Lucky Star by Madonna

   

     This was the one, folks.  This is classic Madonna all the way, in all her Boy Toy glory.  This was the video that truly got her noticed, and put her first album firmly in the public eye.  She only went up from here.  "Lucky Star" is magnificent 80's synth dance pop- this was just one of the first of many club anthems Madonna would propel into pop culture.  "Lucky Star" was Madonna's first Top 5 hit, and the first of a record-breaking string of 16 consecutive Top Ten hits on the Billboard charts.

 

Pump Up the Volume by MARRS.

   
     Regarded as a milestone of 80s British house music, "Pump Up The Volume" by MARRS dominated radio in 1987 upon its release.  Reaching #13 on the Billboard US charts and #1 on Billboard's dance charts, the song made an impact.  It sounds as if it could be recorded and released today- it's quite ahead of its time.  This would be the only hit single from MARRS.

Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club

   

      "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club, was released in 1981 and became a huge #1 Dance/Club smash, even peaking at #2 on the US Rap/Hip-Hop Charts.  The song would be Tom Tom Club's only US Billboard hit, peaking at #31- although it would go on to become one of the most sampled tracks of the 80s. This song instantly reminds me of summer whenever I hear it.  It's pure, joyous 80s dance pop, and this is a perfect tune to blast on a warm summer evening with the top down.

Burning Up by Madonna

 
      Released  with "Physical Attraction" as a B-side, "Burning Up" hit the clubs in March of 1983.  Although the song would fail to do much on the Billboard pop charts, it did peak at #3 on the Dance/Club charts- a place Madonna would be soon accustomed to.  Being many people's first glimpse of a then-unknown Madonna, it became a minor hit on the fledgling MTV video channel.  It's a powerful clip- it brazenly shows Madonna's raw ambition and blatant air of defiance.  This is one of the hottest songs of the 80s, and of all time.  This song perfectly personifies Madonna in all her unabashed glory.  Still one of my favorites of her.

Physical Attraction by Madonna

   
     Madonna was not yet a household name when "Physical Attraction" first hit the clubs scene in July of 1983.  From her revolutionary debut album, Madonna, "Physical Attraction" is a stunning track that sounds just as hot today.  Its throbbing 80s bass groove and synth is nothing short of irresistible, and her vocals demand attention.  This track should have been much bigger if you ask me, but I can rest in the fact that this song is widely considered legendary by millions of Madonna fans and music critics around the world.  It's slinky and sexy and hot- close your eyes and it's easy to imagine a dancefloor packed full of sweaty people, lost in the grooves...  Kids today go nuts when hearing this- yes, it really is that cool.  This was new and fresh and exciting in 1983- it was disco with a twist, and the beginning of a new era and sound in dance music.  The 80s rule!

SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)- THE EURYTHMICS

   
      Released as a single in early 1983 and known as the breakthrough song for British group The Eurythmics, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) became an instant smash, making it all the way to the #1 position on the Billboard charts.  The accompanying video made a huge impact on young MTV viewers- I for one will never forget the astonishing sight of androgynous Annie Lennox and her brightly orange, close-cropped hair brandishing a cane.  She was super cool, and kinda scary at the same time...  Her gender-bending identity quickly became a household name in the early 80s, although "Sweet Dreams" would become their only #1 smash in the US.  Still, they were extremely influential, and honestly the song sounds as if it could be released today.  The video is widely considered a classic of the era, and was in heavy rotation on MTV throughout '83 and '84.

THE METRO BY BERLIN

   

     Epitomizing the emerging new wave movement of the early 80s, Berlin's "The Metro" is a heavenly robotic and blissful melding of punk rock and pop and glazed with some utterly delicious synthesizers.  Although "The Metro" only made it to #58 on the charts, the video was in heavy rotation on MTV at the time and Berlin was honestly more of a cult band anyway.  Teri Nunn had great style and sex appeal, and they would go on to have a handful of hits throughout the decade.  This is probably my favorite Berlin track though- to me it perfectly captures that delicious 80s energy, circa 1983.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST BY QUEEN

     Taken from Queen's 1980 album "The Game", the band scored their biggest selling single ever with the irresistible "Another One Bites The Dust".  The song was tremendously successful, hitting #1 on the US Billboard charts and becoming a #2 hit on both the R&B and Disco charts.  The single would sell over 7 million copies worldwide, and ranked #34 on Billboard's All Time Top 100.  The pounding bass line was inspired by Chic's "Good Times", and supposedly after attending a Queen concert, Michael Jackson suggested to Freddie Mercury to release "Another One Bites The Dust" as a single.  Luckily for us, Freddie listened to MJ.

PLANET ROCK BY AFRIKA BAMBAATA

      DJ Afrika Bambaataa was one of the originators of break-beat deejaying, and their single "Planet Rock" from 1982 was groundbreaking in that it seamlessly meshed rock, funk and electronic music together into one explosive and irresistible hit.  Incorporating the melody of Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express" with elements of their own music, they created what would become known later as electro funk.  "Planet Rock" was only a minor hit in the US and UK, but its importance is undeniable in that it helped develop the electro style and helped pave the way for techno, trance, and house music.  Rolling Stone magazine would rank "Planet Rock" at #237 in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.

SOUND OF THE CROWD BY THE HUMAN LEAGUE

      The Human League are beyond cool, and this clip easily shows why.  This was white hot in 1981- it was a very exciting era in music.  1981 witnessed the birth of MTV, and this look and sound was extremely influential on music and pop culture- influencing Madonna, the Pet Shop Boys, and many other modern acts as well.  This sounds as if it could be released today- that's how far ahead of their time The Human League were.  Good stuff.

RETRO ALBUM REVIEW- MADONNA (THE FIRST ALBUM)

     On July 27, 1983 a self-titled album was released by a then-unknown singer with the unusual name of Madonna.  No one had any idea whatsoever that this was the beginning of an extra-ordinary and legendary career.  A new musical icon had arrived- one that would go on to join the ranks of Elvis, The Beatles,and Michael Jackson.  And a female icon, at that.  Rock had always had its bad boys.  Now the girls (and boys!) got Madonna.    She would go on to become a brilliant visual artist, and this first album, although nowhere near the creative heights she would later achieve, still shows an extremely impressive and strong debut album.  Especially in the late 70's and early 80's- an era chock full of one-hit wonders. "Holiday", "Lucky Star", "Borderline", "Burning Up", Everybody",  "Think Of Me", and "Physical Attraction" are standout hits, and along with her unique and sexy style are what made this album so memorable and iconic in the first place.  The album went on to be certified 5x Platinum and would eventually sell over 8 million copies worldwide.
       Sandwiched perfectly between the end of disco and the dawn of New Wave, she was able to find a unique voice and sound.  Filled with catchy pop hooks and shimmering synth beats,  "MADONNA" is an essential 80's album.  Madonna first became popular in the underground club scene of New York, and this record perfectly captures that time and place.
     Her legendary ambition shines through on this album- she makes it very clear who she is and what she's all about.  Revolutionary in that it perfectly melded the underground dance scene, New Wave, and a bit of punk all in one exciting, raw package, it's undeniably one of the greatest albums to emerge from the early 80's.  Madonna's first album brilliantly took disco (which was sadly dead at this point) and re-shaped it into cutting-edge dance pop.  Yielding 3 Top 20 hits, but a whole handful of dance anthems, Madonna's first album is a dance classic that rightfully started one of the most significant female careers in music history.  Now digitally re-mastered, "Madonna" sounds better than ever.