Great Sounding 80's Pop Records [that were mostly programmed]

[turnstile]

Been listening to some 80's records that I use to listen to way back when. One that I think really sounds great, along with great songs is Wang Chung's Mosaic. Now I know some of you are going...wtf but I have to say the production (Peter Wolf) is pretty cutting edge =) Synclavier galore! Some others:

- The Dream Academy - debut
- Thompson Twins - Into the Gap
- Mike and the Mechanics - debut
- Many of the Trevor Horn records

Anyone else have some favorites?

[reid]

Got to mention.....


Scritti Politti - Cupid & Psyche. The epitome of 80's 'sounds', good arrangement and studio trickery.

Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm. Ditto

ABC - Lexicon Of Love. Er.... ditto.

Between Trevor Horn and Arif Mardin, there's not a lot left undone that was good in the 80's. Well, apart from 'Signals' from Rush, but that's another thread altogether...

[C Heat]

Howard Jones.

Stock Aitken Waterman / PWL.

[tINY]

Not everyone's cup of tea, but Kraftwerk had some interesing stuff.

There was something really "organic" about the HoJo synth stuff. What ever happened to him?

Tomas Dolby had some great stuff, but didn't rely on synth for everything (and I think it was all played...)




-tINY

[chrisso]

Yeah, I'd pretty much say anything done under the Trevor Horn umbrella;
ABC, Grace Jones, Seal, Propaganda..........

Japan did some interesting tracks with programmed drums and keys.
None of the albums were all programmed though.

[TornadoTed]

The only synth heavy albums I listen to from the eighties on a regular basis are Welcome to the Pleasuredome and Violator by Depeche Mode.

I think both of those albums were original enough to not sound too dated even today.

[Led]

Like Tiny - Thomas Dolby - Aliens Ate my Buick. The snare on "Airhead"...it kept me up at nights.

Scritti Politti is an awesome call - ya know Fred Maher produced an album at the studio I worked at as a youngin and left his half inch sample tape behind. It was urgently sent on, but not before some of us may have made copies......

[Tony Shepperd]

Back in the 80's, anything that was programed on a Synclavier usually had GREAT production values.

Go West
Level 42
Frank Zappa
The list is endless...

Synclavier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[u b k]

Originally Posted by tINY

There was something really "organic" about the HoJo synth stuff.

real drummer on the simmons. thumbsup


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by turnstile

Been listening to some 80's records that I use to listen to way back when. One that I think really sounds great, along with great songs is Wang Chung's Mosaic. Now I know some of you are going...wtf but I have to say the production (Peter Wolf) is pretty cutting edge =) Synclavier galore! Some others:

- The Dream Academy - debut
- Thompson Twins - Into the Gap
- Mike and the Mechanics - debut
- Many of the Trevor Horn records

Anyone else have some favorites?

I just showed Nick your post and he's mighty chuffed!

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by Tony Shepperd

Back in the 80's, anything that was programed on a Synclavier usually had GREAT production values.

Go West
Level 42
Frank Zappa
The list is endless...

Synclavier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

the art of production, T , is knowing how far to go. In that case i'd argue (from a purely personal perspective) that too much attention was paid to the glossy sound and not producing with Go West and Level 42. "Lessons in Love" - well produced pop funk track. "Chinese Way" - milking a goat!

. So, for me, they had poor production values Not always, but often.

[Chucho]

Some guy called Prince.
Sign of the Times.

[Never1]

I loved the Thomas Dolby stuff and Tears for Fears had some great production, though I'm not sure what was played and what was programmed. So much synth happening back then.

One of my favorite's of Dolby's was the track from Astronauts and Heretics called "I love You Goodbye" (1992). Absolutely amazing sounding production. The song really is a great one to listen to through my Adam A7s.

[sears]

The drum machine programming on the David + David album has always been a model for me.

[Blast9]

Originally Posted by reid

Got to mention.....


Scritti Politti - Cupid & Psyche. The epitome of 80's 'sounds', good arrangement and studio trickery.

Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm. Ditto

ABC - Lexicon Of Love. Er.... ditto.

Between Trevor Horn and Arif Mardin, there's not a lot left undone that was good in the 80's. Well, apart from 'Signals' from Rush, but that's another thread altogether...

POWER WINDOWS = Rush + Peter Collins + PPG wave = big glossy sound (I still prefer Signals though!)

PPG wave epitomises the mid 80s synth sound to me!

--

OK... how bout Boy Meets Girl "Waiting for a star" etc

Nik Kershaw "Wouldn't it be good" etc

[The dman]

Eurythmics had some awesome tracks that still rock today.

[superjc]

I didn't listen to any pop back then but discovered it well after the fact. I just rediscovered Howard Jones and was so impressed I did a remake of one of his tracks... Hunger For The Flesh from "dream into action" it's up on my myspace page. Great artist, wonder what he's up to these days?

[utters]

Originally Posted by reid

Got to mention.....

Scritti Politti - Cupid & Psyche. The epitome of 80's 'sounds', good arrangement and studio trickery.

+1

One of my favourite albums ever

[Fishmed]

To add a few more artist.

- Information Society
- Naked Eyes

[Ivandovich]

The Cure - Disintegration

really dark album - "wall of sound" - layered synths/guitars/electric bass melody lines/reverb heavy drums - gotta love it

[Tony Shepperd]

Originally Posted by narcoman

the art of production, T , is knowing how far to go. In that case i'd argue (from a purely personal perspective) that too much attention was paid to the glossy sound and not producing with Go West and Level 42. "Lessons in Love" - well produced pop funk track. "Chinese Way" - milking a goat!

. So, for me, they had poor production values Not always, but often.

I agree, not everything from the Synclavier produced music of the 80's had great production.
But personally Lessons in Love is one of my favorites.
And Indian Summer from Go West still holds up to this day.

I'm sure you might be more intimately involved in these groups, but I have fond memories of their music.
I jumped out of college in 85' and couldn't wait to get a Synclavier. (Especially after my Linn 9000 and Mirage kept crashing
Some of those productions were bench marks for me in my Synclavier experience.

[vernier]

Little Mermaid soundtrack is good. Can't think of another though.


'

[Grumblefoot]

Originally Posted by Ivandovich

The Cure - Disintegration

really dark album - "wall of sound" - layered synths/guitars/electric bass melody lines/reverb heavy drums - gotta love it

+1 GREAT record, maybe one of the best ever, no one said NEW ORDER.
Substance '87 "True Faith", "Blue Monday", loads of slammin tracks.

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by Tony Shepperd

I agree, not everything from the Synclavier produced music of the 80's had great production.
But personally Lessons in Love is one of my favorites.
And Indian Summer from Go West still holds up to this day.

I'm sure you might be more intimately involved in these groups, but I have fond memories of their music.
I jumped out of college in 85' and couldn't wait to get a Synclavier. (Especially after my Linn 9000 and Mirage kept crashing
Some of those productions were bench marks for me in my Synclavier experience.

no no !- i was half agreeing but making the devils advocate point. Like in all areas - good and bad all round !

[Ivandovich]

Brian Eno - Apollo

[turnstile]

Originally Posted by narcoman

I just showed Nick your post and he's mighty chuffed!

=) I've always loved the band. I sometimes wonder what kind of record they would release today... Hat's off to Nick and Jack.

A few more:

- Prefab Sprout - Some was live drumming but... Any of these records are brilliant! I heart Paddy McAloon! Hahaha
- Johnny Hates Jazz - Listen to "Turn Back the Clock"...ahhh.
- Kang Gang - "Motortown"

+1 for Level 42, Tears for Fears, ABC, The Cure, Naked Eyes and New Order

[thethrillfactor]

Talk Talk-"The Colour of Spring","Spirit of Eden","Its my life".

Depeche Mode-"Music for the Masses".

Anything by Trevor Horn(Yes-90125, ABC-Lexicon of Love,Frankie Goes to Hollywood,Grace Jones,The Art of Noise,Pet Shop Boys). The Seal stuff was 90's.

Soul II Soul- "Keep on Movin"

TKA- "Scars of Love"

The System-"Don't Disturb this Groove" & "The Pleasure Seekers"

Anything early produced by Arthur Baker.

[turnstile]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Talk Talk-"The Colour of Spring","Spirit of Eden","Its my life".

Depeche Mode-"Music for the Masses".

Anything by Trevor Horn(Yes-90125, ABC-Lexicon of Love,Frankie Goes to Hollywood,Grace Jones,The Art of Noise,Pet Shop Boys). The Seal stuff was 90's.

Soul II Soul- "Keep on Movin"

TKA- "Scars of Love"

The System-"Don't Disturb this Groove" & "The Pleasure Seekers"

Anything early produced by Arthur Baker.

The System's "Dont Disturb this Groove" +2!!

What about The Human League. Of course Gary Numan - "Cars"

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by Blast9

POWER WINDOWS = Rush + Peter Collins + PPG wave = big glossy sound (I still prefer Signals though!)

PPG wave epitomises the mid 80s synth sound to me!

--

OK... how bout Boy Meets Girl "Waiting for a star" etc

Nik Kershaw "Wouldn't it be good" etc

you needed an physics and electronics degree to understand the parameters on that sucker

[andsonic]

+1 for The Art of Noise.

If anyone can claim the title: "Godfather/Mother of Electronica". they can

"How rapid is rapid? How quick is quick? How RAPID?!?"

+1 for HJ & TFF. Although I know that some fantastic drummers played on "Seeds of Love" I believe the 1st cut was Phil Collins, and the 2nd one was Omar Hakim.