One Track Minds: Single File of the 45's - 80's Edition

Music
11 Mar 16

We recall the 80's and select 10 Irish singles that your collection can't be without!

There were lots of Irish stars on 45 lead by U2 who launched into the '80s with the urgent '11 O'Clock Tick Tock', and kept knocking them out of the ballpark for the next ten years. There were also reasons to fall passionately in love with The Atrix, The Blades and The Big Self, and to wonder why That Petrol Emotion, Aslan and The Fat Lady Sings didn't achieve the same level of mega stadium success as Bono and the chaps.
So, this is what floated the Hot Press journalists' boats during the '80s in our end of year critics' poll.

1980
U2 - ‘Another Day’
The second single from Dublin’s fab-four never appeared on any album and has long been a rarity in concert. Released on yellow coloured vinyl at the time, it had many of the elements that would go on to make U2 the biggest band in the world - namely, the Edge’s clipped, economical guitar textures, a super-taut rhythm section and a soaring passionately wrought vocal from Bono.

1981
The Atrix - ‘Procession’
Once serious contenders, The Atrix made their mark in the late 1970s and early 1980s with some memorable singles including ‘The Moon Is Puce’ and the Midge Ure produced ‘Treasure On The Wasteland’. Surfing the art rock end of the new wave they combined a theatrical approach with intelligent songwriting. Their third 45 ‘Procession’, also the title track of their debut album was their most ambitious undertaking to date and foretold the New Romantic movement by several years.

1982
Phil Lynott - ‘Old Town’
From his second solo outing, The Philip Lynott Album, this much-loved single from the late great Dubliner is arguably his most endearing recording and certainly many people’s favourite song of his. With its classic pop melody, romantic lyrics and the ‘Penny Lane’-style trumpet solo it has everything a great pop tune needs, while the iconic video, featuring Philo strolling around various well-known Dublin locations including Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street and The Halfpenny Bridge would bring a tear to the eye. In a perfect world this would be the official anthem of Dublin City.

1983
The Blades - ‘Downmarket’
The original single version of this all time classic from Dublin’s finest mod-influenced combo differs slightly from the slicker album version released several years later. Built around an anthemic chorus Paul Cleary’s pointed lyrics perfectly captured the depressed economy and general drabness of life in the capital at the time, and many would agree that the message is just as relevant today

1984
Those Nervous Animals - ‘The Business Enterprise'
Purveying a blend of slick funk and trans-Atlantic, blue eyed soul this hugely popular Sligo outfit stood apart from most Irish acts of the time in that they totally ignored the wave of guitar-based, “big” music that was then the norm. Becoming a huge live draw too this well-produced and memorable tune reached the Irish top ten and was a highlight of their Self-Aid performance two years later.

1985
Big Self - ‘Reason Smiles’
This Belfast punk/reggae inspired outfit built a well-deserved reputation via-their intensely performed live shows and a string of great singles in the mid-1980s. They included, ‘Don’t Turn Around’, ‘Ghost Shirts’ and this riff-laden gem, taken from their album Stateless. Built around some terrific guitar work, a searing sax solo and a strong vocal it marked them out as one of the best bands around.

1986
Tuesday Blue - ‘Tunnel Vision’
Managed by nephew of Richard, Hayman Harris, this Limerick outfit released their debut single through U2’s label before inking an international deal with EMI. Bold and impassioned, it was rerecorded for their debut Shibumi album, and was a sizable American radio hit. Sadly, it didn’t translate into sales and they split whilst assembling the follow-up. Guitarist Dave Keary became part of the Van Morrison band, and Ray Fean has plied his drumming trade with Donal Lunny, Riverdance and Celtic Woman.

1987
That Petrol Emotion - ‘Big Decision’
Great things were expected of this superb guitar based outfit, which had grown partly out of the ashes of the Undertones. They duly delivered on that promise creatively speaking, if not quite commercially, and this is one of the best of their early efforts. A chugging, driving, rhythmic rocker with a strong political message it was taken from their debut album, Babble.

1988
Eyna - ‘Orinoco Flow’
A global hit reaching number one in many countries, this was the song that launched Enya into the major league where she remains to this day. Taken from her second studio album, the four-million selling Watermark, ‘Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)’ is marked by its soaring Celtic textures, a staccato rhythm and Enya’s distinctive layered vocals.

1989
The 4 of Us - ‘Mary’
Taken from their debut album, Songs For The Tempted, this sparking gem from the hugely popular Newry outfit formed around the nucleus of brothers Brendan and Declan Murphy is a bone fide Irish classic. A catchy, uptempo, semi-acoustic pop-rocker with an infectious chorus, it was one of the most played songs on Irish radio at the time and remains a firm favourite with audiences whenever they perform.