As a child of the early 1970’s I don’t have much hope of remembering that ABBA decade, but I do remember the decade of Datsun Sunny’s and the ‘Duran Duran’ ... yes, the 1980’s!

This may be a Computing website, but I have noticed that many people who look at sites such as this get misty - eyed about the past just like me! The economic recessions were so much friendlier back in the 1980’s, the rain was not as wet, and a pound could buy a house, two bags of crisps, and a Macaroon bar ( with change of course! ). Okay, that is all nonsense, but the 1980’s still rock!

As an aside to collecting Vintage Computers, anything ‘very ‘80’s’ also grabs my attention. Here I have included a few of the bits ‘n’ bobs I have picked up over the years which reflect this great decade of padded shoulders, Bangles, leg-warmers, Miami Vice, Rob Lowe et al. Enjoy, and let me know what you remember from the ‘80’s ... what defines it for you?

Predictable perhaps, but for me the defining 1980’s “Thing” has got to be the movie ‘Back to the Future’. And yes, I want a DeLorean ....

1984 - Band Aid ( it’s a 45” darling! )

1984 seems a lifetime ago, though at the time of writing, it’s 25 years. 1984 will be memorable for four things mainly in my mind: Ronald Reagan, Michael Jackson, the L.A. Olympics ... and Band Aid.

In computing terms, I guess the video to ‘Billie Jean’ was a sign of things to come: I was completely enthralled by the steps lighting up on their own. I should add that I was only around 10 at the time!

Well, sadly Michael Jackson is no longer with us, Reagan is no longer with us either and talk about doping plagues every sporting event at nearly every level.

In a depressing and ironic sort of way, famine is the one constant that doesn’t seem to have changed much over the 25 years ...

 1981was the year that ‘Bucks fizz’ burst on to the scene, taking the Eurovision song contest by storm: “Making your mind up” was annoying but catchy. I’ll even admit to listening to this on the headphones lately while no one was around.

As easy as it is to deride the acts ( and God knows, it IS easy! ) still they managed to produce some music with a decent level of human input, and it was original. Okay, the performance was a bit theatrical, but everyone knows that Eurovision is a ‘strange zone’ anyway!

Take a look at what won ‘Britain’s got Talent’ lately - a speeded up workout and little else. Take a look at how few singer / songwriters participate in the X-factor. Okay they were corny as hell, but at least Bucks fizz were original.

Espana 82

A great memory from 1982 ... I had loads of these stickers at the time, and thought I’d never see them again. Unitl, that is, someone gave me a box of old postcards in 2008 and this fell out from between them!

This World cup was won by Italy, who beat ‘West’ Germany 3-1 to claim victory. I don’t remember all that ( I cheated an looked it up! ) but I do remember lots of sunshine, and the worst snow in Ireland that I’ve ever seen in my life.

Ireland finally gets a National Lottery - 1987

In 1987 Lottery fever struck Ireland - probably due in no small part to the fact that everyone collectively could not afford a pot of jam. There have been more scratch cards than I could shake a stick at since, but ‘Instant 3’, above, was the first.

Sharp GF - 4343 Radio / Cassette ( 1985 )

This was Sharp’s slightly self - conscious contribution to the ‘ghettoblaster’ era. I remember it being a big deal just to buy a Cassette tape, for God’s sake!

Of course the next big deal back in the days was a twin cassette deck ... normal people just didn’t have them.

I still have a few tapes from this early 1980’s golden era of audio - and they all still work. I wonder if the same will be true of CD’s in the future?

Airfix Models

I remember these well, and one thing has not changed as the years have rolled by: the model inside the box is still microscopic! Brings back happy memories of Humbrol model paint, poring over beautifully illustrated instructions, and fingers stuck together with modelling glue ( plus the wing of an aeroplane hanging off my sleeve ).

Matchbox Cars

The originals were certainly the best! Today you would be hard put to find model cars with the kind of detail that the 1980’s Matchbox models bore. I was particularly heartened a few years ago when I happened upon these at a flea market ( and I mean ‘flea’! ... I’m still scratching ). The ‘British Airways’ Bus was the one you were disappointed to find in a multi - pack, but no matter: there was usually a ‘Hotwheels’ one in there somewhere to up the tempo!

I find the cattle truck ( centre ) complete with conjoined plastic cows in the back funny, just as I did then.

‘Now that’s what I call Music’ ( EMI ) - Record

I remember the first ‘NOW’ record ... purchased in Woolworths circa 1982. It’s long since gone, probably chewed up by the mechanism of the PYE Audio cassette player of the time. ‘NOW II’, however, was no less interesting! Every faux pas of fashion ( “screw up” to me and you! ) is in there. The men and women were nothing if not difficult to tell apart. Is it still okay to say that?

Among the Musical gems on this particular Album were: “99 Red Balloons” ( Nena ), “Hold me Now” (Thompson Twins ... hey hang on, there were 3 of them!) and Paul McCartney’s “Pipes of Peace”. Band Aid had yet to happen!

Tracey Ullman was on there too, a real ‘80’s memory for me ( along with Kirsty McColl’s “A New England” and Dexy’s Midnight Runners: “C’mon Eileen” ). I liked these albums a lot, for many reasons.

Firstly, you felt that you were getting something for your money. How many people read CD sleeves ( can you take them out of the case? - I can’t! ). And yes, vinyl simply sounded better. On a less physical / acoustic note, it’s amazing how many of these artists simply vanished into thin air. Only about 70%, at a guess!

If like me, you love music check out www.imeem.com Registration ( free ) is required, but it’s a cool way to listen to music online - for free. You can even arrange your own jukebox of music and video. Downside? None, except that record companies seem to do swoops ( as they do ) and get the providers to limit some tracks to ‘30 second previews’. Still makes for a good evening’s searching though, and there are plenty of full - length songs available to listen to.

DART ( Dublin Area Rapid Transit )

In 1984 Electric rail came to Ireland ... or at least Dublin. The DART ( pronounced ‘DORT’ by the well - heeled ) seemed like something from outer space, which was strange considering the fact that it was completely square.

No matter, it was a thrill to barrel from Bray to Dublin on this virtually silent train. Got to love those Germans!

Right: This stamp was issued as part of a series celebrating Irish Rail from the 1800’s to 1984. Appropriately enough, it was issued in 1984 :)

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