Music Lists Are Us: Favorite '80s Songs by Year

1980

Out Here On My Own by Irene Cara (Oscar nominated; from the movie soundtrack for Fame)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen (rockabilly styled masterpiece)

Ain't Gonna Stand for It by Stevie Wonder

Call Me by Blondie

Biggest Part of Me by Ambrosia

I Can't Let Go by Linda Ronstadt

Games Without Frontiers by Peter Gabriel

Master Blaster (Jammin') by Stevie Wonder (Bob Marley tribute with a reggae feel)

Let My Love Open The Door by Pete Townshend (his only solo top-ten hit in the U.S)

Shake a Tail Feather by Ray Charles and the Blues Brothers Band

Seven Bridges Road by The Eagles

How Do I Make You by Linda Ronstadt

Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd

Brass in Pocket by The Pretenders

Late in the Evening by Paul Simon

Turn it into Something Good by Earth Wind and Fire

Changes by Etta James

Don't Ask Me Why by Billy Joel

Working My Way Back to You by The (Detroit) Spinners

You May Be Right by Billy Joel

Give Me the Night by George Benson

Sail Away Sweet Sister by Queen

4 A.M. by Herbie Hancock (with Jaco Pastorius)

Magic by Olivia Newton-John

Ophelia by Ray Charles

Love Theme from Spartacus by Santana

Is It Okay If I Call You Mine by Paul Crane

On the Radio by Donna Summer 

Hey Nineteen by Steely Dan

The Winner Takes it All by ABBA

Blues for a Hip King by Abdullah Ibrahim

All Over the World by E.L.O.

Clouds by Chaka Khan

I'm Losing You by John Lennon

Goin' On by The Beach Boys

Still by The Commodores

Give it All You Got by Chuck Mangione

The Tide is High by Blondie

Just Like Starting Over by John Lennon

With You in Mind by Etta James

Coming Up by Paul McCartney

Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John and E.L.O.

Moody's Mood for Love by George Benson and Patti Austin

Satisfied by Van Morrison

Big Chief by Professor Longhair

Hungry Heart by Bruce Springsteen

Come to Me by Aretha Franklin

Hurricane by Levon Helm

Lafayette by Lucinda Williams

Every Day (I Thank You) by Pat Metheny

Wayfaring Stranger by Emmylou Harris

1981

Jole Blon by Gary U.S. Bonds & Bruce Springsteen

That Lonesome Road by James Taylor

Just the Two of Us by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.

I'm Lucky by Joan Armatrading

Angel of the Morning by Juice Newton

Let's Groove by Earth Wind and Fire

Every Grain of Sand by Bob Dylan

The Weakness in Me by Joan Armatrading

Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks

All Those Years Ago by George Harrison

This Little Girl by Gary U.S. Bonds

We Got the Beat by The Go-Gos

When I Get it Right by Joan Armatrading

Golden Brown by The Stranglers

Turn Your Love Around by George Benson

Better Things by The Kinks

Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie

Just Like a Child by Gary U.S. Bonds

Petite Fleur by David Lindley

Shoo-Rah Shoo-Rah by Phoebe Snow

Rockin' the Paradise by Styx

We Got Each Other by Chaka Khan

Jesse's Girl by Rick Springfield

Just Once by Quincy Jones and James Ingram

Shake It Up by The Cars

The Pretender by Gary U.S. Bonds

Mona Lisa by Willie Nelson

Queen of Hearts by Juice Newton

Life Itself by George Harrison

1982

Steppin' Out by Joe Jackson

Do I Do by Stevie Wonder

New Frontier by Donald Fagen

Wall of Death by Richard & Linda Thompson

Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners

I.G.Y. by Donald Fagen

Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder

Back On the Chain Gang by The Pretenders

Someday Someway by Marshall Crenshaw

Get Closer by Linda Ronstadt

Goodbye Look by Donald Fagen

Hold Me by Fleetwood Mac

Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson

All of Me by Chaka Khan, Chick Correa, Stanley Clark, Freddie Hubbard, et al.

Valerie by Steve Winwood

Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing by Cal Tjader and Carmen McRae

Do I Ever Cross Your Mind by Dolly Parton

Sightless Bird by Bobby McFerrin

Senses Working Overtime br XTC

One Hundred Ways by Quincy Jones & James Ingram 

Take It Away by Paul McCartney

Walking on a Wire by Richard and Linda Thompson

One for the Highway by James Booker

Do You Believe in Love by Huey Lewis

Shoot Out the Lights by Richard and Linda Thompson

Allentown by Billy Joel

Somebody's Baby by Jackson Brown

Never Gonna Let You Go by Dionne Warwick

The Nightfly by Donald Fagen

Jack and Diane by John Cougar Mellencamp

Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes

Breaking Us in Two by Joe Jackson

I'm So Excited by The Pointer Sisters

Africa by Toto

Al Around the World by James Booker

Me and the Boys by Bonnie Raitt

All in Love is Fair by Cal Tjader and Carmen McRae

Caught Up In You by .38 Special

All Feets Can Dance by Bobby McFerrin

Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder

Making Love by Roberta Flack

Rock the Casbah by The Clash

1983

Drop the Pilot by Joan Armatrading

Every Day I Write the Book by Elvis Costello

99 Luftballoons by Nena

Radio Free Europe by R.E.M.

Never Gonna Let You Go by Sergio Mendes,  sung by Joe Pizzulo and Leeza Miller

Talking in Your Sleep by The Romantics

Stay Gold by Stevie Wonder

Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Let Your Love Flow by Ray Charles

Every Breath You Take by The Police

I Wish It Would Rain by Aretha Franklin

Autumn Leaves by Willie Nelson

This Night by Billy Joel

What's New by Linda Ronstadt

Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Riding With the King by John Hiatt

You Feel Good All Over by Ray Charles

2000 Miles by The Pretenders

Africa by Toto

Uptown Girl by Billy Joel

If This Is It by Huey Lewis and the News

Candy Girl by New Edition

Tell Her About It by Billy Joel

I Wish You Were Here Tonight by Ray Charles

Tender is the Night by Jackson Browne

Goodbye by Linda Ronstadt

Say Say Say by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top

Borderline by Madonna

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by The Eurythmics

I Got You Love by Aretha Franklin

I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues by Elton John

Legs by ZZ Top

Blister in the Sun by Violent Femmes

Rockit by Herbie Hancock

Lucky Star by Madonna

1984

Will the Wolf Survive by Los Lobos

Smooth Operator by Sade

Grow Old With Me by John Lennon

Evangeline by Los Lobos

On the Wings of a Nightingale by The Everly Brothers

From the Heart by Johnny Adams

Once in a Very Blue Moon by Nanci Griffith

Bobbie Jean by Bruce Springsteen

I Was On Georgia Time by Ray Charles

Our Last Night by Los Lobos

You Might Think by The Cars

Got a Hold On Me by Christine Mc Vie

I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home by Johnny Adams

Valotte by Julian Lennon

I Feel Good by Bobby McFerrin

Willow by Dianne Reeves

Magic by The Cars

99 Red Balloons by Nena

A Matter of Time by Los Lobos

Danger Danger by The Everly Brothers

You're My Thrill by Abbey Lincoln

Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen

You and I by Abbey Lincoln

I Want to Break Free by Queen

Do I Ever Cross Your Mind by Ray Charles

The First in Line by The Everly Brothers

Blackbird by Bobby McFerrin

Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper

Hello Again by The Cars

Don't Worry Baby by Los Lobos

If I Ever Had a Good Thing by Johnny Adams

Voodoo Child (Slight Return) by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Cruel Summer by Bananarama

Too Late for Goodbyes by Julian Lennon

Prelude-A Wedding Song by Abbey Lincoln

The Story of Me by The Everly Brothers

The Breakdown by Los Lobos

I'm Goin' Down by Bruce Springsteen

Talking to the Sun by Abbey Lincoln

Serenata Nortena by Los Lobos

Teach Me to Forget by Johnny Adams

(Don't Go Back to) Rockville by R.E.M.

When Doves Cry by Prince

Pride (In the Name of Love) by U2

Footloose by Kenny Loggins

Lil' King of Everything by Los Lobos

Lay Around and Love on You Ray Charles

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham

Your Love is So Doggone Good by Johnny Adams

We Belong by Pat Benatar

The Heat is On by Glenn Frey

Let's Hear it for the Boy by Deniece Williams

Fresh by Kool and the Gang

Axel F. By Harold Faltermeyer

Running With The Night by Lionel Richie

1985

Overjoyed by Stevie Wonder

Honest Work by Todd Rundgren

Seven Spanish Angels by Ray Charles and Willie Nelson

If You Love Someone Set Them Free by Sting

Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You by George Benson

Walk of Life by Dire Straits

Temptation by Joan Armatrading

Hodja by Todd Rundgren

Sweetest Taboo by Sade

Can't Get There From Here by R.E.M.

Raspberry Beret by Prince

And She Was by Talking Heads

How Will I Know by Whitney Houston

Sing Joy Spring by Manhattan Transfer

Take On Me by a-ha

Missing You by Johnny Adams

Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush

Snap Your Fingers by Johnny Adams

Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears

Nightshift by The Commodores

Mighty Love by Todd Rundgren

Freeway of Love by Aretha Franklin

Something to Fall Back On by Todd Rundgren

Is It a Crime by Sade

Airegin by Manhattan Transfer

Lovers Will by Johnny Adams

Russians by Sting

Saving All My Love for You by Whitney Houston

And We Danced by The Hooters

Fortune Teller by Johnny Adams

Material Girl by Madonna

Do Right Woman - Do Right Man by Johnny Adams

Money for Nothing by Dire Straits

I Don't Know You by Johnny Adams

1986

Under African Skies by Paul Simon & Linda Ronstadt

The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by Elvis Costello

Kind Words (And a Real Good Heart) by Joan Armatrading

True Colors by Cyndi Lauper

Don't Let's Start by They Might Be Giants

Bird on a Wire by Jennifer Warnes

In the Shape of a Heart by Jackson Browne

Opportunity by Bobby McFerrin

Superman by R.E.M.

Manic Monday by The Bangles

Graceland by Paul Simon

Jimmy Lee by Aretha Franklin

Higher Love by Steve Winwood

J Mood by Wynton Marsalis

Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel

Good Music by Joan Jett

Good Long Time by The Jayhawks

Have You Met Miss Jones by Carmen McRae

All Around the World or The Myth of Fingerprints by Paul Simon

Dienda by Branford Marsalis

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by Elvis Costello

Love at the Five and Dime by Nanci Griffith

Radiation Ranch by Brian Setzer

Return 0f the Rainmaker by Earl Klugh

Your Wildest Dreams by Moody Blues

True Blue by Madonna

Stuck on You by Huey Lewis

Wild Wild Life by The Talking Heads

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon

Melodique by Wynton Marsalis

Mandolin Rain by Bruce Hornsby

Milonga Del Angel by Astor Piazzolla

Famous Blue Raincoat by Jennifer Warnes

Ballet for a Rainy Day by XTC

Nothin' But a Woman by Robert Cray

People in This Place on Every Side by The Jayhawks

Making Plans for Bison by Shonen Knife

Back in the High Life by Steve Winwood

Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles

Moon Over Bourbon Street by Sting

Sweet Love by Anita Baker

Dear God by XTC

Beaucoup Love by Ray Charles

Strangers When We Meet by The Smithereens

If She Knew What She Wants by The Bangles

You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon

Every Little Kiss by Bruce Hornsby

Shadows by Branford Marsalis

Cherry Pie by The Jayhawks

Devil House by Shonen Knife

Night School by Frank Zappa

Homeless by Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo

The Meeting Place by XTC

Joan of Arc by Jennifer Warnes

Lives in the Balance by Jackson Browne

Fun Fun Fun by Joan Jett

In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel

Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston

Papa Don't Preach by Madonna

Let the Last Night Be the Longest (Lonesome Morning) by The Jayhawks

Devil Moon by Carmen McRae

This Love Will Last by Chris Isaak

Riding on the Rocket by Shonen Knife

Earn Enough for Us by XTC

1987

Have a Little Faith in Me by John Hiatt

I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston

Bring Him Back Home by Hugh Masekela

The Pain Of Loving You by Trio (Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris)

It's the End of the World as We Know It by R.E.M.

So Emotional by Whitney Houston

Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac

Ford Econoline by Nanci Griffith

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2

Free by Stevie Wonder

Memphis in the Meantime by John Hiatt

La Charreada by Linda Ronstadt

Exsultate Justi by John Williams

Luka by Suzanne Vega

If I Had a Boat by Lyle Lovett

London Fog by Hugh Masekela

Touch of Gray by The Grateful Dead

Baby Grand by Billy Joel and Ray Charles

Big Love by Fleetwood Mac

Lipstick Sunset by John Hiatt

The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson

With or Without You by U2

State Street Chicago by Sun Ra Arkestra

Vanishing Daughter by Dukes of Stratosphear (XTC)

From a Distance by Nanci Griffith

She's No Lady She's My Wife by Lyle Lovett

Where Do Broken Hearts Go by Whitney Houston

Terminal Frost by Pink Floyd

Flat Top Box by Rosanne Cash

Simple Song by Lyle Lovett

My Eyes Don't Cry by Stevie Wonder

Where The Streets Have No Name by U2

Little Italy 1930 by Astor Piazzolla and Gary Burton

Beautiful Love by Sun Ra Arkestra

Thank You Girl by John Hiatt

Blues for Salvador by Carlos Santana

Somewhere Out There by Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram

Bye Bye Baby by The Ramones

Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega

Reflections in Blue by Sun Ra Arkestra

Pontiac by Lyle Lovett

Rain, Beautiful Rain by Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Thing Called Love by John Hiatt

Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac

La Bamba by Los Lobos

On the Turning Away by Pink Floyd

Ke Bale by Hugh Masekela

Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House

Didn't We Almost Have It All by Whitney Houston

The One I Love by R.E.M.

The Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson

Turn Me Round by k.d. lang

Give Back My Heart by Lyle Lovett

1988

Love and Mercy by Brian Wilson

Feels Like Rain by John Hiatt

Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

River Phoenix (Carta a Um Joven Ator) by Milton Nascimento

Orange Crush by R.E.M.

I Don't Want to Do Wrong by Johnny Adams

Handle With Care by The Travelling Wilburys

I Got the Will by Etta James

I Don't Know How to Say Goodbye to You by Sam Phillips

Dixie Flyer by Randy Newman

Put a Little Love in Your Heart by Annie Lennox & Al Green

I'm Your Man by Leonard Cohen

San Vincento by Milton Nascimento

Passionate Kisses by Lucinda Williams

Let It Shine by Brian Wilson

The Jealous Kind by Etta James

La Pistola Y El Corazon by Los Lobos

End of the Line by The Travelling Wilburys

Stay Awake by Suzanne Vega

Elephant Stone by the Stone Roses

One Night by Etta James

Sweet Potato Pie by James Taylor

Drive by Bobby McFerrin

Falling in Love by Randy Newman

Love is Stronger Than Pride by Sade

Everybody Knows by Leonard Cohen

Wish I'd Never Loved You At All by Johnny Adams

In Your Room by The Bangles

Sem Fim by Milton Nascimento

Shakey Ground by Etta James

Stand by R.E.M.

Nothing Like a Hundred Miles by Ray Charles

Slow Turning by John Hiatt

Baby Can I Hold You by Tracy Chapman

Second Star to the Right by James Taylor

So Emotional by Whitney Houston

Streets of Bakersfield by Dwight Yoakam

What Do I Do by Sam Phillips

Drive South by John Hiatt

Don Quixote by Milton Nascimento

Tulane by Joan Jett

Only a Memory by The Smithereens

Come to Me by Bobby McFerrin

The Living Years by Mike + the Mechanics

Outbound Plane by Nanci Griffith

I Wanna Be Like You by Los Lobos

Baby Mine by Bonnie Raitt

It Ain't Always What You Do (It's Who You Let See You Do It) by Etta James

Last Night by The Travelling Wilburys

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) by Chaka Khan

Tennessee Plates by John Hiatt

The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness by Kim Carnes

Bola de Meia, Bola de Gude by Milton Nascimento

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers

Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) by Johnny Adams

I Can't Stop Crying by Sam Phillips

Damn Your Eyes by Etta James

Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

When Love Comes to Town by U2 & B.B. King

Congratulations by The Traveling Wilburys

Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution by Tracy Chapman

First We'll Take Manhattan by Leonard Cohen

El Canelo by Los Lobos

1989

Don't Know Much by  Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville

Land of Canaan by Indigo Girls

The Loving by XTC

Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz

She Bangs the Drums by the Stone Roses

Thing Called Love by Bonnie Raitt

The Downeaster 'Alexa' by Billy Joel

Listen to the Radio by Nanci Griffith

Kinshasa by Tabu Ley Rochereau

Closer to Fine by Indigo Girls

Baby Please by Johnny Adams

Higher Ground by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers

I Got My Mojo Working by Clarence Gatemouth Brown

Most of the Time by Bob Dylan

All My Life by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville

Love Shack by The B-52s

More Than You Know by Dr. John

Ain't That the Way by Carole King

Never No More by Johnny Adams

Cockamamie Business by George Harrison

The Ballad of Hollis Brown by the Neville Brothers

Ring Them Bells by Bob Dylan

Days by Kirsty MacColl

Feel a Whole Lot Better by Tom Petty

Still Within the Sound of My Voice by Linda Ronstadt

Yesterday Girl by The Smithereens

He's the Boy by Aretha Franklin

Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

Lost Mind by Johnny Adams

When Something is Wrong with My Baby by Linda Ronstadt

Merely a Man by XTC

Prince of Darkness by Indigo Girls

Rockin' in the Free World by Neil Young

What Am I Living For by Clarence Gatemouth Brown

Travis Walk by Stevie Ray Vaughan

It's a Hard Life Wherever You Go by Nanci Griffith

Veronica by Elvis Costello

Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone by Abbey Lincoln

Poor Little Girl by George Harrison

Walking on a Tightrope by Johnny Adams

I'm Only Walkin' by Juice Newton

With This Love-Choir by Peter Gabriel

Moto Akokufa by Tabu Ley Rochereau and Faya Tess

Run So Far by Eric Clapton

The Road's My Middle Name by Bonnie Raitt

Flying in a Blue Dream by Joe Satriani

Crossroads by Tracy Chapman

Running Down a Dream by Tom Petty

Cherish by Madonna

Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison

Danger Zone by Johnny Adams

Midnight Flyer by Carole King

Riviera Paradise by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Makin' Whoopee by Dr. John and Rickie Lee Jones

Mayor of Simpleton by XTC

Love You in Vain by Alison Krauss

The Healer by John Lee Hooker and Carlos Santana

A Different Drum by Peter Gabriel

Night Rider's Lament by Suzy Bogguss

My Brave Face by Paul McCartney

Adios by Linda Ronstadt

Linga Ngai by Tabu Ley Rochereau and Monoko Dodo

No Victims by Kirsty MacColl

1967 by Adrian Belew

Lost in Your Eyes by Debbie Gibson

Born in Louisiana by Clarence Gatemouth Brown

Garden of Earthly Delights by XTC

Tried to be True by Indigo Girls

You Got It by Roy Orbison

Tu as Dit Que by Tabu Ley Rochereau

What Good Am I by Bob Dylan

Like a Prayer by Madonna

I Won't Back Down by Tom Petty

For All We Know by Abbey Lincoln

Best of My Love by Phoebe Snow

Freedom Now by Tracy Chapman

The Want of a Nail by Todd Rundgren

Voodoo by The Neville Brothers

If You Don't Know Me by Now by Simply Red

Time for Me to Fly by Dolly Parton

Nairobi by Tabu Ley Rochereau and Faya Tess

Someone Who Believes in You by Carole King

Candy by Dr. John

Riding Alone by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Emmylou Harris

I Want It All by Queen

St. Thomas by Branford Marsalis

Fools Gold by the Stone Roses

I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart by Suzy Bogguss

Goodbye Little Boy by The Triffids

Yellow Moon by the Neville Brothers

Still Got This Thing for You by Alannah Myles

Bayou Jubilee by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Blame It On the Rain by Milli Vanilli

Blues Berry Hill by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Randy Scruggs

Real Man by Bonnie Raitt

Black Night by Dr. John

Miss You Like Crazy by Natalie Cole

When I Get My Rewards by Levon Helm

Come to Me by Aretha Franklin

Free Fallin' by Tom Petty

When Love Comes Around the Bend by Juice Newton

Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) by the Ramones

I Need You by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville

The Best by Tina Turner

Something Real by Phoebe Snow

If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks

Black Velvet by Alannah Myles

Sorozo by Tabu Ley Rochereau

Innocence by Kirsty MacColl

I Build This Garden for Us by Lenny Kravitz

Pink Thing by XTC

Love's Recovery by Indigo Girls

And So It Goes by Billy Joel

My Sweet Love Ain't Around by Suzy Bogguss

Made of Stone by the Stone Roses

I Can't Stop Thinking About You by Carole King

Fire and Brimstone by the Neville Brothers

This One by Paul McCartney

Nobody's Girl by Bonnie Raitt

Leave My Girl Alone by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Never Unpack Your Suitcase by Clarence Gatemouth Brown

The Apartment Song by Tom Petty

Secure Yourself by Indigo Girls

About a Girl by Nirvana

Kid Fears by Indigo Girls

One of Those Days by Adrian Belew

Roam by The B52s

Seli Ja by Tabu Ley Rochereau

A Girl Like You by The Smithereens

Drive-In Movies and Dashboard Lights by Nanci Griffith

Everything is Broken by Bob Dylan

Cry On My Shoulder by Bonnie Raitt

Scarecrow People by XTC

Cool Jazz by Clarence Gatemouth Brown

Tread Lightly by Kirsty MacColl

Does Anybody Out There Even Care by Lenny Kravitz

Accentuate the Positive by Dr. John

Soothin' by Phoebe Snow

It Is Accomplished by Peter Gabriel

Louisiana Zydeco by Clarence Gatemouth Brown

Alright for Now by Tom Petty