Looking for suggestions: Relaxing pop/rock numbers from the 1980s

Over the years, a lot of 1980s classics that I’ve been exposed to and enjoyed have been mocked and marred because of stenotypes of music form the 1980s in general as being too cheesy or being too slow/sleepy/boring. There are people I know who continue to dress down 1980s music and certain artists specifically because of the era and…

And they’re still good songs so shut up.

There are rich pop songs that are slower and perfect for night when trying to relax (if not sleep).  I’ve got a playlist for it, but I know I’m lacking a lot of the music from that era that would fit:

  • ”All out of Love” – Air Supply
  • “Another Day in paradise” – Phil Collins
  • “Don’t Dream It’s Over” – Crowded House
  • “Drive” – The Cars
  • “I’ve Been Waiting For A Girl Like You” — Foreigner
  • “One More Night” – Phil Collins
  • “Steppin’ Out” – Joe Jackson (which I wrote about recently)
  • “Take My Breath Away” – Berlin

The whole reason I blog about this is because I’m looking for other 1980s songs like these – soft rock, pop, mid tempo. I’m aware of other options from some of these artists (Air Supply and Collins specifically) but I’m looking for other artists. Hearing different examples or suggestions wouldn’t be a bad thing.

And yeah, there are songs from other decades that fit the bill quite easily (“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel; “Tears In Heaven” (unplugged) by Eric Clapton), but right now the quest is to discover from 30 years ago, not rediscover from the 1990s and be introduced to numbers form the 00s/2010s.

6 Comments to Looking for suggestions: Relaxing pop/rock numbers from the 1980s

  1. Bill Philp says:

    Hi John,

    Here are a few of my favorites. I too fall asleep to music. Hope you like some of them. They are all from a playlist I put together of soft rock/ballads favorites.

    Rupert Holmes – Escape (1979)
    Robert John – Sad Eyes (1979)
    Cheap Trick – The Flame
    Whitesnake – Is this love
    Tears of Passion – Angel
    Lake of Tears – To Blossom Blue
    Gary Moore – Empty Rooms
    Patrick Swayze – She’s like the wind
    Saigon Kick – Love Is On The Way
    Kix – Don’t Close Your Eyes
    White Lion – When the Children Cry
    Alan Parson’s Project – Eye in the Sky
    America – Horse with no Name
    Dennis De Young – Call Me
    Robbie DuPree – Steal Away
    Kansas – Dust in the Wind
    Dave Loggins – Please Come to Boston
    John Waite – Missing You
    Gino Vanelli – Hurts to be in Love
    James Taylor – Carolina on my Mind
    Sting – Desert Rose
    Al Stewart – Time Passages
    Steely Dan – Rikki Don’t Lose that Number
    Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight
    Bob Seger – Against The Wind
    Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street
    Stevie Nicks – Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?
    Michael Martin Murphey – Wildfire
    Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years
    Looking G lass – Brandy
    Little River Band – Cool Change

  2. Mish says:

    Smooth Operator – Sade
    Sailing – Christopher Cross
    Say Say Say – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
    Never Surrender – Corey Hart
    Oh Sherrie – Steve Perry
    Out of Touch – Hall & Oates
    Do You Believe In Love – Huey Lewis & the News
    I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight – Cutting Crew
    Heaven – Bryan Adams
    Toy Soldiers – Martika
    Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money

    • Bill Philp says:

      All great ones!

      • John Fontana says:

        Seriously great stuff, guys. Mish, I’d forgotten a lot of those (though I know them but haven’t deliberately listened in a long while).

        Bill, I know some of the list well and some of it has my interest piqued. I”ll have to be checking into them.

        Thank you both!

    • John Fontana says:

      Mish, I didn’t reply directly to you but I need to reconnect with some of what you suggested (Hall and Oates; I already listened through to an online version of “Say, say, say”_. Thank you for the suggestions.