1980s: Legendary Western Rock Bands’ Classic and Hit Songs
When it comes to the 1980s, it’s often called the “golden era” of Western rock music.
From the perspective of rock bands, it was a time when many veteran groups—still active today—made their debuts, and countless worldwide hits that went down in history were born.
This time, we’re spotlighting hit songs and classics by Western rock bands from that very 1980s!
Alongside energetic, quintessentially ’80s rock numbers and stadium-ready ballads, we’ve assembled a varied lineup that also reflects the era’s birth of the so-called New Wave—unbound by traditional rock—and the alternative rock that would lead into the 1990s.
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[1980s] Legendary Western Rock Bands’ Classic and Hit Songs (41–50)
That’s AllGenesis
Genesis is a band famous for having drummer Phil Collins as a member.
Their 1983 album “Genesis” reached No.
1 on the UK Albums Chart, and the track “That’s All” peaked at No.
6 on the US charts.
Its simple, tight performance and vocals convey a mature confidence.
Down UnderMen At Work
It’s a hit song that represents the 1980s and is loved worldwide as a piece that symbolizes Australian culture and identity.
With a catchy melody and quirky lyrics, it’s full of humor and incorporates uniquely Australian slang and cultural elements.
Released in November 1981, it was included on the album “Business as Usual.” It simultaneously reached number one on the U.S.
and U.K.
charts, and has cultural significance, having been used at the 1983 America’s Cup and the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics.
It’s a recommended track for those who want to feel the charm of Australia or enjoy the new wave sound of the ’80s.
You Spin Me RoundDead Or Alive
Dead or Alive, the British band often cited as pioneers of Eurobeat and Hi-NRG.
Released as a single in 1984, this track became their first global hit.
The lyrics, likening an intense possessiveness toward a love-at-first-sight crush to a record spinning at high speed, are particularly striking.
Pete Burns’s powerful vocals fused with synths carrying a rock-like aggressiveness make for a sensational sound.
Also featured on the classic album Youthquake, the song reached No.
9 on the UK Albums Chart.
If you love dance numbers that set the floor on fire, this is an unmissable track.
Add it to your party playlist and you’re guaranteed to get everyone dancing.
Rock MeGreat White
Great White is an American band that blazed through the LA metal scene with hard rock rooted in the blues.
Their signature track was released as a single from the album Once Bitten in June 1987.
Its appeal lies in the sound where the muscular guitar riffs intertwine with Jack Russell’s passionate, soaring vocals, conveying an irresistible impulse and earnest desire to surrender your whole heart.
Peaking at No.
60 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song blends the glitz of LA metal with the melancholy of the blues—perfect for a drive or when you want to get pumped up.
Give yourself over to the searing rock sound and you’re guaranteed to be swept up in a rush of exhilaration!
Gentlemen Take PolaroidsJapan
Japan, the beautiful five-piece born in London, bears a band name deeply familiar to Japanese ears.
Centered around the overwhelmingly charismatic David Sylvian and filled with distinctive personalities, they lived up to their name by first catching fire in Japan—earning a “big in Japan” reputation that included playing the Nippon Budokan on their first visit.
Evolving from early glamorous rock toward a more art-driven synth-pop, they cultivated a singular aesthetic and rose to a solitary, rarefied stature.
Their 1980 single Gentlemen Take Polaroids, also the title track of the album of the same name, became the first song in their career to enter the charts in their home country, the UK.
Immerse yourself in its flowing synths, Mick Karn’s sinuous fretless bass, and a melody that is pop yet intensely decadent.
Come on eileenDexys Midnight Runners
It’s the smash hit by the British band Dexys Midnight Runners, led by Kevin Rowland, which reached No.
1 in the U.S.
in 1983.
The melody line, carried by violin and banjo with a Celtic feel, is very striking, and the female vocals are distinctive yet wonderfully pleasant.
Mr. RobotoStyx
Styx is an American band.
They specialized in hard rock with progressive elements.
“Mr.
Roboto” is a distinctive song included on the 1983 album “Kilroy Was Here,” which drew attention for featuring Japanese lyrics.