Your personal music timeline

[JHF1870]

My Personal Musical Timeline: The 1980s
Songs That Shaped, Moved, and Inspired

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1984
Limahl – The NeverEnding Story
It’s 1984 and I’ve just seen the first movie as a young boy. The movie was unforgettable, as was the song by Limahl. As a boy, the song was magical and inspiring, reminding me of a less complicated time. Revisiting it as an adult brings strong nostalgic vibes. Although the song didn’t really hold beyond 1984 personally, revisiting it brought back such strong memories.

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1986
Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling
This was the standout song for me in 1986. Other songs I liked:

• Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
• Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer
• Berlin – Take My Breath Away
• Billy Ocean – When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going

I don’t remember much music during this period—perhaps I was busy with other things.

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1987
The Bangles – Walk Like an Egyptian
Chris de Burgh – Lady in Red
These were the main songs I remember, especially since my mum played Lady in Red quite a bit. Music didn’t play a big role for me in ’87 apart from these fleeting moments.

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1988 – Tour of Duty
My family bought me the Tour of Duty album on cassette. I fell in love with:

• Procol Harum – Whiter Shade of Pale
• Eric Burdon & The Animals – Sky Pilot

I listened to these over and over—they still hit the feels hard today. The biggest hit for 1988 was Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry Be Happy, which was the first EP I bought. It was fun but didn’t hold up well; more of a novelty song.

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1989 – Discovery of The War of The Worlds
I discovered Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds in my dad’s record collection. The album cover, artwork, story, and music fascinated me. I went through every track and read the album booklet in detail. It remains one of the most inspiring albums for me.

Although I waded through albums of Led Zeplin, The Doors, and Pink Floyd, at this stage none of them had inspired me to listen to and were more ‘Dad’s’ music. I did listen to Jean Michel-Jarre Oxygene and for some reason that music captivated me to the point that it wouldn’t be until later in life that I’d hear it and it would have me wondering where on earth I’d heard it before. Not realizing that I would have heard it at home a million times.

I remember really loving Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting. I’m a bit unsure as to why I loved it so much but it seemed to resonate withme well. I can’t say it holds up as well as I seemed to like it back in the day.

Milli Vanilli – Blame it on the Rain was the big song for the year for everyone at school although I consider it a flash in the pan, and something that disappeared as soon as it came. Songs like Love Shack were fun songs of the day and did hold up well after all these years.

Mum played the **** out of Simply Red, and Madonna which is why I remember “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, and “Like a Prayer”. I can’t say I liked either of those songs and today they’re a bit on the soft tame side of things. I can’t say they’re nostalgic looking back.

I won’t mention the rest but the rest of the songs in the top 100 which is pretty much all we listened to with commercial radio were songs of the year and nothing else.

Other music from this year:

• FYC - She Drives Me Crazy - The second EP I ever owned and I really wish I'd kept them
• Jean Michel-Jarre – Oxygene (captivated me, though I didn’t realize I’d heard it at home many times)
• Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting (resonated with me then, less so now)
• Milli Vanilli – Blame it on the Rain (big at school, but a flash in the pan)
• The B-52’s – Love Shack (fun and still holds up)

Mum played Simply Red (“If You Don’t Know Me By Now”) and Madonna (“Like a Prayer”) a lot, but I didn’t really like those songs.

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Best of the 80s Looking Back
In terms of inspiration, longevity, and how well the music holds up today:

1. Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The Eve of The War
2. Procol Harum – Whiter Shade of Pale
3. FYC - She Drives Me Crazy
4. Limahl – The NeverEnding Story
5. The Animals & Eric Burdon – Sky Pilot
6. Lionel Richie – Dancing on The Ceiling

Fossie 32

 

[Fossie 32]

Interesting I will do my homework

 

[The Terrible Thinker]

For me, my musical experience started in the late 80's, early 90's with General Pop Music and specific music from Def Leppard, Metallica, Nirvana, etc... During this time, my brother in law was also exposing me to Rush, Blue Oyster Cult, Pink Floyd, Queensryche, etc, which I then entered into my Prog Rock/Metal phase.

The tipping point for me was Dream Theater (90's Awake album) as I was into metal / grunge but also loved the technical aspects of prog. I have pretty much stayed with the modern prog (from the 90's onwards) genre since.

Also and fairly recently started to revist and appreciate Australian Rock/Pop from the late 70's to the early 90's era. I blame that part on my wife who I met about 7 years ago.

I tried to get into some classic prog from the 60's and 70's but it never grabbed me as it lack the metal, harder edge that I prefer in my music.

Most pop/rock music past 2010 is pretty much poo, other than the occassional hit.

 

[the_interloper]

For me, my musical experience started in the late 80's, early 90's with General Pop Music and specific music from Def Leppard, Metallica, Nirvana, etc... During this time, my brother in law was also exposing me to Rush, Blue Oyster Cult, Pink Floyd, Queensryche, etc, which I then entered into my Prog Rock/Metal phase.

The tipping point for me was Dream Theater (90's Awake album) as I was into metal / grunge but also loved the technical aspects of prog. I have pretty much stayed with the modern prog (from the 90's onwards) genre since.

Also and fairly recently started to revist and appreciate Australian Rock/Pop from the late 70's to the early 90's era. I blame that part on my wife who I met about 7 years ago.

I tried to get into some classic prog from the 60's and 70's but it never grabbed me as it lack the metal, harder edge that I prefer in my music.

Most pop/rock music past 2010 is pretty much poo, other than the occassional hit.

Assume you have listened to Rush? I'm a metalhead too but I love them, a lot of metal guys do as well.

As for me, liked Jimmy Barnes, Cold Chisel and the like because of my older bro. Got into grunge early 90s, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Silverchair etc, heard For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica and that changed everything haha, still obsessed with them.

After Metallica came Maiden/Sabbath/Ozzy , kept getting heavier with Pantera and the like, Megadeth once I started playing guitar. I listen to a lot of death metal and its subgenres these days as well as the old stuff, but since getting better at guitar I enjoy other stuff more, been on a 70s pop binge lately, even a bit of jazz fusion at times (that's small doses)

 

[Gough]

Anytime you do a deep dive into rock and roll you end up listening to Robert Johnson.

 

[the_interloper]

Anytime you do a deep dive into rock and roll you end up listening to Robert Johnson.

Big influence on Clapton, Page, the Beatles, Stones etc and that influenced everything else pretty much.

 

[Gough]

Levon got it.

 

[The Terrible Thinker]

Assume you have listened to Rush? I'm a metalhead too but I love them, a lot of metal guys do as well.

As for me, liked Jimmy Barnes, Cold Chisel and the like because of my older bro. Got into grunge early 90s, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Silverchair etc, heard For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica and that changed everything haha, still obsessed with them.

After Metallica came Maiden/Sabbath/Ozzy , kept getting heavier with Pantera and the like, Megadeth once I started playing guitar. I listen to a lot of death metal and its subgenres these days as well as the old stuff, but since getting better at guitar I enjoy other stuff more, been on a 70s pop binge lately, even a bit of jazz fusion at times (that's small doses)

Yeah, Ive been a Rush fan since the 90's as my brother in law was faciniated by them and exposed me to their music. He was inspired to take up guitars and I took up the drums but we both never put the effort and time into it to be any good at it.

Dream Theater was my calling in my teens as I liked Metallica and liked Rush, so Dream Theater was the best of both worlds for me at the time. Then over the years, my tastes changed and I am currently into more atmospheric music such as Porcupine Tree / Steven Willson, Opeth, Devin Townsend, Ayreon, Pink Floyd.

Lately I have been getting into OSI (Office of Strategic Influence) mainly because of Kevin Moore (ex Dream Theater) & Jim Matheos (Fates Warning). It is dense, some what dark, atmospheric, prog metal that I am digging at the moment. Druming from Mike Portnoy (OSI & Free Albums) and Gavin Harrison (Blood & Fire Make Thunder Albums) is pretty tasty too.

My brother in law hates Jimmy Barnes which is strange considering he also has scottish heratige. I quite like Chisel & Barnsey and grew to appreciate more overtime.

I didnt get into the heavier metal side like full on thrash or death metal as I prefer more melodic vocals. However I do appreciate Mikael Åkerfeldt from Opeth using clean and growling vocals to complement his music.

 

[the_interloper]

Yeah, Ive been a Rush fan since the 90's as my brother in law was faciniated by them and exposed me to their music. He was inspired to take up guitars and I took up the drums but we both never put the effort and time into it to be any good at it.

Dream Theater was my calling in my teens as I liked Metallica and liked Rush, so Dream Theater was the best of both worlds for me at the time. Then over the years, my tastes changed and I am currently into more atmospheric music such as Porcupine Tree / Steven Willson, Opeth, Devin Townsend, Ayreon, Pink Floyd.

Lately I have been getting into OSI (Office of Strategic Influence) mainly because of Kevin Moore (ex Dream Theater) & Jim Matheos (Fates Warning). It is dense, some what dark, atmospheric, prog metal that I am digging at the moment. Druming from Mike Portnoy (OSI & Free Albums) and Gavin Harrison (Blood & Fire Make Thunder Albums) is pretty tasty too.

My brother in law hates Jimmy Barnes which is strange considering he also has scottish heratige. I quite like Chisel & Barnsey and grew to appreciate more overtime.

I didnt get into the heavier metal side like full on thrash or death metal as I prefer more melodic vocals. However I do appreciate Mikael Åkerfeldt from Opeth using clean and growling vocals to complement his music.

It was Metallica that inspired me to pick up the guitar, I mean I love Rush but a lot of the playing is a bit out of my depth to say the least haha. And I love Dream Theater too, saw them in 07, phenomenal musicians, best musicianship I've seen live I reckon.

I'm an Opeth fan too, once I got into the "cookie monster" vocals it really opened my metal horizons. Akerfeldt is one of the best metal vocalists I can think of, both his clean and distorted vocals are as good as anyone. Not sure if you've kept up with their music but they've basically been prog rock for at least a decade now, I think it's all been clean vocals since then.

 

[The Terrible Thinker]

It was Metallica that inspired me to pick up the guitar, I mean I love Rush but a lot of the playing is a bit out of my depth to say the least haha. And I love Dream Theater too, saw them in 07, phenomenal musicians, best musicianship I've seen live I reckon.

I'm an Opeth fan too, once I got into the "cookie monster" vocals it really opened my metal horizons. Akerfeldt is one of the best metal vocalists I can think of, both his clean and distorted vocals are as good as anyone. Not sure if you've kept up with their music but they've basically been prog rock for at least a decade now, I think it's all been clean vocals since then.

Opeth last album The Last Will and Testament features clean and growl vocals. Not my favourite as I prefer Watershed & Ghost of Peridition in those terms. However in pure clean vocal albums, Pale Communion is the best. I'm not a fan of wall to wall growls though.

I probably lost a fair bit of interest in Dream Theater of late. Mike Portnoy leaving the band probably was the tipping point but I get a bit annoyed with the keyboardest, Jordan Rudess who thinks playing a bazillion notes per second on keyboard is interesting in anyway. I kind of miss Kevin Moore's keyboards in that aspect as he nailed the atmospheric component of the band. I didnt mind Derek Sherinian's short stint in the band either.

Much respect to Metallica during the early thrash phase, followed by pop metal with the black album then the hard rock phase with Load and Reload which was a decent change up. After that I sort of stopped following them as I was well into my rabbit hole of prog.

 

[the_interloper]

Opeth last album The Last Will and Testament features clean and growl vocals. Not my favourite as I prefer Watershed & Ghost of Peridition in those terms. However in pure clean vocal albums, Pale Communion is the best. I'm not a fan of wall to wall growls though.

I probably lost a fair bit of interest in Dream Theater of late. Mike Portnoy leaving the band probably was the tipping point but I get a bit annoyed with the keyboardest, Jordan Rudess who thinks playing a bazillion notes per second on keyboard is interesting in anyway. I kind of miss Kevin Moore's keyboards in that aspect as he nailed the atmospheric component of the band. I didnt mind Derek Sherinian's short stint in the band either.

Much respect to Metallica during the early thrash phase, followed by pop metal with the black album then the hard rock phase with Load and Reload which was a decent change up. After that I sort of stopped following them as I was well into my rabbit hole of prog.

I still listen to DT's new stuff, the recent album was really good imo. And Watershed is my fave Opeth album, phenomenal, think I play "Coil" every time I pick up an acoustic.

Metallica's first 4 albums are GOAT metal, Black album is a great album obviously but more hard rock. Load has some moments, Reload a few less. Don't bother with the recent Metallica album, they have Greg Fidelman now as a producer but he's more just an engineer, so it's just Lars and James banging out some samey mediocre metal/hard rock.

 

[Fossie 32]

Pre 1962
Probably my earliest musical memory is sitting on the piano stool next to my Gran as she played and sang songs like 'The Fat Lil Fella With His Mammy's Eyes' [released 1933] by Paul Robeson [One of Dad’s favourite memories was going to see Paul Robeson singing in Sanders of the River when he went to the movies in Belfast as a youngster] and all the wonderful old records she would play like Russ Conway’s My Concerto for You [1960] and the classic musicals like Oklahoma - with People Will Say We're In Love [1955] My Fair Lady - with On the Street Where You Live [1956] and The Sound of Music - with Happy Talk [1965].

 

[Fossie 32]

As we were from Ireland there was regularly Irish music of all vintages like The Garden Where The Praties Grow by John McCormack [1930]



Some of Mum and Dad's favourites were Bing Crosby [I loved 'True Love' from 1956] and Dean Martin [Memories are Made Of This is one of the ones I like best - 1955]

 

[Fossie 32]

1962
There were many songs I like from before this time - eg from Elvis [Love Me Tender - Dec 56], Connie Francis [Who’s Sorry Now - March 58], The Shadows [Apache - Sept 60] and Del Shannon [Runaway - April 61and Hats Off To Larry - July 61] but I became aware of them later.
The first pop record I recall liking was one of Mum and Dad’s, Telstar by The Tornados [Jan 1962]. With the space race developing, it was a cool track with machinery noises that evoked visions of the early spacecraft, though I doubt they actually sounded like that.
Also in this year Elvis had Can’t Help Falling in Love [Jan 62] which my Gran liked and is my fave of his. West of the Wall [Jan 62] by Toni Fisher and I Remember You by Frank Ifield [Jan 62] were others I liked from this year.

This is a 67 rerelease but I like the fake live effects

 

[Fossie 32]

1963/1964
Some songs I recall hearing first in the car on our regular summer holidays to our cousins’ farm in Queensland. There was Our Day Will Come by Ruby and the Romantics [March 63], Castles In The Air by Digger Revell [Jan 63], and Always Something There To Remind Me by Sandie Shaw [Nov 64].
Golden Fleece petrol stations gave away records of covers of current hits which I looked forward to collecting along the way - like I’m Into Something Good [Aug 64] and Have I The Right [Sept 64] both by the Activators

 

[Fossie 32]

Then when I was about 9 or so the kids would bring along their records to play at lunchtime. This was the first time I recall hearing the Beatles [who became a life long passion for me] and realized my Greatest Cowboy Themes LP was a bit uncool compared to them. I also recall the girls on a bus trip singing a Dinah Lee song - maybe Don't You Know Yockomo [1964].


My favourite record then was Nan’s 78 of the Dambusters Theme. It had dialogue in the middle with the pilots talking to the base. I asked Nan if I could take it to school to play. She said no but I pestered her and she relented and let me take it. I went straight across the road with it in my schoolbag and caught it on the hedge of the house across the road and broke it. I was devastated and never found a copy of it with the same dialogue.

 

[sherb]

1965

This is the first ever song I remember hearing. I still remember where I heard it too. I would have been 5 at the time (at best).

 

[Fossie 32]

1965

This is the first ever song I remember hearing. I still remember where I heard it too. I would have been 5 at the time (at best).

This was one of our* first records, an EP with Show Me on it as well - they were a bit better value than singles
* I used to convince my little brother that he should contribute to record purchases

 

[sherb]

1968

The next song I vividly remember from the 60s (I don't remember much from the 60s, lol).

It's certainly a song and video for its time.

The Scaffold of course included Paul McCartney's younger brother. And I found out, via Songfacts (assuming it's true) that the song included Tim Rice, Graham Nash and Reg Dwight (!) on backing vocals, and Jack Bruce on bass.

Because of Nash's involvement, the lyrics were twigged to include a nod to The Hollies, if you can spot it.

 

[Fossie 32]

1968

The next song I vividly remember from the 60s (I don't remember much from the 60s, lol).

It's certainly a song and video for its time.

The Scaffold of course included Paul McCartney's younger brother. And I found out, via Songfacts (assuming it's true) that the song included Tim Rice, Graham Nash and Reg Dwight (!) on backing vocals, and Jack Bruce on bass.

Because of Nash's involvement, the lyrics were twigged to include a nod to The Hollies, if you can spot it.

Cool didn't know all those guys were on it

Spoiler: Clue deciphered!

 

[Fossie 32]

Another one of our first records

 

[Fossie 32]

Also released in 1964 were the Kinks’ You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night. I first heard them when I was visiting friends whose father worked for my parents. They had just migrated from England and his son brought the Kinks records over with him. They were so different to the other music of the day with their heavy sound. Many great songs came out that year including Pretty Woman [Roy Orbison], Fun Fun Fun [Beach Boys] and You’re My World [Cilla Black].

 

[Fossie 32]

1965
I used to collect the 3DB Top 40 charts from the Herald - Sun every Friday and stuck them in an exercise book. Same for articles about the Beatles. Unfortunately, both books went missing. It was very exciting reading all the stories about the Beatles growing popularity. Rock and Roll Music [March 65] was my favourite Beatles song, a Chuck Berry cover. Other favourites from 65 were Show Me Girl by Herman’s Hermits and Just Another Guy by Cliff Richard



The first record I got was Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds [May 65 - thanks Mum] I recall playing it and asking my grandfather if he liked it. He said he couldn’t hear it properly hehe. A couple of years later I was in my room playing ‘She’s My Girl’ by the Turtles [1967] at full blast and he barged in and said ‘WHAT WAS THE MEANING OF THAT OUTBURST!!!!’

 

[Roobs321]

looking back these tunes made the strongest impression in my early childhood (early 90s)

(singing this in church my first musical memory)


(this leapt out to me the most from radio during road trips)


(one of the first videotapes I owned, watched plenty whilst growing up and therefore this Sheena Easton ballad became a part of me)


(already an atlas nerd and this (which I also watched plenty then) was perfectly timed to inspire my imagination)

 

[Roobs321]

the various trends of mid90s radio significantly shaped my present taste, there are many tunes from 1995 awash with place & time memories (e.g. Kiss From a Rose, Let Her Cry, Give Me One Reason, Waterfalls, Mouth, Lightning Crashes, When I Come Around, etc.) but these are two that I feel are quietly indispensable to that particular time for me and can mainline the memories and musical development, both are also connected with travel rather than neighborhood.

(my interstate move song)


(my visiting Sydney song)



before commencing every Friday weekly assembly at primary school, as we’re getting seated by class one of our teachers used to warm up the crowd by leading a singalong of folk ballads like these:





Tina Turner's Nutbush City Limits was also the dance drilled into us until it became second nature, but we also did a huge amount of square dances (or barn dances), and there were some contemporary hits that we did dances to such as Macarena, Coco Jamboo, Everybody (Backstreet's Back), Cotton Eye Joe, etc. one year the school dance team went to the Rock Eisteddfod with a performance set to Beastie Boys Intergalactic.