100 Best 80's Soft Rock Music Hits & 25 Best Heavy Metal Albums

On the last post I told you about 10 All time Best Guitar Solos
This week I would like to talk about 80's Music Hits.

For most people, the 80's music scene was comprised of big hair and androgyny. In fact, it ushered in a new age of glam rock. Anyone who was anyone, and even those who were not, seemed to embrace the glam metal attitudes of the early 70's glam rock persona's like The New York City Dolls, Iggy Pop and David Bowie. It was cool to look like the opposite sex and not surprising, many social issues from gay rights to feminism seemed to explode into pop culture. But it wasn't just the metal heads that were getting into spandex and accessories, everyone was. The whole music scene exploded with a creativity the likes we'll probably not see for a good long time. Neon-colored socks and scarves, and every color under the rainbow. People had big hair and big attitudes, men wore pink and women wore torn knitted pantyhose ala Madonna. It was the way things were, man, people wore their individuality with pride.

The 1980's music scene is possibly one of the strangest times in the evolution of rock music. These guys did everything, including Piano Accordion , it was insane. Much of the most tame bubblegum music, came from the 80's. On the other hand, the 1980's also saw the rise of some of the hardest rock and metal ever. These guys made Black Sabbath and Zeppelin look like librarians, they were over the top, big time. Names like Slayer, Voivod, Metallica, and even 70's greats like AC/DC and Motorhead and Van Halen were developing into hardrocking godlike icons.

All this was happening about the same time as bands like Wham, Boy George and Culture Club, Air Supply, Hall & Oates, Michael Jackson and other soft rock bands were taking the world by storm. It was as if the the metal bands were becoming more aggressive in order to distance themselves from music that would, even by today's standards seem weak.

Regardless of intent, the music of the 1980's was great because it made no apologies to anyone. You could lay on your bed listening Duran Duran on your Sony Walkman, or pump up the volume on your dad's stereo system, while listening to Anthrax. There was no need to apologize, and I'm sure some of you even moonlighted from mods or preps in the day and headbanging rockers and punks at night, all you needed were a cool leather jacket, boots and a black t-shirt with your favorite metal band on it.

The following is a list of some old faves of the 1980's. I'll divide them into soft rock and hard rock so as not to confuse. I'll also put the Heavy Metal albums instead of singles because as everyone knows, metal was meant to be enjoyed as an album. I'll start with the 100 Best 80's Soft Rock Music and progress to the 25 Best Heavy Metal Albums.

Soft Rock - Bands & Singles

1. Call Me - Blondie
2. Fame - Irene Cara
3. Little Jeannie - Elton John
4. Do That To Me One More Time - Captain And Tennille
5. Talking Heads - Burning Down the House
6. David Bowie - China Girl
7. Bryan Adams - Straight From the Heart
8. Naked Eyes - Promises, Promises
9. David Bowie - Modern Love
10. Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
11. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
12. The One That You Love - Air Supply
13. Physical - Olivia Newton-John
14. 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton
15. Queen Of Hearts - Juice Newton
16. Kiss On My List - Daryl Hall & John Oates
17. Celebration - Kool & The Gang
18. Rosanna - Toto
19. Gloria - Laura Branigan
20. Who Can It Be Now? - Men At Work
21. Centerfold - The J. Geils Band
22. Down Under - Men At Work
23. Africa - Toto
24. Maniac - Michael Sembello
25. True - Spandau Ballet
26. Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler
27. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club
28. Owner Of A Lonely Heart - Yes
29. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.
30. Talking In Your Sleep - The Romantics
31. Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) - Billy Ocean
32. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
33. Let's Hear It For The Boy - Deniece Williams
34. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
35. Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
36. What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner
37. Shout - Tears for Fears
38. Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer
39. We Built this City - Starship
40. The Power of - Love Huey Lewis &the News
41. Can't Fight this Feeling - REO Speedwagon
42. Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer
43. Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins
44. Naked Eyes - Always Something There to Remind Me
45. Talking Heads - Burning Down the House
46. David Bowie - China Girl
47. Bryan Adams - Straight From the Heart
48. Naked Eyes - Promises, Promises
49. David Bowie - Modern Love
50. Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins
51. What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner
52. Shout - Tears for Fears
53. Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer
54. We Built this City - Starship
55. Duran Duran - Rio
56. Big Country - In a Big Country
57. ABC - The Look of Love
58. Chris DeBurgh - Don't Pay The Ferryman
59. Elvis Costello - Everyday I Write the Book
60. Modern English - I Melt With You
61. Take Me Home Tonight - Eddie Money
62. Sara - Starship
63. Venus - Bananarama
64. Kyrie - Mr. Mister
65. Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer
66. We Built this City - Starship
67. The Power of - Love Huey Lewis &the News
68. Can't Fight this Feeling - REO Speedwagon
69. Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer
70. Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins
71. Walk Like an Egyptian - Bangles
72. Dexys Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen
73. Police - Every Breath You Take
74. David Bowie - Let's Dance
75. Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson - Say, Say, Say
76. Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
77. Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
78. Styx - Mr. Roboto
79. Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
80. Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
81. Fixx - One Thing Leads to Another
82. After the Fire - Der Kommissar
83. Pat Benatar - Love is a Battlefield
84. Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science
85. Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
86. Kinks - Come Dancing
87. Prince - Little Red Corvette
88. Naked Eyes - Always Something There to Remind Me
89. Talking Heads - Burning Down the House
90. David Bowie - China Girl
91. Bryan Adams - Straight From the Heart
92. Naked Eyes - Promises, Promises
93. David Bowie - Modern Love
94. Duran Duran - Rio
95. Big Country - In a Big Country
96. ABC - The Look of Love
97. Chris DeBurgh - Don't Pay The Ferryman
98. Elvis Costello - Everyday I Write the Book
99. Modern English - I Melt With You
100. Soft Cell - Tainted Love
     

Hard Rock - Bands & Albums

1. Love at First Sting - Scorpions
2. Ace of Spades - Motorhead
3. Diary of a Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
4. Venom - Black Metal
5. Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue
6. Skid Row - Skid Row
   
7. Balls to the Wall - Accept
8. Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath
9. The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden
10. Venom - Black Metal
11. Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue
12. Mechanical Resonance - Tesla
13. Operation: Mindcrime - Queensryche
14. Among The Living - Anthrax
15. Under Lock and Key - Dokken
16. Balls to the Wall - Accept
17. Master of Puppets - Metallica
18. Mechanical Resonance - Tesla
19. Operation: Mindcrime - Queensryche
20. Among The Living - Anthrax
21. Under Lock and Key - Dokken
22. Reign in Blood - Slayer
23. Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? - Megadeth
24. Krokus - Headhunter
25. Voivod - Nothingface
    

There you have it, a breakdown of the hard and soft rock/metal/whatever of the 1980's. It's all part of a cycle of things, I think. Soft and hard rock will always exist as long as people live on this planet, and no other time has shown us this than the 1980's.

10 All time Best Guitar Solos

On the last post I told you about 50s 60s or 70s rock bands. Today I'll talk about guitar solos.

I realize that I may be opening up the Pandora's box on this one, after all, guitar solos are subjective correct? I mean, who am I to tell you what is and isn't the best when it comes to good ole rock n roll guitar solos. Many questions may arise, for example, 'Have I heard every song there is to hear? Of course not. That is why I'm laying it out for you up front, I don't want to upset the greater good that exists in your special place. The point is, alltime greatest guitar solos means absolutely nothing, nada, zilch. It is a completely personal and subjective preference on my part, and in no way is it intended to be the end all and say all of what is and isn't a great rock n roll solo. You are free to disagree or agree, I don't really care either way. Should you like what I'm putting out here? Of course you should, and you should accept it and love it, but once again, you can remain a contrarian and that's cool with me too, hell dude, whatever floats your boat is cool with me. Rock n Roll is so speculative, especially these days that everyone can have a legitimate viewpoint on what is good and what isn't. In fact, I could even support you if you told me that 'I love Nickleback man, they rock', More power to you if that is your thing, frankly I can't stand the band, I call them the Beavers (The animal on the back of a Canadian Nickel).

Ok, enough about me, let's talk about the 10 All time Best Guitar Solos. As you may know by now, I have a preference of 70's rock n roll music over other eras, so it will be no surprise to you that I have included most of the all time greatest Rock n Roll Guitar solos from the 70's, once again, it's all good. As is my customary thing, all of the solos are going to be randomly entered, so therefore, no one guitar solo takes precedence over another. Simply, they're all given equal weight. There's nothing better than seeing and hearing your favorite artist pluck away at a rocking Gibson or Ibanez guitars it's just cool dude.

As per popular request, my 10 All time Best Guitar Solos:

1. Eruption by Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
   
2. Stairway to Heaven by Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
3. Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix
4. Hotel California by Don Felder/Joe Walsh (The Eagles)
5. Layla by Clapton/Allman (Derek and the Dominoes )
6. Bohemian Rhapsody by Brian May (Queen)
7. Wish You Were Here by David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
8. Sweet Child O' Mine by Slash (Guns n' Roses)
9. One by Kirk Hammet (Metallica)
10. Won't Get Fooled Again by Pete Townsend (The Who)

There you have it, my 10 All time Best Guitar Solos. There are so many more great guitar solos out there, but I would need a 100 or 1000 All time Best Guitar Solos for a list like that, so 10 will suffice for now.