On WorkTape this week, we rewind 40 years to 1985 and the albums that blurred the line between mainstream pop and underground edge. From Tears for Fears’ Songs from the Big Chair and its flawless production to Simple Minds’ massive movie-tied single, we explore how some albums defined careers while others unfairly pigeonholed bands. Along the way, we dig into A-ha’s underrated debut, The Smiths’ thorny yet magnetic Meat Is Murder, and why Morrissey still sparks so much debate. And just when you thought it couldn’t get wilder, we even entertain the strangest “what if” reunion idea you’ve ever heard. Tune in for another episode of wild takes.

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• What makes Songs from the Big Chair feel just as modern today as when it dropped in 1985?
• Did monster singles like “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” effectively reduced A-ha and Simple Minds to one-hit wonders?
• Does The Smiths’ Meat Is Murder hold up against their other records, or is it one of their more uneven efforts?
• Is “How Soon Is Now?” the definitive Smiths track?
• Are Derek Forbes (Simple Minds), Andy Rourke (The Smiths), and John Taylor (Duran Duran) among the most underrated bass players of all time?
• Would The Smiths even make sense without Morrissey’s polarizing presence?
• Is Anthony Kiedis fronting a Smiths reunion the result of a lost bet?