6. Depeche Mode -”Everything Counts” (1983)
The melodica might just show up more frequently in ‘80s new wave than it does in reggae and dub. Along with the aforementioned New Order and Gang of Four, another post-punk British outfit which put the instrument to brilliant use was Depeche Mode. It’s among several unusual instruments, including the xylophone and shawm, employed by guitarist/lead songwriter Martin Gore on “Everything Counts,” one of the most popular and enduring singles of the group’s early ‘80s heyday. —Jesse Serwer