8 of the 80s: 3/20/14 (1984)...

Today's 80's throwback brings me back to 1984, the year that a year-long coal-miner's strike started in England. (I've included links to buy anything on CD or MP3)

Genesis - "Taking It All Too Hard"
from the album Genesis (1983)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #50
Songwriters: Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford

Although the prog-rock band's transitional self-titled album only had one top-40 hit in America, the entire record was chock full of shoulda-beens like this one.

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Big Country - "Fields Of Fire"
from the album The Crossing (1983)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #52
Songwriters: Stuart Adamson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler, Bruce Watson

The Scottish rockers were way underrated, and deserved more than their one top-40 hit in the States.

Elvis Costello with Daryl Hall - "The Only Flame In Town"
from the album Goodbye Cruel World (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #56
Songwriter: Elvis Costello

The Brit with angst loosened up with help from Philly boy Hall in this pop excursion.

David Gilmour - "Blue Light"
from the album About Face (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #62
Songwriter: David Gilmour

The Pink Floyd rock titan gets all funky with this horn-filled throwdown.

Freddie Mercury - "Love Kills"
from the album Metropolis (Original Soundtrack) (1985)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #69
Songwriters: Freddie Mercury, Giorgio Moroder

A sadly prophetic song from the remastered old-time-movie soundtrack.

David Bowie - "Without You"
from the album Let's Dance (1983)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #73
Songwriter: David Bowie

The forgotten fourth single from the Thin White Duke's comeback record is quite elegant.

Jeff Lynne - "Video!"
from the album Electric Dreams (Original Soundtrack) (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #85
Songwriter: Jeff Lynne

The Electric Light Orchestra frontman to a detour to provide this cut for the cult 80's flick.

Bananarama - "Robert DeNiro's Waiting"
from the album Bananarama (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #95
Songwriters: Sarah Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Steve Jolley, Tony Swain, Keren Woodward

The British trio may have been short on vocal chops, but apart from all their fun tracks lies this, probably their best artistic achievement, documenting a young girl's fear (and possible rape victim's escape) with this neo-Motown-sounding classic.