60 years of my favourite music – 1976 to 1983

Ok, we’re back on track. Back to being more disciplined and only one a year, so we can fit in a whole decade. Yes, I can do that…

Oh, who am I kidding? It’s quite obvious by now that I have no intention of sticking to my structure of 10 years and 10 songs to a post, let alone sticking to my self imposed rules. Phew! Music shouldn’t have rules. That feels much better. Ok, one rule only, no more than 10 songs to a post, and maybe even less, so you have time to actually listen to them. And who cares how many posts it takes.

I know I’ve already done 1976 (twice), but I was scrolling down the @themagus’s blog and found a post about JJ Cale. So I had to stop and listen to Cocaine – another one of the funkiest songs of all time. Scoot across to his post (after you finish here, not now!) and have a listen.

Moving on. 1977 - Commodores – Brick House. One of my favourite boogying songs when I was 19 and used to go clubbing with my cousin. I still can’t sit still for it.

Going now to the other end of the spectrum. When I was 19, I went out with my first younger man – he was an 18 year punk rocker. He introduced me to Elvis Costello, The Clash, the Boomtown Rats and a bunch of other punk and new wave bands. Although @sift666 insists that London Burning is the best Clash album, I still love their first album the best. So also from 1977 – The Clash – Police & Thieves. I chose this live version for a bit of rawness.

If I was going to choose another from 1977, it might be Mary MacGregor - Torn Between Two Lovers, going right to a third end of the spectrum (for wont of a better analogy).

@the magus has really helped me out this post. He’s already covered two of my favourites from 1978. First up Kate Bush with Wuthering Heights. Although it’s my top pick of hers, there are some other great choices in his post, including a fabulous duet with Peter Gabriel.

1978 continued. I’ve been listening my way through his post about Dire Straits. I love Dire Straits… So instead of just one song of theirs from me, you can have a few from our friend @themagus.

1978 – oh goodie, now I get to pick a third song from that year, thanks @themagus. I think I’ll go with some Elvis Costello. Another hard pick, but let’s have Pump It Up from This Year’s Model.

1979 – In Feb, 1979, the first outdoor concert was held in Athletic Park in Wellington. It was Rod Stewart, and it was a magical night. But despite that, my pick for this year is The Motels – Total Control. (Second choice would maybe be The Ballad of Lucy Jordan by Marianne Faithful, which came up on random on my play list while I was making Christmas cakes last week, and made me cry, again…)

But hey, let’s have another one from 1979 anyway - Steve Forbert – Romeo’s Tune from the album Jackrabbit Slim. There were a few others on the album I really liked. But I’ll go with the one you might have heard of, this time.

1980 – The Boomtown Rats played in the Wellington Town Hall in May this year. Bob Geldof was more charismatic than I expected – one of the most awesome concerts ever. But out of their first 3 albums, how can I pick a track? I can’t even decide which is my favourite album: Boomtown Rats from 1977 or The Fine Art of Surfacing from 1979. I eventually picked I Don’t Like Mondays as it’s probably their best known song, and you just might know it.

1980 - I would have chosen Tom Trauberts Blues (Waltzing Matilda) as my favourite Tom Waits song, as that was the first one I ever heard, at a dance concert by a visiting dancer. But 1977 was already taken three times over, so I’ll pick Heart Attack and Vine, which one of my dance teachers choreo’d for the Cabaret class.

1981 - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. I could go with I Love Rock n Roll, a classic Rock anthem, but I think I'll pick Crimson & Clover.

1982 – I think I fancy a bit of Billy Idol now – I was thinking of Eyes Without a Face, but decided on White Wedding.

Oh what the hell, let's have Eyes Without A Face from 1983 as well.

Thanks for reading, and hopefully listening and enjoying at least some of them.

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Some of my previous posts about music: Benefits of joining a community choir ~ ~ 60 years of my favourite music – 1957 to 1966 ~ ~ 60 years of my favourite music – 1967 to 1971 ~ ~ 60 years of my favourite music – 1972 to 1976) ~ ~ Singing carols with the NZ Symphony Orchestra PLUS my best loved Christmas music