[Music] Greatest Pop/Rock instrumental of the '80s

[Live by the sea]

I was listening to the Arcadia album the other day , some great atmospheric music . Also Tel Aviv Duran Duran I agree is great .

 

[zeemeeuw]

Oh, I had forgotten that one, had it on almost permanent loop for a few weeks when it came out... brilliant tune!

What I hadn’t realised until today was that these guys went on to be be MARRS and release Pump Up The Volume...

Playing music on loop wasn't really a thing then, was it?

 

[jakarta]

Could fill this thread with Vini Reilly stuff, the Durutti Column were always better when he didn't (try to) sing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_-_k__W4S4

 

[Fat Boy Fat]

Playing music on loop wasn't really a thing then, was it?

It was for me, I had this track on a metal cassette, with the same track on both sides, I had my cassette deck set up so as soon as one side finished it automatically played the other side, so on a loop!!!

Blasted out it was fantastic...

 

[Fat Boy Fat]

I was listening to the Arcadia album the other day , some great atmospheric music . Also Tel Aviv Duran Duran I agree is great .

I had completely forgotten about the Duran Duran side projects, Arcadia - also The Power Station with the sadly missed Robert Palmer.

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

This is kind of timely considering who we are playing today


https://youtu.be/CcIAkP7SFyI

I was going to post this but didn’t BECAUSE of who we’re playing - if we don’t win I’m blaming you Icy

This one isn’t pop or rock but hey ho

 

[B-right-on]

There has been a lot of talk on these boards about the '80s being the greatest era for music, which I agree with, but I'm not sure anyone has touched on the tracks that have been produced by mainstream bands, as instrumentals.

I give you two such examples below.

Ultravox, the consummate professionals and Simple Minds, the slightly more rough diamonds, linked by their Scottish frontmen.

Skip forward the first 1:30 of introductions of the Simple Minds track Theme For Great Cities and you are given a masterclass in pop/rock instrumental - but then, compare that against Ultravox and their epic instrumental Astradyne, with classic Billy Currie electric violin and synth playing - if, like me, you love most things '80s and these two bands in particular then you have a battle on your hands to decide the winner.

Even if you're not a fan of this era, give them both a listen, you won't be disappointed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-kVZsO1GCk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO0oQShU_4Y

Tbh I really couldn't be bothered with instrumentals in the 80s (late teens %early 20s) but as I've got older I've come to appreciate them much more.

Loved the Ultravox one, got shades of Coldplay at times (which I like) and wonder if Midge and Co had an influence on them

 

[maltaseagull]

There has been a lot of talk on these boards about the '80s being the greatest era for music, which I agree with, but I'm not sure anyone has touched on the tracks that have been produced by mainstream bands, as instrumentals.

I give you two such examples below.

Ultravox, the consummate professionals and Simple Minds, the slightly more rough diamonds, linked by their Scottish frontmen.

Skip forward the first 1:30 of introductions of the Simple Minds track Theme For Great Cities and you are given a masterclass in pop/rock instrumental - but then, compare that against Ultravox and their epic instrumental Astradyne, with classic Billy Currie electric violin and synth playing - if, like me, you love most things '80s and these two bands in particular then you have a battle on your hands to decide the winner.

Even if you're not a fan of this era, give them both a listen, you won't be disappointed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-kVZsO1GCk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO0oQShU_4Y

I wasn't!
I had never heard these two tracks before but loved them!
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

There are so many....here is a couple

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3rhQIlQqAg&list=RDm3rhQIlQqAg&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=has9RIWm7wA

Edit: some spoken word at the end of the second track...

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

If we're going for compositions which have been released with and without vocals, then I'll add my favourite track of all time....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf0HYeQp760&ab_channel=Dbrro

Wow. Tremendous shout.

 

[Fat Boy Fat]

Wow. Tremendous shout.

The full version with David Sylvian was superb too, but as these are all instrumentals, no link...

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

There are couple of stunners by Israeli band, Minimal Compact.

The first track was played on Peel in the early 80s and the start is so meandery I was barely listening. Then it all goes... . . . .one my absolute favourite tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7z3wZRBshM

And here are a couple of extras

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU955XoLEy4&list=PLZ6hyWddj4rc2Lw27PGPDJvmCpx19nWlE&index=35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOrJRM8BonU&list=PLZ6hyWddj4rc2Lw27PGPDJvmCpx19nWlE&index=72

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

The full version with David Sylvian was superb too, but as these are all instrumentals, no link...

If you like Sylvian there is a little known artist called Nate Nicoll, who records under the name B! Machine who did a cover of Ghosts with David Sylvian doing backing vocals . In the spirit of the thread I won't paste a link.

 

[maltaseagull]

There are couple of stunners by Israeli band, Minimal Compact.

The first track was played on Peel in the early 80s and the start is so meandery I was barely listening. Then it all goes... . . . .one my absolute favourite tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7z3wZRBshM

And here are a couple of extras

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU955XoLEy4&list=PLZ6hyWddj4rc2Lw27PGPDJvmCpx19nWlE&index=35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOrJRM8BonU&list=PLZ6hyWddj4rc2Lw27PGPDJvmCpx19nWlE&index=72

You are clearly more patient than me.
I listened to a minute of the first track before giving up.
Sounded like a kid in an echo chamber playing instruments for the first time.

Still, each to their own

I will add one of mine:

https://youtu.be/N2RNe2jwHE0

 

[Bodian]

Missed off the soundtrack album.

 

[tinycowboy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohdelJ3HDXY&ab_channel=SimpleMinds-Topic

I've always found this song very evocative - it's like an over-vivid representation of a sunny day in the mid 1980s.

 

[POSKETT AT THE VALLEY]

Love and Dancing

Anything from the Human Leagues iconic album

 

[jakarta]

The full version with David Sylvian was superb too, but as these are all instrumentals, no link...

Vocal version needs to go on the Best Track You Heard Today thread...

 

[KZNSeagull]

I will put this forward. The soundtrack to an animation shown on their Faith Tour:

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

You are clearly more patient than me.
I listened to a minute of the first track before giving up.
Sounded like a kid in an echo chamber playing instruments for the first time.

Still, each to their own

I will add one of mine:

https://youtu.be/N2RNe2jwHE0

I promise you that it is well worth the wait