quiet storm

1987! The Return of Rock! Plus A Big Year For Rap, Dance

It’s a turning point year for Hall of Songs. We give you our picks for the 12 best songs of 1987, which include some hard rock classics, some big cinematic rock standards, and a few under-the-radar rockers.

Also, hey, rap is having a big year with some major advancements in sound and image. Plus, one dance track dares to try something totally different.

After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1987, plus tunes from 1986, ’85, ’84, ’83 and ’81 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! VOTE BELOW and come back on August 26, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!

Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE. Then, come back on August 26, 2022 to find out the voting results, and August 28, 2022 for our discussion on 1988.

1986! Dance the Night Away with Our Top-12 Songs

We’re past “We Are the World” and Live Aid. Hall of Songs enters 1986, when we hear pop and adult contemporary beginning to merge as rap and dance music branch out into totally new places.

This is a year of big movie soundtrack hits, plaintive pop that strikes a chord nationwide, and new sounds emerging out of big cities like New York and Chicago. Follow Tim and Chris as they chronicle this interesting year of music and pick their top-12 songs of 1986.

After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1986, plus tunes from 1985, ’84, ’83 and ’81 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! VOTE BELOW and come back on August 12, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!

Our 1986 nominees:

“Nasty” as performed by Janet Jackson
- Written by James Harris III, Terry Lewis and Janet Jackson; recorded September 1985; released February 1986
“Kiss” as performed by Prince
- Written by Prince; recorded April 1985; released February 1986
“If You Leave” as performed by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
- Written by Andy McClusky, Paul Humphreys and Martin Cooper; recorded February 1986; released February 1986
“Sweet Love” as performed by Anita Baker
- Written by Anita Baker, Louis A. Johnson and Gary Bias; recorded late 1985; released March 1986
“Live to Tell” as performed by Madonna
- Written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard; recorded December 1985; released March 1986
“Walk This Way” as performed by Run D.M.C. and Aerosmith
- Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry; recorded March 1986; released May 1986
“In Your Eyes” as performed by Peter Gabriel
- Written by Peter Gabriel; recorded late 1985; released May 1986
“There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” as performed by The Smiths
- Written by Johnny Marr and Morrissey; recorded fall 1985; released June 1986
“Move Your Body (House Music Anthem)” as performed by Marshall Jefferson
- Written by Marshall Jefferson; recorded summer 1986; released July 1986
“Don’t Dream It’s Over” as performed by Crowded House
- Written by Neil Finn; recorded early 1986; released August 1986
“True Colors” as performed by Cyndi Lauper
- Written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg; recorded March 1986; released August 1986
“Bizarre Love Triangle” as performed by New Order
- Written by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner; recorded January 1986; released September 1986

Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE. Then, come back on August 12, 2022 to find out the voting results, and August 14, 2022 for our discussion on 1987.

29th Election Results! The Time Has Come to Induct Our 65th Song

Let’s not waste time: Chris is back and joins Tim to induct the 65th song into our prestigious Hall of Songs. Which record will join the latest two, Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”? Take the time to find out.

Also, we discuss songs that are now eliminated from our Hall of Songs ballot … and the thing that all the remaining songs have in common.

Listen by clicking above, and subscribe at Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Full results coming soon!

1983! Fire Up Your Roland TB-303 For the Year’s Top-12 Songs

This is a long one, but it’s only because we simply love this music. Our picks for the top-12 songs of 1983 include legendary new wave tracks, massive pop ballads, the early stages of Heartland Rock and two records that will come to define 1980s dance.

After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1983, plus tunes from 1982, ’81, ’79, ’78 and ’76 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now at hallofsongs.com and come back on June 24, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!

Our 1983 nominees (spoilers below; highlight to reveal):

“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” as performed by Eurythmics
- Written by Annie Lennox and David Stewart; recorded summer 1982; released January 1983
“Sunday Bloody Sunday” as performed by U2
- Written by U2; recorded fall 1982; released February 1983
“True” as performed by Spandau Ballet
- Written by Gary Kemp; recorded fall 1982; released March 1983
“Blue Monday” as performed by New Order
- Written by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner; recorded late 1982; released March 1983
“Between the Sheets” as performed by The Isley Brothers
- Written by Rudolph Isley, O’Kelly Isley Jr., Ronald Isley, Ernest Isley, Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper; recorded February 1983; released March 1983
“Blister in the Sun” as performed by Violent Femmes
- Written by Gordon Gano; recorded July 1982; released April 1983
“Every Breath You Take” as performed by The Police
- Written by Sting; recorded early 1983; released May 1983
“Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place)” as performed by Talking Heads
- Written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth; recorded late 1982; released June 1983
“Let the Music Play” as performed by Shannon
- Written by Chris Barbosa and Ed Chisolm; recorded summer 1983; released September 1983
“Time After Time” as performed by Cyndi Lauper
- Written by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman; recorded June 1983; released October 1983
“Pink Houses” as performed by John Cougar Mellencamp
- Written by John Mellencamp; recorded July 1983; released October 1983
“Jump” as performed by Van Halen
- Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth; recorded summer 1983; released December 1983

Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. Scroll down to vote. Then, come back on May 20, 2022 to find out the voting results, and May 22, 2022 for our discussion on 1983.