Hmmm... for Lucy's question...
I could go about that a couple ways... stuff that came out during my childhood years (born '82 IRL), or just stuff I listened to when I was a kid (going from '82 to '89). So...
Came out during
'82
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock N' Roll
Journey - Open Arms
Stevie Nicks & Don Henley - Leather & Lace
Asia - Heat Of The Moment
A Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)
Stevie Nicks - Edge Of Seventeen
(I'd have to dig through the music collection to find more)
Listened to at all that came out during '82-'89
(Years might be wrong, I'm pulling songs from the Billboard charts... I remember all the songs, couldn't remember the years right off hand)
'82
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock N' Roll
Journey - Open Arms (have the song on the soundtrack to 'Heavy Metal')
Stevie Nicks & Don Henley - Leather & Lace
Asia - Heat Of The Moment
A Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)
Stevie Nicks - Edge Of Seventeen
Michael Jackson - Thriller (still have the original vinyl album)
'83
Men At Work - Down Under
Dexy's Midnight Riders - Come On Eileen
Golden Earring - Twilight Zone
Toto - Africa
Prince - Little Red Corvette
Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science
'84
Prince - When Doves Cry
Yes - Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Steve Perry - Oh Sherrie
Pat Benatar - Love Is A Battlefield
ZZ Top - Legs
'85
Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is
Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
a-Ha - Take On Me
Starship - We Built This City
Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days
'86
Jackson Browne - For America (actually, the whole 'Lives In The Balance' album is good)
Starship - Sara
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
Boston - Amanda (have the album on vinyl)
The Dream Academy - Life In A Northern Town (have the 45RPM single, still in it's sleeve)
John Cougar Mellencamp - Small Town (actually, the whole record is good, have it on vinyl)
Mike & The Mechanics - Silent Running
The Moody Blues - Wildest Dreams
Eddie Money - Take Me Home Tonight
The Outfield - Your Love
'87
Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer
Heart - Alone
U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (have the tape still)
Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine - Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies (have the vinyl album)
'88
George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth
Belinda Carlisle - Circle In The Sand
Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
The Beach Boys - Kokomo
Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana
Tracy Chapman - Fast Car (have the tape still, whole album is good)
'89
Poison - Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Roxette - Listen To Your Heart
Martika - Toy Soldiers
Skid Row - 18 And Life
The B-52's - Love Shack
This isn't a complete list... I'd be here for months listing everything. Did you want those as Youtube links for videos?
Okay... my question: What song or songs (or albums... however it works for you) do you tend to have playing (in the background, in headphones, what have you) when you're writing? And, if you want, I can take a stab at this one.