1984

The titular Orwellian year provides us with some enjoyable developments on many fronts. Perhaps you know a few Straight Edge people, perhaps you don't. Either way, they got their start with this Minor Threat track, a 45 second tour de force that couldn't segue better into "You Might Think," the best Cars single not on their self-titled record.

Tina Turner made her big comeback in 84, and Chaka Khan had her biggest hit with a Prince cover. But there are some other huge female-sung hits on here: Sheila E's "Glamorous Life," Sade's excellent "Smooth Operator," and Nena's "99 Luft Ballons." The Nena song was recorded in both German and, once it became a hit, English. I've included the original German version here.

There are three straightforward rock songs on here, the arena-ready "Jump," the blue collar "Born in the USA," and the sexy cool "Back on the Chain Gang," while The Replacements (one of the more underrated bands of the decade) gives a more contemporary, indie-style take on the genre, and Echo and the Bunnymen give the lone moody 80s contribution in the absence of New Order or Depeche Mode.

But through it all, Prince prevails. "Purple Rain." You know you love it.

Enjoy, and comment below.

Download the mix here.

1. Straight Edge - Minor Threat
2. You Might Think - The Cars
3. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
4. 99 Luft Balloons - Nena
5. La Di Da Di - Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick
6. Jump - Van Halen
7. Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
8. Back On The Chain Gang - The Pretenders
9. Smooth Operator - Sade
10. What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner
11. I Feel For You - Chaka Khan
12. Glamorous Life - Sheila E
13. You Spin Me Round - Dead Or Alive
14. The Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen
15. Unsatisfied - The Replacements
16. Freaks Come Out At Night - Whodini
17. Rock Box - Run-D.M.C.
18. Purple Rain - Prince