Sunshine Radio’s Tribute To Eighties FM Pop / R&B

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Pexels
I usually pay tribute to AOR radio, but this time I put the spotlight on eighties R&B and pop radio. Drive back in time and enjoy the sunlitted sounds of retro FM!
“There is a Japanese term: Mono no aware. It means basically, the sad beauty of seeing time pass - the aching awareness of impermanence. These are the days that we will return to one day in the future only in memories.”
(The Midnight)

The track by Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel is from the upcoming compilation Jon Savage's 1983-1985 - Welcome To Techno City, out on Ace Records on January 26th 2024:
“By the end of 1984, the true action throughout this period was to be found in electronic, black American and club music.”

One of the most remarkable characters in pop history is singer Green Gartside. He started Scritti Politti as a political punk band, but changed his style after hearing Off The Wall from Michael Jackson. He became more R&B oriented and developed a very distinctive way of singing. It came close to some kind of natural auto-tune. In the mid-eighties he was very successful with Scritti Politti and their electro pop songs Wood Beez, Absolute and The Word Girl were worldwide hits. But he was so unhappy being a superstar and being in "crap TV shows" that he disappeared from the limelight after three brilliant albums. Hypnotize is from Scritti Politti's 1985 album Cupid & Psyche 85.

Tracklist:

Sleepless Nights – 11:55 (2022)
The Midnight – Heartbeat (2022)
TKA – One Way Love (1986)
Prince – 1999 (1982)
Soulpersona & Princess Freesia – Karma (2023)
Alan Gorrie – I Can Take It (1985)
Wax – April Lady (1981)
Gilles Rivard – Je Reviens (1981)
Cutting Crew – I've Been In Love Before (1987)
Scritti Politti ‎– Hypnotize (1984)
Beau Williams ‎– Give Me Up (1986)
Manhattan Rhythm – Sweet Lady (1983)
Oattes Van Schaik – Crimes Of Passion (1985)
Malcolm McLaren – El San Juanera (1983)
Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel – White Lines (Don't Do It) (1983)
Steve Winwood – Higher Love (1986)
Lionel Richie – Dancing On The Ceiling (1985)
Lou Rawls – Ain’t That Love, Baby (1982)
Tyrone Davis – Wanna Make It Good (1980)

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