With MTV’s influence rippling through the charts and landmark albums from Madonna (Like a Virgin), Prince (Purple Rain), and Bruce Springsteen (Born in the U.S.A.), 1984 is often referred to as “Pop’s Greatest Year.” The year saw 99 singles reach the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including 20 No. 1 hits from artists like Prince, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Loggins, Tina Turner, Phil Collins, Culture Club, and Wham!

Beyond the MTV darlings and epic mainstream albums, 1984 was a year that saw a wave of emerging artists release essential works that were overshadowed by the pop boom. Some were deemed too experimental, while others were considered too subtle, and some arrived before the world was ready. Here are five records that may not have topped the charts during “Pop’s Greatest Year” but have left a lasting legacy.