Book Review: Playing Back The 80s
Looking back at the 1980s, if you had to pick songs from that decade that defined it, what would you pick? In other words, without these songs the decade would not be the same. In the book “Playing Back The 80s”, Jim Beviglia takes a shot at creating this list. I recently had the opportunity to read this fascinating book and learn some interesting tidbits about each song. If you are looking for a quick read and you love 80s music, I recommend the book. I like the fact that the book lists the songs in chronological order and doesn’t just rank them. I just don’t necessarily agree on all the song choices listed in the book because I feel there are just songs that are missing. What songs would you add?
Song listing:
Cars – Gary Numan
Escape (the pina colada song) – Rupert Holmes
Whip It – Devo
Everybodys Got to Learn Sometime – The Korgis
Once In A Lifetime – Talking Heads
All Out Of Love – Air Supply
Just Like Starting Over – John Lennon
Take It Easy On Me – Little River Band
Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
Betty Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
Lunatic Fringe – Red Rider
Baby Come To Me – Patti Austin & James Ingram
Don’t Stop Believin – Journey
867-5309/Jenny – Tommy Tutone
At This Moment – Billy Vera
In The Air Tonight – Phil Collins
Melt With You – Modern English
Someway, Someday – Marshall Crenshaw
She Blinded Me With Science -Thomas Dolby
Shakin – Eddie Money
Our House – Madness
The Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor
The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Shame On The Moon – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
Bad To The Bone – George Thorogood
Mr. Roboto – Styx
Suddenly Last Summer – The Motels
Sister Christian – Night Ranger
Overkill – Men At Work
I Want A New Drug – Huey Lewis & The News
Cruel Summer – Bananarama
Sunglasses At Night – Corey Hart
She’s a Beauty – The Tubes
Every Breath You Take – The Police
Talking in your sleep – The Romantics
Cherish – Kool & The Gang
Vallotte – Julian Lennon
Smuggler’s blues .- glenn Fry
Rock Me Amadeus – Falco
St. Elmo’s Fire (man in motion) – John Parr
Separate Lives – Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin
Life in a Northern Town – The Dream Academy
Broken Wings – Mister Mister
And We Danced – The Hooters
Cry – Godley & Creme
The Original Miami Vice Theme – Jan Hammer
Your Love – The Outfield
If You Leave – OMD
Welcome To The Boomtown – David & David
Keep Your Hands To Yourself – Georgia Satellites
The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby & The Range
Shake you down – Gregory Abbott
Someday – Glass Tiger
Seasons Change – Expose
Don’t Mean Nothing – Richard Marx
One – Metallica
Under The Milky Way – The Church
Cult of Personality – In Living Color
The Look – Roxette
So Alive – Love & Rockets
Free Fallin – Tom Petty
Love Shack – B52s
The Heart Of The Matter – Don Henley
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39992296-playing-back-the-80s
