#80sclassics — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #80sclassics, aggregated by home.social.
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And here is the (almost) complete Qobuz playlist.
All of the 50 tracks are here, in order, but one is now sadly listed as unavailable.
Tom Tom Club's eponymous first album, which contains Genius of Love, the fifteenth track in the list, has been delisted by Qobuz since I added that track to the list.
And I thought we had a clean sweep this time too...
https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/57525508 -
Some great music from the 80s, no.50
Madonna. La Isla Bonita
And so 80s classics comes to an end where is started with Madonna. This stone cold latin-disco classic is one of my favourite 80s records. The lilting shuffle rhythm, the latin tinge, the modulation in the vocals & its nicely sparse production all make for a wonderful & atmospheric track, which evokes a steamy summer.
(There will now, as usual, be a post-series pause before I restart with something different)
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Some great music from the 80s, no.49
Michael Jackson. Thriller
There's a reason this Michael Jackson classic remains one of the best selling singles (and albums) of all time & its not just because of the iconic early music video (directed by John Landis). Its a great bit of pop-disco, with a anthem chorus, a brilliant arrangement by Quincy Jones & of course that touch of genius from Jackson at the height of his powers (before he was engulfed by scandal); just brilliant!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.48
Madness. Our House
With this fabulous bit of social observation wrapped up in a pop song, Madness cemented their place in British culture (with a nod back to the Kinks). It balances some great conversational lyrics with Madness' by then typical post-ska, almost musical hall instrumentation and rhythmical drive. It is somehow quintessentially British & remains a timeless classic celebrating non-elite community culture. A real treat.
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Some great music from the 80s, no.47
Loose Ends. Mr.Bachelor
Loose Ends are one of the great under-appreciate British soul groups, whose 80s output is typified by this mid-tempo, percussive rhythm backed song with its lyrics about male infidelity (from the mistress' perspective). Jane Eugene distinctive voice alongside the infectious groove make this one of my favourite UK soul/dance records from that era. (They also did a great cover of Dexter Wansel's Sweetest Pain.)
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Some great music from the 80s, no.46
Shalamar. A Night to Remember
This slice of LA-based pop-disco is a great bouncy eminently danceable party record. Driven by a strident drum sound typical of early 80s disco & a great bass line, its a classic pick-up record, enlivened by Shalamar's characteristic ensemble vocals. There's nothing particularly subtle going on here, but sometimes you just need to bounce on to the dance floor forgot it all (especially right now!).
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Some great music from the 80s, no.45
Blue Rondo a La Turk. Klactoveesedstein
Taking its title (and lyrical anchor) from a 1940's Charile Parker composition (likely reflecting a bit of hip bop nonsense speak), Blue Rondo's eclectic frantic percussive jazz-pop is a great romp. Rooted in the arch club-culture of early 1980s London, it also a reflects a hip nostalgia for 1940s New York bebop culture. Not much like anything else, it a great three & half minutes.
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Some great music from the 80s, no.44
Valentine Brothers. Money's Too Tight to Mention
Subsequently covered by Simply Red (not too shabbily), the Valentine Brothers signature hit is a great bit of 80s soul, with its introductory saxophone solo & its burbling rhythm backing. Its (timeless) political lyrics seem particularly apposite right now & are delivered passionately against its mid-tempo dance arrangement. its a personal favourite. Yup, money is too tight!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.43
Cameo. Word UP
Having for much of the 70s been a relatively mainstream funk band, in the 1980s Cameo developed a much more muscular hard-edged percussive dance sound. This is best typified by Word Up, with its sparse, crisp rhythm arrangement, funky keyboard refrain & strident vocals. There's nothing subtle going on here, but its a great record. It drives forward relentlessly & maintains its energy throughout. Great stuff!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.42
Herbie Hancock. A Quick Sketch
A change of pace for Sunday. This lovely (but pretty long) Herbie Hancock track should have featured Freddie Hubbard but he was not available & so it showcased a young Wynton Marsalis, playing with the personal of a classic Miles Davis group from the early 60s. Driven by Tony Williams & Ron Carter's superb rhythm section & punctuated by Hancock's great piano playing. Great modern jazz in any decade!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.41
Blancmange. Feel Me (12" version)
Blancmange, now mostly forgotten, were part of the electro-pop movement of the early 1980s. This mash up of Talking Heads-like rhythm & vocal stylings with the then dominant synth-heavy instrumentation make for an intriguing record. The 12" was remixed to bring out its electro-dance elements and foregrounds the mesmeric qualities alongside the increasingly emotive vocals. A little obscure but great.
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Some great music from the 80s, no.40
Bananarama. Venus
Bananarama became one of the biggest selling girl groups of all time, and Venus is a great example of why. A cover of a late 1960s global hit (their's is not the first cover version), this presents a quintessential mid-1980s sound, all electronic percussion & ensemble vocals. There's little subtle going on here but its a great slice of lively & strident pop, also reflecting the brashness of the time. They've got it!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.39
Queen. I Want to Break Free
I'm not a great Queen fan but this track has become an absolute classic. Driven by a mid-tempo stop-start rhythm & showcasing Freddie Mercury's impassioned vocals & punctuated by Brian May's guitar playing, I want to Break Free is a testament to the band's ability to write anthems. It still sounds great & has a wonderful cross-dressing video with which you are likely familiar!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.38
Arrow. Hot Hot Hot
As world music gained traction in the 80s, Arrow's soca classic Hot Hot Hot broke out of that niche & hit the UK charts. Its a joyful bit of party music, with a fabulous percussion led & horn punctuated arrangement which fleetingly bought African rhythms directly to UK radios. If you like this there's a great 7 minute version which is the ideal mood lifter - its all sun & sand... the sound of summer!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.38
Arrow. Hot Hot Hot
As world music gained traction in the 80s, Arrow's soca classic Hot Hot Hot broke out of that niche & hit the UK charts. Its a joyful bit of party music, with a fabulous percussion led & horn punctuated arrangement which fleetingly bought African rhythms directly to UK radios. If you like this there's a great 7 minute version which is the ideal mood lifter - its all sun & sand... the sound of summer!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.38
Arrow. Hot Hot Hot
As world music gained traction in the 80s, Arrow's soca classic Hot Hot Hot broke out of that niche & hit the UK charts. Its a joyful bit of party music, with a fabulous percussion led & horn punctuated arrangement which fleetingly bought African rhythms directly to UK radios. If you like this there's a great 7 minute version which is the ideal mood lifter - its all sun & sand... the sound of summer!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.38
Arrow. Hot Hot Hot
As world music gained traction in the 80s, Arrow's soca classic Hot Hot Hot broke out of that niche & hit the UK charts. Its a joyful bit of party music, with a fabulous percussion led & horn punctuated arrangement which fleetingly bought African rhythms directly to UK radios. If you like this there's a great 7 minute version which is the ideal mood lifter - its all sun & sand... the sound of summer!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.38
Arrow. Hot Hot Hot
As world music gained traction in the 80s, Arrow's soca classic Hot Hot Hot broke out of that niche & hit the UK charts. Its a joyful bit of party music, with a fabulous percussion led & horn punctuated arrangement which fleetingly bought African rhythms directly to UK radios. If you like this there's a great 7 minute version which is the ideal mood lifter - its all sun & sand... the sound of summer!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.37
Tashan. Thank You Father
In the late 80s DefJam was at the forefront of a new soul movement. Tashan's new soul & gospel mash-up is a delight, with its relaxed shuffle rhythm, breathy gospel vocals & sparse production is emblematic of this new approach. Drawing its inspiration from the Quiet Storm radio format, Tashan (and others) offered a soul sound that stepped back from the mid-80s harder elect-driven sound. Still sounds great!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.36
Dexy's Midnight Runners. Come on Eileen
This classic from the second iteration of the ever changing style of Kevin Rowland's band is a mash up of Irish folk songs & post punk sensibility. With its well known sing-along chorus & driving violin led arrangement, it sounds like nothing else & is a testament to Rowland's (offer under-estimated) musical genius. Of course, he was soon to move on again leaving this Dexy's classic in his wake.
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Some great music from the 80s, no.35
Ultravox, Vienna
Ultravox's signature hit is a wonderfully atmospheric slow electro-driven mood piece. With its crescendos & quiet sections, marrying electronics & acoustic piano, it combines a pop sensibility with (a quiet) avant-gardism, drawing from contemporary electronic music. And if you detect the influence of Kraftwerk in the later up-tempo section, then you'd be right. The sound of 1981 summed up in less than 5mins
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Some great music from the 80s, no.34
George Benson. Give Me The Night
This classic bit of jazz-inflected disco was George Benson's demonstration that he had a sure touch for cross-over jazziness. It combines a great dance shuffle rhythm arrangement with jazz guitar frills, scat singing & Benson's relaxed vocals. It still sounds wonderfully fresh 45 years later, and is, of course, still a floor-filler.
[apologies for the late posting' got distracted this morning!]
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Some great music from the 80s, no.33
Joe Smooth. Promised Land
The late 80s dance floors were dominated by house music & this absolute banger from Joe Smooth once again confirmed that dance music can have a political edge (an abiding theme of my musical posts as you'll know). This great house groove drives forward behind Smooth's relaxed but evocative vocals. Its keyboard sound is typical of the era, but its the bass line that catches the feet & gets them moving.
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Some great music from the 80s, no.32
Rick Astley. Never Going To Give You Up
This massive 80s Stock, Aitken & Waterman hit from Rick Astley, subsequently revived through the online 'Rick rolling' phenomenon, now seems almost ubiquitous... but it remains a fabulous slice of mid-80s highly polished pop, with its infectious (if typical SAW) rhythm arrangement & Astley's impassioned vocals. Some might criticise its manufactured production but when it works, it works!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.31
David Bowie. Lets Dance
David Bowie's hard edged Let's Dance is a statement of where he was in the early 80s. Its a robustious bit of pop, driven forward by a receptive riff on keyboards & guitar, and showcases Bowie's distinctive vocals. As always, it also shows Bowie both moving forward but also keeping certain elements of prior phases of his creative career. While I might prefer earlier phases, this remains a great record!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.30
The Jam. A Town Called Malice
This classic social commentary from Paul Weller & the Jam is a driving post-punk bit of rock-pop that both skewed the Thatcherite attrition on working class communities & related Weller's own journey away from his roots. The Jam's normal sound is wonderfully complemented by the Hammond organ at the centre of the mix (played by producer Pete Wilson) & hinted at where Weller was going with the Style Council.
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Some great music from the 80s, no.29
Human League. Don't You Want Me
This stone cold classic of electro-pop brings together a driving electro-beat & arrangement with fabulous lyrical content delivered by Phil Oakey & Susan Ann Sulley; a tale of rejection & stardom. The band were surprised it was a hit but it has now become their signature song & remains a 80s night sign-along fave. On this song all the elements of the Human League came together better than ever!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.28
Paul Hardcastle. 19
Yesterday's choice, reminded me of this other classic of cut-up, Paul Hardcastle's more political stomper focussing on the age of US soldiers in Vietnam (using a documentary narration as its source). Now we might question its political thrust, but the stuttering (n..n...n...nineteen) ended up being pretty influential. Maybe not a timeless record, but an interesting production time-capsule, evocative of a moment.
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Some great music from the 80s, no.27
S'Express. Theme From Express
Anchored with a sample from Rose Royce, this cut-up masterpiece from British DJ Mark Moore was part of a mid-80s trend for dance records made up of a mosaic of samples (carried on by Norman Cook/FatBoy Slim, of course) & a pounding rhythm track. There's been many similar records since but Moore's record remains unbeaten with its nod to blaxpoltation & 70s disco; it sounds as fresh as it did 40 years ago.
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Some great music from the 80s, no.26
Chrerrelle & Alexander O'Neal. Saturday Love
This stone cold classic bit of mid-80s soul brings together the hard-edged rhythm arrangement typical of a Jam & Lewis prediction with the wonderfully soulful duet of Cherrelle & O'Neal. The tension between the contrasting vocals & the rhythm arrangement makes this something really special, alongside the great backing vocal refrain repeating the days of the week. I just love this!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.25
Donald Fagen. New Frontier
After the first time Steely Dan split up, Donald Fagen released an excellent solo LP from which this fabulous track comes. A recollection of his childhood in the mid-50s, its full of cold war pop cultural references & showcases his evocative lyrical skills. Backed with a jaunty shuffle, with some lovely guitar work this remains a classic of intelligent adult oriented rock (in the best sense). great stuff!
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Some great music from the 80s, no.24
Wham. Last Christmas
Wham's perennial seasonal classic is a great example of George Michael's lyrical craft. The backing is functional (to be fair) and jangly as you'd expect from a Christmas record, but the lyrics are just brilliant; summing up love & betrayal alongside hope. Its a story of young love whose power is its familiarity. Sometimes lyrics transcend the backing & this is the case here. A classic for more than Christmas.
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Some great music from the 80s, no.23
Was Not Was. Tell Me That I'm Dreaming
Was Not Was' classic of cut-up/sampling is driven by a distinctive hard-sounding 80's rhythm track, over which is laid a protest about US politics. Its use of found sounds/speech while not completely original, brought avant-garde techniques into the mainstream (again). It a raucous noise (but strangely danceable), and certainly not for the faint-hearted, but still sounds pretty fresh & original.
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1989 TurboGrafx-16: Unleash Legendary Axe, The Acclaimed Game Of The Year!
Dive into the epic world of Legendary Axe, battling the formidable Jagu with your trusty weapon in a stunning display of true-color animation! 🎮 This 1989 TurboGrafx-16 classic was celebrated as Video Game of the Year, proving its place in gaming history. 🔥
#turbografx16 #legendaryaxe #videogameoftheyear #1989gaming #80sclassics #retrogaming #consolegaming #nec #pcengine #actionadventure #axewarrior #jagu #vintageads #g
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Some great music from the 80s, no.22
Art of Noise. Moments in Love
This is sort of a precursor to Bristol's trip hop scene from a few years later, but Art of Noise's signature track remains a classic on its own merits. A pulsing low-tempo rhythm track provides the backing for a range of atmospheric movements & ethereal vocals. It also looks back to Ultravox's Vienna in both tempo & arrangement, if leaving aside the notion of a traditional song structure to emphasise mood.
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🎧 Turn up the nostalgia! Retro Hits with Dave Adams is live, kicking off with Deniece Williams’ “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” Dive into two hours of feel-good grooves from the ‘70s and ‘80s—disco, soul, synth, and everything in between. The ultimate throwback party starts now! #RetroHits #70sVibes #80sClassics #FeelGoodMusic
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🎧 Turn up the vibes—Retro Hits with Dave Adams is ON! Kick things off with Jump to the Beat by Stacy Lattisaw and groove through two hours of pure ‘70s & ‘80s magic. Disco, soul, synth—every track’s a blast from the best decades in music. Tune in now and feel the rhythm! ✨ #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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🎧 Turn up the vibes—Retro Hits with Dave Adams is ON! Kick things off with Oliver Cheatham’s “Get Down Saturday Night” and groove through two hours of pure ‘70s & ‘80s magic. Disco, soul, synth—every track’s a blast from the best decades in music. Tune in now and feel the rhythm! ✨ #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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🎧 Turn up the nostalgia! Retro Hits with Dave Adams is on now—two hours of pure ‘70s & ‘80s magic. Kicking off with Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police, then diving into disco, soul, and synth favorites that defined an era. Don’t miss the vibe—tune in and feel the groove! ✨ #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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🎧 Turn up the nostalgia! Retro Hits with Dave Adams is on now—two hours of pure ‘70s & ‘80s magic. Kicking off with Shalamar’s *I Can Make You Feel Good*, then diving into disco, soul, and synth favorites that defined an era. Don’t miss the vibe—tune in and feel the groove! ✨ #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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📻🎶 Retro Hits with Dave Adams is on! Starting with The Model* by Kraftwerk and dive into two hours of pure ‘70s & ‘80s magic—disco grooves, soulful beats, and synth-powered anthems that defined a generation. Don’t miss a moment—tune in now! ✨ #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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📻✨ Get ready for Retro Hits* and Dave Adams! We’re spinning two hours of pure ‘70s & ‘80s magic—starting strong with *Say Say Say by Paul Mccartney and Michael Jackson. From disco grooves to synth-pop anthems, it’s your ultimate throwback soundtrack. Tune in now and feel the nostalgia! 🎶 #RetroHits #70sVibes #80sClassics #FeelGoodMusic
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📻✨ Get ready for Retro Hits* and Dave Adams! We’re spinning two hours of pure ‘70s & ‘80s magic—starting strong with *Xanadu* by Olivia Newton-John & ELO. From disco grooves to synth-pop anthems, it’s your ultimate throwback soundtrack. Tune in now and feel the nostalgia! 🎶 #RetroHits #70sVibes #80sClassics #FeelGoodMusic
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🎧✨ Retro Hits with Dave Adams is on! Kicking things off with *ABC's Poison Arrow, then diving into two hours of pure ‘70s & ‘80s magic—disco grooves, soulful vibes, and synth-driven anthems. The ultimate throwback soundtrack starts now—tune in and turn it up! 🚀 #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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🎧✨ Retro Hits with Dave Adams is on! Kicking things off with *Billy Griffin Hold Me Tighter In The Rain, then diving into two hours of pure ‘70s & ‘80s magic—disco grooves, soulful vibes, and synth-driven anthems. The ultimate throwback soundtrack starts now—tune in and turn it up! 🚀 #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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🎧✨ Retro Hits with Dave Adams is on! Kicking things off with *Touch Me* by The 49’ers, then diving into two hours of pure ‘70s & ‘80s magic—disco grooves, soulful vibes, and synth-driven anthems. The ultimate throwback soundtrack starts now—tune in and turn it up! 🚀 #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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🎵💥Dave Adams is spinning the decks with Retro Hits! Dive into two hours filled with legendary tracks from the ‘70s & ‘80s. We're kick-starting with Loleatta Holloway and Love Sensation. Prepare for a rollercoaster ride through disco, soul, and synth-pop that will make your spirit soar. Don't be left out - tune in now! 🚀 #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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🎵💥Dave Adams is spinning the decks with Retro Hits! Dive into two hours filled with legendary tracks from the ‘70s & ‘80s. We're kick-starting with 'Poison Arrow' by ABC. Prepare for a rollercoaster ride through disco, soul, and synth-pop that will make your spirit soar. Don't be left out - tune in now! 🚀 #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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It’s time for Retro Hits with Dave Adams! Get ready for two hours of iconic ‘70s & ‘80s classics from music legends. From disco to soul to synth, it’s a non-stop feel-good trip through the best decades in music. Don’t miss it—tune in now! ✨ #RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes
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🎵Crank up the volume, folks! Dave Adams is back with the much-loved Retro Hits! Dive into a 2-hour journey, reveling in iconic tunes of the '70s & '80s. From disco fever to soulful rhythms to addictive synth beats, it's a musical rollercoaster you don't want to miss! We're kickstarting with Shannon's 'Let the Music Play'. Let's groove, tune in now! 🌟#RetroHits #70sMusic #80sClassics #FeelGoodVibes