Soft Rock 80s Bands Songs
On The Acoustic

Cruel Summer hit the airwaves back in 1983. The song was a single with no album attachment.

The band put the track on their 2nd album in 1994 called "Bananarama". The song hit #8 in the UK and #9 in the US.

This one is played with a capo 4th fret in standard tuning with a steady down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. A few riffs in the rhythm with the chords Am, F and G.

Brian Wilson was a song recorded by The Barenaked Ladies in 1992. The song is part of their debut album, "Gordon," which was released in the same year. "Brian Wilson" didn't chart as a single in the United States, but it became a fan favorite and received significant airplay on Canadian radio stations.

The song pays tribute to the Beach Boys' co-founder Brian Wilson and explores themes of mental health and creative genius. Notably, Brian Wilson himself has praised the song and even performed it with Barenaked Ladies on various occasions.

"Brian Wilson" is considered one of Barenaked Ladies' signature songs and remains a beloved track in their catalog, reflecting their quirky and clever songwriting style.

Better Be Home Soon was the bands 2nd single from the 1988 album Temple Of Low Men.

The song reached #2 in both Australia and New Zealand and hit #7 in Canada and #42 in the US.

Distant Sun was the 1st single from the Crowded House 1993 album entitled Together Along. the original release never charted in the US but eventually did the following year after a remix.

In the UK the song reached #19 as well as peaking at #4 in Canada, #5 in New Zealand and #23 in Australia.

Don't Dream It's Over hit the airwaves back in 1986 and was the 4th single from the Crowded House album Crowded House.

The song was a huge international hit reaching #1 in new Zealand, number #2 in the US and a top 10 in several other countries. Paul Carrick joined Paul Young who covered the song in 1991.

Come On Eileen hit #1 in both the UK and the US when it was released back in the summer of 1982.

The song hails from the bands album "Too-Rye-Ay".

For rhythm here play a down down up down down up  and repeat pattern  and later play down strokes. Some lead here in standard tuning with the chords C, F, Bb, Bbm, G, Em, A, D, Gbm.

She Drives Me Crazy was one of two singles from their 1988 album The Raw & The Cooked.The song was a number one hit in several countries including the US.

Beggar On A Beach Of Gold is a track from the 1995 album of the same name by Mike And The Mechanics.

The song peaked at #33 in the UK and charted in Germany also. Paul Carrick and Paul Young were both in this group at the time.

Everything's Coming Our Way  is a song by Santana from their 1971 album "Santana III." The song is part of an album that explores different kinds of music.

While "Everything's Coming Our Way" wasn't as popular on the charts as some of Santana's other songs, it has a special sound that fans enjoy. The song has a smooth and relaxed feel with a mix of rock and Latin music.

Even though it didn't reach high positions on the music charts, it is still appreciated by people who like Santana's unique style. The album "Santana III" shows the band's ability to blend different kinds of music, and "Everything's Coming Our Way" adds to the variety of sounds on the album.

The song is played in standard tuning with the chords D, Bm, Am, Em and a G with some lead. Fro rhythm play a steady shuffle rhythm throughout with a few chop strums in various sections .

Evil Ways is a song by Santana from their first album, released in 1969. The song became well-known and is appreciated for its catchy and distinctive sound. Although it may not have been a huge chart-topper, "Evil Ways" remains one of Santana's most recognizable tunes.

With its blend of rock and Latin influences, the song showcases Santana's unique style. The band's debut album introduced listeners to their fusion of different musical elements, and "Evil Ways" played a key role in establishing Santana's reputation for creating music that's both rhythmic and memorable.

I play a capo 3rd fret in standard tuning on this one with a down down up down up down up rhythm pattern with some down-strokes and shuffle strumming. Some lead required with the chords Em, A and a B7.

Smooth from Santana and Rob Thomas teamed up for the song "Smooth" from the album "Supernatural," released in 1999. This song was a big hit, reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and staying there for 12 weeks.

It's known for its catchy melody and the mix of Santana's guitar skills with Rob Thomas's singing. "Smooth" won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 2000. The collaboration between Santana and Rob Thomas in "Smooth" became a significant moment in music, bringing Santana back into the spotlight and introducing their music to a new generation of listeners.

The song's success made it a standout track of the late 1990s and continues to be remembered as an iconic song in both artists' careers.

The chords here are Am, F, E7, Dm, E7sus, C, G and an Esus with some lead required while played in standard tuning. For rhythm play a down down up down down up down up and repeat pattern with some chop strumming.

Don't You (Forget About Me) is a single by the group Simple Minds and has appeared in two films. The Breakfast Club in 1985 and the film Easy A in 2010.

Artists Billy Idol and Bryan Ferry both turned down an offer to record the song. The song was written by two fans of Simple Minds and the band was skeptical about recording a song they themselves had not written.

But they had not broken into the US market as yet. The song hit #1 in both Canada and the US in 1985.

For Your Babies is from the 1991 album by Simply Red called Stars.

The track peaked at #9 in the UK and was a top 20 in several other countries.

Drivers Seat is technically not an 80s song but came out as a single in 1978.

The song reached #15 in the US in the fall of 1979 and reached #4 in the Netherlands in 1980. The band is considered a one hit wonder band as this was their only big hit.

Diggin Your Scene was from The Blow Monkeys 1986 album called Animal Magic. It was one of their most successful commercial songs reaching #14 in the US, #12 in the UK and #9 in Ireland.

This song has a bit of a disco vibe to it due to the rhythm.

I play a down down up (muted down up) down up down up (muted down up down up) and repeat pattern. This is sax in this one but no on my version has as trying to pick a lead break here would mess up the steady rhythm. Played with the chords Amaj7, Gb7, Bm, Esus, D, Dmaj7 and a Dbm or Dbm7 in standard tuning.

Don't You Want Me is a track by The Human League and hails from their 1981 album Dare.

It reached #1 in the UK that year and #1 in the US the following year.

Africa was recorded by the American rock band Toto and was released in 1982 as a single from their album "Toto IV". The song was written by the band members David Paich and Jeff Porcaro and became one of Toto's most popular and recognizable songs.

The song features a unique blend of rock, pop, and African rhythms, and its lyrics tell a story about a man's longing for the continent of Africa, despite never having been there. The song's memorable chorus features the lines, "I bless the rains down in Africa / Gonna take some time to do the things we never had."

The album "Toto IV" was released in 1982 and was a commercial and critical success. It won multiple Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and has been certified triple platinum in the United States. The album features other popular Toto songs such as "Rosanna" and "Make Believe".

Overall, "Africa" remains a beloved song that has continued to be popular over the years, thanks to its catchy melody, unique sound, and poignant lyrics.

Hold the Line, a song by Toto, was released in 1978 as the debut single from their self-titled album, "Toto". The song was written by the band's keyboardist, David Paich, and it features a mix of rock, pop, and R&B elements.

"Hold the Line" became a huge hit for Toto, reaching #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and earning them a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. The song's catchy chorus and guitar riff, along with its strong vocals and driving rhythm, have made it a classic of 70s rock.

The album "Toto" was released in 1978, and it was a commercial success, reaching #9 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It features a mix of rock, pop, and jazz influences, and includes other popular Toto songs such as "Georgy Porgy" and "I'll Supply the Love".

Overall, "Hold the Line" and the album "Toto" helped establish the band's reputation as skilled musicians and songwriters. The success of the song and album set the stage for their future success, including their later hit "Africa" and their multiple Grammy Award wins.

I Won't Hold You Back is a ballad song by Toto, released in 1983 as a single from their album "Toto IV". The song was written by the band's keyboardist, Steve Porcaro, and it features a piano-driven melody and emotional lyrics about a failing relationship.

"I Won't Hold You Back" was a commercial success, reaching #10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and it remains one of Toto's most popular and enduring songs. Its heartfelt lyrics and powerful vocals, along with its lush production and soaring guitar solo, make it a standout track on the album.

"Toto IV" was released in 1982 and was a critical and commercial success, winning multiple Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. The album features a diverse mix of styles, including rock, pop, and R&B, and it includes other hit singles such as "Rosanna" and "Africa".

Overall, "I Won't Hold You Back" showcases Toto's ability to craft a heartfelt ballad with powerful vocals and strong musicianship, and it remains a fan favorite to this day. The song and album helped cement Toto's status as one of the biggest bands of the 1980s, and their music continues to be loved and celebrated by fans around the world.

Rosanna was released in 1982 by Toto as the lead single from their album "Toto IV". The song was written by the band's keyboardist, David Paich, and it features a mix of rock, pop, and R&B elements.

"Rosanna" was a commercial success, reaching #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and winning the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1983. The song's catchy chorus, memorable guitar riff, and infectious groove, along with its complex and layered production, make it one of Toto's most iconic and recognizable songs.

The album "Toto IV" was released in 1982 and was a critical and commercial success. It won multiple Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and has been certified triple platinum in the United States. The album features a diverse mix of styles, including rock, pop, R&B, and jazz, and includes other hit singles such as "Africa" and "I Won't Hold You Back".

Overall, "Rosanna" is a beloved song that helped establish Toto as one of the biggest bands of the 1980s. Its infectious melody and irresistible groove, along with the band's top-notch musicianship and production, make it a classic of 80s rock. The song and album continue to be celebrated by fans around the world.