Okay! When people remember the 80's and they remember 80's music, one artist comes to mind. Prince! And he definitely gave us some masterpieces in the 80's. Especially the 3 albums that's always mentioned the most. 1999, Purple Rain, and Sign "O" the Times. Brilliant and splendid! But what other artist's albums come close to these. There are 100's of arists and numerous albums to mentioned. But I have came up with 5 albums I think also defined the 80's and will stand the test of time. And they are:
1. Janet Jackson-Rhythm Nation 1814
2. Public Enemy-It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
3. George Michael-Faith
4. Run-Dmc-Raising Hell
5. Genesis-Invisible Touch
These albums can hold their own as well give P's 3 a run for their money. But no matter what, his royal badness rules. So, what 80's icon album you think could give these 3 a fight?

Uh... Thriller?

Raze said:

you're brave...

Raze said:

Yes of course, Thriller. Everybody wants to mention Thriller. Only because its the biggest selling album in history. That's why? But to me, don't get me wrong I love this album, but its not even Michael's best album. If anything it would be Off The Wall which I think is Michael's best album by far but it doesn't qualify because it came out in 1979.Don't let sells fool you. We're talking about quality. I would put Thriller up there but not in the Top 5 that I have to give Prince's 3 competition. To me, both Janet's albums (Rhythm and Control) got Thriller beat. The emergence of hip hop albums at this time got Thriller beat. (The 2 that I named to name a few). And I also have 4 rock gods albums in strong comp with P's. Bon Jovi, U2, Genesis, and Van Halen. They all gave masterpieces. But Mike's Thriller would be probably at 10 at best.

LoDog said:

what about.... Bad
[Edited 5/28/07 17:49pm]

Yeah, sorry, I know it's not in vogue to think Thriller is his best album. Everyone says Off The Wall is. But I think Thriller is. It only has The Girl Is Mine weighing it down. Off The Wall has Girlfriend, I Can't Help It and It's The Falling In Love that suck. Thriller is an almost perfect album. It belongs there. I know it's played out, but it really is fantastic and one of the best pop albums there is.
[Edited 5/28/07 18:17pm]

Has everybody forgoten the "true" Best MJ album ever released? I think it sneaks into the 80's!? OFF THE WALL!!!!! Better than Thriller. Probabaly not as good as Purple Rain.

I'd say Thriller or Like A Virgin were the closest "peers" to Purple Rain. Each one was surrounded by a bunch of successful singles and videos.

I didn't mention Joshua Tree because they're really not in the same "pop" category. They would IMO compete with more with Springsteen, etc.

I forgot to add other albums of the 80's in my previous post
Peter Gabriel 'So"
Pink Floyd "Momentary Lapse of Reason & Delicate sound of Thunder"
Pet Shop Boys "Actually"
INXS "The Swing"
That's all I can think of for now!

RELAX BY FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD!

sunchylde said:

mimi07 said:

another brave soul...

The Cure - "Disintegration"
De La Soul - "3 Feet High and Rising"
The Church - "Starfish"
REM - "Murmer"
Pixies - "Surfer Rosa"
Debarge - "In a Special Way"
Jody Watley - "Jody Watley"
Pretenders - "Pretenders" or "Pretenders II"
The Police - "Regatta de Blanc"


Just to name a few.

that's definitely a first, for someone to say I Can Help It sucks. bonafide classic amongst everyone i've ever heard discuss MJ

Kate Bush Hounds Of Love 1985
Paul Simon Graceland 1986
Peter Gabriel So 1986
U2 The Joshua Tree 1987

datdude said:

it sucks.

TALKING HEADS... Fear of Music
TOM WAITS... The Swordfishtrombone trilogy (Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, Franks Wild Years... The live album Big Time was also amazing...)

Horntooter said:

How could I forget posting those!!!

Amazing albums!!!

Thriller and Like a virgin....eventhough I don't like those songs @ all I have 2 b honest that Madonna and Jackson had a bigger success than Prince

Kings of the Wild Frontier - Adam and the Ants. Simple as that really.

Hounds of Love - Kate Bush. Simple as that, too.

XTC - English Settlement (their 1999, monumental pieces)
XTC - Oranges & Lemons (their SOTT, pop pastiche)
XTC - Skylarking (theirs, only theirs, incomparable )

Terence Trent D'arby - Introducing the hardline...

hmmm, all other Black music masterpieces I can think about are from the 60s,70s (Undisputed Truth, Ramp, Shuggie Otis, Sly , Gaye, EW&F etc), hmmm


some good stuff but not a lot real masterpieces imo in the 80s (exc. Prince, XTC, TalkTalk (Colour of Spring, Spirit of Eden are great), the greats of the 70s sunk like menhir in an ocean of synths and drum machines.

Oh, yes, The Frank Trilogy (T. Waits) is great, I agree
[Edited 5/29/07 4:41am]

BoySimon said:

Hoist up the jolly rodger

To that i'd add

Welcome to the Pleasuredome - FGTH
Raw Like Sushi - Neneh Cherry
The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths
Dare - Human League
Songs to Remember - Scritti Politti
ITHAT...TTD
Doolittle - Pixies
Appetite for Destruction - G N' R
[Edited 5/29/07 5:27am]

weepingwall said:

Relax wasnt an album, it was the first single from the album Welcome to the Pleasuredome, and yes it is a GREAT WORK.

Other things.. I have to agree with that other guy that said Thriller is MJ´s best album and really one of the best of the 80´s, hell it kind of defined the 80´s in a way.. Thriller, Billie Jean, Human Nature, PYT, Wanna be starting something.. amazing songs..

Other greats from the 80´s (and there are too many great albums from that time) are,

No Parlez - Paul Young
Cant Slow Down - Lionel Richie
Appetite for Destruction - GNR
Violator - Depeche Mode
The Real Thing - Faith no more
The Stone Roses self titled
Bleach - Nirvana
Disintegration - The Cure
Songs from the Big Chair - Tears For Fears
Beastie Boys - License to Ill
REM - Green
Police - Synchronicity

are just a few I listen to on the iPod..

weepingwall said:

I like that song

Not my personal picks, but in terms of commercial succes, being 'iconic' and / or the influence they had on other musicians i would name:

Madonna - Like a virgin
Michael Jackson - Thriller
U2 - The Joshua Tree
REM - Murmur / Lifes Rich Pageant (bringing indie-rock to the mainstream)
The debutalbums from Public Enemey and De La Soul
The Pixies - Sufer Rosa (the blueprint for Nirvana)
The Police - Regratta le blanc
Run DMC - Raising Hell
Living Colour - Vivid
Joy Division - closer

Oh and Raisin' Hell by Run DMC

Eurythmics
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) 1983
Touch 1984

Waltervandenvogelwejde said:

I agree, only Earth Wind was doing anything remotely musical in the 80's, besides Prince. I can't think of anybody mainstream, r&b that is...but Franky Beverly & Maze comes to mind...I turned to reggae (Shabba, Freddie MacGregor, Dennis Brown, Black Uhuru, etc) because of the awfully pitiful music of the 80's.

Cheek said:

Tom Waits is the man...! I love every single one of his albums...
For me, he is the only artist who has an 'un-blemished' track record. Not everyone's cup of tea... I took me a little while to get into. But man... WELL worth the wait! He also has alot of time for Prince... Which is always a bonus!

Also... I'd like to add...
THE SUGARCUBES - Life's Too Good
MILES DAVIS - Aura & Tutu
BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS - Uprising