Sounds Of The 80's

Swaying on the spot was compulsory for the synthesizer bands that dominated the '80s. Among the bands doing the standing still tonight are Depeche Mode, The Human League, Yazoo and Soft Cell. Depeche Mode - Swap Shop `81 Human League - Swap Shop `81 Yazoo - Cheggers Plays Pop `82 Soft Cell - Oxford Road Show `82 New Order - TOTP `83 Bronski Beat - ORS `84 Pet Shop Boys - Whistle Test `86 Erasure - No Limits `87

A soulful selection of eighties pop archive featuring Kool & the Gang, The Pointer Sisters, Grace Jones, Cameo featuring that Jean-Paul Gaultier cod-piece and more... Kool And The Gang - TOTP `80 Pointer Sisters - Russell Harty `81 Grace Jones - Wogan `85 Cameo - TOTP `86 Bobby Womack - Ebony `87 Sade - Russell Harty `84 Alexander O`Neal - Behind The Beat `88 Whitney Houston - TOTP `87

Flouncy-haired pop merchants and indie stalwarts feature in tonight's trawl through the archive. Including performances from The Teardrop Explodes, Orange Juice, The Fall and The Pogues. Teardrop Explodes - Whistle Test `80 Orange Juice - Whistle Test `82 Robert Wyatt - Whistle Test `83 Aztec Camera - Whistle Test `83 Billy Bragg - Whistle Test `84 The Fall - Whistle Test `84 The Pogues - Whistle Test `86 Robin Hitchcock - Whistle Test `85 The Style Council - Whistle Test `85

A generation of guitar-based bands are showcased this week, including REM, The Smiths, The Cure, The Bangles, Pixies, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Lone Justice. R.E.M. - Whistle Test `84 Jesus and Mary Chain - Whistle Test `85 Lone Justice (with Maria McKee) - Whistle Test `85 Echo & The Bunnymen - Whistle Test `85 The Bangles - Whistle Test `86 The Cure - Whistle Test `85 The Pixies - The Late Show `89 The Smiths - Whistle Test `86

The archive pop programme uncovers some heavy rhythms from the likes of Aswad, UB40, The Beat, Run DMC, The Beastie Boys, Salt'n'Pepa, Public Enemy and Neneh Cherry. UB40 - Rock Goes To College `81 The Beat - Oxford Road Show `81 Aswad - Something Else `82 Run DMC - Whistle Test `87 The Beastie Boys - Montreux Rock `87 Salt`n`Pepa - Smash Hits Party `88 Public Enemy - Behind The Beat `88 Neneh Cherry - TOTP `88

Floppy hair is the key feature of this compilation of '80s pop morsels from the BBC archive, including performances from Adam and the Ants, Haircut 100, Duran Duran, Culture Club and Wham! Adam And The Ants - Swap Shop `81 Haircut 100 - TOTP `81 Duran Duran - Oxford Road Show `83 Culture Club - Late Late Breakfast Show `82 ABC - TOTP `82 Wham! - TOTP `82 Frankie Goes To Hollywood - TOTP `84 Bananarama - Russel Harty Show `84 Kylie Minogue - TOTP `88

Serious and sincere they may have been but this tranche of '80s pop stars knew how to make that tortured, artistic look work. With Dexy's Midnight Runners, Eurythmics and Tears for Fears. Dexy`s Midnight Runners - TOTP `80 Eurythmics - OGWT `81 Spandau Ballet - Oxford Road Show `83 Phil Collins - Wogan `85 Fine Young Cannibals - Wogan `85 Tears For Fears - Kenny Everett Show `85 Suzanne Vega - Whistle Test `96 Simply Red - Whistle Test `85

This week the series rocks out with the loud guitars and manly hair of Motorhead, ZZ Top, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, INXS, The Cult and The Mission. Motorhead - TOTP `80 ZZ Top - Whistle Test `80 U2 - U2 Play Belfast `81 Bruce Springsteen - Whistle Test `84 Bon Jovi - Whistle Test `85 INXS - Whistle Test `86 The Cult - Whistle Test `87 The Mission - Whistle Test `87