Best 1980

Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran fought their first boxing match on June 20, 1980, at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Contesting the WBC Welterweight Championship, Duran defeated Leonard by unanimous decision in a bout characterized by its aggressive pace and intense physical competition. The ev...

Closer is the second studio album by the English post-punk band Joy Division, released on July 18, 1980, by Factory Records. It was produced by Martin Hannett and recorded at Britannia Row Studios in London. Lead singer Ian Curtis died by suicide on May 18, 1980, two months before the album's releas...

Super Trouper is the seventh studio album by the Swedish pop group ABBA, released in 1980. The album features the title track and the ballad "The Winner Takes It All," both of which became major international hits. It represents a shift in ABBA's songwriting toward more introspective lyrics, reflect...

The Roberto Duran versus Sugar Ray Leonard fight held in Montreal on June 20, 1980, remains a significant event in boxing history. Duran secured the WBC welterweight title through a unanimous decision following a highly contested and aggressive bout. This classic title fight is notable for showcasin...

The "Miracle on Ice" refers to the ice hockey medal-round match between the United States and the Soviet Union held during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The United States team, composed primarily of amateur college players and coached by Herb Brooks, defeated the heavily favored...

Crazy Rhythms is the debut studio album by American rock band The Feelies, released in 1980 on Stiff Records. The album features a distinctive sound characterized by interlocking guitar patterns, polyrhythmic percussion, and an emphasis on rhythmic texture over conventional melody. The band, from Ha...

Permanent Waves is the seventh studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released in January 1980. The album marks a shift in the band's sound, introducing shorter, more structurally concise songs alongside their established progressive rock elements. It features the hit single "The Spirit of Rad...

The Psychotronic zine documents a rich history of low-budget horror and genre films. Created by Michael Weldon, it provides detailed analysis and context for B-movies and exploitation cinema from the 1980s and earlier. It’s particularly valuable for film enthusiasts, researchers, and anyone interest...

"Peter Gabriel," commonly referred to as "Melt" due to its distorted cover art, is the third eponymous studio album by the English musician, released in 1980. The album is notable for its innovative production, specifically pioneering gated reverb drumming on the opening track "Intruder." It also fe...

In the Flat Field is the debut studio album by the English post-punk band Bauhaus, released in 1980 on the 4AD label. The record features a stark, raw sound characterized by angular guitar lines, driving bass, and dramatic, echoing vocals. Often cited as a foundational text of the gothic rock genre,...

MV Zenobia was a Swedish-built roll-on/roll-off ferry that capsized and sank near Larnaca, Cyprus, during her maiden voyage in June 1980. The vessel came to rest on its port side with trucks and cargo still associated with the wreck, and no lives were lost in the sinking. Its accessible structure, m...

The Big Takeover was a New York City-based zine established by Jack Rabid in 1980. It documented the burgeoning punk and indie rock scenes of that era, particularly focusing on bands emerging from the city’s underground music venues. As one of the longest-running independent music publications in th...

The Return of the Durutti Column is the debut album by the English group Durutti Column, released in 1980 on Factory Records. The instrumental album was produced by Martin Hannett and primarily features guitarist Vini Reilly. Its original pressing was packaged in a sleeve made of sandpaper, a concep...

The No Mas fight is the historic 1980 boxing rematch between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran for the WBC Welterweight title. Held in New Orleans, the bout was a sequel to their earlier fight where Duran had won the title by decision. Leonard utilized superior speed and movement to frustrate Dura...

Gentlemen Take Polaroids is the fourth studio album by the English band Japan, released in 1980. It marked a significant turning point for the group, serving as their debut release on the Virgin Records label after departing from Hansa. The album represents the band's shift from their earlier altern...

"Empires and Dance" is the third studio album by the Scottish post-punk and synth-pop band Simple Minds, released in 1980. The record is noted for its atmospheric, European-influenced electronic rock sound and prominent, rhythmic basslines. Produced by John Leckie, the album features tracks like "I...

The November 25, 1980 rematch between Roberto Durán and Sugar Ray Leonard was a welterweight championship fight held at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Durán unexpectedly quit in the eighth round, an act famously associated with the phrase "no más." This shocking surrender marked a significa...

Professor Longhair’s *Crawfish Fiesta* is a significant blues album showcasing the New Orleans legend's distinctive piano style. Recorded in 1979 and released by Alligator Records after his passing, it offers a poignant final studio performance. This record is notable for its raw energy and demonstr...

Joni Mitchell: Shadows and Light documents the iconic singer-songwriter’s performance at the 1979 Santa Barbara Bowl. This concert film features collaborations with jazz musicians Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, and Lyle Mays, showcasing Mitchell's distinctive folk and jazz style. It provides a valuabl...

Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth is a 1980 collection of J.R.R. Tolkien's incomplete and unpublished writings, edited and compiled by his son Christopher Tolkien. The book gathers narratives from across the First, Second, and Third Ages, including expanded accounts of Númenor, the histor...

The Hague Convention on Child Abduction is an international treaty designed to address situations where a child is taken into or outside a signatory state by a parent. Established in 1980, it provides a framework for states to cooperate and facilitate the return of children to their primary residenc...

The 1980 debut studio album by Irish rock band U2 from Dublin, produced by Steve Lillywhite and introducing the band's atmospheric, reverberant post-punk sound.

Keith Jarrett’s *Nudes* is a landmark ECM jazz album from 1980. Recorded live in Tokyo, it showcases a completely spontaneous piano solo performance by Jarrett over several weeks. The work's notable for its extended improvisations and lack of pre-determined structure, representing a significant evol...

The 1980 fourth studio album by English electronic musician Gary Numan, released on Beggars Banquet and the final album before his temporary retirement from touring.

Joan Mitchell's Two Sunflowers is an abstract diptych by the American Abstract Expressionist, reflecting her sustained dialogue with Van Gogh's sunflower imagery.

Travelogue is the 1980 second album by The Human League, showcasing their early, darker post-punk sound before their transformation into a mainstream synth-pop act.

Grover Washington Jr.’s *Winelight* (1977) is a landmark jazz album blending smooth jazz with electric elements. Featuring Patrice Rushen, it’s recognized for pioneering the fusion genre's mellow sound – a significant influence on later smooth jazz artists. The album appeals to listeners interested...

The MV Derbyshire was a British ore/bulk/oil (OBO) carrier built in 1976 and operated by Bibby Line. In September 1980, the massive vessel sank during Typhoon Orchid in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the loss of all 44 crew members. It remains the largest British-registered ship ever lost at sea, a...

Recorded by Canadian artist Anne Murray for the 1980 film Urban Cowboy, this romantic waltz became a major crossover hit and won the Academy of Country Music's Song of the Year award.