Forgotten 80s

Sunday 14 April 2024

SHOW #564 - "And plain to see the facts are changing, no meaning left to hold..."

Human League "(Keep Feeling) Fascination"
The Damned "Anything"

Roxy Music "Same Old Scene"
Communards "Disenchanted"

Pretenders "Message Of Love"
Shalamar "There It Is"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
The Jam "Move On Up"

China Crisis "King In A Catholic Style"
Billy Joel "An Innocent Man"

Aztec Camera "Working In A Goldmine"

Jaki Graham "Step Right Up"
ELO "Ticket To The Moon"

Kool and the Gang "Ooh La La La (Let's Go Dancin'")
Genesis "Keep It Dark"

Altered Images "Don't Talk to Me About Love"
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions "Jennifer She Said"

Adam and the Ants "Ant Rap"
Donna Summer "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Jesus and Mary Chain "My Girl"

Squeeze "Is That Love"
Abba "Winner Takes It All"

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN:
George Benson "Teaser"

Howard Jones "The Prisoner"
Chris Rea "Ace Of Hearts"

Sunday 7 April 2024

SHOW #563 - "They put a hotwire to my head, 'cause of the things I did and said ..."

PiL "Rise"
Erik B & Rakim "Paid In Full"

Toto Coelo "I Eat Cannibals"
Phil Fearon and Galaxy "Everybody’s Laughing"

Dexys Midnight Runners "Let's Get This Straight (From The Start)"
Sinitta "I Don't Believe In Miracles"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Visage "In The Year 2525"

Will Downing "A Love Supreme"
Gary Moore "Empty Rooms"

Bucks Fizz "The Land Of Make Believe"

Animal Nightlife "Mr Solitaire"
Thomas Dolby "Hyperactive"

XTC "Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me)"
Luther Vandross "I Really Didn’t Mean It"

Thin Lizzy "Cold Sweat"
Scarlet Fantastic "No Memory"

Big Country "Peace In Our Time"
Kim Wilde "Love Blonde"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Strawberry Switchblade "Jolene"

King "The Taste Of Your Tears"
Debbie Gibson "Lost In Your Eyes"

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN:
Bruce Hornsby and the Range "Mandolin Rain"

Michael McDonald "I Keep Forgettin'"
Elvis Costello "Baby Plays Around"

Sunday 31 March 2024

SHOW #562 - "Avarice and greed are going to drive you over the endless sea..."

World Party "Ship Of Fools"
Christopher Cross "Ride Like The Wind"

Love & Money "Candybar Express"

Lone Justice "I Found Love"
Frazier Chorus "Dream Kitchen"

Daryl Hall and John Oates "Adult Education"
Housemartins "Sheep"
Georgia Satellites "Battleship Chains"

The Cure "Primary"
Eurythmics "Shame"

Ultravox "Passing Strangers"
Journey "Who's Crying Now"
Tracy Chapman "Baby Can I Hold You"

Squeeze "Tempted"
2 Brave "Stop That Girl"

Level 42 "Turn It On"

Asia "Heat Of The Moment"
Lonnie Hill "Galveston Bay"

Nik Kershaw "Nobody Knows"
ZZ Top "TV Dinners"
Howard Devoto "Rainy Season"

Kate Bush "The Dreaming"
Bible "Graceland"

Julia Fordham "Where Does The Time Go?"
OMD "Never Turn Away"
Don Henley "The End Of The Innocence"

This was a commemorative edition of Forgotten 80s, featuring 80s singles that didn't make the Top 40, to mark Easter Sunday, and styled as a special of The Edge Of Heaven.

Sunday 24 March 2024

SHOW #561 - "The passion's so complete, it's never ending, as long as I receive the message you're sending..."

Taylor Dayne "Tell It To My Heart"
Secret Affair "My World"

Transvision Vamp "The Only One"
Shakin' Stevens "Cry Just A Little Bit"

Heaven 17 "Sunset Now"
Natalie Cole "Pink Cadillac"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Laura Branigan "Forever Young"

Police "King Of Pain"
Dee C Lee "See The Day"

David Bowie "John I'm Only Dancing (Again)"

Dio "Rock n Roll Children"
Simplicious "Let Her Feel It"

A-Ha "I've Been Losing You"
Donna Summer "Unconditional Love"

Coffee "Casanova"
Midge Ure "That Certain Smile"

ABC "Be Near Me"
Eighth Wonder "I'm Not Scared"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Cissy Houston & Whitney Houston "I Know Him So Well"

Bad Manners "Just A Feeling"
Black "Paradise"

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN:
Sheila E "The Glamorous Life"

Sandra "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena"
Cyndi Lauper "Heading West"

Sunday 17 March 2024

SHOW #560 - "She don't talk to me, 'cause she can't take no sympathy..."

Spandau Ballet "Highly Strung"
Mystic Merlin "Just Can't Give You Up"

Maria Vidal "Body Rock"
Linx "So This Is Romance"

Rick Astley "She Wants To Dance With Me"
The Cult "Rain"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Viola Wills "If You Could Read My Mind"

Iron Maiden "The Clairvoyant"
Stranglers "Strange Little Girl"

Talk Talk "Today"

Kool and the Gang "Jones Vs Jones"
Debbie Gibson "Shake Your Love"

Big Country "East Of Eden"
Belinda Carlisle "La Luna"

Dan Hartman "I Can Dream About You"
Dead Or Alive "Something In My House"

Rod Stewart "Love Touch"
New Model Army "No Rest"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Associates "Heart Of Glass"

Madonna "Causing A Commotion"
Elvis Costello (The Imposter) "Pills And Soap"

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN:
Adventures "Another Silent Day"

China Crisis "The Highest High"
Fine Young Cannibals "Funny How Love Is"

Sunday 10 March 2024

SHOW #559 - "I'll tell your mama, I'll tell your friends, I'll tell anyone whose heart can comprehend..."

Janet Jackson "Miss You Much"
A Flock Of Seagulls "Space Age Love Song"

Jimmy Somerville "Comment Te Dire Adieu"
Commodores "Wonderland"

Bangles "In Your Room"
Al Jarreau "'Moonlighting' Theme"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Belle Stars "The Snake"

Bad Manners "Lip Up Fatty"
Howard Jones "Hide And Seek"

Christians "Hooverville (And They Promised Us The World)"

The Cure "The Walk"
And Why Not "Restless Days (She Screams Out Loud)"

Housemartins "Five Get Over Excited"
Japan "Visions Of China"

Amii Stewart "Friends"
Culture Club "Move Away"

AC/DC "Shake Your Foundations"
Pet Shop Boys "Rent"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Feargal Sharkey "It's All Over Now"

OMD "So In Love"
Kate Bush "This Woman's Work"

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN:
Fleetwood Mac "Isn't It Midnight"

Matt Bianco "Sneaking Out The Back Door"
Bucks Fizz "Rules Of The Game"

Sunday 3 March 2024

SHOW #558 - "That's what responsibility you draw straws for, if you're mad enough..."

Stranglers "Always The Sun"
Leo Sayer "Heart (Stop Beating In Time)"

Change "The Glow Of Love"
Glass Tiger "Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone"

Five Star "Find The Time"
Mezzoforte "Garden Party"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Naked Eyes "Always Something There To Remind Me"

Yazoo "The Other Side Of Love"
Julia Fordham "Happy Ever After"

John Lennon "Nobody Told Me"

All About Eve "Wild Hearted Woman"
Modern Talking "Brother Louie"

Westworld "Sonic Boom Boy"
Electric Light Orchestra "Rock n Roll Is King"

FR David "Words"
Adam and the Ants "Cartrouble"

Duran Duran "All She Wants Is"
Stephanie Mills "The Medicine Song"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Farmer's Boys "In The Country"

John Foxx "Underpass"
Freddie Jackson "Have You Ever Loved Somebody"

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN:
Monsoon "Shakti (The Meaning Of Within)"

Orange Juice "Flesh Of My Flesh"
Hazel O'Connor "Give Me An Inch"

Sunday 25 February 2024

SHOW #557 - "She had a pleasant elevation, she's moving out in all directions..."

Talking Heads "And She Was"
David Christie "Saddle Up"

Echo and the Bunnymen "Crocodiles"
Donna Summer "Love's About To Change My Heart"

Full Force "Alice I Want You Just For Me"
Modern Romance "High Life"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Stray Cats "You Can't Hurry Love"

Stefan Dennis "Don't It Make You Feel Good"
China Crisis "Christian"

Tears For Fears "Change"

Shalamar "Over And Over"
The Cars "Since You're Gone"

Paul McCartney "My Brave Face"
OMD "Souvenir"

Chaka Khan "Eye To Eye"
Ozzy Osbourne "Shot In The Dark"

Howard Jones "Life In One Day"
A Flock Of Seagulls "The More You Live, The More You Love"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Van Halen "Oh Pretty Woman"

Loose Ends "Magic Touch"
Queen "Save Me"

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN:
XTC "Ball And Chain"

Fad Gadget "Collapsing New People"
Human League "Empire State Human"

Sunday 18 February 2024

SHOW #556 - "Use your intuitive play, 'cause maybe we have more playtime than money..."

Arcadia "Election Day"
Primitives "Sick Of It"

Phil Fearon "I Can Prove It"
Dire Straits "Skateaway"

New Model Army "Vagabonds"
Mica Paris "My One Temptation"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Sandie Shaw "Anyone Who Had A Heart"

Hooters "Satellite"
Depeche Mode "Leave In Silence"

Steve Arrington "Feel So Real"

Wah! "Hope (I Wish You'd Believe Me)"
Kim Wilde "Love In The Natural Way"

Stranglers "No Mercy"
Adeva "Warning"

Hipsway "The Honeythief"
Keith Marshall "Only Crying"

Janet Jackson "The Pleasure Principle"
Holly Johnson "Atomic City"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
U2 "Everlasting Love"

Japan "Quiet Life"
Marti Webb "Take That Look Off Your Face"

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN:
Terraplane "I Can't Live Without Your Love"

Rose Tattoo "Rock n Roll Outlaw"
Girlschool "Come On Let's Go"

Sunday 11 February 2024

SHOW #555 - "I'll pack my case one more time, I'll cancel my train once again..."

Spandau Ballet "The Freeze"
Chaka Khan "This Is My Night"

Heart "There's The Girl"
Split Enz "I Got You"

XTC "Towers Of London"
Blancmange "Blind Vision"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Frankie Goes To Hollywood "Born To Run"

Echo and the Bunnymen "Silver"
Kate Bush "Army Dreamers"

David Bowie "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)"

Christians "Ideal World"
Gladys Knight and the Pips "Bourgie Bourgie"

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions "Perfect Skin"
Mobiles "Drowning In Berlin"

Genesis "Throwing It All Away"
Sisters Of Mercy "Lucretia My Reflection"

Magnum "It Must Have Been Love"
Thompson Twins "Watching"

SONG FOR WHOEVER:
Erasure "Supernature"

Siouxsie and the Banshees "Swimming Horses"
A-Ha "Stay On These Roads"

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN:
Kool and the Gang "Stone Love"

Christopher Cross "All Right"
Tina Turner "Better Be Good To Me"

Forgotten 80s

This show is the successor to Q The 80s, which was a cult programme I was privileged to host on Q Radio across the UK from September 2010 to May 2013. When the radio station was discontinued by its parent company, I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to continue the programme as Forgotten 80s by Absolute 80s, and the first edition aired on Sunday 26th May 2013. It's a two-hour show and we start at 9pm.

The show features the underplayed and the almost completely forgotten hits of the 80s, with the intention of rehabilitating the music of a decade that too many people are quick to scorn. Naturally, on a radio station that plays 80s music 24 hours a day, one is preaching somewhat to the converted, but nevertheless we do like to go that little step further. At least half of the songs on each edition of the show are requested by the audience.

The purpose of this blog is to act as a no-frills archive for the show's weekly setlists for people to visit after broadcast. No other material will appear on it. Below you will also find links to archives on Spotify of Flaunt The Imperfection, Calling America, Journeys To Glory, Didn't We Almost Have It All, When Will I Be Famous and The Nobody's Diary; the six features we have run on the show that have allowed us to play thousands of songs from outside the UK Top 40, as well as album tracks. A feature began in 2024 called Song For Whoever, focusing on cover versions of the 1980s, and there is an active archive running on Spotify.

In October 2017, we introduced the Last Orders Sequence to end the programme each week, which featured three tracks that hold some kind of connection, and were always taken from audience submissions. This ended in December 2021 and was replaced in January 2022 by The Edge Of Heaven, which features three singles that peaked on the chart outside the UK Top 40, all chosen by the audience.

Absolute 80s is available on DAB+ nationwide in stereo; on the Absolute Radio mobile and tablet app downloadable for free from your app store; on your smart speaker ("play Absolute 80s"); and via the Listen Live button on the official website. It has 1,600,000 listeners a week (RAJAR Q4 2023).

From Sunday 5th February 2017, we introduced a Listen Again facility for the show via a Forgotten 80s section on the free Absolute Radio app for smartphone and tablet. New editions of the show will appear on the app shortly after broadcast.

On Sunday 13th September 2015, during the 121st edition of the show, our hashtag - #forgotten80s - trended on Twitter for the first time at a ranking of 8. On Sunday 15th January 2017, during the 190th edition of the show, the hashtag was at number 1 in the trending charts across the UK for the first time. It went on to trend at number 1 for four consecutive weeks. The show trends in at least the Top 20 on Twitter every Sunday evening.

In December 2019, a special edition of the show helped commemorate Absolute 80s' tenth birthday.

On the 5th April 2020, following the imposition of Covid restrictions, the show deviated from its "one request per two songs" format to become an All Request show, and remained so even after Covid restrictions were eased.

In January 2023 the show reached its 500th edition, and the show celebrated its 10th anniversary on 28th May 2023, building up to the occasion with ten special shows that each featured music from just one different year of the 80s.

On August 1st 2023, a non-stop Forgotten 80s radio station was launched by Absolute Radio as part of its Premium portfolio, allowing subscribers to listen 24 hours a day commercial-free, and with the facility to skip songs. All information is on the Absolute 80s website (link further down this column), including terms and conditions.

I am 50 and have been on the radio since 1990. You can email me via the Absolute 80s website and follow me on Twitter.

Thanks for visiting the blog!
Matthew Rudd
#forgotten80s

Forgotten 80s on Spotify!

There are seven principal archives on Spotify which all feature music played on Forgotten 80s. Song For Whoever is a feature which began on Forgotten 80s in January 2024. Here we play cover versions, released in the 1980s, of high profile songs. Both tracks are selected by an individual listener each week. The archive for Song For Whoever is on Spotify. We endeavour to add both featured tracks each week, subject to availability. Flaunt The Imperfection is a feature which ran on Forgotten 80s from January 2022 to December 2023. Here we played album tracks of studio or soundtrack albums of the 1980s that were not released as singles in the UK. Both tracks were selected by an individual listener each week. The archive for Flaunt The Imperfection is on Spotify. We endeavoured to add both featured tracks each week, subject to availability. Two album tracks by Freeez in succession were featured when founder and lead singer John Rocca appeared as a guest contributor. The Blogger widget will only display a maximum of 100 songs; further songs are being added to the archive on Spotify itself after this limit was reached in January 2023. Currently all 190 featured songs are on there. Calling America was a feature which we ran on Forgotten 80s from January 2020 to December 2021. Here we played tracks which were entering or climbing the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the USA in the week of broadcast from two different years of the 1980s. We pledged to not play any track that made the Top 40 in the UK, nor any which has been on the show previously in any preceding feature below. The archive for Calling America is on Spotify. We endeavoured to add both featured tracks each week, subject to availability. The Blogger widget will only display a maximum of 100 songs; further songs were added to the archive on Spotify itself once this limit was reached in December 2020. Currently there are 196 songs on there. Journeys To Glory was a feature that ran on Forgotten 80s from January 2018 to December 2019. Here we played tracks from albums of the 1980s on the anniversary of their entering the UK album chart. We considered studio and soundtrack albums only, as they contained material original at the time. We played either non-Top 40 single releases or tracks only released as part of the album. The archive for Journeys To Glory, is also on Spotify. We endeavoured to add both featured tracks each week, subject to availability. The Blogger widget will only display a maximum of 100 songs; further songs were added each week once this limit was reached in January 2019. Currently there are 192 songs on there. Didn't We Almost Have It All? was a feature that ran on Forgotten 80s from May 2015 to December 2017. Here we featured songs from the charts counted down on the show prior to Forgotten 80s, the Absolute 80s Chart, which would never get higher than 41. Every song played was chosen by the audience. The archive for Didn't We Almost Have It All?, is also on Spotify. The Blogger widget will only display a maximum of 100 songs; further songs were added to the archive on Spotify itself since this limit was reached in the summer of 2017. Currently there are 245 songs on there. When Will I Be Famous? was a feature that ran on Forgotten 80s from August 2014 to May 2015. Here we featured unsuccessful early releases by artists who would later go on to stardom. Every song played was chosen by the audience. The archive for When Will I Be Famous?, is also on Spotify. Currently there are 78 songs on there. The Nobody's Diary was a feature of Forgotten 80s from the show's inception in May 2013 to August 2014. Here we featured artists who would never make the UK Top 40, despite attaining a lower position in the charts at least once. Every song played was chosen by the audience. The archive for The Nobody's Diary, is also on Spotify. Currently there are 80 songs on there. Via these seven features, we have played on the show more than 1,000 tracks that were not Top 40 hits in the UK. We have further associate archive playlists, collating as many of the songs as possible that reached a certain chart position in the 80s, relating to birthday editions of either the show or the radio station. To explore these archived lists further, search for matthewjrudd on Spotify.

Forgotten 80s requests

Requests can be sent via the official Absolute 80s Facebook page, using the thread opened shortly before the beginning of each show; via Twitter, using the hashtag #forgotten80s; or via email at matthew.rudd@absoluteradio.co.uk/the #forgotten80s page at absolute80s.com

Guidelines for your requests:

- no act from the previous week can be repeated (but a solo artist from a featured group can - eg, if Ultravox were on last week, a Midge Ure solo record is eligible for the next week) - this rule is often relaxed for special editions

- a track must have had a 30-show gap before it can be played again (you can use the search function on this blog to assist you) - this rule is often relaxed for special editions

- all regular requests must be for Top 40 hits of the 80s, with a peak chart position attained between January 1st 1980 and December 31st 1989 (the link above for the Official Chart Archive can assist you with this)

To request for Song For Whoever, you must send by email four choices of cover versions recorded in the 80s, from which two will be selected, and to request for The Edge Of Heaven, you must send by email four choices of singles of the 80s that peaked on the chart outside the Top 40, from which three will be selected (the link above for the Official Chart Archive can assist you with this). Only emailed submissions will be considered