A DECADE OF MUSIC MEMORIES

80s Trivia

Explore the moments, records, artists and chart stories that defined every year of the 1980s.

PLAY AN 80s QUIZ →

10 years 61 music facts 2 critics’ polls

THE 1989 CRITICS’ POLL

The decade’s most talked-about artists

Fifty leading music journalists looked back at the decade and made their choices.

CRITICS’ CHOICE

CRITICS’ VERDICT

YEAR BY YEAR

Select a year above or scroll through the complete decade.

8 facts

01
UB40 and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark made their UK top 20 debuts in this year.
02
The Beats `Mirror in the Bathroom` was the UKs first digitally recorded hit.
03
Adam and the Ants released `Dirk Wears White Soxs` Which reached No1 in the indie charts.
04
Cliff Richard had his 2nd US Top 10 hit with `We Don't Talk anymore`.
05
Joy Divisions Lead singer Ian Curtis Committed Suicide.They also had a Top 20 Hit with `Love will Tear us Apart`.
06
The UKs Top single and Album were from the Police `Don't stand so close to me` and `Zenyatta Mondatta`
07
Abba had their last no1 with `Super Trooper`.
08
The First British female singer to top the alum charts was Kate bush with `Never for Ever`.

7 facts

01
Michael Jackson had his first solo no1 with `one day in your life`.
02
Human League reached No.1 with the single `Don`t you want me` and the album `Dare`.
03
`Tainted Love` by Soft Cell was the top single of this year.
04
The Specials last single`Ghost Town` topped the Charts.
05
Meat loaf entered the album chart at No.1 with `Dead Ringer`.
06
Major bands to chart this year were Ultravox,New Order,Duran Duran,Spandau Ballet,Kim Wilde.
07
Phil Collins Released his first solo album `Face Value`.

10 facts

01
Shakin Stevens had his 3rd No.1 with `Oh Julie`.
02
Madness were probably the FIRST band ever to have simultaneous #1s in the Singles (House Of Fun), Albums (Complete Madness) and Videos (Complete Madness) Charts.
03
The Top pop TV show `The Tube` was launched.
04
Major bands to chart this year were Wham!,Tears for Fears,Culture Club,Bananarama.All having major success in the US..
05
The Youngest group to chart this year was musical youth, with `Pass the Dutchie`.
06
Asia Topped the US chart for 9 weeks,but failed to make the UK top 10.
07
The Jam had their only No.1 album `The Gift`.
08
The TV series `Fame` spawned hit singles and albums.
09
The UKs top single was `come on Eileen` by Dexys Midnight Runners,
10
Adam Ant went solo, his first single `Goody Two Shoes` topped the Charts.

7 facts

01
David Bowie Had 10 albums in the UK top 100.
02
New Order released `Blue Monday` on 12" single only, it spent nearly one year in the Chart.
03
CDs went on sale for the first time.
04
Major Bands to Chart this year were, U2,The Thompson Twins,The Eurythmics.
05
The Police had their last no.1 single and album with `Every breath you take` and `Synchronicity`.
06
The UKs top single was Culture Clubs `Karma Chameleon`.
07
The biggest album was Michael Jacksons `Triller`.

6 facts

01
Frankie goes to Hollywood Topped the chart with `Relax`,`Two Tribes`and `The Power of Love`.
02
The Smiths were voted best new group in NME poll.
03
Bob Marleys album `Legend` was no.1 for 3 months.
04
George Michael had his first solo No.1 with the million seller `Careless Whisper`.
05
The Biggest selling single this year was Band Aid`s `Do They Know its Christmas`.
06
U2 had their first top 5 hit with `Pride`.

5 facts

01
Wham! were the first western group to play China.
02
George Michael became the youngest person to receive the songwriter of the year award.
03
Bruce Springsteen mega selling ` Born in the USA` top the UK charts.
04
Dire Straits released the album ` Brothers in Arms`
05
David Bowie and Mike Jagger had a No.1 with `Dancing in the Street`.

5 facts

01
Wham! Split. Frankie goes to Hollywood split.
02
George Michael had his 2nd solo No.1 with `A Different Corner` the 1st UK no1 to be written,produced,arranged and all instruments played by the same person.
03
Madonna`s album `True Blue ` became the first US female artist to enter the album chart at No.1
04
House music made a impact on the UK chart with `Love can`t turn you around` by Jackmaster funk.
05
Bob Geldorf received a honorary Knighthood for his Charity work.

5 facts

01
The top UK single this year was Rick Astley`s `Never gonna give you up`.
02
MTV debuted in Europe.
03
The first record to top pop, dance and indie charts, was Marrs `Pump up the Volume`.
04
Cliff Richard had his 50th UK top ten with `My pretty One`.
05
Bananarama had their 13th hit,a record for a British female group.

4 facts

4 facts

01
Again UK producers Stock,Aitkin and Waterman had major singles in the charts.
02
Top of the Pops celebrated its 25th birthday.
03
Pet Shop boys toured the UK for the first time.
04
The UKs top single was Black Box`s `Ride on Time`