Number 59: The Cars - Tonight She Comes

Their second and final appearance on this Top 200, The Cars take the #59 spot with "Tonight She Comes". This song was a new track recorded for their 1985 Greatest Hits album. It reached #7 on the Billboard singles chart and helped the LP sell over six million copies, making it the best selling Cars record of all time.

Number 60: Play - This Little Girl

At #60 we find Play's second and final appearance on my Top 200. "This Little Girl" is from their 1985 EP, Red Movies. The entire album is great, but this track and "In My Mind" (#163 on this list) are my two favorites. Someone hire a detective and find out what happened to Wayne Kennedy and the rest of Play!

Number 61: Falco - Vienna Calling

Falco. There's really not much more to say! The Austrian New Wave superstar takes my #61 spot with "Vienna Calling", from his epic 1985 LP Falco 3. It's my favorite song of his and marks Falco's only appearance on my Top 200.

Number 62: Honeymoon Suite - Burning In Love

Ah, the majesty of Honeymoon Suite! Formed in Ontario, Canada in 1981 by Johnny Dee and Brad Bent, these guys expertly straddled the line between rock and New Wave throughout the 80s. Their eponymous 1984 album spawned two monster hits in "New Girl Now" and "Burning In Love", the latter of which takes the #62 position on my Top 200. Filmed entirely in the Niagara Falls area, witness the glory of one of the best Canadian videos of the entire time period. It never gets old!

Ah what the hell, heres "New Girl Now" too!

 

Number 63: Devo - Beautiful World

Devo hit the big time in 1980 with "Whip It", and continue to perform and record today. In 1981, "Beautiful World" was released as the lead-off single from their fourth album, New Traditionalists. The song only made it to #102 on the Billboard chart, but has always been my favorite track from 1980s-era Devo. It takes the #63 spot on my Top 200 in the band's only appearance on this list.

I have included the video for their 2007 song "Watch Us Work It" below. That tune is my favorite Devo song overall. 

Number 64: Endgames - First-Last-For Everything

Two Scottish bands in a row! Paul Wishart and David Rudden formed Endgames in Glasgow in late 1979. Originally a rock outfit, they shifted to the New Wave sound by the very early 80s. Endgames released two singles before being signed to a major record label in 1982. The second of these stand-alone singles was "First-Last-For Everything", which reached #31 on the dance chart. The band went on to achieve moderate success in the UK, but never quite made a big breakthrough. I have "First-Last-For Everything" at #64 on my list.

Number 65: Big Country - Wonderland

Stuart Adamson formed Big Country in Scotland in 1980. Their debut album The Crossing reached #3 in the UK and #4 across the pond in Canada when it was released in 1982. They would go on to release their follow-up record, Steeltown, in 1984 and that LP was also a huge success. Between the two albums, they released the single "Wonderland" in late 1983, which hit #8 in the UK, becoming their biggest hit to that date. "Wonderland" is a great song and I have it at #65 on this list, marking Big Country's sole appearance here.

Video below.

 

Number 66: Gary Numan - Cars

The second of three Gary Numan songs on my Top 200, "Cars" was Gary's biggest hit, reaching #1 in the UK and Canada, and #9 in the USA. The first single off his third album, The Pleasure Principle, the video for "Cars" became a staple on MTV (and other music video channels, like Canada's MuchMusic). I have "Cars" at #66.

Number 67: Book Of Love - Boy

Book Of Love has a lot of great songs ("I Touch Roses", "Alice Everyday", "Book Of Love", "Flower In My Hand", "Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)", etc.), but somehow only one got included in this Top 200. I went back and forth between my two favorites: 1985's "Boy" and 1988's "Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls". I finally settled on "Boy" for the #67 spot. The tubular bells sealed it!

I have included the video for "Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls" below, as well.

Number 68: The Human League - The Sound Of The Crowd

This is the track that broke the Human League into the big time. "The Sound Of The Crowd" was the first single off the group's third album, Dare. It reached #12 in their native Britain, and attracted interational attention. Phil Oakey and the crew went on to become superstars, and they are still touring and recording great music today. The third of four Human League tunes on my Top 200, I have "The Sound Of The Crowd" at #68.

Here's a cool (lip-synched) live performance of the song:

Number 69: Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)

The anthem of seminal 1985 movie The Breakfast Club (never say a bad word about Molly Ringwald around me, by the way!), "Don't You (Forget About Me)" became Simple Minds' biggest hit, reaching #1 in the US and Canada and #7 in the UK. Jim Kerr and crew were already stars, but this song boosted them into the stratosphere. One of the signature tracks of the decade, I have "Don't You (Forget About Me)" in the #69 spot in Simple Minds' second and final appearance here.

Number 70: Strange Advance - Love Becomes Electric

The second of three Strange Advance songs on this list, "Love Becomes Electric" was the first single off the Canadian band's 1988 album The Distance Between. It hit #20 on the pop chart, returning the group to prominence after several hitless years. Times were changing in 1988, however, and Strange Advance felt forced to embrace more of a rock sound with this LP. It would turn out to be their last album, but the group went out with a bang. "Love Becomes Electric" is my #70 song.

Number 71: Thompson Twins - Lies

The third of four Thompson Twins songs on this Top 200, "Lies" was the first single off the band's 1982 album Quick Step And Side Kick. Reaching a disappointing #67 on the UK charts (American audiences had more sense and got the track to #45), "Lies" was quickly forgotten in favor of other Thompson Twins tunes, including the mediocre "Love On Your Side" (UK #9 somehow). "Lies" is my second favorite '80s era Twins song and I have it at #71 here.

Number 72: Arcadia - Election Day

The time is the steamy summer of 1985. Duran Duran has broken up. Some of its remnants (Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor) have formed a new group, Arcadia. Their debut - and only - album, So Red The Rose, produces three singles: "The Promise", "Goodbye Is Forever", and their biggest hit: the song I have at #72 on this list, "Election Day".

Number 73: China Crisis - Arizona Sky

Eddie Lundon and Gary Daly came out of the Liverpool scene, forming China Crisis in mid 1979. They released numerous albums throughout the 80s, including 1986's What Price Paradise, the LP that contains "Arizona Sky", which is my favorite song by the band. This track missed the top 40 in both the UK and the USA, and I guess its losing streak continues as it only gets the #73 spot here! In all seriousness though, it's a great tune and marks China Crisis's only entry in my Top 200.

Number 74: The Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)

Ian McNabb's band The Icicle Works came out of the Liverpool scene in 1980. They released their self-titled debut LP in late 1983. Lead-off single "Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)" was a relative failure in the UK (only reaching #90 on the pop chart) but a massive success in the USA, where it cracked the top 40. I have the song at #74 here in The Icicle Works' only appearance.

Number 75: Fischer-Z - So Long

John Watts formed Fischer-Z in 1977, and the band's first LP, Word Salad, enjoyed moderate success in Britain. Their 1980 follow-up, Going Deaf For A Living, duplicated this feat when the song "So Long" hit the top 20 in multiple European countries. Fischer-Z (with varying lineups of musicians) would go on to release more than 10 albums, maintaining a cult following until the present day. "So Long" takes the #75 spot in their only appearance on my Top 200.

Number 76: Yaz - Don't Go

The third of four Yaz songs to make my Top 200 list, "Don't Go" was the duo's second single from their debut album Upstairs At Eric's. It hit #3 in Britain, cementing Yaz as a force to be reckoned with in synthpop music. Listening to this song (and the album in general), it's fascinating to imagine what Depeche Mode would have sounded like had Vince Clarke remained in the band. If only! Anyway, "Don't Go" is at #76 and there is only one more Yaz song to come before we hit #1.

Number 77: The Cure - In Between Days

The Cure released The Head On The Door in 1985, and "In Between Days" was the first single off the record. The song barely reached the top 100 in the US but was a top 15 smash in the UK. It's one of my favorite Cure tracks and the second of three to appear on this list. "In Between Days" takes the #77 spot on my Top 200.

Number 78: Limahl - The Neverending Story

The Neverending Story film hit theaters in 1984, featuring a title track composed by Giorgio Moroder and sung by ex-Kajagoogoo frontman Limahl. The movie was a huge hit, and the song cracked the top 10 in the USA and the top 5 in the UK. "The Neverending Story" single drove sales of both the movie soundtrack and Limahl's debut solo LP, Don't Suppose. The song and albums it appeared on marked the high-water point of Limahl's career. I have the song at #78 here.

Video below.

...and Limahl today? He's still active with a new single released last year. Here's "1983":

Number 79: Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe formed Pet Shop Boys in 1981 but didn't make a splash on the popular charts until 1985's "West End Girls", the first single from their debut LP Please. That song hit #1 in both the UK and USA, though follow-up "Love Comes Quickly" was a relative disappointment. Third single "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)" was a top-10 return to form, complete with video that got heavy airplay around the world. I have the song at #79 here.

Bonus: Here's a great song by Pet Shop Boys from their 2009 album Yes:

Number 80: Real Life - Face To Face

David Sterry and Richard Zatorski formed Real Life in Melbourne, Australia in early 1983. Their debut album Heartland (which contained mega-hits "Send Me An Angel" and "Catch Me I'm Falling") was released later that year to wild acclaim. The band's follow-up LP, 1985's Flame, failed to find similar success, spawning only the minor European hit "Face To Face", which is my favorite Real Life song. I have it in the #80 spot on this Top 200. 

As a bonus, here's the awesome video for "Catch Me I'm Falling".

Number 81: Japan - I Second That Emotion

Japan's second-biggest hit after "Ghosts" (#163 on this list), "I Second That Emotion" was a New Wave remake of the 1967 Smokey Robinson hit. The second release from their 1982 Gentlemen Take Polaroids album, the song hit #9 in Britain, continuing a string of hits for David Sylvian and crew. "I Second That Emotion" gets the #81 spot here.

Number 82: XTC - Senses Working Overtime

Andy Partridge formed XTC way, WAY back - in 1972, before I was even born. By the turn of the decade they were putting out quirky pop and post-punk music with a definite New Wave tinge. The band's early 1982 LP, English Settlement, contained the UK top-10 hit "Senses Working Overtime", which also happens to be my favorite XTC song. I have it at #82 in the band's only appearance on my Top 200.

Number 83: Kajagoogoo - Too Shy

Limahl met Duran Duran's keyboard maestro Nick Rhodes in early 1982. Rhodes was so impressed with him that he agreed to produce Kajagoogoo's first album, White Feathers. Lead-off single "Too Shy" rocketed to #1 in the UK and #5 in the USA, making the band instant superstars. Their road would become rocky in following years, with Limahl eventually being booted out of the band, but in 1982 Kajagoogoo was on top of the world. I have "Too Shy" at #83.

Number 84: Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

Before New Order, there was Joy Division. Ian Curtis and crew started out in 1976 as a punk band, but by 1980 they had transformed into a New Wave outfit. Curtis's personal problems and probable mental illness led to his suicide in May of that year, and the remaining members of the band continued on as New Order. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was Joy Division's biggest hit, and I have the song at #84 in their only appearance here.

Number 85: The Power Station - Some Like It Hot

The time is the steamy summer of 1985. Duran Duran has broken up. Some of its remnants (Andy and John Taylor) have formed a new group, The Power Station, fronted by non other than dapper singer - and Duran Duran friend - Robert Palmer. Their eponymous album produces two hits: "Get It On (Bang A Gong)" and the song I have at #85 on this list, "Some Like It Hot".

Number 86: Altered Images - I Could Be Happy

Claire Grogan and Caesar McInulty founded Altered Images in early 1980. Their 1981 album Happy Birthday established them as international stars, and 1982's follow-up Pinky Blue sold over three million copies. Lead-off single "I Could Be Happy" cracked the UK top 10 and made a big splash internationally. The band released one more album before breaking up in late 1983. I have "I Could Be Happy" at #86 in their only appearance on this list.

Number 87: New Order - Regret

I'm not a big New Order fan. I'll admit that right off the bat. I do have a few of their songs on my personal playlist, but the only one I included on this Top 200 list is my favorite NO tune, "Regret", from Bernard Sumner & crew's 1993 LP Republic. This track was everywhere in the summer of that year, in heavy rotation on both radio and video. It gets the #87 spot here.

Number 88: The Cars - You Are The Girl

1987's Door to Door was the last LP released by the Cars that featured both Benjamin Orr and Ric Ocasek, and "You Are The Girl" was their final Top 40 hit. Probably the greatest American New Wave band of all time, the Cars have so many good songs it's nearly impossible to list them. The first of two Cars tracks that appear on this Top 200, "You Are The Girl" takes the #88 spot.

Number 89: Duran Duran - All Along The Water

Sales-wise, 1990's Liberty album was a big flop. But it contained some good songs. Specifically, "My Antarctica" and the song I have at #89, "All Along The Water". Duran Duran would rebound with their next LP, 1993's The Wedding Album, and Liberty would slowly fade from the public's consciousness. Never released as a single (A&R men chose the overrated "Serious" instead), "All Along The Water" still rocks today.