Number 90: Black - Wonderful Life

Black - basically Colin Vearncombe and a rotating collection of backing musicians - formed in 1981 and enjoyed only moderate success until their 1986 album Wonderful Life. The title track cracked the top 10 in multiple countries worldwide, and catapulted Vearncombe to international stardom. He went on to score several more hits, and remained a fixture on the British music scene until his untimely death in early 2016. I have "Wonderful Life" at #90 on this list.

Number 91: Wang Chung - Don't Be My Enemy

Jack Hues and Nick Feldman formed Wang Chung in late 1980, but it was their second album, 1983's Points On The Curve, that became their big breakthrough. Single release "Don't Be My Enemy" charted in both the UK and USA, and the band's career was off to a flying start. Still my favorite Wang Chung song, "Don't Be My Enemy" gets the #91 spot in the band's only appearance on my Top 200.

Number 92: Information Society - What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)

Industrial/Post-punk/Electro band Information Society was formed in 1982 by Kurt Harland and a rotating crew of bandmates. They have released seven albums since then, but have never equalled the success of their first self-titled LP and its monster hit "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)". That song, which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988, also happens to be one of the more New Wavey sounding tracks they have recorded. Coincidence? I think not! Information Society takes #92 in their only appearance on this list.

Number 93: Modern English - I Melt With You

Robert Grey's band Modern English formed in the UK in late 1979. Originally a post-punk group, they evolved into a New Wave outfit by early 1981's debut LP, Mesh and Lace. The album was moderately successful in Britain, but it was 1982's follow-up After The Snow that really got them noticed. Second single "I Melt With You" became a worldwide hit and an MTV staple. They released two more albums, but never recaptured the magic. Modern English broke up in early 1986. They get the #93 spot here.

Number 94: Phil Oakey & Giorgio Moroder - Good-Bye Bad Times

In 1985, Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder followed up their smash hit "Together In Electric Dreams" with the second release from their album (titled, appropriately enough, Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder), "Good-Bye Bad Times". While I like both songs, I've always liked this one better. It gets the #94 spot on my Top 200 and marks the final time Oakey appears on this list without the rest of The Human League.

Number 95: Howard Jones - No One Is To Blame

The album version of Howard Jones's "No One Is To Blame" (from his 1986 LP Dream Into Action) gets spot #95 on my Top 200 list. The radio/single version of the song - mangled by the clumsy paws of Phil Collins - gets the back of my hand.

Number 96: Baltimora - Tarzan Boy

I'm just going to point out that this video for "Tarzan Boy", Jimmy McShane's (a.k.a. Baltimora's) biggest hit, looks disturbingly like a web page with embedded video - something that wouldn't exist for another 10 years after the video's 1984 release. Could Mr. McShane have been some time-traveling future boy? Who knows. In any case, "Tarzan Boy" takes spot #96 on my list.

Also...this (lip-synced) performance on American Bandstand is one for the ages.

Number 97: Naked Eyes - Always Something There To Remind Me

Naked Eyes was formed in England by Robert Fisher and Peter Byrne in early 1983. They released their debut album, Burning Bridges, later that year and scored a US top-10 hit with their first single, "Always Something There To Remind Me". They had several more hits from the LP, but their second record crashed and burned, and the band broke up soon after. They get the #97 spot on my Top 200 with their biggest hit. 

Live performance:

Number 98: Bone Symphony - One Foot In Front Of The Other

By the time 1984's "Revenge Of The Nerds" movie hit theaters, Bone Symphony no longer existed as a band. Scott Wilk had formed the group in 1982 and they released one self-titled EP, which saw moderate success. They also recorded a song specifically for the movie soundtrack, "One Foot In Front Of The Other". Bone Symphony disbanded before the soundtrack album appeared in stores, but they did get one last hit tune. I have "One Foot In Front Of The Other" at #98.

Number 99: Koo De Tah - Think Of Me

In mid-1984, Tina Cross and Leon Berger met in Sydney, Australia and decided to start a band. Calling themselves Koo De Tah (a play on Coup D'etat), they released their only album in 1986. It was an eponymous effort that contained four songs that charted, including the song I have at #99 on my Top 200, "Think Of Me". Koo De Tah broke up soon after the album's release.

As a bonus, here's "Too Young For Promises", their biggest hit.

Number 100: Talk Talk - Talk Talk

  

Mark Hollis and Talk Talk slowly put together a very respectable body of work in the 80s, starting with debut LP The Party's Over in 1982. Their biggest chart hit from that album was "Today", but "Talk Talk" has always been my personal favorite. I have the song at #100, marking the halfway point of this Top 200. As an aside, besides "Talk Talk" by Talk Talk and "Book Of Love" by Book Of Love, are there any other New Wave songs named for the bands that sing them? 

Number 101: M - Pop Musik

Robin Scott formed the experimental New Wave band M in early 1979, with his wife Brigit and a rotating cast of session musicians backing him up. He released three albums in the 80s (and another in 1998) and had five songs from those LPs chart in the UK and USA. M's biggest hit was their second single from debut album New York, London, Paris, Munich, the ahead-of-its-time "Pop Musik". The track's futuristic sound and eye-catching video made it stand out amid the disco and punk music infesting the charts at the time. It hit #2 in Britain and #1 in America, and M was off to a flying start. I have "Pop Musik" at #101 here.

Number 102: Camouflage - The Great Commandment

Marcus Meyn formed Camouflage in Germany during the latter part of 1984. Their debut album, Voices & Images, was released in 1988 and became a worldwide smash hit. "The Great Commandment" was the lead-off single, charting in multiple countries and taking the #102 spot on my Top 200. Camouflage is still active today, although they never regained the chart heights of their first LP.

As an aside, my favorite of their albums is 2006's Relocated, which contains the amazing song "We Are Lovers", included below.

Number 103: OMD - Sailing On The Seven Seas

Paul Humphreys of OMD left the band in 1989 after a falling-out with Andy McCluskey, who retained the name and soldiered on alone. The first album without Humphreys was 1991's Sugar Tax, which went on to sell 3 million copies and return OMD to prominence. "Sailing On The Seven Seas" was the biggest hit from the LP, reaching #3 in the UK. It takes the #103 spot here.

...and they still rock! Here's "Pulse", from OMD's 2010 LP The History Of Modern.

 

Number 104: The Human League - I Love You Too Much

"I Love You Too Much" is a track from The Human League's 1984 release Hysteria. The album was a disappointment sales-wise, and lackluster promotion from the record company sank any chance it had to produce big hits. "I Love You Too Much" wasn't even released as a single, which just goes to show the general uselessness of label A&R men. One of my favorite Human League tunes, I have the song at #104.

Number 105: Yaz - Goodbye 70s

Yaz's 1982 debut Upstairs At Eric's was such a fantastic synthpop album that even the non-single tracks on the LP could have been hits. "Goodbye 70s" is an Alison Moyet-written song dealing with her disillusionment and disappointment with an entire decade, and her joy and relief that it is over. Vince Clarke works his usual magic at the keyboard and sequencer, and "Goodbye 70s" is a staple at 80s-themed dance parties to this day. It gets the #105 position on my Top 200.

Number 106: Leisure Process - Anxiety

Leisure Process was Gary Barnacle and Ross Middleton, a duo that began working togther in early 1982. They produced several singles but broke up before ever releasing a full-length album. That's a shame because their music was pretty damn good. "Anxiety" was actually their last collaboration, part of a development deal they had with Epic records in 1983. I have it at #106, and we'll see these guys again before the end of this Top 200.

Number 107: Trans-X - Through The Eyes Of The 90s

Pascal Languirand and Laurie Ann Gill formed seminal Canadian synthpop band Trans-X in Montreal in the spring of 1982, and they went on to produce some great music. "Through The Eyes Of The 90s" is a track from Trans-X's second album, Living On Video. Although the song didn't make an impact chart-wise, it's representative of the fresh sound and innovative approach the band was taking. It was only a matter of time before they finally broke through with their next single (the title track). For me, "Through The Eyes Of The 90s" checks all the boxes: awesome synths, driving beats, and inscrutible, futurist lyrics. It takes the #107 spot. Enjoy!

Number 108: Robert Hazard - Escalator Of Life

Robert Hazard came out of the Philadelphia New Wave scene in early 1982. His first full-length album was an eponymous effort that contained "Escalator Of Life", which ended up being a regional hit in the midwest and mid-Atlantic states but failed to catch fire country-wide. Hazard went on to release several more albums, but never quite broke through as a national star. He did achieve some fame as the writer of "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" for Cyndi Lauper, however. In any case, "Escalator Of Life" is an awesome song that gets my #108 spot.

Number 109: Kids In The Kitchen - Change In Mood

Kids in the Kitchen were yet another group to come out of of the Melbourne, Australia New Wave scene in the early 80's. Frontman Scott Carne and crew released their debut album, Shine, in early 1983. Lead single "Change In Mood" rocketed up the charts in Australia, eventually reaching #10 in their native land and gaining the band international attention. The Kids went on to produce one more album before disbanding in 1986. "Change In Mood" gets the #109 spot here.

Number 110: Anything Box - A Moment's Shifting

At #110 we find Anything Box, a band formed in New Jersey in 1986 by Claude Strilio. They released Peace, their debut LP, in 1990. It contains several good tracks, including "Carmen" and "Living In Oblivion" (their biggest hit). My favorite song by the band is "A Moment's Shifting", which is the only song of theirs to make my Top 200. Anything Box gets the #110 spot.

Number 111: Roxy Music - Take A Chance With Me

By 1982 Brian Ferry and Roxy Music were a spent force, right? Not so fast! Their final album, Avalon, contained several great tracks, including my favorite song by the band, "Take A Chance With Me". After this album, Roxy Music basically broke up, except for a few sporadic special appearances and one-off performances. This song is, perhaps, the final echo of the 70s glam-rock era. I have "Take A Chance With Me" in the #111 spot on my Top 200.                        

Number 112: Alphaville - Golden Feeling

In early 1985, Alphaville released the "Jet Set" single, which reached #23 on the US dance chart. The B-side of this smash hit was "Golden Feeling", one of my favorite Alphaville songs of all time. Super synth work by Frank Mertens and soaring vocals by Marian Gold make this one of the band's hidden gems. It should really have been a single! Anyway, I have it at #112 on my list.

Number 113: Eurythmics - Who's That Girl

 

I wanted to put a Eurthymics track on this Top 200 list. The group has so many good songs, though, that it was tough choosing just one. "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)", "Missionary Man", "Sex Crime (1984)", "Would I Lie To You", "Here Comes The Rain Again", and "When Tomorrow Comes" were all top contenders. I finally decided to go with "Who's That Girl", from their 1983 album Touch. The song reached #21 in the USA and #15 in Canada in July of that year. It takes the #113 spot here for Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart.


Also, watch this, it's Annie & Dave from a more innocent time (1979).

Number 114: Space Monkey - Only The Night

Space Monkey was formed by Paul Goodchild in 1983. The band's one and only album, On The Beam, was released two years later. After a lackluster chart performance and mediocre sales, Space Monkey disbanded. "Only The Night" was the first single released from the LP, and I have it at #114 on my list. Recently a crowdfunded drive has been set up to have On The Beam released on CD for the first time. Needless to say, I have contributed to this effort!

Number 115: When In Rome - The Promise

In late 1988, When In Rome released their most successful single, "The Promise". It just missed the US top 10 and charted in countries all around the world. A new generation of fans was exposed to the song when it was featured in the popular 2004 movie Napoleon Dynamite and appeared on that film's soundtrack CD. When In Rome makes their second and final appearance on my Top 200 at #115 with "The Promise".

Number 116: Blue Peter - Radio Silence

Paul Humphrey and Chris Wardman formed Blue Peter in the disco-soaked days of summer, 1978 in Ontrario, Canada. Rejecting the current pop environment, they soon embraced the New Wave sound beginning to emerge. Blue Peter released an EP, Test Patterns For Living, that attracted major label attention. Soon after, in 1980, their first studio album, Radio Silence, was released. The title track tells the story of a Cold War bomber pilot, flying to his target and back, while he ruminates on his deadly task. An awesome song, "Radio Silence" nabs the #116 spot.

Number 117: English Evenings - I Will Return

English Evenings was the brainchild of Lee Walsh, a native of Yorkshire, who advertised for musicians and put the band together in early 1983. They quickly got a recording contract and produced one LP, After Dark, in 1984 before disbanding due to poor sales and creative differences. "I Will Return" was their fourth single, and though it failed to chart it became English Evenings' most popular release. The video (which seems to have not made it to the modern internet in any form) was interesting with its phalanxes of knights marching off to war. Anyway, "I Will Return" gets the #117 spot on this list.

Number 118: Platinum Blonde - Standing In The Dark

In 1983, Platinum Blonde's first LP, Standing In The Dark, hit the Canadian charts. The second single released was the title track, with accompanying Cold War/nuclear armageddon video getting heavy airplay across the country. With it's driving bassline and great vocals by Mark Holmes, the song cemented the Blondes as an important new fixture on the Canadian New Wave scene. "Standing In The Dark" is #118 on my Top 200.

Number 119: Red Flag - Count To Three

Brothers Chris & Mark Reynolds formed Red Flag in 1984 in California. They released several singles and EPs until they were finally able to put together a full-length album, 1989's Naive Art. "Count To Three" did not make any sort of chart impact, but it's a great track from this criminally-underappreciated band. I have "Count To Three" at #119 on my Top 200, and we'll see these guys again before we get to my #1 song.

Number 120: ABC - Be Near Me

1980 saw the debut of Martin Fry's band ABC, with the amazing album The Lexicon Of Love. Although I love that album, none of the songs on it made this top 200. Shocking, even to me! Anyway, the lone ABC song that did make the cut is "Be Near Me", from the band's 1985 LP How To Be A....Zillionaire. This track is one of only two ABC songs to crack the US top 10, and you won't be seeing the other one (the awful "When Smokey Sings") on this list.