The debut EP,Talk's Cheap, from London Ontario's punk/new wave band the Demics,  on Toronto's Ready Records, was released in early 1979.  They produced this EP as well as one full length album, & I think a couple of singles.  A some what collectible EP, due to the rarity, probably worth around $40-$50 in great condition. The band, although short lived ('78-'81) had a fairly big hit with New York City. Following that is the edgier title track:

Considered the father of "Exotica", Martin Denny produced many albums of exotic sounds built around instruments he collected travelling the world.  On this album Afro-Desia from 1959, Denny's interpretation of the sounds of Africa is perhaps a little comical from today's perspective, but he was not trying to produce "authentic" sounds, just in his words, "lounge music".  Given that the backing vocals are by the same people who did music for the Flintstones & Jetsons cartoons, the comic sound is rather justified.  For a taste of this style here is Simba:

Their last album of the 80's, Music for the Masses, by British Synth-Pop/Electronic Rock band Depeche Mode is certainly among the top albums of that decade, and helped launch the band to the forefront of the electronic rock music scene. Despite the tongue in cheek name, this is not music for the masses, but if you like OMD, The The or Cabaret Voltaire, you will certainly like this.  I suppose if you like those bands you probably already have some Depeche Mode!  My pick from this album is the dark and moody Little 15: