Olivia Newton-John / Electric Light Orchestra – Xanadu

"Xanadu" is the title song from the soundtrack of the 1980 musical film of the same name. Written by Jeff Lynne of the English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the song is performed by part British, Australian singer, songwriter and actress Olivia Newton-John, with Lynne adding parenthetic vocals in the style of his other songs on the Xanadu soundtrack, and ELO providing the instrumentation.

 

Artist: Olivia Newton-John / Electric Light Orchestra

A-Side (with Electric Light Orchestra): Xanadu

B-Side: Fool Country

Year Released: 1980

Decade: 1980s

Genre: Rock, Stage & Screen

Style: Soundtrack, Pop Rock

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: Jet Records

Label/Catalog #: JET 185 

 

Ralph Carter - Extra, Extra

"Extra, Extra (Read All About It)" was a 1975 single for Ralph Carter. It was a hit for him the following year. Carter's disco record was a 33⅓ RPM version and had a length of 5:15. The 45RPM version had been edited down to 2:40 for radio airplay.

 

Firefly - You Can Lead Me

"You Can Lead Me" is a song released in 1982 by the italian pop-dance group Firefly, formed in 1979 and made up of Elena Ferretti, Manuela Ometto, Maurice Cavalieri, Maurizio Sangineto and Rolando Zaniolo, the disco/funk track was featured on their second album My Desire (1981).

 

G.M.T. Band - The Bottle

"The Bottle" is a song by American soul artist Gil Scott-Heron and musician Brian Jackson, released in 1974 in the United States. It was later reissued during the mid-1980s in the United Kingdom. In 1983 the American Jazz-Funk group G.M.T. Band, made up of vocalist Gyle Waddy, Mike Delannay, Tedika Kedika, released this cover although this classic track would be the only record the three would release together. 

 

Queen - Another One Bites The Dust

"Another One Bites the Dust" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by bassist John Deacon, the song was featured on the group's eighth studio album The Game (1980).

 

 

Artist: Queen

A-Side: Another One Bites The Dust

B-Side: Dragon Attack 

Year Released: 1980

Decade: 1980s

Genre: Rock

Style: Pop Rock, Glam

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: EMI

Label/Catalog #: 2C 008-64060 

 

Mel Brooks - It's Good to Be the King Rap

"It's Good to Be the King Rap" (also known as It's Good to Be the King) is a song written by Mel Brooks and Pete Wingfield and performed by Mel Brooks, released as a single in 1981. The song's title comes from the catchphrase of the movie "History of the World, Part I", in which Brooks plays multiple parts.

 

Artist: Mel Brooks

A-Side: It's Good To Be The King Rap (Part 1)

B-Side: It's Good To Be The King Rap (Part 2)

Year Released: 1981

Decade: 1980s

Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Funk / Soul

Style: Pop Rap, Funk, Disco

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: RCA Victor

Label/Catalog #: PB 5894 

Sparks - When I'm With You

"When I'm with You" is a song released by American rock and pop duo Sparks. The song relies on disco and new wave as its two main genres with rock guitars audible throughout the song. it featured on the ninth studio album Terminal Jive.

 

 Artist: Sparks

A-Side: When I'm With You

B-Side: Just Because You Love Me

Year Released: 1986

Decade: 1980s

Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop

Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop, Disco

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: Underdog

Label/Catalog #: 49 652

Ottawan - Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)

"Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)" is a 1981 song by the French pop duo Ottawan. It was the band's second-biggest international hit single, after their 1979 hit "D.I.S.C.O.". 

 

 Artist: Ottawan

A-Side: Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)

B-Side: Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart) (Instrumental)

Year Released: 1981

Decade: 1980s

Genre: Electronic

Style: Disco

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: Carrere

Label/Catalog #: CAR 183

 

Brooklyn Express - Sixty Nine

"Sixty Nine" is a track by the New York studio project Brooklyn Express (made up of Began Cekic and the original Cameo member Eric Durham) and was released in 1981.

 

The Real Thing – Can't Get By Without You

"Can't Get By Without You (The Decade Remix II)" is a 10 year celebratory re-release of the track originally released in 1976 by the British soul group The Real Thing. It was the follow-up to their hit "You to Me Are Everything" and features on their first album Real Thing (1976).

 

Artist: The Real Thing

A-Side: Can't Get By Without You (The Second Decade Remix)

B-Side: She's A Groovy Freak (The Original Vintage Version)

Year Released: 1986

Decade: 1980s

Genre: Funk / Soul

Style: Soul, Disco

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: PRT

Label/Catalog #: 7P 352 

 

RAH Band - Falcon

"Falcon" is a track released in 1980 by the British synth-pop & jazz-funk group called the RAH Band, masterminded by Richard A. Hewson (hence the RAH) who is an English producer, arranger, conductor and multi-instrumentalist, the group was a fictitious studio based group (fictitious in that it was no group, it contained only him). The song features on the album RAH Band (1981) .

 

 Artist: RAH Band 

A-Side: Falcon

B-Side: Falcon 2

Year Released: 1980

Decade: 1980s

Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul

Style: Jazz-Funk, Synth-pop, Disco

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: DJM Records

Label/Catalog #: DJS 10954

 

Jesse Green - Nice and Slow

"Nice and Slow" is a song performed by Jamaican reggae and disco musician Jesse Green, released in 1976 from the album of the same name. It was a No. 1 hit in Belgium and the Netherlands, and also reached the top 20 charts of Austria and the United Kingdom.

 

Artist: Jesse Green

A-Side: Nice and Slow (Vocal)

B-Side: Nice & Slow (Instrumental)

Year Released: 1976

Decade: 1970s

Genre: Funk / Soul 

Style: Disco

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: EMI

Label/Catalog #: 2 C 010 97802

Janet Jackson - What Have You Done For Me Lately

"What Have You Done for Me Lately" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her third studio album, Control (1986).

 

Artist: Janet Jackson

A-Side: What Have You Done For Me Lately

B-Side: He Doesn't Even Know I'm Alive

Year Released: 1986

Decade: 1980s

Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul

Style: Synth-pop, Disco

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: A&M Records

Label/Catalog #: 390 079-7 

Bee Gees - You Should Be Dancing

"You Should Be Dancing" is a song by the English-Australian music group, the Bee Gees, taken from the album Children of the World, released in 1976. It is also one of six songs performed by the Bee Gees included in the Saturday Night Fever movie soundtrack which came out a year later. 

Matt Bianco - Yeh Yeh

"Yeh, Yeh" is a Latin soul song originally written as an instrumental by Rodgers Grant and Pat Patrick, and first recorded by Mongo Santamaría on his album Watermelon Man! in 1963. British band Matt Bianco covered the song in 1985. It was their first release after the departure of Danny White and Basia Trzetrzelewska. The single version was then included in their second eponymous album in 1986.

 

Artist: Matt Bianco

A-Side: Yeh Yeh

B-Side: Smooth

Year Released: 1985

Decade: 1980s

Genre: Electronic, Pop

Style: Jazzdance

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: WEA

Label/Catalog #: 248 943-7 

 

Billy Ocean - Loverboy

"Loverboy" released in 1985 by Trinidadian-born British singer and songwriter Billy Ocean and is the second single from his fifth studio album, Suddenly (1984). 

Jaki Graham - Set Me Free

"Set Me Free" is a song released in 1986 by the British singer-songwriter Jaki Graham, It is the leading single from her second studio album Breaking Away (1986). 

 

Artist: Jaki Graham

A-Side: Set Me Free

B-Side: Stop The World

Year Released: 1986

Decade: 1980s

Genre: Funk / Soul

Style: Disco

Format: 7-inch Vinyl, 45rpm, Single

Record Label: EMI 

Label/Catalog #: 2011747