SantanaMaitreya said:

SoulAlive said:

It’s interesting that there are only two songs on Thriller that weren’t released as singles.One of those,”The Lady In My Life”,still got a lot of radio airplay on R&B and quiet storms stations.This was a once-in-a-lifetime thing that may never happen again.The album was massive!!

And "Baby Be Mine" would've been great marketed directly to Urban Radio.

I agree about "The Lady In My Life." It was an "Adore" situation.

TwiliteKid said:

SantanaMaitreya said:

Nah. Phil and Elton had hits, but they didn't define the 80s like the big three. I would add U2 to the list, they were pretty big too.

Between his solo albums and Genesis, Phil had more Top 40 hits than anyone else in the 80s. That feels pretty definitive to me.

By this standard the biggest artist in the UK in the 80s was Shakin' Stevens.

I mean, in a lot of ways he was, but also he really wasn't.

Milty2 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Even without looking at the links, I'd agree. I think the movie is what put him over the top. We know his record sales sorta settled before and after Purple Rain at a considerably lower figure.

While Thriller was massive, there was no proper tour (although many dubbed Victory Tour as the low-key Thriller Tour), and only three videos (in a time when MTV could make or break an artist).

Bruce had success, but Born In The U.S.A. was a stand-out situation. I've always said everyone has their thriller; that one huge ass album that they'll never measure up to at any other time. Born In The U.S.A., Purple Rain, Like A Prayer, No Jacket Required, Faith (GM)... Purple Rain movie & tour definitely put Prince over the top of everyone else. The album would've been massive without the movie, but nothing like what we saw.

PS props for using the word opining. It should be used more.

Thanks! I'm just trying to class up the place a little. It's getting a bit stale lol

MickyDolenz said:

Poplife88 said:

Prince, MJ, Madonna, Bruce, U2, & Phil

I think Def Leppard, Van Halen (with both Diamond Dave & Hagar), Whitney Houston, Bon Jovi, & Lionel Richie were bigger than U2 in the 1980s. At least in the USA. Maybe Mötley Crüe & Duran Duran too.

I definitely agree with Van Halen, Whitney, and Bon Jovi But U2 was a slow build up to Joshua Tree. I have been a fan since War and I was always harping how great they were, esp live. I remember seeing a lot more friends at the Unforgettable Fire shows and more and more tshirts started roaming the halls in hs. Then with JT....they ruled, at least at my high school, in 87 and 88. They belong with the rest for sure imo. Motely Crue and DD maybe.