As we made the switch from the music of the 1970s to the 1980s styles changed and adapted too. The 1970s had been full, of different styles and ended with new wave and the tail end of punk rock added to everything else that was going on. The 1980s brought in many different sounds and lots of new bands and artists too.
Some of those hit success at high levels, others scored more modestly. That seems a shame, as many of the 1980s bands deserved more acclaim, more success, and a bigger share of the spotlight. That wasn't always to be, perhaps down to them being modestly successful in their homeland and not managing to break out in other regions.
That’s very much the case with the four bands I’ve listed below. They have a very specific connection in their origin, they all made only a limited impression on US listeners and they all deserved more. Have a quick read of the four and see if you need to look up or listen to any of them.
Four 1980s bands that deserved more of the spotlight
Cocteau Twins
Let’s open up the list with the fabulous Cocteau Twins from Scotland. Is their blend of sound maybe early shoegaze or dream pop? Whatever the right genre is, they
had a great sound, atmospheric and shimmering. Vocals that were definitely in the ethereal category. A super combination. Many readers will be well aware of the band, they are highly regarded and praised. But success was somewhat limited and they deserved more and perhaps a more worldwide stage too.
Even in their own UK charts, commercial success wasn’t huge. They did make it to the top 40 singles now and again. They didn't make much of an impact in the US until "Carolyn's Fingers” was released as a single in 1988 and reached number two on the US Alternative chart.
That was followed by “Iceblink Luck” and “Heaven or Las Vegas,” two US singles peaking at numbers four and nine in that Alternative listing. The band was formed in 1981, so it counts as an 1980s band, even if that modest US success came just after.
Like many such bands, if you know them, you’ll know them well. Other readers may have heard the name, but don’t know their work. Do give them a listen if you have missed out.
Orange Juice
Ok, here’s the giveaway on that origin connection between all four bands. They all hail from Scotland. That may be partly why they didn't make a huge worldwide impression, but it shouldn't really be a factor. Orange Juice varied their sound from time to time, and their biggest hit, “Rip It Up,” from 1983, was a new style for them.
Very chunky and funky guitar in a Nile Rodgers and Chic mode, backed by a bubbly bass synth. The latter broke new ground in the UK, the single becoming a number eight UK chart song. It’s still a top tune and very 1980s in its sound. It followed a more jangly guitar pop style on their previous records. Frontman Edwyn Collins went on to have a super solo hit with ‘A Girl Like You” in 1994.
The Associates
Billy McKenzie with Alan Rankin formed The Associates. They added a theatrical element to their music, making them stand out a touch more on the busy Scottish indie scene in the 1980s. They would sit comfortably within a new romantic or artrock heading and, like many bands of the time, received great critical acclaim. But as is often the case, it wasn't always matched with the commercial success they deserved.
One of their better-known songs was “Party Fears Two,” a 1982 top 20 single. Originally written in the late 1970s post-punk era, the tune didn't quite fit anywhere then. Reworked, it was much more suited to the early 1980s.
As the title suggests, it’s a good party song and should be referred to as a classic of its time. Sadly, McKenzie’s suicide in 1997 closed the band’s history, and Rankine passed away in 2023.
Aztec Camera
The fourth of today's list of top Scottish 1980s bands who deserved a bigger share of the spotlight and fame. Led by Roddy Frame, they have a great catalog of records behind them. Six studio albums were equally split between the 1980s and 1990s. They did have several charting singles from the 1980s back in the UK.
But it was the mid-1990s before they had any impact on the US listings. “The Crying Scene” and “Good Morning Britain,” the latter a duet with Mick Jones of the Clash, both made the top 20 on the US Alternative chart.
Before then, their top hits and songs you should hear include “Oblivion” and “Somewhere In My Heart.” Two bright and cheery pop songs, superbly crafted and performed. The band's first two albums, High Land, Hard Rain (1983) and Knife (1984), are both well worth digging out and listening to; you won’t go wrong with their other four albums either.