Oops...that statement was met with mild laughter and ridicule from two of my co-workers. I realized pretty quickly that it was a very tall claim considering the wealth of great music that emerged over the course of that decade. The truth is, I was forced into justifying that statement by making a top-ten list of my favorite '80s records. It was a daunting task that took a fair amount of soul searching, but it was a lot of fun. It was also very infectious, and over the next couple of days a dozen other people made their top ten lists, and within a few weeks the number grew to over 100 Amoebites.

The '80s were witness to many divergent and popular styles of music, and from the beginning we realized that it would be impossible for most of us to condense our favorites from all the genres we like into a tiny top ten list. There's just too much good stuff out there. So, we limited this list to Rock/Pop and its sub genres like punk, metal, goth, and new wave. Even so, it was still a difficult selection process because not only are there hundreds of amazing records to consider, there is also the added dynamic of time.

The '80s were a long time ago and the music has had many years to gestate. We have a deep sense of nostalgia and sentiment with these albums as our fondest memories are associated with them. These are albums that we LOVE.

- Henry Polk

P.S. We'll be posting new additions to the '80s list project from Amoeba staff members on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. See all entries in the '80s list project.

P.P.S. The '80s List Book is available for sale at Amoeba Hollywood.

Henry Polk
Echo & The Bunnymen – Porcupine (1983)
Aztec Camera – High Land, Hard Rain (1983)
XTC – Black Sea (1981)
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Kaleidoscope (1981)
The Cars – Panorama (1980)
The Smiths – Meat Is Murder (1984)
Bauhaus – Burning From The Inside (1983)
Throwing Muses – House Tornado (1988)
Cocteau Twins – Head Over Heels (1983)
The Stranglers – Aural Sculpture (1984)

                            


Matt Messberger
David Bowie - Scary Monsters (1980)
Adam & The Ants – Kings Of The Wild Frontier (1980)
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Ju Ju (1981)
Television Personalities – And Don’t The Kids Just Love It (1980)
Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Searching For The Young Soul Rebels (1980)
The Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace (1985)
The Pretenders – Pretenders II (1981)
The Smiths - Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes (1982)
Orange Juice – You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever (1982)

                 


Adrienne Pearson
Christian Death – Only Theatre Of Pain (1982)
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Kaleidoscope (1980)
Echo & The Bunnymen – Porcupine (1983)
Orchestral Movements In The Dark – Dazzle Ships (1983)
Bauhaus - In The Flat Field (1980)
Modern English – Mesh & Lace (1981)
X Mal Deutschland – Tocsin (1984)
Ministry – The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste(1989)
Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (1988)

                           


Kris Konrad
The Fall – This Nation’s Saving Grace (1985)
The Birthday Party – Junkyard (1982)
Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
The Gun Club – Miami (1982)
The Smiths – The Smiths (1983)
Guns N’ Roses – Appetite For Destruction (1987)
The Blue Nile – A Walk Across The Rooftops (1984)
Bruce Springsteen - Born In The U.S.A. (1984)
Pixies – Doolittle (1989)
Happy Mondays - Squirrel & G-man 24 hour Party …(1987)

                             


Jackie Greed
Cocteau Twins – Garlands (1982)
Depeche Mode – Some Great Reward (1984)
Duran Duran – Seven & The Ragged Tiger (1983)
The Jesus & Mary Chain – Psychocandy (1985)
Pixies – Doolittle (1989)
Love And Rockets – Seventh Dream Of Teenage Heaven (1985)
New Order – Low Life (1985)
The Smiths – Meat Is Murder (1985)
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (1989)
The Cure – The Head On The Door (1985)

                           


Irene Chavira
Berlin - Pleasure Victim (1982)
Depeche Mode – Speak & Spell (1981)
The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead (1985)
The B-52’s – Whammy! (1983)
Echo & The Bunnymen -  Porcupine (1982)
Duran Duran – Duran Duran (1981)
The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (are made of this)(1982)
Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980)
Tears For Fears – The Hurting (1983)

                         


Mahssa Taghinia
Morrissey - Viva Hate (1988)
Fad Gadget – Gag (1984)
Nirvana – Bleach (1989)
The Cult – Love (1985)
Opal - Happy Nightmare Baby (1987)
Slayer - South Of Heaven (1988)
The Sisters Of Mercy – Floodland (1987)
Love And Rockets – Earth, Sun, Moon (1987)
Spacemen 3 – Playing With Fire (1989)
Joy Division – Closer (1980)

                           


Jenn Pratt
Social Distortion – Mommy’s Little Monster (1983)
Pixies – Doolittle (1989)
Black Flag – Damaged (1981)
Duran Duran – Rio (1982)
The Descendents – I Don’t Want To Grow Up (1985)
Go-Gos – Beauty & The Beat (1981)
Bad Brains – Bad Brains (1982)
Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables (1980)
Depeche Mode – Black Celebration (1986)
The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead (1986)

                          


Scott Spaulding
Van Halen - 1984 (1984)
Black Flag - Damaged (1981)
Kraftwerk - Computer World (1981)
Slayer – South Of Heaven (1988)
Joy Division – Closer (1980)
Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation (1988)
Bad Brains – Bad Brains (1982)
Metallica – Ride The Lightning (1984)
Butthole Surfers – Psychic…Powerless…Another Man’s Sack (1985)
Big Black - Songs About Fucking (1987)

                      


Gabby Almanza
Bauhaus – Burning From The Inside (1983)
Christian Death – Only Theatre Of Pain (1982)
D.A.F. – Gold Und Liebe (1981)
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (1986)
Killing Joke – Killing Joke (1980)
The Replacements – Pleased To Meet Me (1987)
Sparks – Angst In My Pants (1982)
Talking Heads – Remain In Light (1980)
Dag Nasty – Can I Say (1986)
New Order – Movement (1981)

                             


Next up is Part 2 of the '80s list project. We'll be posting new lists every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.