How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Billy Idol, Robert Palmer, The Pointer Sisters, R.E.M., Men At Work, ABBA, Grace Jones, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, The Rolling Stones, Eurythmics
They are the ’80s Throwback’ artists selected among the 338 Posts we publish this week.
Tracklist
1 . Billy Idol . Rebel YellChrysalis publish Billy Idol's second album . 'Rebel Yell' featuring 'Eyes Without . Face' (1983) |
2 . Robert Palmer . Addicted To LoveIsland publish Robert Palmer's eighth solo album . 'Riptide' featuring 'Addicted to Love' (1985) |
3 . The Pointer Sisters . Jump (For My Love)The Pointer Sisters release their tenth album . 'Break Out' featuring 'Neutron Dance' (1983) |
4 . R.E.M. . StandWarner Bros publish R.E.M.'s sixth album . 'Green' featuring 'Orange Crush' and 'Stand' (1988) |
5 . Men At Work . Who Can It Be Now? |
6 . ABBA . The Day Before You Came |
7 . Grace Jones . My Jamaican Guy |
8 . Eric Clapton . Pretending |
9 . Bruce Springsteen . The River |
10 . Neil Diamond . Love On The RocksCapitol publish Neil Diamond's album . 'The Jazz Singer' (1980) |
11 . The Rolling Stones . She Was HotThe Rolling Stones release their seventeenth album . 'Undercover' (1983) |
12 . Eurythmics . You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. "Rebel Yell" was named after the bourbon brand Idol saw The Rolling Stones enjoying. This meeting inspired him to write the high-energy track with Steve Stevens, making it synonymous with his musical identity.
2. "Addicted to Love" was initially crafted as a duet with Chaka Khan. However, due to record label constraints, her harmonies were removed, leaving Palmer as the sole singer over a dream-inspired riff.
3. To avoid confusion with Van Halen's hit "Jump," The Pointer Sisters renamed their track "Jump (For My Love)." This decision helped distinguish the dance anthem amid Olympic Games promotion.
4. "Stand" by R.E.M. incorporated stylistic nods to 1960s bubblegum pop, specifically through phrase modulation in its choruses, embodying a playful and retro sound.
5. "Who Can It Be Now?" echoes Colin Hay's anxieties living near dubious neighbors, whose frequent door-knocking fueled its narrative. The saxophone riff cemented the song’s catchy allure.
6. With Agnetha on lead vocals, "The Day Before You Came" exemplifies ABBA's embrace of mature storytelling. Its minimalist synth underscores a reflective departure from traditional pop.
7. Grace Jones wrote "My Jamaican Guy" as a nod to Tyrone Downie, mixing reggae with funk elements. Unaware of the song’s tribute at release, Downie figured indirectly into its narrative.
8. Eric Clapton’s "Pretending" is marked by the wah wah guitar effect, illustrating both his instrumental prowess and the song’s rock foundation that topped rock charts.
9. The track "The River" from the same-titled album became iconic for Springsteen, capturing themes of working-class struggles and rendering it a poignant piece that capped the era’s social commentary.
10. "Love On The Rocks" becomes the musical linchpin in *The Jazz Singer* for Neil Diamond, encapsulating his film’s storyline of torn family ties through stirring soft rock renditions.
11. "Undercover of the Night" weaves the unrest of Central America’s Dirty Wars with Jagger's lyrics, painting a gritty political portrait underscored by Burroughs-inspired narrative threads.
12. "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart" stands out as a synth-dripped ballad contemplating relational coldness, reaching high chart positions as part of Eurythmics’ *Savage* album expressions.
For THE FULL 80s THROWBACKS COLLECTION click here
