4 of the best from: 1980

I was only 7 at the time, but it was a great year for music. Let’s remember four of the best from 1980.

Yes – Drama (1980)

The Buggles were so busy enjoying the international success of their 1979 hit ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ that they barely realised that one of their favourite bands (Prog Veterans ‘Yes’) were broken, in trouble and needing their assistance. Who knew that they would fit in so seamlessly and create one of the bands more impressive records!

Adam & The Ants – Kings Of The Wild Frontier (1980)

Another band that needed rebuilding since their last record was also creating a new genre: Antmusic. Raw like punk, but theatrical and adventurous: Pirates with Burundi Drums. Future Tears For Fears producer Chris ‘Merrick’ Hughes was one of their 2 drummers and helped galvanise the whole album to be diverse, but also very chart friendly.

Joy Division – Closer (1980)

A poignant swan song but not the album most fans these days opt to buy, favouring instead the more ‘Iconic’ Unknown Pleasures from the year before. Closer is in many ways a progression in all the best ways; chaotic, solemn and yet perky and purposeful. Pointing towards the ‘New Order’ that was to be born in 1981.

Def Leppard – On Through The Night (1980)

Although they’ve always denied being ‘Metal’ they were nonetheless branded alongside the others in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The trajectory they took over their first four Long Players however, will always go down in history as a musicality that got more and more inclusive every time. It all began here though. Not the best of the four, but due to the immensity of the next 3 records, this one is often shamefully overlooked.