American Songwriter has revisited four duets from the 1980s that it argues deserve more recognition today, praising their dreamy, ethereal quality despite being largely overlooked by modern listeners. The list mixes well-known artists with more obscure pairings, highlighting how chart success at the time did not always translate into lasting cultural memory, particularly in the United States.

The featured tracks are "Don't Give Up" by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush (1986), which reached No. 9 in the UK and was cited by Elton John as helping his sobriety; "Since Yesterday" by Strawberry Switchblade (1984), a synth-pop hit about nuclear war that peaked at No. 5 in the UK; "In a Lifetime" by Clannad and Bono (1985), Bono's most successful solo release, which reached No. 17 in the UK; and "On My Own" by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald (1986), which topped the charts in the US and Canada.

– Article revisits four 1980s duets deemed unfairly forgotten today
– "Don't Give Up" (Gabriel/Bush) reportedly helped Elton John stay sober
– "On My Own" (LaBelle/McDonald) hit No. 1 in the US and Canada