Number 121: Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon

Formed by Ian McCulloch in 1978, Echo & The Bunnymen released several albums in the post-punk vein through the early 80s. Their big breakthrough came in 1984 with the Ocean Rain LP and mega-hit "The Killing Moon", which cracked the UK top 10 and brought the band to new heights of international recognition. A new generation was exposed to the song when it was featured in the movie Donnie Darko and appeared on that film's soundtrack. Echo & The Bunnymen take spot #121 in their only appearance on my Top 200.

Number 122: A Flock Of Seagulls - Messages

Mike Score, Paul Reynolds, and the rest of A Flock Of Seagulls formed in 1980 and had an enormous hit with "I Ran (So Far Away)" from their debut eponymous album in 1982. Although that song overshadowed the rest of the album (and some would say the band's entire remaining career), A Flock Of Seagulls was full of amazing tracks. Like "Messages", which wasn't even released as a single. It gets #122 on this list and marks the Seagulls' first appearance on my Top 200.

Number 123: Japan - Quiet Life

Japan released the album Quiet Life in late 1979, and the title track hit #19 on the UK chart, providing David Sylvian and crew another smash single. Several years ahead of its time, the album would be cited many times over the next decade by bands like Duran Duran as one of the key inspirations that fueled their musical journey. The awesome "Quiet Life" is my #123 song.

 

Number 124: Robert Palmer - I Didn't Mean To Turn You On

Robert Palmer spent a few years in the mid-80s hanging out with Duran Duran, or singing with members of that group in Power Station, then in late 1985 he revitalized his solo career by releasing the Riptide LP, whose fifth (!) single was "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On". The video for the track was shot in the now-familiar Palmer style, with the stylized backing dancers/band/models made famous by prior hit "Addicted To Love". Palmer's smooth vocals and a groovy beat made this song a hit (#9 UK/#2 US) and he won a Grammy for the album.

Number 125: Bill Nelson - Because Of You (Popstand Remix)

Bill Nelson has had a long and distinguished musical career, stretching all the way back to the early 70s. Whether solo or in bands, his albums and singles were consistently innovative and successful. In the 80s, he adapted to the new electronic sound, working with artists like Gary Numan and A Flock Of Seagulls. In 1986, he released the experimental album Getting The Holy Ghost Across, which was an eclectic mixture of pop, New Wave, rock, and even classical elements. "Because Of You" is a great song in its album form, but I like the "Popstand Remix" even better. It's eight minutes long, but if it were 18 minutes instead I still wouldn't tire of it. Enjoy!

Number 126: Erasure - Star

Erasure has so many great songs, it's an embarassment of riches. One of my favorites has always been "Star", the fourth and final single from their 1989 Wild! LP. As always, the vocal stylings of Andy Bell and the synth/sequencing wizardry of Vince Clarke come together to produce their usual magic. "Star" hit #11 on the UK chart to wrap up the decade for Erasure. I have the song at #126 here.

Number 127: Spoons - Waterline

The Spoons final single of the 80s, "Waterline" was the third release from their 1988 LP Vertigo Tango. Disappointingly, it only made it to #44 on the Canadian charts. Musical tastes had changed - for the worse in my opinion. The band went on a hiatus that turned into a 15 year break. One wonders what might have been. But such is life in the fickle music business. In any case, "Waterline" is one of my favorite ballads of all time. I have it at #127 on this Top 200.

Number 128: John Foxx - Europe After The Rain

John Foxx is a genius, in my opinion: the original frontman (and founder) of Ultravox, the man who inspired Gary Numan to start making music, a true innovator and musical experimenter. Along with Vince Clarke and David Sylvian, probably one of the three most influential creators of New Wave/Synthpop/Electronic music of all time. When he went solo after leaving Ultravox in the wake of the disastrous Systems of Romance tour, Foxx unleashed his vast creative talents unhindered by the input of bandmates or A&R men. "Europe After The Rain" is from his second solo album, The Garden. Released in 1981, it made it to #40 on the UK chart, and gets spot #128 on my Top 200.

...and he still rocks! Here's his new band, John Foxx and the Maths, performing "Watching A Building On Fire", from 2011's Interplay LP.

Number 129: Classix Nouveaux - Never Never Comes

Jack Airport and Sal Solo formed Classix Nouveaux in 1979, and over the next six years the band released three albums full of intricate and very interesting synthpop. Chart success eluded them for the most part (their biggest hit, "Is It A Dream" did hit #11 in the UK), but chart hits aren't everything, right? "Never Never Comes" didn't chart at all upon its early 1983 release, but it's a great song nonetheless. With it, Classix Nouveaux takes the #129 spot on my Top 200 in their only appearance.

Number 130: The Box - Must I Always Remember

Though they later became more pop-oriented, The Box definitely had a bit of an edge when they made their debut. The Canadian band came out of the Montreal scene in the early 80s, a hotbed of the new synth-heavy sound taking root north of the US border. Frontman Jean-Marc Pisapia was a former member of Men Without Hats, before having a falling-out with Ivan Doroschuk and creating his own band. "Must I Always Remember" charted in Canada in early 1984. I have it at #130 on my list.

Number 131: Missing Persons - Walking In L.A.

The final single released from Missing Persons' debut LP, Spring Session M, "Walking In L.A." was almost criminally ignored upon arrival in mid-1983, Managing just #70 on the US Hot 100. Dale Bozzio, Warren Cuccurullo, and crew would soldier on, releasing two more albums before disbanding, but they never recaptured the chart success of their early singles. "Walking In L.A." is a great song, however, with Bozzio's vocals in top form. It gets spot #131 on my Top 200.

Number 132: The The - Uncertain Smile

Matt Johnson's band The The formed in 1979 and are still active today (although they are basically now a one-man show). With some great songwriting, interesting beats, and a mix of post-punk and New Wave sensibilities, The The produced a lot of awesome music. The second single off their debut LP (1980's Soul Mining), "Uncertain Smile" should have been much bigger than it was. A lack of record company support doomed the song to a mediocre chart performance. Too bad, because it's a great track, with an unbelievable piano solo and one of the best basslines of the era. "Uncertain Smile" gets the #132 spot on my Top 200.

Number 133: Duran Duran - Hold Back The Rain

Duran Duran's second album, 1982's Rio, is rightly regarded as a classic. Though not my favorite Duran LP, no one can deny it's full of fantastic songs, from the mysterious, creeping rhythm of "The Chauffeur" to the sparkling New Romanticism of "Rio" to the driving beats of "Hungry Like The Wolf". The song that rocks the most, however, is "Hold Back The Rain", a track that should have been released as a single, but wasn't. Duran Duran takes spot #133 in their first appearance on my list.

Number 134: Strange Advance - We Run

Strange Advance burst upon the Canadian New Wave scene in 1982, making an immediate impact with Darryl Kromm's haunting vocals and the keyboard wizardry of Drew Arnott. After their debut album Worlds Away went gold, Strange Advance spent a few years touring and growing their audience. When the band returned for 1985's 2Wo, their sound had evolved and become more sophisticated. Lead single "We Run" peaked inside the top 30, and remained on the chart for 14 weeks. I have it at #134 here.

Number 135: Neil Young - Computer Age

There are many explanations out there for Neil Young's shocking 1982 album Trans. They range from pure musical experimentation to reasons involving communication with his disabled son. Whatever the truth, the album was stunning in both its deviation from the type of work Young was known for at the time and its complexity and brilliance. Really a mixture of two styles, the greatness of the LP is encapsulated by "Computer Age", which is a magnificent example of Young's creativity blended with technology and the futurist sound gaining prominence at the time. #135 with a bullet.

Number 136: Pete Shelley - If You Ask Me (I Won't Say No)

I'm not really a fan of the Buzzcocks' music, but when lead singer Pete Shelley went solo in 1980 he ditched the electric guitar, grabbed a synthesizer, and made some really cool tunes. His second solo LP, XL1 featured "If You Ask Me (I Won't Say No)", an awesome track that for some reason was never released as a single. It's my favorite Pete Shelley song and earns him the #136 spot in his only appearance on my Top 200.

Number 137: The Fixx - One Thing Leads To Another

After the success of their debut album Shuttered Room and its charting single, "Red Skies" (#183 on this list) in 1982, Cy Curnin and The Fixx retooled and returned in 1984 with Reach the Beach, which would become their bestselling LP. The second song released from the album was "One Thing Leads To Another", and its groovy bassline and iconic video propelled the single to #4 on the US Hot 100 and a stellar #1 north of the border in Canada. Those numbers make "One Thing Leads To Another" The Fixx's biggest hit of all time in North America. I have it at #137 here.

Number 138: The Style Council - My Ever-Changing Moods

Paul Weller left seminal band The Jam in 1982 and formed Style Council for one reason: he hated rock and roll. True story! In 1984 the Council released their debut album, Cafe Bleu. Lead single "My Ever-Changing Moods" raced up the charts, reaching the top 5 in the UK and the top 30 in the USA. It didn't sound like rock and roll, it sounded like some fine New Wave. Weller led The Style Council for another six years and three more LPs. They never again hit the heights they did with "Moods", which grabs the #138 spot on my Top 200.

Number 139: Gary Numan - Me! I Disconnect From You

"Me! I Disconnect From You" is the first track on Gary Numan's 1978 album Replicas. Released at a time when his band Tubeway Army was in the process of dissolving, the record is basically a Numan solo LP in all but name. In fact, some vinyl pressings credit Replicas to Numan only. Distopian and futurist, Numan was beginning to explore the territory he would later dominate with classics like The Pleasure Principle and his masterpiece, Telekon. Not released as a single from the album, "Me! I Disconnect From You" is one of my favorite Gary Numan tracks. I've slotted it in at #139. 

P.S. For those in Canada or other non-USA countries, the song should play if you click below.

Number 140: Pseudo Echo - Girl

Pseudo Echo was another of the Australian New Wave bands that came out of the sizzling Melbourne scene in the early 80s. Formed in mid-1982, Brian Canham and crew signed to EMI in June 1983 and released their blockbuster debut album, Autumnal Park, soon after. In early 1985 they returned with their follow-up LP, Love An Adventure. It was a success, hitting #14 on the Australian charts and #57 in the USA. My favorite song on the album is "Girl", which for some reason was not released as a single. What are those A&R guys thinking somtimes? Anyway, Pseudo Echo takes spot #140 on my Top 200 with the awesomely synth-heavy "Girl".

Number 141: The Waitresses - No Guilt

Patty Donahue and Chris Butler formed the Waitresses in 1977 as an experimental side-project. But in 1981 they actually received a record deal, and in January 1982 they released their debut LP, Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful. Their biggest hit from the album was "I Know What Boys Like", and the theme song from TV show Square Pegs got them the most mainstream attention. Their best song, however, is "No Guilt", with humorous lyrics glossing over the dark, depressing aftermath of a bad breakup. Personally, I think the track is pure genius. "No Guilt" is song #141 on this list.

Live performance:

Number 142: Nick Heyward - Whistle Down The Wind

In January 1983 news broke about a split in popular New Wave group Haircut One Hundred. This happened just one year after the band's mega-hit album Pelican West had torn up the charts, and only a few months since work on their follow-up record had begun. Lead singer Nick Heyward was out of the group, embarking on a solo career. Soon after, in March, Heyward released his debut LP, North of a Miracle. The first single was the ballad "Whistle Down The Wind", which ended up reaching #13 in the UK while also making a splash on the US Adult Contemporary chart (#20). Heyward's solo career was off to a flying start. "Whistle Down The Wind" gets the #142 spot on my Top 200.

Number 143: Alice Cooper - Clones (We're All)

Flush The Fashion was shock-rocker Alice Cooper's fifth studio album. Released in 1980, the LP saw Cooper moving away from pure metal and hard rock influences and embracing the ascendant New Wave sound. Lead-off single "Clones (We're All)" hit the US top 40, making it the most successful Alice Cooper release in years. The album sold well, but in subsequent years Cooper would basically disavow it, refusing to play any track from Flush The Fashion live until 2011. Too bad, becuase "Clones (We're All)" is an awesome, Gary-Numanish song. I have it at #143 on my Top 200.

Number 144: Thompson Twins - The Gap

The Thompson Twins' 1984 album Into The Gap topped the British charts for three weeks and broke into the US top 10. Four singles were released, and the LP sold over five million copies. Strangely, "The Gap", the pseudo-title track, was not one of the songs chosen to be a single. I disagree with this decision, since it's my favorite track on the album, showcasing Thompson Twins at their musically-diverse best. "The Gap" is also, like song #183 (The Fixx's "Red Skies"), a tune about the Cold War, which is a sub-genre of New Wave that I really enjoy. It all boils down to spot #144 for "The Gap".

Number 145: Kajagoogoo - Turn Your Back On Me

The year is 1984. For the band Kajagoogoo, big changes have taken place. Frontman Limahl is out the door, Nick Beggs has taken over. The group has a new album, Islands, on the charts. Limahl has produced solo hits - the question is, can his old band do the same? With a new musical direction and more of an emphasis on Beggs' bass playing as well as his voice, "Turn Your Back On Me" reaches the UK top 40. As it turns out, lasting stardom for Kajagoogoo would prove elusive, but for one fleeting moment they are on top again. I give you song #145 on my list.

P.S. If the video linked above doesn't work, try this one: 

 

Number 146: Machinations - You Got Me Going Again

Tim Doyle and Tony Starr formed the Machinations in 1980 in Melbourne, Australia. Their third album, 1985's Big Music was their breakthrough, catapulting them to the top of the charts down under and making them international stars. "You Got Me Going Again" was the third single from the album, shooting up inside the top 40 in multiple countries in the latter part of the year. It scores the #146 place on my Top 200.

Number 147: Joe Jackson - I'm The Man

1979 was an exciting time. The punk era was giving way to the rise of New Wave. Straddling the line between the two genres were musicians like Joe Jackson. His album I'm The Man raced up the charts that year, hitting #12 in the UK and spawning several successful singles. The title track is my favorite Joe Jackson song, and its wild energy propels it to the #147 spot on my Top 200. I have included an amazing live performance (in Germany) below as well. This is Joe at the absolute top of his game. Still performing today, the guy is a true New Wave pioneer.

 

Number 148: When In Rome - Wide, Wide Sea

Like Cutting Crew, When In Rome entered the scene at the very tail end of the New Wave era - 1988. They had an even shorter career than Cutting Crew, producing only one eponymous album before disbanding due to musical and personal differences. They released three singles from When In Rome, including the huge hit, "The Promise". One of the songs they did not release as a single was "Wide, Wide Sea", which in my opinion was a mistake. I've always liked this track, and have it at #148 on my list.

Number 149: Cutting Crew - (I Just) Died In Your Arms

For me "(I Just) Died In Your Arms" represents the sound of 1987. The New Wave era was winding down, the late-80s pop era was beginning. Nick van Eede and his band burst onto the scene with a #1 album (Broadcast) and a #1 hit single, then quickly faded. By 1992 and their third LP, Corpus Maximus, musical tastes had changed - for the worse in my opinion. Cutting Crew's sales dried up and their audience evaporated. Had they arrived in 1983, things might have been different, but such is life. "(I Just) Died In Your Arms" takes the #149 spot on my Top 200.

Number 150: The B-52s - Mesopotamia

I am a fan of the B-52s, from Rock Lobster to Funplex. The peak of their popularity, however, probably occured in mid-1982 after the release of the Mesopotamia EP. Produced by David Byrne of the Talking Heads, this album featured the B-52s at their cosmically-wacky best. My favorite song from the album is "Mesopotamia", the title track. Quirky and groovy, with some interesting lyrics, it nabs the #150 spot on my Top 200, and represents the one-quarter point of the list.

Later, in 1989, the B-52s finally had their big breakthrough into the pop charts, with "Love Shack", from their Cosmic Thing LP. Third single "Roam" is my favorite song by the band.