Rewind: Top Songs of 1986

As someone born in 1978, I can assess pre-1983 music like a historian, appraising something that has effectively always existed without bias or emotion. Similarly, I can organize my thoughts on songs post-1992 (or thereabouts) without being distracted by the haze of nostalgia or lost youth. But for that interim period of the mid 80’s through early 90’s, all bets are off.

The list below actually isn’t too shameful, with only Bon Jovi making the guilty pleasure cut (Huey Lewis and Billy Joel just missed). Future lists for this period won’t be so pristine, however. I can’t even say with certainty that Billy Ocean won’t show up at some point. What can I say? I was a kid and didn’t know any damned better.

As for the below, 1986 is a return to form after relatively down years in 1981 and 1976. Three inner circle bands (for me) take the top spots. “Wild Wild Life” was the last great Talking Heads songs. “The Body of an American” was somehow left off of Rum, Sodomy & the Lash and was instead relegated to the Poguetry in Motion EP (and Baltimore police wakes). And while it is certainly deserving of its spot, “It’s Tricky” gets an extra lift because Raising Hell was the first rap album (cassette!) I ever bought.

Peter Gabriel is not on Grooveshark, but you know that song already.

Top 10 Songs of 1986

1. "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" / The Smiths / The Queen is Dead
   "To die by your side / is such a heavenly way to die"
2. "Wild Wild Life" / Talking Heads / True Stories
   "Check out Mr. Business Man / he bought some wild, wild life"
3. "The Body of an American" / The Pogues / Poguetry in Motion EP
   "And as the sunset came meet the evening on a hill / I told you I'd always love you / I always did / I always will"
4. "Graceland" / Paul Simon / Graceland
   "I am following the river / down the highway / through the cradle of the civil war"
5. "It's Tricky" / Run DMC / Raising Hell
   "They even bother my poor father 'cause he's down with me"
6. "Hymn to Her" / The Pretenders / Get Close
   "I dress as your daughter when the moon becomes round / you'll be my mother when everything's gone"
7. "Livin’ on a Prayer" / Bon Jovi / Slippery When Wet 
   "We're halfway there"
8. "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" / Beastie Boys / Licensed to Ill
   "Like a lemon to a lime / a lime to a lemon / I sip the def ale with all the fly women"
9. "Sledgehammer" / Peter Gabriel / So
   "I've kicked the habit"
10. "E=mc2" / Big Audio Dynamite / This is Big Audio Dynamite
    "Timeslide / place to hide / nudge reality"

Godlessnesslessness: The Son



This is the first in an aspiring series of playlists that are notable not for their religious themes but instead for their lack of failing to have religious themes. I acknowledge that statement makes extremely limited sense but it was fun to write and partially justifies the play on a Stephen Merritt lyric in the title.

Much as I enjoy early Staple Singers and The Blind Boys of Alabama, in general I have tried to avoid gospel and directly religious music in the playlist. Let's begin with a few tracks related to our mutual friend JC.

1. "What You Need is Jesus" / Public Enemy / He Got Game
   "Resurrection of the two-man vocal section / the spirit in your dark ass direction"
2. "Me and Jesus Don't Talk Much Anymore" / Beulah / YOKO
   "And though we are falling stars / we feel just fine"
3. "Jesus Fever" / Kurt Vile / Smoke Ring for My Halo
   " I packed my suitcase with myself / but I'm already gone"
4. "Stronger Than Jesus" / A Camp / Colonia
   "Love is a fire, a hot, hot blaster / and we're the Belgians burning in the Congo sun"
5. "Jesus, Walk With Me" / Club 8 / Jesus, Walk With Me
   "cause everywhere I go / everywhere I've been / everywhere I'm going / I only go with you "
6. "Jesus" / The Velvet Underground / The Velvet Underground
   "Jesus, help me find my proper place"
7. "Black Jesus" / Everlast / Eat at Whitey's
   "I spit kisses and hugs like .45 slugs"
8. "Jesus of Suburbia" / Green Day / American Idiot
   "In a land of make believe / that don't believe in me"
9. "Jesus Walks" / Kanye West / College Dropout
   "Well if this take away from my spins / which will probably take away from my ends / then I hope this take away from my sins"
10. "I Just Want to See His Face" / The Rolling Stones / Exile on Main St.
    "You don't want to walk and talk about Jesus / you just want to see his face"
11. "Head Rolls Off" / Frightened Rabbit / The Midnight Organ Fight
    "Jesus / is just a Spanish boy's name" 
12. "Christo Redemptor" (extended version) / Charlie Musselwhite / Tennessee Woman
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