Top Bands From The 80s
On The Acoustic

Take On Me was first recorded in 1984 for the bands debut album "Hunting High And Low". The song was then remixed with some additional music added.

The first release failed to chart in the UK but with that second release, the song went to #2. In the US, with the help of MTV, the song reached #1.

Chords for this one are Am, D, G, C, G6, Em, D/Gb, Bm, F and D7 in standard tuning and a capo 2nd fret. I play a down up stop up down up stop up and repeat rhythm pattern with a riff in the rhythm.

Joey is from the 1990 album Blootletting and was released as a single, topping the Modern Rock Tracks chart as well as a #20 on the pop charts.

You can play this one with a down down up down down down up rhythm pattern or use all down strokes. Use the chords G, G 6/9, Em, C, D, C/G and a Dsus. No real lead in this one played in standard tuning.

I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight was the debut single for the group Cutting Crew back in 1986 and hails from their album "Broadcast".

The song was a monster hit reaching #1 in Canada, US, Norway and Finland and hitting the top 10 in several other countries.

For rhythm here I play down strokes, then a down up down up down down up rhythm pattern in the middle of the song. Some lead required in standard tuning with the chords Bm, Em, A, Gbm, G and a Gb.

Always The Last To Know ... info soon.

Personal Jesus was the lead single from this bands 7th album called "Violator" when it was released back in 1990.

The song peaked at #13 in the UK and reached #28 in the US.

I play a capo 2nd fret on this one in standard tuning with a down -1-2-3 down up and a steady up and down shuffle where (1-2-3 are arpeggio notes in the chord). Just a few riffs with the chords  Em, A, G, Gb, A, Am and an F.

Say A Prayer was first released in the UK as a single in 1982 from their album "Rio". It hit #2 on the charts.

Three years later in 1985 they released the song in the US where it peaked at #16.

No lead here with the chords Dm, F, A#, G, Bm, D and a Gbm in standard tuning. Play a down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.

Save It For Later was released as a single back in 1982. The band was known as "The Beat" in the UK and "The English Beat" in Canada and the US.

The was the bands last album called "Special Beat Service". The song reached #47 in the UK and #58 in the US.

Follow You Down is a song by the American rock band Gin Blossoms, released in 1996 as the lead single from their album "Congratulations I'm Sorry." The song was written by lead guitarist Jesse Valenzuela and features a catchy guitar riff, upbeat rhythms, and bittersweet lyrics about longing for a past love.

"Follow You Down" became a major hit for the Gin Blossoms, reaching the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and topping the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song's success helped propel the album "Congratulations I'm Sorry" to platinum status in the United States.

Found Out About You is a song by the American rock band Gin Blossoms, released in 1993 as the second single from their debut album "New Miserable Experience." The song, which was written by guitarist Doug Hopkins, features a memorable guitar riff, catchy melodies, and introspective lyrics about the end of a relationship.

"Found Out About You" was a breakthrough hit for the Gin Blossoms, reaching the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and topping the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song's success helped propel the album "New Miserable Experience" to multi-platinum status in the United States.

Hey Jealousy was released by Gin Blossoms in 1992 as the lead single from their breakthrough album, "New Miserable Experience." The song was written by guitarist Doug Hopkins, and features a catchy melody, jangly guitars, and introspective lyrics about unrequited love and jealousy.

The song was a commercial success for the Gin Blossoms, reaching the top 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and helping to propel "New Miserable Experience" to platinum status in the United States. The album would go on to achieve multi-platinum status and become one of the defining albums of the 1990s alternative rock scene.

Love Plus One is a track from the British band Haircut 100 off of their Pelican West album from 1981.

This single was released in 1982 and reached #3 in the UK and #37 in the US, making it their only hit in the United States.

What's My Scene is a track from the 1987 by Hoodoo Gurus called Blow Your Cool.

The song only charted in Australia but reached #3 on the charts there.

Fallen On Hard Times was single by Jethro Tull back in 1982 from the album The Broadsword And The Beast.

The single reached #20 on the US Main chart.

Skating Away (On The Thin Ice Of A New Day) is from the 1975 album War Child from Jethro Tull.

The song failed to chart.

Beds Are Burning was a hit 1987 song by Midnight Oil, from their album Diesel and Dust. It topped charts in New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada, and ranked high in several other countries.

It's recognized as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and was listed on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s and Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time in 2009.

Brother Louie is a song from the German duo Modern Talking from their 1996 album Ready For Romance.

The song was a #1 hit in several countries and a top 10 in others including #4 in the UK. The song did not chart in the US.

Always Something There To Remind Me was first released in the 1960s by Dionne Warwick and then later released in 10983 by Naked Eyes where they scored a #8 hit in the summer of 1983.

Sister Ranger is a single from the 1984 album Midnight Madness and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

You can play a 1-2 arpeggio notes down up 1-2 down up as you move through the chords in the verses and down down up down up and repeat for rhythm in the chorus.

Lead in this one but not in my acoustic version. Original key is a capo 3rd fret with the chords A, D, E, A/Db, Bm G, C, and a G6.

Enola Gays is a 1980 track from the band OMD that deals with the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Japan in 1945.

The song did reach #8 in the UK but hit the top of the charts in Italy, Portugal and Spain.

Eye Of The Tiger is a song by the American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. The song was written specifically for the movie "Rocky III," in which it was prominently featured.

The song was composed by Survivor members Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan, and features heavy use of power chords, catchy hooks, and driving rhythms. The lyrics are motivational in nature, urging the listener to fight through adversity and stay strong in the face of challenges.

"Eye of the Tiger" was an immediate commercial success, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and staying there for six consecutive weeks. It also topped charts in other countries, including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Everybody Wants To Rule The World is a Tears For Fears 1985 single from the bands album Songs From The Big Chair.

The song did very well internationally reaching #1 in the US, Canada and New Zealand and #2 in Ireland, the UK and Australia. If the title sound familiar

it's a line in the song Charlie Don't Surf by The Clash from a 1980 album of theirs.

Laurel Canyon is a track off of a 2014 album from The Church called Further/Deeper. 

This track was never released as a single.

Under The Milky Way was released back in 1988 as a single from their album Starfish.

The band managed a top 30 in the US, Australia and New Zealand with this song. It did reach #2 in the US on their Mainstream Rock Chart.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go was first released in 1981 and did OK on the charts but did not reach the top 40 in the US. The track is from the album Combat Rock.

Years later in 1991 when the song was used in a TV commercial about blue jeans, the song was re-released and hit #1 in the UK and was a top 10 in a few other countries.

Fire Woman is off of the 1989 album by The Cult entitled Sonic Temple.

The song reached #1 in new Zealand, 32 in the US and #15 in the UK.

Here Comes The Rain Again is a 1983 songs from the duo The Eurythmics and can be found on their album Touch.

The song was a #4 hit in the US and a #8 in the UK.

The King And Queen Of America is a single from the 1989 album by The Eurythmics called We Too Are One.

The once reached #23 in Ireland and #29 in the UK but failed to chart in the US.

Sweet Dreams was a 1983 single from The Eurythmics off of their album of the same name.

There were five singles from this album but this song was their biggest hit, hitting #1 in Canada and the US and making it into the top 10 in several other countries.

What Do All The People Know is a song by the Norwegian new wave band The Monroes, released as a single in 1982. The song became a hit in Norway and other European countries, as well as in the United States where it reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Monroes were formed in the early 1980s and consisted of members Lage Fosheim on vocals and guitar, Eivind Rølles on bass, Lasse Hafreager on keyboards, and Per Vestaby on drums. "What Do All the People Know" was their biggest hit and is considered a classic of the Norwegian new wave scene.

This song was never featured on any regular album but has appeared on various compilation albums and greatest hits collections of the band, such as "The Best of The Monroes" and "Absolute Monroes".

It's 7 o'clock is a track from The Quireboys debut album back in 1989 entitled A Bit Of What You Fancy. The song was one of two singles from the album and charted at #41 in Canada and #36 in the UK. A music video was also produced for the song.

For rhythm here you can play a down down up down down up down up and repeat with some down strokes also. A bit of picking required here with the chords G, A#, C, Em, A7 and an F while in standard tuning.

All I Want is a popular song by Toad the Wet Sprocket from their album called "Fear," which came out in 1991. The song did really well, reaching the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. People liked the catchy tune and the way the band mixed alternative rock sounds.

The singer, Glen Phillips, has a unique voice that stands out. "All I Want" is still remembered today as one of the band's best songs from the '90s. The whole "Fear" album was a big success for Toad the Wet Sprocket, with other cool songs like "Walk on the Ocean."

Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band that was formed in 1986 in Santa Barbara, California. The band's original members were Glen Phillips (lead vocals, guitar), Todd Nichols (guitar, vocals), Dean Dinning (bass, vocals), and Randy Guss (drums). They gained popularity in the early 1990s with hits like "All I Want," "Walk on the Ocean," and "Fall Down."

Red Red Wine is actually a Neil Diamond song which he first released back in 1967. UB40 decided to cover this number and included it as a track on their 1983 album Labour Of Love.

The song topped the charts in the UK and made it to #34 in the US. Neil Diamond liked the Reggae so much that he now performs that version in his concerts instead of the acoustic ballad version he originally recorded.

This song has a down down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern in standard tuning and the chords Dsus2, A/E, G, D and an A. No lead but a few riffs.

The Promise was the debut single from the group When In Rome and was released in 1987 in the UK and 1988 in the US.

It was the bands only big commercial hit, peaking at #11 in the US.