Just as we're finally getting over the '60s, '80s nostalgia is knocking at the door.
Life, People, Musician, MTV - they're all looking back, even with two months to go. Pity the poor artist who releases a landmark recording between now and New Year's Day. He or she won't make the Rolling Stone honor roll. The venerable music magazine has just come out with an issue on the Top 100 albums of the decade, as chosen by its critics.The top 20 (with year of release): the Clash, "London Calling" (1980); Prince, "Purple Rain" (1984); U2, "The Joshua Tree" (1987); Talking Heads, "Remain in Light" (1980); Paul Simon, "Graceland" (1986); Bruce Springsteen, "Born in the U.S.A." (1984); Michael Jackson, "Thriller" (1982); R.E.M., "Murmur" (1983); Richard and Linda Thompson, "Shoot Out the Lights" (1982); "Tracy Chapman" (1988); Elvis Costello, "Get Happy!!" (1980); Public Enemy, "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" (1988); Midnight Oil, "Diesel and Dust" (1987); Peter Gabriel, "So" (1986); the Replacements, "Let It Be" (1984); Prince, "1999" (1982); the Police, "Synchronicity" (1983); Prince, "Dirty Mind" (1980); Lou Reed, "New York" (1989); "Pretenders" (1980).
Prince and Springsteen had the most entries (four each), while eight artists had two albums on the list. Oldest entry: "The Specials" (1979, an honorary '80s-er). The newest: Bob Dylan's 6-week-old "Oh Mercy" and Neil Young's 2-week-old "Freedom."
Rolling Stone's explanation for "London Calling's" chart-topping: "The Clash stormed the gates of rock convention and single-handedly set the agenda - musically, politically and emotionally - for the decade to come." Two years ago, as part of its 20th-anniversary celebration, Rolling Stone did another special issue, "The 100 Best Albums of the Last 20 Years." It found only 12 from the '80s worthy of inclusion, though even then it agreed that "London Calling" was the best of the decade.