I was thinking about how many of the groups/artists of the 80s did not come from that decade. Think about how many of them started in the 60s or early 70s. Now fast forward to today. Do you see so much of that today? Are the "big" acts of today from the 1980s or early 1990s?

Tina Turner: Had her first top 40 hit in 1960! with Ike Turner. Came back strong in 1984 and did not look back.

Steve Winwood: Started out in the 1960s with Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith & Traffic! By the 1980s he was still going strong with a decade full of solo top 40 smashes!!

Michael Jackson: We all know his start with the Jackson 5 and solo stuff. By the 1980s he had the top album on the planet!

George Harrison: One of the Beatles! Had his third number 1 single of his solo career in 1987!

Paul McCartney: Another Beatle. All over the place in the 1980s.

Grateful Dead: Did not have their first top 40 single until 1987!

others...
Van Halen, Kiss, ZZ Top, AC/DC, Genesis, Paul Simon, REO Speedwagon, Journey, Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Sammy Hagar, Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Glen Frey, Crosy, Stills & Nash, John Fogerty, Phil Collins, Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Cher, Beach Boys, James Brown, John Lennon, Aerosmith, Hall & Oates, Heart, Starship (Jefferson Airplane), Billy Joel, Elton John, Kinks, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Robet Plant, Robert Palmer, Kenny Loggins, Moody Blues, Olivia Newton John, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Ozzy Osbourne, Pointer Sisters, Queen, Pink FLoyd, Linda Ronstadt, Diana Ross, Rush, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, The Who, Barbra Streisand, Styx, Donna Summer, Supertramp, Dionne Warwick, Eric Clapton, Yes, Neil Young, and more..........


Sure, we had our throw away bands too. But it seems like the 80s was open to just about anyone. Top 40 radio had music by all the above and then some. You had rock, metal, pop, soul and rap on the charts. No one looked at these groups and said "to old" or "what, my parents like that group, NO WAY!" Today, it seems like one throw away group after another. If someone like Santana breaks through, it is a rare day. Just my 2 cents.

BTW, for those who would say why is Ozzy on that list. They like to WATCH Ozzy today. He is a TV star now. But the pop/top 40 crowd is not running out to buy his music or shoot his new stuff up the charts. We played Ozzy records, they laugh at how stupid he acts. :hammer:

Brian

Excellent post! I have thought the same thing many of times. I really have nothing to add, just wanted to give you kudos for a well made point.

Thank you!

Given all that, it's no wonder music for the most part today is kinda stale. Not all of it... there is some good stuff if ya look for it, but overall it's not like it used to be and it could be due in part to not being as open as it was back then as you noted...

Bon Jovi and U2 kinda broke through with some of their more recent material.... LL Cool J is still going fairly well although he's mostly in the movie scene these days. That's about all I can think of, but even still.... none of the above mentioned broke new ground in the current day which I think is what you're really getting at.

Agreed with Daffy... great thread! :)

Originally posted by 80s hair
George Harrison: One of the Beatles! Had his third number 1 single of his solo career in 1987!



Is that album on the market to-day? I think it was called Cloud Nine... I have not seen it in years!

I recently saw a Cheap Trick concert on VH1.... they still kick butt!

I guess that really doesn't count because they are actually a 70's band.

Well...all I can say that I rarely listen to the radio anymore (with exception of a news & info channel), and though im quite bitter with the old farts who are refusing to update the satellite reception unit of this house (we can "only" watch 15 channels), I'm not too sad because I can't receive MTV and stuff anymore. :D

Yeah, I know, I'm an old fart myself, since I'm not that open for all the "new" stuff, but...hmm, I don't think that the majority of todays pop and dance music is very creative, let alone being sung by people who are gifted with talent.

Just wake me up when Doc Brown is through with his flux capacitor...next stop: the 80's... :lol:

"Is that album on the market to-day? I think it was called Cloud Nine... I have not seen it in years!"

It was out of print for years, but they have re-mastered it now. I have seen it out and about at a few stores. :thumb:

Bon Jovi and U2 kinda broke through with some of their more recent material.... LL Cool J is still going fairly well although he's mostly in the movie scene these days. That's about all I can think of, but even still.... none of the above mentioned broke new ground in the current day which I think is what you're really getting at.

Madonna comes to mind, but then again, she was always breaking new ground and probably always will.

~Fixx~

Well...all I can say that I rarely listen to the radio anymore (with exception of a news & info channel), and though im quite bitter with the old farts who are refusing to update the satellite reception unit of this house (we can "only" watch 15 channels), I'm not too sad because I can't receive MTV and stuff anymore. :D

Yeah, I know, I'm an old fart myself, since I'm not that open for all the "new" stuff, but...hmm, I don't think that the majority of todays pop and dance music is very creative, let alone being sung by people who are gifted with talent.

Just wake me up when Doc Brown is through with his flux capacitor...next stop: the 80's... :lol:

Preach on, brother! All the radio stations in my car are tuned to retro and classic rock. Today's music is so boring and all sounds the same.....of course, we can't blame it on talentless artists - I'm sure they have musical talent in their blood, it's just that all the best tunes and styles have been used up - and most of those came from the 80's. That's gotta be the answer as to why music has gotten worse year by year. Same thing with movies. Most of the best ideas are gone, though I'm an aspiring screenwriter and have a few up my sleeve.....

So take me away, I don't mind, but you better promise me I'll be Back In Time.....

In Europe we have quite a few 80's acts, that still are going strong.
Nena
Golden Earring
U2
Sting
Modern Talking
Depeche Mode
Alison Moyet
Simply Red

Sure I forgot some..