100 Best Sophisti-Pop Singles of the 1980s

[List638843] | +48

The Downtown Lights / The Wires Are Down / Halfway to Paradise

Sophisti-pop is a sub-genre of pop music which emerged in the 1980s. The term typically refers to a hybrid form of music from the UK, which creatively blended pop with soul, jazz and other influences. The sub-genre often made use of electric keyboards, slick, expensive production and elaborate arrangements, often using brass sections- real or feigned. At the time, these musical acts was viewed as part of the 'yuppie' music culture of the era. A Sade or Sting fan would be thought of as an affluent, 30-something urbanite, with a state-of-the-art CD player. Interestingly, the term sophisti-pop was only used retrospectively. The sub-genre arguably started with Roxy Music's "Flesh and Blood" (1980) and "Avalon" (1982), which were then viewed as the epitome of pop sophistication. It was developed by artists such as Sade, Prefab Sprout, The Style Council and The Blue Nile. These songs are ranked according to my preferences, but I have included chart histories for each song to show their reception by the general public. [This list has now been extended from 50 to 100 entries. While not all of these singles are classics, the list does offer a more comprehensive survey of the sophisti-pop sound.]

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100		100.Love and Money Jocelyn Square / Saint Henry (1989) [Single] Jocelyn Square Chart History: #51 in the UK
Jocelyn Square Chart History: #51 in the UK
99		99.Aztec Camera Working in a Goldmine / I Threw It All Away (1988) [Single] Working in a Goldmine Chart History: #30 in Ireland, #31 in the UK
Working in a Goldmine Chart History: #30 in Ireland, #31 in the UK
98		98.Sade Haunt Me / Make Some Room (1989) [Single] Haunt Me Chart History: -
Haunt Me Chart History: -
97		97.Everything but the Girl Don't Leave Me Behind / Alfie (1986) [Single] Don't Leave Me Behind Chart History: #72 in the UK, #85 in Australia
Don't Leave Me Behind Chart History: #72 in the UK, #85 in Australia
96		96.Black I Can Laugh About It Now / All We Need Is the Money (1989) [Single] I Can Laugh About It Now Chart History: -
I Can Laugh About It Now Chart History: -
95		95.Floy Joy Weak in the Presence of Beauty / You and Me (1986) [Single] Weak in the Presence of Beauty Chart: #85 in the UK, #29 in Australia
Weak in the Presence of Beauty Chart: #85 in the UK, #29 in Australia
94		94.Chris Rea On the Beach / If Anybody Asks You (1986) [Single] On the Beach Chart History: #12 in the UK, #18 in Ireland, #9 on Billboard Adult Contemporary
On the Beach Chart History: #12 in the UK, #18 in Ireland, #9 on Billboard Adult Contemporary
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93		93.Danny Wilson Davy / Living to Learn (1988) [Single] Davy Chart History: #83 in the UK
Davy Chart History: #83 in the UK
92		92.Deacon Blue Loaded / Long Distance From Just Across the Road (1987) [Single] Loaded Chart History: -
Loaded Chart History: -
91		91.Prefab Sprout The Golden Calf (Edit) / The Venus of the Soup Kitchen (1989) [Single] The Golden Calf Chart History: #82 in the UK
The Golden Calf Chart History: #82 in the UK
90		90.China Crisis You Did Cut Me / Christian (1985) [Single] You Did Cut Me Chart History: #26 in Ireland, #54 in the UK
You Did Cut Me Chart History: #26 in Ireland, #54 in the UK
89		89.Scritti Politti Absolute (1984) [Single] Absolute Chart History: #10 in the Netherlands, #17 in the UK, #26 in New Zealand
Absolute Chart History: #10 in the Netherlands, #17 in the UK, #26 in New Zealand
88		88.Spandau Ballet I'll Fly for You / To Cut a Long Story Short (1984) [Single] I'll Fly for You Chart History: #9 in the UK, #10 in Ireland, #38 in Australia
I'll Fly for You Chart History: #9 in the UK, #10 in Ireland, #38 in Australia
87		87.The Silencers Scottish Rain / A Blues for Buddha / Gimme Shelter (1989) [Single] Scottish Rain Chart History: #71 in the US
Scottish Rain Chart History: #71 in the US
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86		86.The Style Council The Lodgers / The Big Boss Groove / You're the Best Thing (1985) [Single] The Lodgers Chart History: #13 in the UK, #47 in New Zealand
The Lodgers Chart History: #13 in the UK, #47 in New Zealand
85		85.Love and Money Strange Kind of Love (1988) [Single] Strange Kind of Love Chart History: #45 in the UK
Strange Kind of Love Chart History: #45 in the UK
84		84.Bryan Ferry Windswept / Crazy Love (1985) [Single] Windswept Chart History: #46 in the UK, #29 in Ireland
Windswept Chart History: #46 in the UK, #29 in Ireland
83		83.Swing Out Sister Surrender / Who's to Blame (1987) [Single] Surrender Chart History: #7 in the UK, #39 in Germany
Surrender Chart History: #7 in the UK, #39 in Germany
82		82.Everything but the Girl Each and Every One / Laugh You Out the House (1984) [Single] Each and Every One Chart History: #28 in the UK, #19 in Ireland
Each and Every One Chart History: #28 in the UK, #19 in Ireland
81		81.The Blow Monkeys Digging Your Scene / I Backed a Winner (In You) (1986) [Single] Digging Your Scene Chart History: #12 in the UK, #14 in the US, #16 in Australia
Digging Your Scene Chart History: #12 in the UK, #14 in the US, #16 in Australia
80		80.China Crisis The Highest High / 96-8 (1985) [Single] The Highest High Chart History: #82 in the UK
The Highest High Chart History: #82 in the UK
79		79.Donald Fagen New Frontier / Maxine (1983) [Single] Chart History: #70 in US
Chart History: #70 in US
78		78.Fine Young Cannibals Blue / Wade in the Water (1985) [Single] Blue Chart History: #41 in the UK, #13 in Australia
Blue Chart History: #41 in the UK, #13 in Australia
77		77.Working Week Venceremos - We Will Win (Bossa Version) (1984) [Single] Venceremos (We Will Win) Chart History: #64 in the UK
Venceremos (We Will Win) Chart History: #64 in the UK
76		76.The Beautiful South I'll Sail This Ship Alone / But 'Til Then (1989) [Single] I'll Sail This Ship Alone Chart History: #31 in the UK, #19 in Ireland
I'll Sail This Ship Alone Chart History: #31 in the UK, #19 in Ireland
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