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Music in the 1980s was all about style. Your first consideration when buying 80s music should what type of music you enjoy. Are you considering hair-band power ballads, down-and-dirty punk, New Wave synth-pop, or the roots of rap? What you like now can guide help you decide where to start.

If you were around in the 80s, you probably already know what styles you like, but don't be afraid to revisit different genres. You may find that songs you used to hate hold nostalgic value or that your tastes have changed. Try Run DMC's "Tricky" or The Beastie Boys' "Brass Monkey", even if you couldn't stand them way back then.

If you weren't a music fan in the 80s, there is a smorgasbord for you to sample. Try a taste of everything and decide what you like. There is no rule that you have to pick only one. Many collectors have some of everything.

Start with the Hits

A good place to begin is with one of the dozens of inexpensive compilation discs available. There is a set dedicated to the biggest hits from any given year or style. The Billboard Top Hits series is a treasure trove of 80's pop. The Living in Oblivion series gives you an edgy taste of New Wave, particularly the earlier volumes. Just be as sure as is possible that the artist (or someone else) has not rerecorded the songs.

Go Online

Another excellent source of recommendations is online music stores and radio stations like LastFM. Many offer suggestions of similar artists when you search for a particular song. In addition, other users enter playlists of their favorites. If you've got one song in mind, Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine", for instance, you will find dozens of recommendations. You can sample these and find a wide range of great 80's music.

Again, make sure that the songs are done by the original artists. Cheap cover discs are often poorly made and ruin the sound of the original tunes. This goes double for online music stores. As a dodge of copyright issues you may end up with a poorly-recorded karaoke version of a great 80's tune like Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me with Science".

Listen to the Radio

One more way to discover great 80's music is to listen to online radio stations like Pandora. Put in bands like a-ha, Oingo Boingo, Tears for Fears, and Devo. Try a station with Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam or Ice-T. What comes out will be either fantastic originals from the era or more recent bands that draw on their love of that music.

Expand Your Search

Once you've got some names, start listening to the other songs on their albums. Online music stores and radio stations are excellent for this. Some of the best music from the 80s never made the top 10 or even the top 100. There were one-hit wonders as well, of course. Dexy's Midnight Runners had an enormous hit with "Come on Eileen" but who can name another of their songs?

Go Back in Time

Take a look at the discography of your favorite artists. Are you a fan of U2, Prince, REM, or Madonna? Go back to their goldmine of music from the 80s. You'd be amazed at how long some artists have been around and how much terrific music you've missed.

Don't let misguided 80s fashion and hairstyles frighten you off from buying and enjoying 80s music. There is a wealth of fun and furor waiting to be discovered by a new generation.

Learn more about this author, Mel Bergen.
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