To purchase the Original Broadway Cast Recording of THE RINK, click on the image above.

1. “Colored Lights” from The Rink

“What?” I hear you ask. “How is this song at the top of your list?” Well, it’s my favourite. I love how the songs starts off conversationally and gradually, chorus by chorus, builds to a thrilling climax. And nobody gets that build as well as Liza Minnelli did when she introduced this song to Broadway in the 1980s. Some master the comedy as well as the pathos, others manage to get the mix of regret and hope that John Kander and Fred Ebb wove into the song. But none manage to begin where Liza begins and finish where she ends – off the scale. “Colored Lights” is the best moment in a problematic show that is nonetheless not without its highlights. And Liza made the absolute most of it. Unfortunately there’s no video footage of her singing the song on YouTube, so you’ll have to spring for the recording if you want to hear her and watch Julia Murney take on the song in the meantime.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed reading through this list of ten of my favourite show tunes from the 1980s. What are some of your favourites? Share your thoughts using the comments box below.