OK so I don't have much time but wanted to do something so here is a list I obtained from Wikipedia of the 1st 100 + videos ever played on MTV in order, how many times they appeared and some notes also.
What is MTV you ask those under the age of 25?
It's called Music Television and back in the day they played "Music Videos" before reality shows, game shows and pregnant teens took over....I mean not even MTV 2 plays videos...who fucking cares anyway?
Well with that said those of you alive to see first day got to see some songs that you still listen today and some songs you will never hear again.
I will highlight my personal favorites and maybe slip some of the bad ones because at least one of you will have liked some of the more obscure songs.
Also since I am an album cover NUT I have posted the covers to gaze at just like I did when I purchased some of these back when.
ONE MORE ALSO...notice how many songs on here come from the same albums...not much variety then.
FIRST column is when played
SECOND column is obvious
THIRD column is number of times played and when it was played
NOTICE how many artists are shown at least 3 times: Rod Stewart, Iron Maiden .38 Special & REO Speedwagon...
ENJOY and please comment....
also after 100 I will just randomly pick some favorites....that's what I do....
| Artist / Song / Album | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
The Buggles
"Video Killed the Radio Star"
Album:
The Age of Plastic
|
1/2
|
I don't ever want to hear this ever again
| |
2
|
Pat Benatar
"You Better Run"
Album: Crimes of Passion
 |
1/2
|
Still a kickass song....
| |
3
|
Rod Stewart
"She Won't Dance with Me"
Album:Foolish Behaviour
 |
1/2
|
Phil Chen was the first non-white musician to appear on MTV, Stewart was the artist with the most videos played that day.
| |
4
|
The Who
"You Better You Bet"Album: Face Dances
 |
1/5
|
"You Better You Bet" was both the 4th and 54th video to be aired on MTV, making it the first video to be shown more than once.
| |
5
|
Ph.D.
"Little Suzi's on the Up"
Album:Three
 |
1/3
| ||
6
|
Cliff Richard
"We Don't Talk Anymore"
Album: Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile
 |
1/2
| ||
7
|
The Pretenders
"Brass in Pocket"
Album: The Pretenders
 |
1/2
| ||
8
|
Todd Rundgren
"Time Heals"
Album:Healing
 |
1/3
| ||
9
|
REO Speedwagon
"Take It on the Run"
Album: High Infidelity
 |
1/3
|
The video was interrupted after a few seconds due to technical difficulties
Still a favorite of mine....what a JAM. | |
10
|
Styx
"Rockin' the Paradise"
Album: Paradise Theater
 |
1/3
| ||
11
|
Robin Lane and Chartbusters
"When Things Go Wrong"
Album: Robin Lane and Chartbusters
 |
1/2
| ||
12
|
Split Enz
"History Never Repeats"
Album:Waiata
 |
1/2
|
LOVE THIS SONG STILL....and yes that is the guy from Crowded House...."History Never Repeats" was the first music video by an Australasian band ever played on MTV.
| |
13
|
.38 Special
"Hold on Loosely"
Album: Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
 |
1/3
|
I truly think I have loved this song since the first time I heard it....it speaks volumes.....FUCK YEAH
| |
14
|
April Wine
"Just Between You and Me"
Album: The Nature Of The Beast
 |
1/5
|
"Just Between You and Me" was the first music video by a Canadian musical artist ever played on MTV.
| |
15
|
Rod Stewart
"Sailing"
Album: Atlantic Crossing
 |
1/2
|
Stewart became the first artist to have two different videos played on MTV.
| |
16
|
Iron Maiden
"Iron Maiden" Album: Iron Maiden  |
1/2
|
FIRST IRON MAIDEN video ever on MTV...when I saw this I was blown away like who the HELL is this and who are these guys dressed up in back? so yes HUGE IMPRESSION. First hard rock song shown on MTV.
| |
17
|
REO Speedwagon
"Keep on Loving You"
Album: High Infidelity
|
1/3
|
"Keep On Loving You" was the first Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit song to be played on MTV.
| |
18
|
Michael Johnson
"Bluer Than Blue"
Album: The Michael Johnson Album
|
1/2
| ||
19
|
The Pretenders
"Message of Love"
Album: The Pretenders
|
1/4
|
Absolute jam....my first crush was Chrissie Hynde for good reason
| |
20
|
Lee Ritenour
"Mr. Briefcase"
Album: Rit
|
1/2
| ||
21
|
The Cars
"Double Life"
Album:Candy-O
 |
1/2
| ||
22
|
Phil Collins
"In the Air Tonight"
Album: Face Value
 |
1/5
| ||
23
|
Robert Palmer
"Looking for Clues"
Album: Clues
 |
1/3
| ||
24
|
Shoes
"Too Late" Album: The Shoes  |
1/1
|
And here we have the first of some of the WTF songs by a band with a WTF name.....try and enjoy
| |
25
|
Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"
Album: BellaDonna
 |
1/4
| ||
26
|
Rod Stewart
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" Album: Blondes Have More Fun  |
1/2
|
Screen is blank while the audio still plays, stops after 15 seconds.
| |
27
|
Rupert Hine
"Surface Tension"
Album: Immunity
 |
1/2
| ||
28
|
Split Enz
"One Step Ahead"
Album: Waiata  |
1/3
|
MY all time favorite Split Enz song....timeless.....fucking amazing
| |
29
|
Gerry Rafferty
"Baker Street"
Album: City to City
 |
1/2
|
what else can I say about this song that hasn't been said.....
the sax.....CLASSIC | |
30
|
Pat Benatar
"I'm Gonna Follow You"
Album: Crimes Of Passion
|
1/3
|
OMG I forgot about this song.....what a JAM!!!!!
| |
31
|
Tom Johnson
"Savannah Nights"
Album: Everything You Heard Is True
 |
1/2
| ||
32
| Rockestra
"Lucille"
Album: Concert For The People Of Kampuchea
 |
1/3
| ||
33
| |
1/3
| ||
34
|
Carly Simon
"Vengeance"
Album:Spy
 |
1/1
| ||
35
|
Iron Maiden
"Wrathchild"
Album: Killers
 |
1/4
| ||
36
|   |
1/1
|
First horrible video ever shown on MTV....first of many
| |
37
|
Rod Stewart
"Passion"
Album: Foolish Behaviour
|
1/2
|
guilty pleasure but listen to that bass....
and I think the drummer Carmine Appice makes more appearances in the first days of MTV than anyone | |
38
|
Elvis Costello
"Oliver's Army"
Album: Armed Forces
 |
1/2
| ||
39
|
The Silencers
"Remote Control / Illegal"
Album: Rock And Roll Enforcers
 |
1/2
|
Two songs combined into a single video
| |
40
|
Juice Newton
"Angel of the Morning"
Album: Juice
|
1/1
|
ok ....sorry had to
| |
41
|
Rockpile with Robert Plant
"Little Sister"
Album: Concert For The People Of Kampuchea
|
1/4
|
From Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
| |
42
|
Bootcamp
|
1/2
|
OH YEAH I HAVE TO PLAY THIS...look at the outfits...and especially the keyboard player...
what a STACHE!!!!
| |
43
|
Cliff Richard
"Dreamin'"
Album: I'm NO Hero
|
1/2
|
Ok my guilty pleasure....love this song
| |
44
|
Lee Ritenour
"Is It You"
Album: Rit
|
1/3
| ||
45
|
Fleetwood Mac
"Tusk"
Album: Tusk
 |
1/1
| ||
46
|
Michael Stanley Band
"He Can't Love You"
Album: Heartland
 |
1/2
| ||
47
|
REO Speedwagon
"Tough Guys"
Album: High Infidelity
|
1/2
| ||
48
|
 |
1/2
|
"Rapture" was the first rap music video ever played on MTV.
And its fucking BLONDIE!!!!
| |
49
|
The Who
"Don't Let Go the Coat"
Album: Face Dance
|
1/2
| ||
50
|
Rod Stewart
"Ain't Love a Bitch"
Album: Foolish Behaviour
|
1/1
| ||
51
|
The Pretenders
"Talk of the Town"
Album: The Pretenders
|
1/3
|
Obviously I love the Pretenders ....
Ok Chrissie Hynde but James Honeyman Scott can play....RIP
| |
52
|
Rainbow
"Can't Happen Here"
Album: Down To Earth
 |
1/3
| ||
53
|
Andrew Gold
"Thank You for Being a Friend"
Album: All This And Heaven Too
 |
1/1
| ||
54
|
The Who
"You Better You Bet"
Album:Face Dances
|
2/5
| ||
55
|
Gerry Rafferty
"Bring It All Home"
Album: City To City
|
1/1
| ||
56
|
April Wine
"Sign of the Gypsy Queen"
Album: The Nature Of The Beast
|
1/2
|
and my first OH YEAH to this list.....still fucking love it....and yes guilty pleasure but what a jam...again
| |
57
|
Kate Bush
"The Man with the Child in His Eyes"
Album: The Kick Inside
 |
1/1
|
Say what you want but Kate Bush has an incredibly beautiful voice
| |
58
|
The Pretenders
"Message of Love"
Album: The Pretenders
|
2/4
| ||
59
|
Rainbow
"All Night Long"
Album: Down To Earth
|
1/2
| ||
60
|
David Bowie
"Boys Keep Swinging"
Album: Scary Monsters
 |
1/2
| ||
61
|
The Specials
"Rat Race"
Album: The Specials
 |
1/2
|
Love me some SKA and The Specials are SKA....see who influenced Sublime
| |
62
|
April Wine
"Just Between You and Me"
Album: The Nature Of The Beast
|
2/5
| ||
63
|
Talking Heads
"Once in a Lifetime"
Album: Remain In Light
 |
1/1
| ||
64
|
Bootcamp
"Victim"  |
1/2
| ||
65
|
Rod Stewart
"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"
Album: A Night On The Town
 |
1/1
| ||
66
|
Nick Lowe
"Cruel to Be Kind"
Album: Jesus Of Cool
 |
1/1
|
again one of my favorites.....CLASSIC
| |
67
|
Cliff Richard
"A Little in Love"
Album: I'm No Hero
|
1/2
| ||
68
|
REO Speedwagon
"Take It on the Run" |
2/3
| ||
69
|
.38 Special
"Wild-Eyed Southern Boys" |
1/2
| ||
70
|
Kate Bush
"Wuthering Heights"
Album: The Kick Inside
|
1/1
| ||
71
|
The Selecter
"Celebrate the Bullet" |
1/2
| ||
72
|
Leo Sayer
"More Than I Can Say"
Album: Living In A Fantasy
|
1/2
| ||
73
|
The Specials
"A Message to You, Rudy"
Album: The Specials
|
1/1
| ||
74
|
Phil Collins
"In the Air Tonight"
Album: Face Value
|
2/5
| ||
75
|
Blondie
"Heart of Glass"
Album: Parallel Lines
 |
1/1
| ||
76
|
Rod Stewart
"Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight"
Album: Foolish Behaviour
|
1/2
| ||
77
|
The Pretenders
"Kid"
Album: The Pretenders
|
1/1
| ||
78
|
Iron Maiden
"Wrathchild"
Album: Killers
|
2/4
| ||
79
|
Lani Hall and Herb Alpert
"Come What May |
1/2
| ||
80
|
Split Enz
"I Got You" |
1/
| ||
81
|
The Who
"Sister Disco"
Album: Face Dances
|
1/2
| ||
82
|
David Bowie
"Fashion"
Album: Scary Monsters
|
1/2
| ||
83
|
Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"
Album: BellaDonna
|
2/4
| ||
84
|
The J. Geils Band
"Love Stinks"
Album: Love Stinks
 |
1/1
| ||
85
|
Robert Palmer
"Johnny And Mary"
Album: Clue
|
1/2
| ||
86
|
Shoes
"Tomorrow Night"
Album: Black Vinyl Shoes
|
1/1
| ||
87
|
Rockestra
"Lucille"
Album: Concert For The People Of Kampuchea
 |
2/3
| ||
88
|
Styx
"Rockin' the Paradise"
Album: Paradise Theater
|
2/3
| ||
89
|
The Tubes
"Prime Time"
Album:Prime Time
 |
1/1
| ||
90
|
Split Enz
"One Step Ahead"
Album: Waiata
|
2/3
| ||
91
|
.38 Special
"Hold on Loosely"
Album: Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
|
2/3
| ||
92
|
Shoes
"Cruel You"
Album: Black Vinyl Shoes
|
1/1
|
You know I had to put you through the Shoes again....
| |
93
|
Rockpile with Robert Plant
"Little Sister"
Album: Concert For The People Of Kampuchea
|
2/4
|
From Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
| |
94
|
Hilly Michaels
"Calling All Girls"  |
1/1
| ||
95
|
REO Speedwagon
"Keep on Loving You" |
2/3
| ||
96
|
Rod Stewart
"I Was Only Joking"
Album: Footloose And Fancy Free
 |
1/1
| ||
97
|
The Who
"You Better You Bet"
Album: Face Dances
|
3/5
| ||
98
|
Todd Rundgren
"Time Heals"
Album: Healing
|
2/3
| ||
99
|
The Cars
"Let's Go"
Album: Candy-O
|
1/1
| ||
100
|
April Wine
"Just Between You and Me" |
3/5
| ||
102
|
David Bowie
"Fashion"
Album:Scary Monsters
|
2/2
| ||
112
|
Fischer-Z
"So Long"
Album:Going Deaf For A Living
 |
1/1
|
what the fucking fuck?
| |
122
|
Pete Townshend
"Rough Boys"
Album:Empty Boys
 |
1/1
|
Another song I am surprised didn't get played earlier....my favorite Pete song
| |
138
|
Nazareth
"Holiday"
Album: Malice In Wonderland
 |
1/1
|
Wholly shit I remember this song.....but haven't heard it since probably 1981.
| |
150
|
The Vapors
"Turning Japanese"
Album:New Clear Days
 |
1/1
|
NOT the official video.,...but still cool because they are actually singing
| |
168
|
Iron Maiden
"Wrathchild"
Album:Killers
|
4/4
|
FOUR TIMES THIS SONG WAS PLAYED IN FIRST 200 VIDEOS....WOW....
THANKS MTV
| |
194
|
|
1/1
|
So why not end with The Pretenders and my all time favorite song by them.....can't believe it took them 193 videos to get this fucking jam...
oh well
| |
And Arguably one of the BEST and UNDERRATED videos to ever hit MTV airwaves. It’s beauty makes the song even more intense. With apologies to another black and white classic “One” by Metallica, this video by Ultravox is just CLASSIC.
OK ONE MORE....rocked my face off in the early days of MTV.....
CHEERS
| ||||
