I Completed 80s Music

Ep 29 Sept 81Joan Armatrading, Tubes, Godley and Creme, Tweets, Lionel Richie, Adam Ant, Slade

Dont you ever, dont you ever, stop listening to this podcast! Yes folks, we're back after a short holiday and we're into the early offings of Autumn 1981 as we break into the first half of Playlist 29. We kick off with Joan Armatrading evolving her sound with "I'm Lucky", before meeting San Francisco rockers The Tubes. We then explore Godley and Creme's significant impact on the pop culture media of the decade and their song "Under Your Thumb".
Then, the moment we've all been waiting for (well, 5 of us), a critical analysis of "The Birdie Song" (seriously) by The Tweets, before diving into the Lionel Richie and Diana Ross classic, "Endless Love". As we reach our climax we throw on our warpaint and finest dandy threads for the apex of the Adam and the Ants experience, "Prince Charming" and end the episode in Wolverhampton with Slade! Remember folks, ridicule is nothing to be scared of!
Links to Playlist 29
Spotify
Apple Music
In case the playlist hyperlinks don't work on your podcast platform of choice, the songs are:
1. Joan Armatrading - I'm Lucky
2. The Tubes - I Don't Want To Wait Anymore
3. Godley & Creme - Under Your Thumb
4. The Tweets - The Birdie Song
5. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross - Endless Love
6. Adam & The Ants - Prince Charming
7. Slade - Lock Up Your Daughters

Ep 28.5 Aug 81 Ottawan, OMD, Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard, Linx, Quincy Jones

We rejoin the 80s Mixtaper as summer comes to an end in 1981. As we hit the back six of playlist 28 we start with school disco classic, Hands Up by Ottawan before slipping into something more comfortable with the deeply introspective Souvenir by OMD. We then discuss whether Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones was their large great song, before strapping on our roller skates for a tour round Milton Keynes and Cliff Richard for Wired for Sound. We then capture the end of Linx's hit run with So This Is Romance and end the episode by introducing Quincy Jones to the mix with Betcha Wouldnt Hurt Me. 
Links to Playlist 28:
Spotify
Apple Music
In case the playlist hyperlinks don't work on your podcast platform of choice, the songs are:
8. Ottawan - Hands Up
9. OMD - Souvenir
10. The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up
11. Cliff Richard - Wired For Sound
12. Linx - So This Is Romance
13. Quincy Jones - Betcha Wouldnt Hurt Me

I Completed 80s Music Special: Interview with Justin Lewis.

Justin Lewis discusses his new book, Into the Groove, a month-by-month exploration of 1980s music that blends major events with overlooked moments.
They cover his record-shop roots, influences like Annie Nightingale and Janice Long, the rise of video and hip-hop, Live Aid and the decade’s lasting impact on modern pop. This one's a cracker! Enjoy. 
 

Ep 28 Aug 81 Human League, Modern Romance, Dollar, Simple Minds, Stevie Nicks, Pointer Sisters, Genesis

Join The 80s Mixtaper as he walks through Playlist 28 of his decade-long mission, spotlighting seven key 1981 tracks from bands — Human League, Modern Romance, Dollar, Simple Minds, Stevie Nicks, The Pointer Sisters and Genesis — with background stories, chart context and an extra guest interview coming about 80s music history.
Links to Playlist 28:
Spotify
Apple Music
In case the playlist hyperlinks don't work on your podcast platform of choice, the songs are:
1. The Human League - Love Action
2. Modern Romance - Everybody Salsa
3. Dollar - Hand Held In Black And White
4. Simple Minds - Love Song
5. Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Stop Draggin My Heart Around
6. The Pointer Sisters - Slow Hand
7. Genesis - Abacab

Ep 27.5 Aug 81 Kim Wilde, Randy Crawford, Classix Nouveaux, Aneka, UB40, U2

In this episode of "I Completed 80s Music" we explore the back six tracks of Playlist 27 as we step into August 1981.
Host The 80s Mixtaper revisits Kim Wilde's "Water on Glass," Randy Crawford's take on "Rainy Night in Georgia," Classixs Nouveaux's "Inside Outside," the controversial one-hit wonder "Japanese Boy," UB40's protest anthem "One in 10," and U2's early single "Fire," tracing their chart runs and cultural context.
Links to Playlist 27
Spotify
Apple Music
In case the playlist hyperlinks don't work on your podcast platform of choice, the songs are:
8. Kim Wilde - Water On Glass
9. Randy Crawford - Rainy Night In Georgia
10. Classix Nouveaux - Inside Outside
11. Aneka - Japanese Boy
12. UB40 - One In Ten
13. U2 - Fire

Ep 27 Jul 81 Bill Wyman, Squeeze, Duran Duran, Shakin Stevens, Stevie Wonder, Soft Cell, Siouxie

Join The 80s Mixtaper as he dives into Playlist 27 (mid‑July 1981), unpacking seven landmark tracks — from Bill Wyman's franglais oddity and Squeeze's soul‑tinged 'Tempted' to Duran Duran's provocative 'Girls on Film', Shakin' Stevens' chart‑topping 'Green Door', Stevie Wonder's 'Happy Birthday' campaign anthem, Soft Cell's synth‑pop smash 'Tainted Love', and Siouxsie and the Banshees' haunting 'Arabian Nights'. Hear the stories, chart tales, and cultural moments behind each song.
Links to Playlist 27
Spotify
Apple Music
In case the playlist hyperlinks don't work on your podcast platform of choice, the songs are:
1. Bill Wyman - Je Suis Un Rock Star
2. Squeeze - Tempted
3. Duran Duran  - Girls On Film
4. Shakin Stevens - Green Door
5. Stevie Wonder - Happy Birthday
6. Soft Cell - Tainted Love
7. Siouxie and the Banshees - Arabian Nights

Ep 26.5 Jul 81, Kate Bush, Candido, Carl Carlton, Spandau Ballet, ABBA, Paul Gardiner

In this episode of "I Completed 80s Music" we dive into the second half of Playlist 26 (mid‑July 1981), spotlighting tracks from Kate Bush, Candido, Carl Carlton, Spandau Ballet, ABBA and Paul Gardiner, and exploring how these songs shaped the club and pop scenes of 1981.
Find Spotify and Apple Music playlists and the full track listing in the episode description, and join us next week for more 80s favourites.
Links to Playlist 26
Spotify
Apple Music
In case the playlist hyperlinks don't work on your podcast platform of choice, the songs are:
8. Kate Bush - Sat In Your Lap
9. Candido - Jingo
10. Carl Carlton - She's A Bad Mama Jama
11. Spandau Ballet - Chant No 1
12. Abba - Lay All Your Love On Me
13. Paul Gardiner - Stormtrooper in Drag
 

Ep26 Jul 81Specials, REO Speedwagon, Sheena Easton, Psychedelic Furs, Bad Manners, Gidea Park, Kraftwerk

Playlist 26 takes us through July 1981, unpacking the music and stories behind seven standout tracks. Highlights include The Specials' Ghost Town and its link to Britain’s social unrest, REO Speedwagon's arena-rock hit Take It On The Run, Sheena Easton’s Bond theme For Your Eyes Only, the Psychedelic Furs’ Pretty in Pink and its later film legacy, Bad Manners’ ska romp Can Can, a nostalgia-fuelled Beach Boys medley from Gideon Park, and Kraftwerk’s influential synth-pop classic The Model.
The episode blends musical analysis, band histories and cultural context to show how these songs reflected and shaped the era’s mood.
Links to Playlist 26
Spotify
Apple Music
In case the playlist hyperlinks don't work on your podcast platform of choice, the songs are:
1. The Specials - Ghost Town
2. REO Speedwagon - Take It On The Run
3. Sheena Easton - For Your Eyes Only
4. Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink
5. Bad Manners - Can Can
6. Gidea Park - Beach Boy Gold
7. Kraftwerk - The Model