I was a teen in the 80’s, so grew up on this stuff, so these artists and albums carry a lot of nostalgia and happy memories, but for me they have stood the test of time and hold their own today:
Talk Talk - everything they released
REM - everything up to and including Green (they lost me after Green)
Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen
Mercury Rev - Yerself Is Steam
Pixies - Surfer Rosa, Come on Pilgrim, Dolittle
Lloyd Cole &. The Commotions - Rattlesnakes, Five Easy Pieces, Mainstream
Big Country - The Crossing, Steeltown
The Mercury Rev album was a '91 release but blew my mind at the time, despite the appalling production 😊. Apart from maybe Prefab Sprout and Lloyd Cole, I wouldn't classify the others as "pop", but I didn't really listen to what was classed as pop back then
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King of Pop - MJ
70s-80s Fidelity mostly missing, but partying energy and fun was plentiful.
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I like and endorse most of what has been listed. It depends on the definition of pop but I tend to listen to what I call "edgy pop" and I’ll add to the list including a few more recent ones:
Tristen: Sneaker Waves
Alvvays: Blue Rev
Alex G: God Save the Animals
Big Thief: UFOF
Jadu Heart: Derealized
MIYNT: Lonely Beach
Nilufer Yanya: Painless
Pip Blom: Boat
And a few older ones:
The Bongos: Beat Hotel
Howard Devoto: Jerky Vision of the Dream
The Kinks: The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
Comateens: Pictures on a String
Crowded House: Crowded House
Ramones: Rocket to Russia
The Cure: I think their most pop album is Japanese Whispers and probably Head on the Door is second
Dandy Warhols: 13 Tales from the Urban Bohemia
Echobelly: On
Elastica: Elastica
Ex Hex: Rips
Helium: Magic City
Emilie Simon: The Flower Book
The Feelies: Only Life
The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Garbage: Garbage
Ivy: Long Distance
Japan: Tin Drum and Gentlemen Take Polaroids
Phantasic Fernature: Phantastic Fernature
Kate Bush: anything and all but Hounds of Love
The Kooks: Inside In/Inside Out
Lucious Jackson: Natural Ingredients
Martha & The Muffins: Danseparc
The Mekons: Rock ’n’ Roll
Mutants: Fun Terminal
New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
Pixies: Doolittle
PJ Harvey: Let England Shake
Salad: The Lost Album, Vol 1
Speedy Ortiz: Foil Deer
Spoon: Kill the Moonlight
The Tubes: Remote Control
Nick Lowe: Pure Pop for Now People
They Might Be Giants: They Might Be Giants
Jack Rubies: See The Money In My Smile
Broadcast: Tender Buttons
There are probably others which skirt pop but these mostly all have catchy pop songs and my list is getting too long. I wanted to hit a number that were missed and maybe some that y’all never heard of.
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@knownothing: I too am fortunate in having seen Rockpile in 1980. Three nights in a row, at The Country Club in Reseda California. Tickets were ten bucks!
I also saw Little Village live, on a sound stage in North Hollywood at an industry-only event. Their performance that night of John Hiatt's "Lipstick Sunset" (found on the Bring The Family album) is hands-down the most transcendental experience I've had via live music. During Cooder's guitar solo in the song I had an out-of-body moment, which I had preciously experienced only once, when first hearing J.S. Bach's Concerto For Four Harpsichords. I haven't been the same since. 
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@bdp24 great tip on “Bring the Family”, I will check it out. I got to see Rockpile in the late 70s and it was a terrific show. I also got to see John Hiatt and Ry Cooder live on Cooder’s “Boarderline” tour in 1980 which was phenomenal.
kn
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Oops, Little Village, not Villager.
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@knownothing: If you like the Little Villager album, make sure to grab a copy of John Hiatt’s Bring The Family album (unless you already have it). John was given carte blanche to use any musicians he wanted on the album, and chose Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe, and Jim Keltner. John and those three guys of course comprise Little Village (the recording of that album was the genesis of Little Village), and I consider Bring The Family to be considerably superior to the s/t Little Village album (better songs). The members of LV had one ground rule they all agreed upon: the songs had to be written on the spot as the album was recorded, not ones already written and waiting to be recorded. Not a great way to make an album! Keltner’s a superb musician, but he’s no songwriter.
The lone Rockpile album is fantastic, a great blend of Power Pop and 50’s-style Rock ’n’ Roll. The members of Rockpile also comprise the band heard on a number of Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds solo albums, and are also fantastic.
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+1 to Squeeze, Rockpile, and Robert Palmer. Also, maybe a bit too niche to be called “pop” but some terrific song writing, performances, and production with some good hooks - Little Village.
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Adam Ant 'Desparate not serious'
Nearly anything by Joe Jackson
Lena Lovitch
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I don’t know Steve, but Andrew Gold’s s/t debut album and it’s follow-up What’s Wrong With This Picture? certainly deserve inclusion. Both contain excellent Power Pop.
Another overlooked guy is Phil Seymour, who did two solo albums after leaving the Dwight Twilley Band after their first two albums.
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Did anyone mention Andrew Gold or Bob Welch or Robert Palmer?
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"Pop" used to mean anything non-Classical, but these days I think of it in terms of short(er) songs with good melodies, hooky sing-along choruses, and the classic verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/verse/chorus structure. Pop was "the" style of music teenagers were listening to in the late-50's/early-60's, but it was in 7" 45 RPM singles format. The British Invasion changed that overnight.
My long-time favorite Pop albums include early Beatles, Emitt Rhodes’ debut, Sincerely by The Dwight Twilley Band, all the Rubinoos albums, Squeeze, The Records, etc.
The mention by @slaw of Moon Martin brought a smile to my face. He was a great songwriter, his albums being an excellent blend of Pop with a hint of 1950’s Rock ’n’ Roll. In 1979 my then-wife started running Moon’s fan club, so I saw him live many times. Once was opening for Rockpile at The Country Club in Reseda, California, a great show.
Another band combining Pop with 50’s R & R are The Flamin’ Groovies, a semi-garage band I love. And I consider The Ramones a Pop group.
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Counting Crows "August and Everything After" "Recovering the Satellites"
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Bob Seger "Beautiful Loser"
Linda Ronstadt "Living in the USA"
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David Knopfler "Release"
Graham Parker "The Mona Lisa's Sister"
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Men at Work "Business As Usual"
INXS
Of Monsters and Men (everything)
Ozark Mountain Daredevils (many)
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Bob Welch "French Kiss"
Greg Kihn Band "Kihntinued"
The Babys (many)
Steve Miller Band (many)
The Travelling Wilburys
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J J Cale
Naturally
Carole King
Tapestry
For us old timers
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Jackson Browne, most of his stuff
Ryan Adams, many
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'Til Tuesday-Welcome Home. Aimee Mann at her best.
A Flock of Seagulls-S/T may be more new wave than pop
Bee Gee's-Maincourse
Blondie-Parallel lines The first press is has amazing sonics and is on the TAS best sounding vinyl list
Cars Candy-O Again, maybe more new wave. The Rhino Hi-Fi release has unbelievable sonics
The Church Starfish-Amazing songs. Extremely well recorded and a sonic pleasure
Eurythmics- Greatest Hits Sounds great for a compilation- get the MOV version
John Mayer-Continuum An amazing album. Verry impressive guitar playing on pop based songs.
Republica-S/T Britpop with wide appeal. Get the MOV version
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Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll
10,000 Maniacs - In My Tribe
Sugar - Copper Blue
Dead Can Dance - Toward The Within
Catherine Wheel - Like Cats and Dogs
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Glen Hansard *Rythym and Repose"
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Been Gees .first album.
I own the op/ mono....very cool.
The Beatles "Rubber Soul"
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. . . I’d probably have to concede that (by The Rutles) Rutle Sole and Shabby Road and Tragical History Tour and Sgt Rutlles Only Darts Club Band have also withstood the test of time quite well.
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Fran Healy "Wreckorder"
..first time I heard this record, the songs, instantly became ear-worms.
A sleeper.
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There are a couple of true stand outs by The Rutles: A Hard days Rut and who can ever forget Hey Dude.
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Cracker (everything)
Lenny Kravitz (many)
John Prine (many)
Cake (everything)
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Lou Reed "Rock and Roll Heart"
America "Homecoming" "S/T"
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The Charlie Daniels Band "Full Moon"
Peter Wolf "Midnight Souvenirs"
J Geils Band "Love Stinks"
Shelby Lyne "Tears, Lies and Alibis"
Aimee Mann "Lost in Space"
Luna (everything)
Randy Newman "Little Criminals"
Ric Ocasek "This Side of Paradise"
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Not a very ambitious proposal, but Savage album "Tonight" from 2014 is a masterpiece in its category ;-) It was actually restored from old tapes by audiophiles, so it sounds pretty good, too.
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+1 for “Abandoned Luncheonette”
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Anyone mention Dave Mason "Let it Flow" ?
Hall and Oates "Abandoned Luncheonette"
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Chris Rea has been a long time favorite and really underappreciated as the whole package.
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"Merry Christmas" by Bing Crosby (containing the hit song "White Christmas". The album was released in 1945 as 10 songs on 5 78rpm records (back when an album was actually an album) and later compiled as a single LP and has sold over 4 million copies worldwide. The single (first released as a 78) is the number one selling record of all time (over 50 million copies sold).
If "White Christmas" doesn't warm your heart during the holiday season, you must have ice in your veins!
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Here are a few others
Dead Can Dance - “Spirit Chaser”
Laurie Anderson - “Mr. Heartbreak”
Midnight Oil - “Diesel and Dust”
Tom Tom Club - “Tom Tom Club”
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@waltersalas
Thanks Chris. Hope you made it through Helene with little damage.
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Beatles - Abbey Road
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Todd Rundgren: Something/Anything
Chicago: II
Crosby Stills & Nash: 1st Album
Nilsson: Nilsson Sings Newman
Neil Young - Harvest
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
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@slaw
It was a Big Star kind of day for me, too. "Radio City" is one of my all-time faves.
Good to see you still posting, Steve. I hope you are well.
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Big Star "#1 Record" "Radio City" "Nothing Can Hurt Me"
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Smithereens 11.
Echo and the Bunnymen- Ocean Rain...
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Still fresh “pop” recordings from between 1970 and 2000
Many of my favorites have already been listed above. My definition of “Pop” here is clearly stretched to mean albums and artists that got a lot of attention when released, won Grammys or at least appeared on Saturday Night Live which is where I have learned about new and older artists new works for decades. For example - I was particularly impressed by the guitar tone Mk.gee was getting on SNL this last Saturday - would not have known about him otherwise. As for “freshness” that is completely subjective. But all the titles listed below sound good to me on a better rig. Some of my favorite albums from this period music wise sound thin or dull unfortunately, at least in the formats I have.
If I have repeated any your previous suggestions, my bad.
Al Green - “Let’s Stay Together”
Bettye Lavette -“I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise”
Bruce Cokburn - +1 “Stealing Fire”
- “dancing in the dragon’s jaws” (CBS Master Work pressing is superlative)
- “Nothing But a Burning Light” (produced by T Bone Burnett)
Beck - pretty much any album from any decade
Cassandra Wilson - “Blue Light Till Dawn”
Cat Sevens - “Tea for the Tillerman” & “Teaser and the Firecat”
David Crosby - “If I Could Only Remember My Name”
DEVO - “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo”
Eryka Badu - “Baduism”
Fleetwood Mac - “Rumors”
Grateful Dead - “Workingman’s Dead”
Jane’s Addiction - “Nothing’s Shocking”
Jeff Buckley - “Grace”
Jethro Tull - “Thick as a Brick”
John Hiatt - “Slow Turning”
Joni Mitchell - everything
Loggins and Messina - “Motherlode”
Los Lobos - “Kiko”
Marvin Gaye - “What’s Going On”
Mary Chapin Carpenter - “Come On Come On”
Melissa Etheridge - “Never Enough”
Me’Shell Ndegeocello - “Plantation Lullabies”
Nirvana - “Nevermind”
Norah Jones - “Come Away With Me”
Pearl Jam - “Ten” and “Vs.”
Phoebe Snow - “Second Childhood”
Rickie Lee Jones - “Rickie Lee Jones”
Shawn Colvin - “A Few Small Repairs”
Steely Dan - “Asia” (especially UHDR LP)
Stevie Wonder - “Talking Book”
Super Tramp - “Crime of the Century”
Talking Heads - “Naked”
The B-52’s - “The B-52’s”
The Rolling Stones - “Tattoo You”
Tony! Toni! Tone - “Sons of Soul”
U2 - “Achtung Baby”
War - “The World is a Ghetto”
Whitney Houston - “Whitney Houston” (side one)
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Bruce Cockburn’s "Stealing Fires" is good, but I really love his "Night Visions" album. It’s got an instrumental "Islands in a Black Sky" that is hauntingly spectacular, and a good one to pull into system demos. The whole album is pretty cool despite not being my normal fare. The vintage LP I have of it sounds GREAT.
As mentioned by others - I also love Joe Jackson’s "Look Sharp".
I’m not mentioning more because a lot of material I like would probably not qualify for sounding "fresh" today, though that line has become quite blurred by the whole retro/synth wave genre. It’s all quite subjective, I suppose. I’m a big fan of Level 42, and their recordings on 80s vinyl generally sound pretty amazing. For the modern new wave "revival", a few of my favorite bands are:
Wild Nothing (especially "Nocturne" and "Indigo"),
Miami Horror ("All Possible Futures" - spectacular sound on vinyl)
The Midnight (they use an an analog recording chain).
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Jazz pop would be Chuck Mangione and the Great album titled main squeeze.
Also outstanding jazz trumpet player Don Ellis, Live at Fillmore East was a remarkable Orchestra performance. He did the soundtrack for French connection the music is a little bit unconventional.
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Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars...Bowie.
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+1 slaw Bruce Cockburn - Stealing Fire
Saw the album tour in London, Ontario where the bass /lead used a Chapman “Stick” to amazing effect….the simultaneous, repetitious runs were done with it and made for a mesmerizing show.
Of course, Bruce is a virtuoso guitarist/songwriter who should be experienced in concert.
Juluka - Scatterings of Africa with Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu is another great 80’s release that shouldn’t be forgotten.
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Eddie Money "Life for the Taking"
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The Hooters "Nervous Night"
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