Adventures in iTunes: an über '80s mix

Alright, folks. We're going back in time a bit on this one. This list is chock full of hits as well as a few deeper cuts, great, classic songs as well as pure cheese, and I'm sure somebody out there is going to respond with a, "Why is this song on there but not that one?" And, well, that's the point. Let it inspire you to make your own 1980's playlist. Because, well, every iPod should have one, really.


There are some great childhood memories for me on this list and a bunch of songs I still love to listen to. The '80s were a great time for pop music. For those of you not born until the following decade, just trust me: having my first concept of rock 'n' roll be either the classic tunes of the '50s and '60s my father played for me or the songs I heard on radio stations during the late '80s and early '90s was a great blessing. It helped me to fall in love with music in a way that was more than reality competition shows or videos posted on a Facebook wall. 

Anyway, enough reminiscing. Dig the list!

• Summer of '69, Heat of the Night - Bryan Adams
• Here I Go Again - Whitesnake   
• Dreams, Jump, Why Can’t This Be Love, Mean Street - Van Halen   
• Stone In Love, Faithfully, Don’t Stop Believin’, I’ll Be Alright Without You- Journey   
• The Boys Of Summer, The End of Innocence - Don Henley   
• Pour Some Sugar On Me, Hysteria - Def Leppard   
• Angel With A Dirty Face - Lou Gramm   
• The Power Of Love, Hip To Be Square - Huey Lewis & The News   
• Summertime Girls - Y&T   
• No Alibis - Eric Clapton   
• Paradise City, Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses   
• Mighty Wings - Cheap Trick   
• Take Me Home Tonight - Eddie Money   
• No Lookin' Back, Footloose - Kenny Loggins   
• Prisoner Of Love - Foreigner   
• Invisible Touch - Genesis   
• Authority Song - John Mellencamp   
• Kyrie - Mr. Mister   
• The Lady In Red - Chris de Burgh   
• Every Rose Has It’s Thorn - Poison
• St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) - John Parr
• Always With Me, Always With You - Joe Satriani   
• Your Love - The Outfield   
• Have A Little Faith In Me - John Hiatt               
• Red Rain, In Your Eyes, Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel   
• Where The Streets Have No Name , With Or Without You, Pride (In the Name of Love) - U2   
• All I Need Is A Miracle - Mike + The Mechanics   
• The Way You Make Me Feel , Billie Jean - Michael Jackson   
• You're The Inspiration - Chicago   
• Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer   
• If You Leave  - Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark   
• Love Somebody - Rick Springfield   
• The Show Goes On, The Way It Is - Bruce Hornsby & The Range   
• So Far Away, Money For Nothing - Dire Straits   
• Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House   
• Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes   
• Should've Known Better, Endless Summer Nights -Richard Marx   
• Listen To Your Heart - Roxette       
• Only The Children, Africa, Can’t Stand It Any Longer, Rosanna - Toto      
• One Vision - Queen    
• I Go To Extremes, An Innocent Man - Billy Joel
• Who Can It Be Now? - Men At Work   
• What About Love - Heart           
• Limelight, Spirit of the Radio, Prime Mover - Rush   
• Avalon - Roxy Music   
• Dude (Looks Like A Lady) - Aerosmith   
• The Touch, Dare - Stan Bush   
• And We Danced - The Hooters   
• Heat Of The Moment - Asia   
• Tempted - Squeeze               
• Livin' On A Prayer, I’ll Be There For You - Bon Jovi   
• King Of Pain, Every Breath You Take - The Police   
• One More Night, Something Happened On The Way To Heaven - Phil Collins   
• Time For Me To Fly, In My Dreams - REO Speedwagon
• Learning To Fly, Free Fallin’, Don’t Come Around Here No More - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers   
• Show Me The Way - Styx   
• Back In The High Life - Steve Winwood   
• Feel Like Makin' Love - Bad Company   
• Take On Me - a-ha