The Tracks Quest –
Documenting the 80s Vinyl Hits From Swedish Radio Show Trackslistan

My journey with music began in 1984 with a cassette player and the radio show Tracks. This website is a personal reflection on that era — a project to collect and document all 540 Trackslistan vinyl singles from the show’s year-end charts.

RANDOM TRACK

Handpicked Hits

1985

58. (1985) Alive & Kicking – Simple Minds

Imagine standing at the precipice of global stardom, having just conquered the charts with a song you initially dismissed as a “throwaway”. This was Simple Minds in 1985, fresh off the monumental success of “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” The world was watching, and the…

1987

01. (1987) You're The Voice – John Farnham

Before it became an anthem, a rallying cry, and a song synonymous with a nation, “You’re the Voice” was a gamble born of desperation. Imagine John Farnham in the mid-1980s: once a teen idol, “Johnny Farnham” and his novelty hits like “Sadie the Cleaning Lady”…

1986

85. (1986) Live To Tell – Madonna

In 1986, the world knew Madonna as the “Material Girl,” a vibrant pop sensation with a playful image. Then came “Live to Tell,” a song that would change everything. This wasn’t just another hit; it was a transformation. The song’s journey began unexpectedly. Originally, it…