3 One-Word Classic Rock Albums From 1980 We Still Listen to Today

When one decade ends and another begins, it’s important to take notice. While in real time it seems like just another year, in reality the time shift and calendar change are often significant. A new number means a new era, which can often lead to a new creative mentality altogether.

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And that’s just what we wanted to dive into here below. We wanted to explore three seminal works at the beginning of the new decade of the 1980s. Indeed, these are three one-word classic rock albums from 1980 that we still totally stan.

‘Boy’ by U2 (1980)

The Irish-born rock band U2 released its debut studio LP, Boy, in 1980. What followed was a groundbreaking career that led to an iconic batch of songs many music fans (including us) still look to today. Bono, The Edge, and the rest of the band struck a chord (pun intended!) with music audiences and it’s a resonance that still exists today amongst millions. The group’s debut release in 1980 included songs like “I Will Follow”, which displayed U2’s echoing buzz—its a sound that would be their signature for years to come.

‘Voices’ by Hall & Oates (1980)

Known for some of the catchiest songs of the 1970s and 1980s, Daryl Hall and John Oates released their ninth studio album, Voices, in 1980. That LP included tunes like “Kiss On My List” and “You Make My Dreams”. It’s funny—just seeing those song titles, you can hear the bops begin in your head. You can hear the duo’s rhythmic and melodic singing styles creep into your mind and make a happy home. That’s the true power of songwriting—when you can hear the song even if it’s not really playing.

‘Autoamerican’ by Blondie (1980)

Blondie did it all. In the 1970s and 1980s, the group vacillated elegantly between rock, disco, and even rap. They were crucial in helping to introduce the burgeoning genre to the world thanks to their friendship with Fab 5 Freddie. Indeed, the song “Rapture” played a big part there (and for fans of the song, check out Blondie’s Christmas tune which uses some of the same instrumentation). Thank goodness for Blondie and for their 1980 LP, Autoamerican.

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