For the week ending April 18, 1981:
I decided to critique the 80's countdown this week because I've never commented on any of these songs before, whereas I've commented on over half of the songs on the '75 countdown. In fact, from now on, I'm probably more inclined to critique the '80's countdowns because, frankly, I've almost run out of '70's countdowns that aren't full of songs I've already opined on and it seems pointless to me to comment on them a second time. Been there; done that.
40. Loved You Like I Never Loved Before/John O'Banion--A punchy, dramatic, well-produced one-hit wonder that has been unfairly forgotten. I especially love the dramatic buildup as he sings the title at the end of each chorus.
39. Wasn't That A Party/The Rovers--A somewhat fun song that the late, great Bob Sievers from WOWO, Ft. Wayne used to play a lot, even though it was only a minor national hit.
38. Mister Sandman/Emmylou Harris--The original smash hit by the Chordettes had a very enchanting sound and amazing harmonies, especially in the intros to each verse. Ms Harris' remake wisely sticks closely to the original thrilling arrangement, which makes it almost as enjoyable.
37. Hold On Loosely/.38 Special--Man, don't you just love these study-in-contrasts musical pairings? (Have you ever held on loosely to Mr. Sandman?
Anyway,this straight-up rocker is probably my favorite song by these guys. I especially love the tension-and-release when Donnie sings, "My mind goes back to a girl I knew some years ago who told me" and then unleashed the song's title.
36. Turn Me Loose/Loverboy--A fairly enjoyable rocker with a lush, dense arrangement, like the previous rocker.
35. The Party's Over (Hopelessly In Love)/Journey--Although I know most of their hits and popular album cuts, I was not that familiar with this and I currently forget how it went. Oops!
34. What Kind Of Fool/Barbara Streisand & Barry Gibb--I can take it or leave it.
33. Watching The Wheels/John Lennon--A somewhat pleasant-sounding release with strong vocals by the recently departed former Beatle.
32. Sukiyaki/A Taste Of Honey--It's a rather intriguing song with a fascinating oriental-themed musical arrangement, but I love the gorgeous original by Kyu Sakamoto better.
31. I Missed Again/Phil Collins--This sharp, punchy, downright jazzy release is one of the best songs Phil Collins ever recorded in any of his configurations. The horn work is especially infectious.
30. I Love You/The Climax Blues Band--This has got to go down as one of the best love songs of the decade and of the rock era in general. This sharp, earnestly sung power ballad affirms how the love of a woman can single-handedly turn a wayward man's life around.
29. How 'Bout Us/Champaign--A smooth, fairly-enjoyable R&B ballad. This was this week's second-most successful group from Champaign, IL. (I bet you all know who the other group was and their two upcoming hits.)
28. It's A Love Thing/The Whispers--A pretty catchy, peppy R&B release.
27. Bette Davis Eyes/Kim Carnes--Although nine weeks at #1 might have been a bit much, this song definitely deserved its megahit status. The cosmic, synth-heavy arrangement and Ms Carnes unique raspy vocals combine to give it a one-of-a-kind sound that kept millions hooked. (I also got a kick out of the video, especially the ballroom scene in the second verse, where the couples slapped each other to the "bop-bop bop" beat.
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26. You Better You Bet/The Who--Although it can't compare to the majestic releases off "Tommy" or "Who's Next", one can still detect hints of their old sound in this assertive, well-crafted hit, especially in the synth-heavy intro and the driving rhythm.
25. Sweetheart/Frankie & The Knockouts--Another powerful, assertive rocker.
24. Too Much Time On My Hands/Styx--It's a pretty catchy, amusing release, with a gimmicky, but intriguing ending.
23. Time Out Of Mind/Steely Dan--This used to be a Steely Dan release that I barely paid attention to for whatever reason, but, upon a closer listen last Sun on the countdown, I discovered how sharp and well-produced this release actually is, almost as enjoyable as "Peg" or "Deacon Blue."
22. Just Between You And Me/April Wine--A nicely smooth, polished mellow rock release.
21. Ain't Even Done With The Night/John Mellencamp--A mostly average song, except for that gentle, soothing acoustic guitar melody line. Hearing that instrumental part of the song after dark seems to give the nighttime an air of serenity and peace.
20. Take It On The Run/REO Speedwagon--This is my favorite of the High Infidelity releases and one of their best hits period. It's full of high energy and confrontational tension, which reaches a powerful climax in the final chorus, when Kevin Cronin reaches for the high notes when singing "Then I don't want you AROUUUUNNNNDDD-AH-AH-OUUUNNND!" (which was,alas, edited on the countdown). I also enjoy how they repeat the opening line at the end for a bookend effect.
19. Don't Stop The Music/Yarbrough & Peoples--Like the Journey song at #35, I was unfamiliar with this song, and I forget how it went. I seem to remember it sounding weird and even creepy in places.
18. Living Inside Myself/Gino Vanelli--It's somewhat pleasantly dramatic, but the bombast is spread a little too thick in general. And Gino crosses over into whiney territory a little too much for me, as well.
17. Nine To Five/Dolly Parton--Although the lyrics are rather trite and vapid, it's still a fun, catchy country/pop hit sung with sass and attitude by Ms Parton.
16. Somebody's Knockin'/Terri Gibbs--An intriguing song with a moody, haunting arrangement.
15. Hello Again/Neil Diamond--Another one of Neil Diamond's many musical sleep aids.
14. Crying/Don McLean--It has an arrangement almost identical to Roy Orbison's original in that, it starts out mellow, even borderline dull, then explodes with amazing tension and bombast in the second chorus.
13. Her Town Too/James Taylor & J. D. Souther--It was mostly mediocre, although I would have enjoyed it more if James had given J. D. more solo parts to sing. BTW, wasn't this song autobiographical, referring to the recent breakup of James's marriage to Carly Simon?
12. Keep On Loving You/REO Speedwagon--Although not quite as great as their other countdown song, this is still an infectious, energetic rocker, with an intriguingly dialed down, mellow ending.
11. I Can't Stand It/Eric Clapton--Neither can I. (Just kidding) Actually, I can pretty much take it or leave it. I'm sure it has to be frustrating for him to release song after song, album after album, these past 40+ years, knowing it's impossible to top "Layla".
10. Don't Stand So Close To Me/The Police--I have a feeling this mildly catchy, interesting release wasn't all that lyrically controverial at the time. But being that, in recent years, so many cases of teachers having affairs with underage students have made the headlines, this song would hit too close to home if released today.
9. The Best Of Times/Styx--A rather stirring, powerful release, very typical of this fine band.
8. Being With You/Smokey Robinson--A sweet, gentle, smooth-as-silk hit by one of the masters of the soul ballad.
7. While You See A Chance/Steve Winwood--This masterful single is yet another example of an artist's debut hit being by far their greatest. (If you discount his hits with Spencer Davis and Traffic.) That synth/organ opening, although mellow, hints at the high energy about to be unleashed. And once the tempo picks up and the arrangement fills out, the song takes off like a vehicle cruising nonstop along an urban expressway through a bustling big city. And that's the feel I get out of this song, an urban feel, being immersed in the sights and sounds of a big city. That synthesizer-heavy arrangement is the main source, especially when it simulates the sound of a saxophone, IMHO the most urban of all instruments. In fact, last Sunday, I was lucky enough to be hopping onto I-465 on my way to work just as this song was starting in the countdown. Man, cruising down an urban freeway with this amazing song blasting, I was in a state of ecstasy!
6. Angel Of The Morning/Juice Newton--I was never a big fan of Merilee Rush's original, mainly because the lyrics were so depressing and fatalistic. Ms Newton's remake is more palatable, partly because the arrangement is more forceful and partly because her vocals are sweeter and more soulful.
5. Woman/John Lennon--This dramatic, yet sweet song is possibly the best love song John Lennon ever released, sung with an abundance of sincerity and earnestness. It touched my heart then and it still does.
4. Just The Two Of Us/Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers--I can take it or leave it.
3. Morning Train (Nine To Five)/Sheena Easton--This ultra-cutesy ditty has grown on me over the years. I can't help but be taken in by the charms of that hopelessly perky chorus.
2. Rapture/Blondie--Although the rap lyrics, about a hyper-gluttonous man from Mars, are as dumb as the proverbial box of rocks, the song's campiness still draws me in every time.
1. Kiss On My List/Hall & Oates--This is one of their better songs. The keyboard accompaniment is first rate, and the duo's vocals are delightfully soulful.
And my favorite song of the countdown (drum roll):
The majestic "While You See A Chance" by Steve Winwood (at his best)
Thank you and good night. (And Mr Sandman, please bring ME a dream.)