Artists F-J

I've never really questioned the artistic merit of Peter Gabriel as a performer, singer, songwriter and all-around musical genius. Having revisited his rich '80s catalogue, here's a look at Gabriel's finest '80s tunes.

As one of the most challenging and beloved college rock bands of the '80s, Husker Du set the stage for the ensuing explosion of alternative music's popularity. However, the Minneapolis trio also built a self-contained catalogue of inventive guitar rock that stands on its own regardless of influence. The band's blend of hardcore speed, energy and...

English rock band The Fixx served as a new wave and pop/rock fixture for the entire decade of the '80s, releasing five LPs of original material and posting several hit singles, mostly in North America. The group maximized its accessibility but also retained a keen edge in the early alternative and modern rock era.

English rock band The Fixx was one of the most consistent and prolific artists of the '80s, posting several hit singles and releasing five full-length albums. However, the high quality of the band's catalogue extends far beyond its most familiar tracks. For this reason, distilling the best songs from The Fixx during the group's peak era requires...

Technologically savvy keyboard master Howard Jones burst onto the the U.K. and U.S. pop music scenes during the early '80s, blending in with but also redefining the new wave and synth pop of the period. His song narratives managed to take on serious themes while maintaining a breezy pop and occasionally even throwback vibe. Equally adept as a...

As frontman of innovative '70s British rock band Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry immediately created quite a stir in glam rock circles for both his stylized look and his band's unique niche. As a solo artist during the '80s, he perfected that sophisticated musical style.

While a member of superstar classic rock band The Eagles during an astounding '70s run, Don Henley rather quickly became one of the group's primary songwriters and lead singers. Then, as an '80s solo artist, he clearly outdistanced closest ex-bandmate competitor Glenn Frey to establish a highly successful pop singles career. With three smash LPs...

Eclectic female singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones emerged during the late '70s as a shining light for the future of acoustic rock based in varying degrees on rock, pop, folk and R&B styles. Over nearly four decades as a highly independent, self-sufficient, she has released a number of albums that reveal her unique perspective and style.

Though as a consistent, full-fledged six-piece powerhouse rock ensemble its best work was already in the past, the J. Geils Band made a vital contribution to the pop and mainstream rock landscape of the early '80s. With its two albums before frontman Peter Wolf left for a solo career, the group produced eclectic, bluesy music that also embraced...