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EP. 145 We Revisit 1986 By Counting Down Albums That Still Hit Hard
Description
1986 isn’t just a year in music history, it’s a whole ecosystem: MTV turning videos into rocket fuel, labels chasing crossover singles, and artists trying to evolve without losing the thing that made them great. I’m back with part two of my albums turning 40 countdown, and while I planned on a full 20, you’re getting 17 records today with plenty of stories, chart facts, and personal reactions along the way.
We jump across genres and moods on purpose, because that’s how 1986 actually felt. I talk through Queen’s A Kind Of Magic and why it played differently in the US than the UK, the Georgia Satellites’ lightning-in-a-bottle debut, and the Bangles breaking huge with Different Light. From Lionel Richie’s polished pop dominance to the Fabulous Thunderbirds bringing Texas blues into the mainstream, you can hear how “radio-friendly” didn’t have to mean “soulless.”
Then things get even more fun: Tina Turner’s second-wave peak, Stryper’s unlikely glam-metal crossover, ELO and Iron Maiden leaning into synth-era textures, and the Beastie Boys kicking the door open with Licensed To Ill. I also spend real time on Journey’s Raised On Radio, my favorite of the bunch, because the success, the lineup turmoil, and the glossy sound all collide in a way that still hits hard 40 years later.
If you love classic rock, 1980s pop, hair metal, early hip-hop, and music anniversary deep dives, hit play, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s the one 1986 album you still play front to back? #thebenmaynardprogram #classicrock #classicalbums #raisedonradio
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