POLLnight Blue: 80s Debut Singles from Lead Singers Who Went Solo

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Lots of rock frontmen decided to do solo albums in the 80s, some as a side project, some permanently. Probably one or two clear winners here, knowing ILM, but maybe some interesting discussion engendered. Probably missing a lot, so write-ins are welcome!

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Phil Collins, "In The Air Tonight" (1981) 25
Lou Gramm, "Midnight Blue" (1987) 12
Morrissey, "Suedehead" (1988) 12
Ice Cube, "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" (1989) 7
George Michael, "I Want Your Sex" (1987) 5
Bob Mould, "See A Little Light" (1989) 3
David Lee Roth, "California Girls" (1985) 3
Sting, "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (1985) 3
Fred Schneider, "Monster" (1984) 3
Tom Petty, "I Won't Back Down" (1989) 2
Other 2
David Byrne, "Regiment" (1981) 2
Roger Waters, "5:01am (The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking" (1984) 1
Debbie Harry, "Backfired," (1981) 1
Robert Plant, "Burning Down One Side" (1982) 1
Ric Ocasek, "Something to Grab For" (1983) 1
Tommy Shaw, "Girls With Guns" (1984) 1
Brian Setzer, "The Knife Feels Like Justice" (1986) 0
Daryl Hall, "Dreamtime" (1986) 0
Glenn Frey, "I Found Somebody" (1982) 0
Don Henley, "Johnny Can't Read" (1982) 0
Peter Cetera, "Livin' in the Limelight" (1982) 0
Dennis DeYoung, "Desert Moon" (1984) 0
Mick Jagger, "Just Another Night" (1985) 0


brimming with misplaced confidence (Phil D.), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 12:36 (nine years ago) link

wow great idea!

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 12:40 (nine years ago) link

One of these:

Phil Collins, "In The Air Tonight" (1981)
Robert Plant, "Burning Down One Side" (1982)
Ric Ocasek, "Something to Grab For" (1983)
Daryl Hall, "Dreamtime" (1986)
Lou Gramm, "Midnight Blue" (1987)
Morrissey, "Suedehead" (1988)
Bob Mould, "See A Little Light

I'm leaning towards "Midnight Blue," in large part because unlike most of these other songs it was a "Whoa! How'd THIS guy come up with this?"

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 12:41 (nine years ago) link

Debut Sting single was actually "Spread a Little Happiness" from Brimstone & Treacle (1982)

john wahey (NickB), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 12:43 (nine years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFxGtIqqwT4

john wahey (NickB), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 12:45 (nine years ago) link

xxp Yeah I didn't count that because oh god was that movie bad.

xp Whoops!

brimming with misplaced confidence (Phil D.), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 12:46 (nine years ago) link

From the choices, "In the Air Tonight".

But I'd like to throw in a write-in vote for Donald Fagen's "I.G.Y.", one of my all-time favorite songs

Frontier Psychiatrist, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:20 (nine years ago) link

Petty seems like a bit of a ringer, but his song isn't what I'd vote for anyway. Clearly "Midnight Blue," but I'll make a special plea for "Johnny Can't Read" -- the only one of these I owned on 45 (picture sleeve!).

something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:23 (nine years ago) link

Also, I like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztnn_hSGtg0

something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:24 (nine years ago) link

good calls on Fagen and Wolf

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:25 (nine years ago) link

A Britishes list might also have these:

Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself
Feargal Sharkey - A Good Heart
Midge Ure - No Regrets
John Foxx - Underpass
Adam Ant - Goody Two-Shoes
Alison Moyet - Love Resurrection
Holly Johnson - Love Train
Nick Heywood - Whistle Down the Wind

john wahey (NickB), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:28 (nine years ago) link

'lights out' and 'oh sherrie' are great but i had to go with the god george michael

although TECHNICALLY isn't 'a different corner' or 'careless whisper' his first solo track? i remember being super confused by the mtv chyrons re: these songs

maura, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:34 (nine years ago) link

oh yes

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:37 (nine years ago) link

They probably should be, yeah, but I went with the singles from albums credited to the singer; both of those appeared on albums credit to Wham!, right?

brimming with misplaced confidence (Phil D.), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:40 (nine years ago) link

I'm trying to imagine "Wings (Featuring Paul McCartney)"

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:42 (nine years ago) link

I Won't Back Down.

guwop (crüt), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:43 (nine years ago) link

Phil Collins, Daryl Hall, Morrissey, George Michael and even the Sting are pretty good. Lack of "Oh Sherrie' in the original list is a massive oversight, though.

Solo Mick Jagger may be the all-around worst.

Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:43 (nine years ago) link

the "Just Another Night" video was made for gifs and freeze frames.

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:44 (nine years ago) link

I'll normally rep for Roger Waters' solo career but "The Pros & Cons of Hitch-Hiking" is a horrible, horrible song.

goth colouring book (anagram), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 13:45 (nine years ago) link

Another addition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjqOsYRQI0o

Frontier Psychiatrist, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 14:07 (nine years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwaj_kvA7sg

Josefa, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 14:44 (nine years ago) link

Ice Cube towers over everything else on the list.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 14:49 (nine years ago) link

Can't believe I forgot Perry, Wolf and Fagen /facepalm

A surprising number of these -- Jagger, Wolf, Gramm, Byrne, Henley, Frey -- are not on Spotify!

brimming with misplaced confidence (Phil D.), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 15:33 (nine years ago) link

Belinda Carlisle - Mad About You

^ not her best, but a decent-sized hit

john wahey (NickB), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 15:38 (nine years ago) link

Did someone ask for some more cheese?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfmYCM4CS8o

Also, if Bob Mould counts then so does the superior:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G71dWFXJ0FY

Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 15:41 (nine years ago) link

not her best

Oh, but it is.

Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 15:52 (nine years ago) link

"Circle in the Sand" > "Mad About You" (not by much but still)

Star Gentle Uterus (DJP), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 16:33 (nine years ago) link

otm

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 16:47 (nine years ago) link

Thomas Dolby synth solo vs Andy Taylor guitar solo

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 16:47 (nine years ago) link

DLR v v narrowly over Cube (whose best was yet to come anyway)

Οὖτις, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 16:57 (nine years ago) link

altho I probably would've voted Careless Whispers if that was on here. GM's lone moment of total perfection.

Οὖτις, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 16:58 (nine years ago) link

by that logic, I would have voted for "Land of Confusion" if it was on here

Star Gentle Uterus (DJP), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 17:01 (nine years ago) link

"Careless Whisper" is a 1984 single by George Michael (credited to "Wham! featuring George Michael" in Japan, Canada and the US), released by Epic Records in the UK, Japan, and other countries; and by Columbia Records in North America. The song was George Michael's first solo single although he was still performing in Wham! at the time (the song is included on Wham!'s album Make It Big).

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 17:10 (nine years ago) link

well that clears things up

Οὖτις, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 17:12 (nine years ago) link

so glad Andrew Ridgely didn't mar the track with his trademark... um... wait, what did Andrew Ridgely do again?

Οὖτις, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 17:12 (nine years ago) link

He helped write the song, apparently.

Star Gentle Uterus (DJP), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 17:13 (nine years ago) link

Thought Gregg Allman's 1987 "I'm No Angel" would qualify, but he had one solo single in the 1970s.

the one where, as balls alludes (Eazy), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 17:20 (nine years ago) link

Peter Murphy?

o. nate, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 17:34 (nine years ago) link

Genesis (featuring Phil Collins)

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 17:34 (nine years ago) link

This one will be Morrissey in a mudslide, I should think. But I have a soft spot for Robert Plant's synthy solo stuff.

stop torturing me ethel (broom air), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 17:41 (nine years ago) link

Also, the joy of David Lee Roth's solo ep....

stop torturing me ethel (broom air), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 17:42 (nine years ago) link

Also, if Bob Mould counts then so does the superior:

yeah, "2541" >>>>>>>>>> "see a little light." actually, "2541" >>>>>>>>> everything else either hart or mould has done since.

(though i much prefer the acoustic "2541," from hart's debut 12-inch, to the album version.)

fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 18:00 (nine years ago) link

and, yeah, petty definitely seems like a ringer here.

fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 18:00 (nine years ago) link

fcc otm. Never got into post-Huskers Mould. Way too slick and self-conscious.

And wasn't "2541" (the EP) released before Workbook?

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 18:09 (nine years ago) link

This one will be Morrissey in a mudslide, I should think.

Maybe somewhere else on the internets, but not here.

Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 18:13 (nine years ago) link

you guys

YOU GUYS

midnight blue 4 eva!!!!

set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 18:13 (nine years ago) link

(xxp) yup, "2541" came first.

there are some ideas on workbook that i quite like, but as a full album it's trying.

fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 18:13 (nine years ago) link

Veg otm

Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 18:14 (nine years ago) link

I found a live version...sound is super-shitty so it sounds a little toothless but Lou kills it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjZcc34G4iI

set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 18:14 (nine years ago) link

missed the cutoff for the classic rock poll by a matter of weeks!

fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 18:16 (nine years ago) link

croup that reminds me, that top 40 tumblr you do is fantastic

balls, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 21:19 (nine years ago) link

yeah I listened to the early eighties top 20 playlist the other morning

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 23 July 2014 21:20 (nine years ago) link

oh Boy George's 'Everything I Own' -- that was a favorite song when it came out, I haven't heard it in so long

thanks croup

set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 23 July 2014 21:24 (nine years ago) link

you're welcome, y'all!

da croupier, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 21:31 (nine years ago) link

croup that reminds me, that top 40 tumblr you do is fantastic

― balls, Wednesday, July 23, 2014 5:19 PM (11 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

whats it called this tumblr

before you die you see the rink (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 23 July 2014 21:31 (nine years ago) link

o i meant his other one - http://my40plusplusfetish.tumblr.com

balls, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 21:36 (nine years ago) link

jk. DO NOT CLICK THAT. DO NOT DO NOT CLICK THAT.

balls, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 21:37 (nine years ago) link

Tags: 69, Fistplay, It Sharted In The...

da croupier, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 21:39 (nine years ago) link

haha

balls, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 21:39 (nine years ago) link

nothing wrong with some hot ladies. Gives me something to grab for. My vote.

Zachary Taylor, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 22:14 (nine years ago) link

I wash hoping someone would talk about that first Ric Ocasek solo, supposedly more synth-heavy than his Cars stuff.

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 23 July 2014 22:15 (nine years ago) link

That particular song is more guitar heavy than The Cars at that moment. It might as well have been a Cars album. I like the single. Have the 45 with the picture sleeve.

Zachary Taylor, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 22:23 (nine years ago) link

DON: Well, yeah.

never not funny

mookieproof, Wednesday, 23 July 2014 23:43 (nine years ago) link

literally just learnt that AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted was a single. If I'd known that all along, I might vote for it, but that whole album just feels like a piece to me. I Want Your Sex would be a contender, if it had been Yog's debut. If DLR was listed as the Crazy From The Heat EP, not just California Girls, hands-down winner. So that leaves me with .... voting for Suedehead?

:( you guys

boney tassel (sic), Thursday, 24 July 2014 01:43 (nine years ago) link

Suedehead popped up on my giant spotify playlist this evening. It's still fantastic.

odd proggy geezer (Moodles), Thursday, 24 July 2014 01:46 (nine years ago) link

just listened to Midnight Blue for the first time

how do any of you people remember that you ever heard this

boney tassel (sic), Thursday, 24 July 2014 01:47 (nine years ago) link

it helps that the cute older boys cover band performed it on my v first day of high school :D

set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 24 July 2014 01:51 (nine years ago) link

i think midnight blue is quite memorable

doodle cock-up (electricsound), Thursday, 24 July 2014 02:05 (nine years ago) link

mongrel fite!

mookieproof, Thursday, 24 July 2014 02:06 (nine years ago) link

sic u r so evolved, how do you cope with us mere mortals

set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 24 July 2014 02:16 (nine years ago) link

I saw R.E.M. do this on this tour in '87. A friend of mine who was at the same show ended up working out next to Lou Gramm at a gym sometime the next year and told Lou that R.E.M. had done his song. Lou was apparently very excited to hear it.

http://youtu.be/SQbAizfsvrQ

something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 24 July 2014 03:31 (nine years ago) link

I heard midnight blue for the first time today as far as I know and had exactly the same reaction as sic.

seems it never rains in west california (Hunt3r), Thursday, 24 July 2014 03:54 (nine years ago) link

can't wait to find out what kind of ennui you guys deal w/ when you discover getting laid

balls, Thursday, 24 July 2014 03:59 (nine years ago) link

balls will u marry me

set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 24 July 2014 04:03 (nine years ago) link

jim you're thinking of Electric Blue, by Icehouse

boney tassel (sic), Thursday, 24 July 2014 04:20 (nine years ago) link

now I am too, good times

boney tassel (sic), Thursday, 24 July 2014 04:21 (nine years ago) link

if a boy had a chance...

set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 24 July 2014 04:28 (nine years ago) link

can't wait to find out what kind of ennui you guys deal w/ when you discover getting laid

― balls, Wednesday, July 23, 2014 11:59 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

balls will u marry me

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl),

leave him alone he's mine

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 24 July 2014 11:58 (nine years ago) link

arg u greedy bitch you get all the good ones

set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 24 July 2014 15:51 (nine years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Monday, 28 July 2014 00:01 (nine years ago) link

just knowing about crazy train and homosapien means i must vote other, but i'm sure these scores more.

seems it never rains in west california (Hunt3r), Monday, 28 July 2014 02:13 (nine years ago) link

btw, "Spread a little happiness" doesn't count as he hadn't left the Police then.

Also, was in severe danger of voting that one, but for Morrissey.

Mark G, Monday, 28 July 2014 08:59 (nine years ago) link

That one being "Freefree set them free"

Briefly, we all thought "oh, solo Sting might not be so bad after all"

Mark G, Monday, 28 July 2014 09:00 (nine years ago) link

btw, "Spread a little happiness" doesn't count as he hadn't left the Police then.

well by that logic you'd also have to discount Phil Collins, David Byrne, Daryl Hall, Mick Jagger etc

john wahey (NickB), Monday, 28 July 2014 12:05 (nine years ago) link

Phil Collins over Ice Cube, because "In The Air Tonight" was his career high point.

Lee626, Monday, 28 July 2014 20:51 (nine years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Tuesday, 29 July 2014 00:01 (nine years ago) link

see now that's a top ten

lol who voted for Sting?

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 29 July 2014 00:06 (nine years ago) link

xposts well, I guess that would a slightly different poll, the "band split up, here's the songs I would rather do"

Any case up, that "Spread" sting song was a one-off whereas the ones on NickB's list were all 'as they wanted to be'

Mark G, Tuesday, 29 July 2014 10:47 (nine years ago) link

Only one other vote for David Byrne? Sad.

bodacious ignoramus, Tuesday, 29 July 2014 12:02 (nine years ago) link

That was me.

rockist popist papist (WilliamC), Tuesday, 29 July 2014 12:04 (nine years ago) link

You're obviously an astute and refined observer of the audio arts -- any insight on how Lou Gramm's plodding effort got so many votes?

bodacious ignoramus, Tuesday, 29 July 2014 12:19 (nine years ago) link

no "Red Guitar" by David Sylvian.. that's the one for me.

Max Florian, Tuesday, 29 July 2014 16:52 (nine years ago) link

any insight on how Lou Gramm's plodding effort got so many votes?

More people though it was the best song.

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 29 July 2014 17:23 (nine years ago) link

...that's very helpful...

bodacious ignoramus, Tuesday, 29 July 2014 17:40 (nine years ago) link

you're a plodding effort

SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 July 2014 19:38 (nine years ago) link

listen to that song 10 times in a row and give your take on it

bodacious ignoramus, Wednesday, 30 July 2014 01:18 (nine years ago) link

it rules

the end

SEEMS TO ME (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 30 July 2014 01:26 (nine years ago) link

brb gonna plod through it

guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 30 July 2014 01:41 (nine years ago) link


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