1981 - A Year in Music

If you look at the Wikipedia page for 1981, under the heading of 'Events' it lists notable points in history for that year; Ronald Reegan became president of the USA, Rupert Murdoch bought The Times, Muhammad Ali entered the ring for the final time, and so on. But right there in April, somewhere between Bobby Sands winning a by-election and Mitterrand becoming president of France, is this

The rock band Yes splits up (regrouping in 1983).

Now, I'm all for music finding its rightful place in the priorities of life list, but surely, surely, this doesn't merit the words devoted to it. As if this wasn't bad enough, the bastards re-formed two years later, and it's that little bracket at the end which is like salt in the wound.

My top picks for the music of the year is a mixture of those that obviously registered with me at the time (The Specials, Stray Cats, Altered Images) due probably to Top of the Pops performances, and also songs and artists that I found I liked many years later (Randy Crawford, Mission of Burma, Colin Hay from Men at Work). I remember finding Under Your Thumb quite unnerving. Then again, most things were unnerving as I was 12.

On with the list then.

Altered Images - I Could be Happy

Bauhaus - The Passion of Lovers

Godley and Creme - Under Your Thumb

Hazel O'Connor - Will You

Human League - Love Action

Men at Work - Overkill

Mission of Burma - That's When I Reach for My Revolver

The Ramones - The KKK Took my Baby Away

Randy Crawford - You Might Need Somebody

Siouxsie and The Banshees - Spellbound

Soft Cell - Bedsitter

Teardrop Explodes - Reward

The Specials - Ghost Town

The Stray Cats - Runaway Boys