# Best 80s records by 60s-70s rock bands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068 "2017-08-30T00:43:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/21 "2017-08-30T04:47:13Z")
Correcting myself: The creative resurgence of Odetta occurred not in the 1980s, but rather at the end of the 1990s, with two terrific albums (_Blues Everywhere I Go_ and _For Ella_) recorded when she was almost seventy years old (!). ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/22 "2017-08-30T05:04:44Z")
The Grateful Dead’s \*\*In the Dark \*\*, released in 1987, contained their only Top 10 hit, [Touch of Grey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzvk0fWtCs0). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/23 "2017-08-30T05:58:43Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 9 years after _Radar Love_ was all over American radio stations, Golden Earring led us into their [_Twilight Zone_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0cYc3-Molo). In fact, they originally formed in 1961, and their core foursome has been together since 1970 (and they’re still active). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/24 "2017-08-30T06:03:38Z")
Rush put out Power Windows, Permanent Waves, Grace Under Pressure, Signals, Exit…Stage Left, and A Show of Hands in the 1980’s. Others too, but not as strong as these. I think Roger Waters’ The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking is his masterpiece, that came out in 1984. Both Rush and Pink Floyd were around in the 60’s in one form or another. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/25 "2017-08-30T06:07:21Z")
While maybe not _quite_ as good as their run of 4 albums in the mid 70s (Sheer Heart Attack through News of the World), I think that Queen’s “The Works” (1984) is still a very good album. Roy Orbison’s Mystery Girl (1989) was an outstanding album, and (along with “Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1”) should have fueled a career renaissance for him. But, alas, he died two months before its release. I’ll also concur with several others which have already been mentioned: Yes: 90125 Genesis: Duke, Abacab Moody Blues: Long Distance Voyager, The Present, The Other Side of Life George Harrison: Cloud 9 ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/26 "2017-08-30T08:34:19Z")
Black Sabbath’s Heaven and Hell barely scrapes in - it was released in 1980 - but with Ronnie James Dio replacing Ozzy, it was their strongest work in years and still one of their best albums. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/27 "2017-08-30T08:36:21Z")
_It’s Hard_ by the Who (released 1982) is a forgotten classic. Blue Öyster Cult had 1981’s _Fire of Unknown Origin_, which spawned one of their biggest radio hits, “Burnin’ For You”. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/28 "2017-08-30T08:49:30Z")
**Tom Petty** had his nadir in the 1980s, with the exception of 1989’s incredibly well-received _ **Full Moon Fever** _. (Well, there was also his work with the Traveling Wilburys supergroup, but its success owes just as much to the other four band members.) ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/29 "2017-08-30T09:05:47Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > \*\*Also _State of Confusion_. “Come Dancing” was a big hit, and deserved to be (it’s what first made me notice The Kinks). > \*\* > I actually prefer their previous (80s) albums, _Long Distance Voyager_ and _The Present_. > > Paul McCartney’s _Tug of War_, at least, is a good album. > > The Beach Boys’ self-titled 1985 album isn’t objectively their best work, and production-wise it sounds very 80s, but it has a special place in my heart because to me, it was their first _new_ release, and I saw them live that year. > > Stevie Wonder was past his prime but still putting out worthwhile records. I came on here to suggest _Come Dancing_ too. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/30 "2017-08-30T09:12:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > … > Some other pre-eighties artists who had top-notch albums in the eighties: > David Bowie - _Let’s Dance_ (1983) > … It was hugely successful and contains some of his best-known songs, but I think that artistically _Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)_ was his strongest 1980s album by far. Actually, the 80s weren’t a very good decade for him creatively although he was doing great commercially. It took 15 years and the release of the more ambitious _Outside_ (1995) to witness a return to form. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/31 "2017-08-30T10:06:31Z")
Nothing to add but enjoying the thread. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/32 "2017-08-30T10:29:52Z")
I have one more to add. Neil Young’s eighties albums were a string of erratic and strange affairs, culminating in being sued by his own label (David) Geffen for being uncommercial, but he returned to form with one of his classic albums “ Freedom“ in 1989, which also included the biggest hit of his later career, “Rockin’ In The Free World“. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/33 "2017-08-30T10:42:08Z")
A Kind of Magic might not be Queen’s best album (I’d say it is, taken as a whole album, but that’s probably just me), but it’s certainly up there with the earlier ones. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/34 "2017-08-30T10:59:25Z")
The 60s moptops The Lovely Lads recorded their best music in the 80s, albeit under a different name. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/35 "2017-08-30T11:26:25Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > The 60s moptops The Lovely Lads recorded their best music in the 80s, albeit under a different name. 🙂 Sorry, I didn’t realize their [lineup had changed](http://www.spinaltap.com/atozed/TAP00311.HTM) so much. Doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/36 "2017-08-30T11:53:08Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Rush put out Power Windows, Permanent Waves, **Grace Under Pressure** , Signals, Exit…Stage Left, and A Show of Hands in the 1980’s. Grace is one of the most underrated and underplayed albums of all time. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/37 "2017-08-30T12:00:21Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I prefer Genesis post Gabriel but Pre Invisible Touch But by the same token Gabriel released _Peter Gabriel_, number 3, in 1980 and _So_ in 1986. \*So \* was rated the number 14 album of the 80s by Rolling Stone. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/38 "2017-08-30T12:05:39Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Rush put out Power Windows, Permanent Waves, Grace Under Pressure, Signals, Exit…Stage Left, and A Show of Hands in the 1980’s. Others too, but not as strong as these. I think Roger Waters’ The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking is his masterpiece, that came out in 1984. Both Rush and Pink Floyd were around in the 60’s in one form or another. 1981 = Moving Pictures, the best of the bunch. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/39 "2017-08-30T12:23:47Z")
This is purely subjective, but I always think of Heart, Cheap Trick, and the Moodies as being bands that produced good albums in the 80s that were “80s-type music.” They transitioned successfully, as opposed to some other bands that just kept doing what they had already been doing. I was a big Yes fan in the 70s, but could never generate any affection for their 80s efforts. _ **90125** _ was just not my cup of tea. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2017, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068/40 "2017-08-30T12:28:03Z")
Richard and Linda Thompson’s final album together, _Shoot Out The Lights_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-80s-records-by-60s-70s-rock-bands/795068.md?page=3)