. But looking back at some of their pictures from the time, I guess he did try and cop some of that look. They actually opened for the Police on tour in 81. Their sound was very different from the Police though. Their drummer Phil Gould (for their most productive years anyway) did ape Stewart Copeland quite a bit, though he leaned into funk a bit more than Stewart.

Further connected to your observation, Stewart Copeland pulled Mark King, Adrian Belew and Vittorio Cosma into a collaboration called Gizmodrome back in 2017. I guess Stewart sees something similar to you?

Would listen merely for the presence of Copeland and Belew.

I listened to the first album (don't know if there's more), and it was definitely less than the sum of its parts.

 

[rockaction]

Wendy - The Descendents

Never heard this cover before. I'm...uh...well they did it, anyway.

The original song is fantastic. Love me some '64/'65 Beach Boys. Today and Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) are great albums, as is All Summer Long.

 

[scorchy]

#90

Is the connection here a little too on the nose?

Brand New Lover - Dead or Alive

I should have learned the first time I bought a Dead or Alive tape to just stick with recording the hit off the radio. You Spin Me ‘Round (LIke A Record) is a straight classic, but the entire rest of the record was awful. Enter Brand New Lover - not a classic but a nice catchy hit. Once again, the album was a complete waste of $7.99.

Boy or a Girl - Imperial Drag

Formed from the ashes of cult favorite Jellyfish, Imperial Drag tried to bring a little glam to alt-rock radio. Aside from their minor hit Boy or a Girl, it doesn’t seem like alt-rock radio was particularly interested, and they broke up after a single album. Full disclosure - I love this song.

 

[shuke]

#91

These are the exact kinds of songs @Gr00vus and @shuke were just complaining about. Sorry...

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

Wither the days when a soulless British “rock” bands could a score a #1 U.S. single with a power ballad named after the french phrase for orgasm. And what’s the deal with the parentheses?

Counting Blue Cars - Dishwalla

The perfect distillation of generic mid-90s alt-rock radio. From their 1995 album Pet Your Friends, second single Counting Blue Cars crossed over to #14 on the pop charts. Not really a fan, but here because it screams 1996 to me, and I felt like I couldn’t leave it off.

Cutting Crew song is a classic. Dishwalla is forumulaic, but I'm high right now and really enjoying the nostalgia.

 

[Osaurus]

I WANT SURPRISES

 

[scorchy]

#89

You Keep Me Hangin’ On - Kim Wilde

Our second #1 single in the countdown, though like Cutting Crew, it didn’t actually top the charts until early 1987. Kim Wilde had the most English chart hits (17) of any female solo act of the 1980s. Over here, she had the unforgettable Kids in America in 1981 that reached #25, and then this Supremes cover. And that was it.

Dangerous Type - Letters to Cleo

Ah, Fairuza Balk. Where’s my boy @otb_lifer ? Letters to Cleo brings us the first of two covers from The Craft soundtrack.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

#91

These are the exact kinds of songs @Gr00vus and @shuke were just complaining about. Sorry...

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

Wither the days when a soulless British “rock” bands could a score a #1 U.S. single with a power ballad named after the french phrase for orgasm. And what’s the deal with the parentheses?

Counting Blue Cars - Dishwalla

The perfect distillation of generic mid-90s alt-rock radio. From their 1995 album Pet Your Friends, second single Counting Blue Cars crossed over to #14 on the pop charts. Not really a fan, but here because it screams 1996 to me, and I felt like I couldn’t leave it off.

I really like both songs.
I wanted to add that Cutting Crew's Broadcast is a great album and one of the best of the 80's. There is a song on it Sahara, that I love.

 

[scorchy]

#91

These are the exact kinds of songs @Gr00vus and @shuke were just complaining about. Sorry...

(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew

Wither the days when a soulless British “rock” bands could a score a #1 U.S. single with a power ballad named after the french phrase for orgasm. And what’s the deal with the parentheses?

Counting Blue Cars - Dishwalla

The perfect distillation of generic mid-90s alt-rock radio. From their 1995 album Pet Your Friends, second single Counting Blue Cars crossed over to #14 on the pop charts. Not really a fan, but here because it screams 1996 to me, and I felt like I couldn’t leave it off.

I really like both songs.
I wanted to add that Cutting Crew's Broadcast is a great album and one of the best of the 80's. There is a song on it Sahara, that I love.

Interesting. I liked Cutting Crew at the time (even the cheesy I've Been in Love Before) but never paid attention to anything after. Dishwalla never really did it for me though.

 

[plinko]

Kim - Kay - Fairuza

f-m-k

 

[massraider]

I liked Cutting Crew at the time

I have definitely only ever heard the one song. I feel like that song is what was playing in the mall while teens made the critical decision of acid vs stone wash.

 

[rockaction]

I feel like that song is what was playing in the mall while teens made the critical decision of acid vs stone wash.

Fast forward to 2020, and it's the same song and same story.

As Turnstile would say

BOOM BOOM BOOM

 

[scorchy]

Kim - Kay - Fairuza

f-m-k

Oh man. I gotta go Fairuza -> Kay -> Kim,

 

[scorchy]

BOOM BOOM BOOM

Let's Go Back to my Room. Unfortunately, that Paul Lekakis gem was from 1987.

 

[scorchy]

#88

World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope

I’ve recounted some strange Julian Cope stories in other threads. Fair to say that the former Teardrop Explodes' singer was eccentric, violent, and not particularly well-liked. Cope released his solo debut album World Shut Your Mouth in 1983. It did not contain the song linked above. I guess he liked the title so much that he released a single called World Shut Your Mouth in late 1986 as a teaser for his next record. It hit #14 in the UK and was his only song to crack the Hot 100 over here (#84)

Open the Door - Magnapop

Atlanta’s Magnapop should have been bigger. They’ve had records produced by Bob Mould and Michael Stipe. They’ve been covered by Eels and REM. Julian Hatfield wrote a song about guitarist Ruthie Morris. They were huge in Belgium. None of that translated to domestic success, with Open the Door being the only song to receive even a modicum of get a sniff of airplay.

 

[plinko]

You've completely outflanked my sphere of snobbery this time

Sorry about the Phils -- toss that wicked abomination I gave you into the burn pit!

 

[rockaction]

Unfortunately, that Paul Lekakis gem was from 1987

My friend used to incessantly recite it in high school. "Hey baby, how's about some boom boom?"

 

[plinko]

If Extreme had written BOOM BOOM BOOM it would be about coming back to my room and checking out my collection of bass drums

 

[scorchy]

Unfortunately, that Paul Lekakis gem was from 1987

My friend used to incessantly recite it in high school. "Hey baby, how's about some boom boom?"

I still have the 12" of it from my Skateland DJ days. IIRC, Paul is shirtless while holding a light saber or something. Will dig it up when I get home and post a pic with a quarter to prove it's not a fake.

 

[rockaction]

Paul is shirtless while holding a light saber or something. Will dig it up when I get home and post a pic with a quarter to prove it's not a fake

Oh no. There's no need for that.

 

[plinko]

#asspenny

 

[scorchy]

#87

Take Me Home Tonight - Eddie Money

This song is here for one reason only - Ronnie Spector.

Hard to believe that Eddie Money was only 37 when this song reached #4 on the Hot 100 and scored a Best Male Vocal Grammy. Was it the booze and drugs or the fact that 37 year-olds always seem ancient to teenagers?

Meanwhile, Ronnie sounded as great as ever. She had been out of the spotlight for practically a decade before Eddie convinced her to record the duet (it was originally set to be Martha Davis from the Motels) and the song's popularity helped lead to a career resurgence.

Outkast - Elevators (Me & You)

A double shot of the ATL from 1996. Outkast were just slightly more successful than Magnapop. Their second album, ATLiens, debuted at #2 on the way to selling more than 2 million copies. Lead single Elevators almost cracked the top 10 on the Hot 100.

 

[Osaurus]

Iirc, part of that Eddie Money video was filmed in the Casper Events Center in Casper, WY. Lol.

ETA: Ronnie rules!

 

[plinko]

Money man is low

 

[scorchy]

Iirc, part of that Eddie Money video was filmed in the Casper Events Center in Casper, WY. Lol.

ETA: Ronnie rules!

Unfortunately, it doesn't contain nearly the unintentional comedy of Shakin', especially if you can make till the end after the drag race.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#88

World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope

I’ve recounted some strange Julian Cope stories in other threads. Fair to say that the former Teardrop Explodes' singer was eccentric, violent, and not particularly well-liked. Cope released his solo debut album World Shut Your Mouth in 1983. It did not contain the song linked above. I guess he liked the title so much that he released a single called World Shut Your Mouth in late 1986 as a teaser for his next record. It hit #14 in the UK and was his only song to crack the Hot 100 over here (#84)

Open the Door - Magnapop

Atlanta’s Magnapop should have been bigger. They’ve had records produced by Bob Mould and Michael Stipe. They’ve been covered by Eels and REM. Julian Hatfield wrote a song about guitarist Ruthie Morris. They were huge in Belgium. None of that translated to domestic success, with Open the Door being the only song to receive even a modicum of get a sniff of airplay.

Love Magnapop. Saw them open for Sugar right around the time that Mould produced them.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

My Neil Young countdown thread is listed as a “similar thread” to this. OK, algorithm.

1986 was the year of one of Neil’s worst albums, Landing on Water. 1996 was better with Broken Arrow, though it didn’t match the early 90s run that he had.

 

[scorchy]

#86

Guitar Town - Steve Earle

Steve Earle was alt-country before anybody had ever considered the term. Highly recommend his biography - he has quite the winding story. Shocking that he’s made it through.

Forget the Flowers - Wilco

I was always team Son Volt after Uncle Tupelo fell apart, especially as Wilco got farther and farther away from alt-country. Debut record AM was really good and Being There was fine, but after that, take away my music snob card.

 

[scorchy]

#85

Venus - Bananarama

Another cover of a 60s classic that hit #1 just a few months before Kim Wilde did. Club Nouveau would score a similar trick in between with their cover of 1972’s Lean on Me. Strange times.

Ladykillers - Lush

Shoegaze had its moment in the 90s, and Lush were there from the beginning. They had 10 charting singles in the UK, but only managed to reach the Modern Rock Top 40 here on a couple of occasions. Ladykillers - a kiss off to what we now call ####boys - was more Britpop than shoegaze, which probably helped it get a decent amount of airplay on alt radio in the States..

 

[Osaurus]

Big fan of Lush. Met them a long time ago in Milwaukee (had to be late 90s) and saw them perform the same night. Miki has just written a book. Waiting for the audio book to become available in the US. Ladykillers definitely isn't their standard sound imo.

 

[scorchy]

#84

Go Stetsa I - Stetsasonic

Stetsasonic’s debut On Fire was a fixture on freshman-year bus trips to road JV basketball games. At the time, Stetsasonic were one of the few rap artists to combine live instruments with traditional hip-hop beats and a key influence on the Tommy Boy sound.

All That I Got is You - Ghostface Killah

Wu Tang’s Ghostface Killah released his RZA-produced debut album in the fall of ‘96. Lead-off single All That I Got is You is a depressing as hell tale of his early life in the Staten Island projects, featuring an incredible intro sample from The Education of Sonny Carson, an outro from Popa Wu, and lots of Mary J. Blige in between.

 

[rockaction]

Two at the head and two at the leg
But you didn't need to tell 'em I used to pee in the bed

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Venus - Bananarama

Another cover of a 60s classic that hit #1 just a few months before Kim Wilde did

That girl in the devil's outfit, wagging her hips, was so distracting that it took me a dozen watchings before I realized that she was playing all the characters in the video.

 

[scorchy]

Venus - Bananarama

Another cover of a 60s classic that hit #1 just a few months before Kim Wilde did

That girl in the devil's outfit, wagging her hips, was so distracting that it took me a dozen watchings before I realized that she was playing all the characters in the video.

If you want some post-Bananarama Siobhan, skip to 2:00 into this Shakespeare's Sister video - she's looks to be some sort of soul-stealing goth goddess. Love this song and will definitely make by '92 list if I ever get that far.

 

[scorchy]

#83

Good Guys and Bad Guys - Camper Van Beethoven

So let's get high while the radio's on
Just relax and sing a song
Drive your car up on the lawn
Let me play your guitar

I always liked Cracker just fine, but David Lowery’s first band is an all-time favorite. Delightfully weird in all the best ways.


Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba - Mr. T Experience

I can’t thank FBG legend @Beckster enough for turning me on to Mr T. Experience - she was a true pop-punk savant. Even managed to get me to buy and read Dr. Frank’s YA novel King Dork.

In to be totally insufferable about my favorite MTX album.

Now’s your chance to shine @Ramsay Hunt Experience

 

[massraider]

If you want some post-Bananarama Siobhan, skip to 2:00 into this Shakespeare's Sister video - she's looks to be some sort of soul-stealing goth goddess. Love this song and will definitely make by '92 list if I ever get that far.

Next time you catch the Cum On Eileen video, the girl in the video that looks like Siobhan--that's her sister.