Dive into a treasure trove of forgotten 80s musical gems! We're exploring the most incredible underground tracks that somehow slipped through the cracks of mainstream popularity. Get ready for a nostalgic journey through hidden musical brilliance that defined a decade of sound and style!
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for some deep cut 80s bangers
00:09that are just a wee bit more obscure.
00:18Number 30.
00:19Valley of the Kings – Blue Murder It's a misconception that 1980s arena rock
00:26and heavy metal went out of fashion during the following decade.
00:29Many artists from these genres enjoyed chart success around this time, including Blue Murder.
00:40That said, the success of tracks like Billy and Jelly Roll didn't exactly achieve the
00:45billboard numbers they hoped by their record label, and Blue Murder's self-titled debut
00:50fell into if-you-know-you-know territory.
00:59Yet all this means, really, is that fans can rediscover heavies like Valley of the Kings,
01:05which makes the most out of John Sykes' generational guitar playing.
01:16The ex-Thin Lizzy Man joined together with Vanilla Fudge's Carmine Apiece and session
01:21bass legend Tony Franklin to deliver an epic, pounding groove with Valley of the Kings,
01:27and we definitely appreciate the effort.
01:35Number 29.
01:36Don't Fall – The Chameleons UK The world of 1980s post-punk, goth, and indie
01:42rock can be a treasure trove of undiscovered classics.
01:46The Chameleons UK, known simply as The Chameleons outside of North America, were one of those
01:52hidden gems, a reverb-soaked journey into evocative musical excellence.
02:04Don't Fall actually wasn't officially released as a single from the Chameleons'
02:09debut LP, Script of the Bridge, but this doesn't really matter in the end.
02:18The album's strength as one cohesive piece basically ensures that the catchy yet moody
02:24atmosphere of Don't Fall feels right in line with other album cuts like Up the Down
02:29Escalator.
02:30Consider this one to be highly recommended if artists like The Cure and My Bloody Valentine
02:35are up your alley.
02:43Number 28.
02:45Contagious – Y&T The history of California's Y&T stretches
02:51to their origins as yesterday and today back in the 1970s.
03:03The band's success also progressed into the 90s with jams such as Don't Be Afraid
03:08of the Dark.
03:09However, Contagious saw Y&T in full hair metal mode.
03:13This shift from riff-heavy arena rock served the band well, with an economically composed
03:18anthem with a chorus that's both punchy and immediate.
03:24Y&T's frontman Dave Menichetti possesses a strong bit of grit to his voice, and the
03:31whoa-ohs of the chorus feel ripped from the Bon Jovi playbook.
03:40Meanwhile, the video to Contagious is the sort of 80s cheese that will forever make
03:48us yearn for this.
03:49Let's go with simpler time.
03:58Number 27.
04:00Break the Ice – John Farnham The 1986 film Rad is one of those cult classic
04:06films that is largely being rediscovered today, decades after flopping at the box office.
04:12Its ultra-80s soundtrack likely has something to do with this retro appreciation too, thanks
04:18to bangers like Break the Ice by John Farnham.
04:27The British-Australian singer actually contributed a few songs to this OST, including the epic
04:33Thunder in Your Heart.
04:34Yet it's that super-processed and epic-sounding production to Break the Ice that makes the
04:39perfect musical accompaniment to Rad's tale of bitchin' BMX.
04:50Of course, the complete lack of irony also makes Break the Ice tailor-made to serve as
04:55both the main theme and suitably stirring montage music.
05:04Number 26.
05:05Danger Calling – Icon The Night of Crime album by Icon is one of
05:11the best melodic rock albums you've never heard.
05:21The Phoenix, Arizona-based group started out with a heavier sound, before taking a
05:25more polished direction for album number two.
05:36Danger Calling is a prime example of how Icon's collaboration with noted songwriter Bob Halligan
05:42Jr. produced some quality fruit.
05:44The latter's influence streamlined Icon's compositional chops and honed them to a razor's
05:50edge.
05:52Meanwhile, other anthems, like Take Another Shot At My Heart, were purely written by the
06:01band, proving just how much talent was present within Icon's musical core.
06:10Number 25.
06:12Send Me An Angel – Real Life Yep, we're actually highlighting another
06:17song from the Rad soundtrack here.
06:26But Send Me An Angel by Real Life wasn't simply content to sit on only one film OST.
06:33This 1983 single also appeared on the soundtracks to both Teen Wolf 2 and The Wizard, which
06:39speaks to the song's popularity and longevity.
06:49What can we say?
06:50Send Me An Angel just sounds like the 1980s, distilled to a perfect musical essence.
06:55It's catchy and melodic, yet wistful and slightly melancholic.
07:03David Stary's lead vocals in particular shine in that outstanding chorus, leaning
07:08into a romanticism that absolutely spoke to a cinematic generation.
07:20Number 24.
07:22This Corrosion – The Sisters Of Mercy Whoever said that goth music needed to be
07:27dour and depressing all of the time clearly never rocked out to The Sisters Of Mercy.
07:39This Corrosion was actually produced by frequent Meat Loaf collaborator, Jib Steinman, and
07:43it shows.
07:45This is epic and ultra-dramatic rock with pomp, circumstance, and swagger.
07:57You want soaring choirs?
07:58This Corrosion has got them.
08:00A danceable beat?
08:01Hey now now, Andrew Eldridge and The Sisters have you covered.
08:08Plus the album version of This Corrosion stretches on to an impressive 11-plus minutes in length,
08:15providing just about all of the hyper-stylized post-apocalyptic goth jams one could ever
08:21need.
08:28Number 23.
08:30Over The Hills And Far Away – Gary Moore The career of Gary Moore, from sideman to
08:37solo career reads like a laundry list of musical riches.
08:47While Out In The Fields was a hit for Moore and former Thin Lizzy bandmate Phil Lynott,
08:52Over The Hills And Far Away also takes from Lizzy's notably narrative-driven tunes to
08:57create a story song that was unequivocally Moore's.
09:09Influences from Celtic folk are enhanced by the appearance of Ireland's The Chieftains
09:14on the tune.
09:15While Moore's searing guitar work peppers the heavier sections, Over The Hills And Far
09:27Away was more of a success in Europe than in North America, but we feel like it remains
09:32a defining tune from Gary Moore's impressive discography.
09:44Number 22.
09:46That Girl – FM Call it album-oriented rock, adult-oriented
09:51rock, or simply AOR, That Girl from FM possesses melody for days.
10:02This British band has carved a career of eschewing blunt heaviness in favor of a more textured
10:07and refined approach to hard rock songwriting.
10:18Lead singer Steve Overland possesses a soaring voice that drives home the money chorus of
10:23That Girl.
10:24Meanwhile, the insanely polished production only adds to how the song's arrangements
10:29feel both hooky and smooth.
10:40That Girl was even semi-covered and adapted by metal legends Iron Maiden for a B-side.
10:45If that isn't a stamp of songwriting approval, then we don't know what is.
10:55Number 21.
10:57The Killing Moon – Echo And The Bunnymen Perhaps we can thank 2001's Donnie Darko
11:03for raising the public profile of The Killing Moon by Echo And The Bunnymen.
11:15It was the inclusion of this fantastic tune on that film's soundtrack that helped remind
11:20fans how great this English rock band was back in their day.
11:31It's difficult to pigeonhole The Killing Moon, and this is a very good thing.
11:36The song's mood feels dark like the best goth.
11:39The prominent bass and cavernous production lends The Killing Moon an atmosphere all its
11:44own.
11:45Echo And The Bunnymen never sound like they're following any treadpath.
11:53Instead, this song blazes a unique trail, and we absolutely love it for this fact.
12:07Number 20.
12:08Only Lonely – Bon Jovi Bon Jovi may be a multi-platinum selling
12:13rock act, but that doesn't mean they don't possess some serious deep cuts in their back
12:19catalogue.
12:28Only Lonely is taken from the band's sophomore effort 7800 Degrees Fahrenheit, which was
12:34a more experimental and artistic take on Bon Jovi's melodic rock.
12:39Here, the anthemic hooks of Bon Jovi's self-titled debut are tempered with sleek and synthesized
12:45sound.
12:46While the accompanying music video feels like a mini-movie, the chorus is to die for.
12:51As well as a desperate-sounding and emotionally charged performance from Bon Jovi that ranks
12:57among his very best, we're saying it right here and now.
13:08Number 19.
13:12Self Control – Laura Branigan The original version of Self Control was an
13:16Italo Disco song released by singer Raf in 1984.
13:20But it's Laura Branigan's cover of the tune from that same year that's arguably endured
13:25to the modern day.
13:35The song is steeped in a massive-sounding 1980s production, yet Branigan's vocals
13:40never get lost in the mix.
13:42Instead, her powerful delivery shines through, as booming synths and hot guitar licks complement
13:48the song's danceable beat.
13:58Self Control is hooky as hell, from that infectious chorus to each groovy verse.
14:04Oh, and that music video?
14:06Pure 80s excellence, y'all.
14:07Number 18.
14:09Dead Man's Party – Oingo Boingo Danny Elfman may be best known today for his
14:14wonderful film scores, but old-school 80s kids know full well how dope Oingo Boingo
14:19was back in the day.
14:30Dead Man's Party is perhaps one of the group's catchiest tunes, and appeared on the soundtrack
14:35for the Rodney Dangerfield film, Back to School, back in 1986.
14:39The song possesses a vibe all its own, with throbbing bass, cool lyrics and Elfman's
14:45soaring, enchanting vocals.
14:53Dead Man's Party may be finally getting its due these days on some Halloween mixes
14:57from the cooler kids you know, but we'll always cop to being fans of this one-of-a-kind
15:03group.
15:04Number 17.
15:05Message of Love – The Pretenders Is there any pop act more representative of
15:11the 1980s than The Pretenders?
15:13Maybe, but we highly doubt they have a front person as terminally cool as Chrissy freaking
15:19Hyne.
15:26Message of Love possesses a vibe that's simultaneously current and retro, a 50s throwback
15:32visually but a new wave classic back in its day.
15:35Hyne's vocals are intentionally minimalistic and disinterested, almost a precursor to some
15:42of the things Sheryl Crow would do on her debut album in the 90s.
15:45Message of Love is melodic and deceptively well-written, incorporating multiple moods
15:51feel ahead of their time in terms of structure and efficiency.
16:01Number 16.
16:02Run With Us – Lisa Lohe If you were a kid living in Canada during
16:07the 1980s, then it's highly likely that you loved watching The Raccoons on TV.
16:12It's also likely that you loved its theme song, Run With Us by Lisa Lohe.
16:18And we're right there with you.
16:25There's something emotionally resonant about the song that we can't quite explain.
16:30Lohe's vocals are powerful but also possess a poppable energy that just drives home that
16:36million-dollar chorus.
16:37Run With Us boasts a compelling synth beat, some high-energy guitar licks and some gothic
16:43backing atmosphere that are unlike anything else from the time.
16:48It takes us back to youthful innocence every time we hear it.
16:59Number 15.
17:00A Mission In Life – Stan Ridgway You may not know the name Stan Ridgway,
17:06but fans with their ears to the ground back in the 1980s can probably recall his old band
17:11Wall of Voodoo.
17:13That group possessed its own quirky 80s history with their hit Mexican Radio.
17:17But this solo cut from Ridgway is comparatively more confessional and down to earth.
17:29The vibe feels more Billy Joel than New Wave weirdness.
17:33But that isn't a bad thing.
17:34The backing instrumentation is particularly evocative and showcases Ridgway's unique
17:40vocals in a wonderful way.
17:41The production is also thick and layered, in that way only 80s records could be.
17:48It's a deep cut that we highly recommend.
17:56Number 14.
17:57Wings of the Storm – Whitesnake You'd be forgiven for ignoring Wings of
18:02the Storm by Whitesnake, since it was conveniently tucked away at the end of their 1989 album
18:08Slip of the Tongue.
18:09If you did do that, however, then you'd be missing out on what's perhaps the glam
18:14metal band's fastest and most aggressive moment.
18:18Whitesnake's bluesy history from the 1970s is all but forgotten.
18:22As Wings of the Storm rips out of the gate with a startling amount of speed, it never
18:27lets up on the gas either.
18:29As Steve Vai's fretboard is practically settled in, the band's lead guitarist,
18:34David Coverdale, for his part, stretches his vocal cords to the heavens, proving Whitesnake's
18:40metallic might without a shadow of doubt.
18:43Number 13.
18:4480s – Killing Joke We realize that having a song simply titled
18:4980s is a bit of a stretch, but it's not a bad thing.
18:52It's not a bad thing, but it's not a bad thing.
18:56It's not a bad thing, but it's not a bad thing.
18:5980s – Killing Joke We realize that having a song simply titled
19:0480s on this list may seem lazy, but this English group was anything but complacent.
19:09Killing Joke was a remarkably prescient and forward-thinking band for their time, serving
19:14as influences for many other groups in their wake.
19:25Nirvana was absolutely one of those bands.
19:28To the point where the latter's Come As You Are has been accused of stealing the main
19:32riff from 80s.
19:37Do you hear it?
19:39We admit that it's close, but we also admire Killing Joke's cutting, almost industrial
19:44guitar tone and martial approach to delivering the rhythms.
19:48Is it post-punk, alternative, new wave?
19:52We're not sure.
19:53But what we do know is that 80s is killer.
19:5712.
19:58But Not Tonight's Depeche Mode The discography of Depeche Mode is chock-full
20:04of bangers, but 1986's Black Celebration just has to count among the band's best.
20:18But Not Tonight is perhaps a lesser-known track from that album, however, because it
20:29possesses a more upbeat feeling to its melodies.
20:33Black Celebration is fairly dark on the whole, and But Not Tonight breaks things up nicely
20:38with a sound that harkens back to Depeche Mode's more minimalistic work.
20:48The electronic framework is cold, but Dave Gaughan's vocals are red-hot, and But Not
20:57Tonight is made all the better for that fact.
21:0011.
21:01Don't Pay The Ferryman – Krista Berg What's the first song you think of when
21:05the name Krista Berg comes up in conversation?
21:08Most of us would probably list his hit 1986 ballad, Lady In Red, for obvious reasons.
21:1812.
21:24Don't Pay The Ferryman from 1982 couldn't sound any more removed from that hit, however.
21:30An energetic art-rock song for the ages.
21:33The production is polished to a silvery sheen, and Don't Pay The Ferryman is written with
21:38electricity to spare.
21:3913.
21:45De Berg's vocals are evocative and in-control, detailing the song's mythological and Shakespearean
21:52origins with a palpable power.
21:54As a result, Don't Pay The Ferryman practically begs for repeated spins.
22:0310.
22:08When I'm Gone – Albert Hammond A double-edged sword about professional songwriting
22:13is how one can remain almost completely anonymous while also having a profound effect upon millions
22:19of music fans.
22:27Albert Hammond was one of those people.
22:30A prolific composer who wrote hits for others but seemed to eschew personal fame when it
22:35came down to his own career.
22:37When I'm Gone practically begs for the listener to do some deep digging into Hammond's career,
22:42however.
22:42Thanks to this song's confessional nature and emotional viability, the song feels tailor-made
22:52to connect with its audience.
22:53A beautifully melancholic song that boasts a fantastic production.
22:58One that perfectly highlights Hammond's voice.
23:00When I'm Gone is a hidden gem that deserves all the flowers.
23:059.
23:06No Easy Way Out – Robert Tepper You just know it when you hear it.
23:11Call it montage music or training music, it's those songs that show up in movies
23:16when times are tough and demand that the heroes step up their game.
23:28For Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV, that song was No Easy Way Out by Robert Tepper,
23:34and it's an absolute masterclass.
23:41Tepper is without a shred of irony as his vocal performance goes for broke with a sincere
23:55amount of power and passion.
23:58It's such a barn burner that the accompanying instrumentation almost feels like an afterthought.
24:03But pay attention, there are some amazing melodic choices here.
24:128.
24:19Age of Consent – New Order New Order rose from the ashes of Joy Division,
24:24a trailblazing voice in the burgeoning post-punk and early alternative rock movement.
24:30That band's purposefully minimalistic style was opened up and brightened up a bit with
24:35New Order, however, influencing an entire generation of goth rock fans in the process.
24:41Age of Consent is taken from New Order's sophomore effort, Power, Corruption and Lies,
24:51and immediately strikes as something special.
24:54The reverberating guitar chords and echoed production are evocative as hell,
24:58while Bernard Sumner's vocals float atop it all with personality and style.
25:037.
25:16Cambodia – Kim Wilde If you only know the career of Kim
25:20Wilde from her early hit Kids in America, then might we suggest the singer's more
25:25experimental sophomore effort, Select.
25:28This 1982 album was marked by a pronounced atmosphere of experimentation and even slight
25:33menace, as evidenced by this single, Cambodia.
25:45The song is dark and mysterious, a layered synth-pop song that feels delivered from outer
25:50space, yet anchored by Wilde's gorgeous, otherworldly voice.
25:55View from a Bridge is another great song from Select, but there's only one Cambodia,
26:00and once you hear it, we doubt you'll forget it.
26:156.
26:17It's a Sin – Pet Shop Boys Isn't it funny how songs tend to take on
26:21lives of their own?
26:22The Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant told The Daily Dish in 2019 how he originally wrote
26:28It's a Sin without much thought as to how seriously it would be taken by the group's
26:32fans.
26:40The song was initially conceived during Tennant's reflection about his Catholic school upbringing,
26:45but many fans today have internalized the song's themes of oppression and shame
26:50and frequently interpret them as cathartic.
26:56Tennant also interestingly compared It's a Sin and the Pet Shop Boys' high-energy
27:01music to heavy metal, and you know what?
27:04We totally hear it.
27:05It's a Sin rocks, plain and simple.
27:085.
27:10Dancing With Tears In My Eyes – Ultravox That title may sound extravagant, because
27:16it is.
27:17But that's just part and parcel for Ultravox's deeply romantic, new wave sound.
27:22The British group formed in the 70s, but saw their greatest success in the 80s, thanks
27:26to gems like him and The Voice.
27:34Dancing With Tears In My Eyes highlights how mid-year's lead vocals truly take Ultravox
27:39to another level, as he soars above the song's synthesized 80s beat with a stately grandeur.
27:45This is 80s pop at its most melodramatic, but also some of its most melodically satisfying.
27:58The songwriting is impeccable, the chorus wonderful, and the execution note perfect.
28:04Check out Ultravox.
28:05You won't be disappointed.
28:074.
28:08Ride Like The Wind – Christopher Cross Christopher Cross' debut album may have
28:13dropped for Christmas of 1979, but this first single thankfully fits our criteria, having
28:19been released in February of the following year.
28:22If we're being honest though, any time is a great time to rock Ride Like The Wind.
28:33This isn't only due to the spectacular songwriting displayed by Cross, but also those amazing
28:38backing vocals from Michael McDonald.
28:40The former Doobie Brother assists Cross in a way only he can, smoothing over Ride Like
28:45The Wind with his velvety voice and creating pure musical heaven in the process.
28:583.
29:00Wild Wild West – The Escape Club The story of The Escape Club is a funny one,
29:05since this British export actually didn't do too well on their homeland.
29:10Wild Wild West was a hit in the US, however, and we totally see why, because the song feels
29:16like a movie montage scene come to life.
29:25This isn't a slight whatsoever, mind you, because we admire The Escape Club's dedication
29:30to unabashed, sugar-coated pop.
29:33Wild Wild West is an earworm that sounds indebted to Duran Duran, with an approach that's
29:38weird and nearly impossible to categorise.
29:41It's funky, with a little rock for good measure, and catchy as hell.
29:512.
29:52Cayley – Marillion It may seem improbable that a 1980s
29:56prog-rock band could go on to influence the proliferation of an actual forename in their
30:02native UK, but truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
30:09The early career of Marillion was largely indebted to the sound of 70s Genesis, but
30:20Cayley was an unadulterated pop hit from a group known for crafting 10-minute-plus epics.
30:27Lead singer Phish emotes with abandon, while the chorus and delay-drenched guitar of Steve
30:32Rothery creates that insanely catchy opening lick.
30:39It's beautiful and bittersweet, a true gem deserving of discovery by anyone who assumed
30:49prog simply died in the 70s.
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31:051.
31:07The Sun Always Shines On TV – A-Ha Norway's A-Ha will probably always be best
31:14known for their Smash International single, Take On Me.
31:23However, there's also a lot of other musical gold to be mined for fans seeking out more
31:28great music.
31:29The band's theme to the James Bond film, The Living Daylights, was a franchise-hopping
31:35highlight.
31:36But The Sun Always Shines On TV may just be A-Ha's secret weapon.
31:48Morton Harkett delivers a vocal performance that rivals even his watershed moments on
31:54Take On Me, while also proving that A-Ha was no one-hit wonder.
31:58The Sun Always Shines On TV is expertly composed and magnificently executed.
32:04A slice of absolute pop-rock perfection.
32:15What's your favorite deep cut or album track from a favorite band?
32:18Let us know in the comments.