8 of the 80s: 6/19/14 (1987)

We move ahead in today's throwback to the 80s to the year 1987, the year President Ronald Reagan gave a speech in Berlin where he told Russian Premier Gorbachev to "tear down this wall"...

Tom Kimmel - "That's Freedom"
from the album 5 To 1 (1987)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #64
Songwriters: Jean Chapman, Tom Kimmel

The Reagan-tinged mid-80s brought us a truckload of "patriotic" dude-rock like this walking advertisement.

(Click below to see the rest of the post)


Jimmy Davis & Junction - "Kick The Wall"
from the album Kick The Wall (1987)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #67
Songwriter: Jimmy Davis

The Memphis-based rock band enjoyed a minor hit with this by-the-book record.

Mondo Rock - "Primitive Love Rites"
from the album Boom Baby Boom (1986)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #71
Songwriters: J.J. Hackett, Ross Wilson


Mondo Rock was an Australian rock band that scored a top-40 hit in their homeland with this infectious number...

Jon Astley - "Jane's Getting Serious"
from the album Everyone Loves The Pilot (Except The Crew) (1987)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #77
Songwriter: Jon Astley

The British producer who used to be Pete Townshend's brother-in-law had a hit on his own with his song that straddled new wave and modern rock..

Martha Davis - "Don't Tell Me The Time"
from the album Policy (1987)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #80
Songwriter: Martha Davis

The former lead singer from the Motels goes solo with his spacious bit of western-tinged album rock...

The Silencers - "Painted Moon"
from the album A Letter From St. Paul (1987)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #82
Songwriters: Cha Burns, Jimmie O'Neill

The Scottish band had their sole moment in the American sun with this jangly charmer.

The Venetians - "So Much For Love"
from the album Calling In The Lions (1986)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #88
Songwriter: Rick Swinn


Another Australian band that had a bit of success on the U.S. chart was this synthpop act from Sydney.

The Stabilizers - "One Simple Thing"
from the album Tyranny (1986)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #93
Songwriters: Davis Christenson, Rich Nevens

Fight Club director David Fincher cut his chops directing mid-level music videos like this one from the Erie, Pennsylvania rock band.