American Top 40: The 80s - May 25, 2019
This week's presentation - May 30, 1981
Droppers:
I LOVED ‘EM EVERY ONE – T.G. SHEPPARD (37) - wtf did this sound like again? I only heard it twice, on both the 5/16 and 5/23 AT40s (each run one time by Premiere). It was pretty good as I recall.
BLESSED ARE THE BELIEVERS – ANNE MURRAY (34) - Meh, no big loss. This song was extremely repetitive. I preferred most of her other hits.
HOLD ON LOOSELY - .38 SPECIAL (27) - This is one of those mid-charters that now receives more radio airplay than ever. Of course, I prefer many others from them, but this is still a good song.
LW#1: BETTE DAVIS EYES – KIM CARNES
40: NOBODY WINS - ELTON JOHN (debut) - This one sure hit a brick wall - it was off to a promising start (making a 13-spot gain three weeks before), but it only got as high as #21. Perhaps it was because it was disco-flavored (as his other songs with that music style didn't hit the Top 20 - I guess people thought that Elton and disco did not mix). I thought it was a decent song, but definitely far from his best).
39: JUST SO LONELY - GET WET (40) - Their only Top 40 hit, and it only got a spot higher. It was OK, but somewhat faceless.
38: FOOL IN LOVE WITH YOU - JIM PHOTOGLO (debut) - MOR ballads definitely abounded in the early 1980s, after disco had died and before the MTV era started. I actually liked that era, although I realize a lot of people here would beg to differ. Like most such songs on this week's chart, I think this is a great song!
37: SAY WHAT - JESSE WINCHESTER (debut) - This was his only Top 40 hit and, since he passed away five years ago, it'll stay that way
This song used to be kind of just there, but when I heard it about this time two years ago (either on the 6/27/81 "B" show or on iHeartRadio, I think), I somehow started liking it. That was around the time that I pulled out of the depression, brought on by several aspects of my job, that I had been battling. The meds that my doctor prescribed worked wonders and that affected my opinion on a few songs that I associate with that.
At this point in the show, Casey answered a Question Letter about a capella songs to hit the Top 40. At the time, there were only two - “Amazing Grace” by Judy Collins and “After The Gold Rush” by Prelude. That would change in the early 1990s, with several songs by R&B groups like Boyz II Men and Shai. (Plus, I think “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin, from 1988, would count as a capella)
36: AIN'T EVEN DONE WITH THE NIGHT - JOHN COUGAR (26) - This song, which reminds me a little of Springsteen, had fallen into obscurity until the early 2000s, when it began being played on 80s stations. It's a good song, though not quite his best.
35: STILL RIGHT HERE IN MY HEART - PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE (39) - This was the second biggest of their four Top 40 hits, and I like it and their biggest hit "Let Me Love You Tonight" about the same (presumably because they sound very similar).
34: LOVE YOU LIKE I NEVER LOVED BEFORE - JOHN O'BANION (24) - The only top 40 hit from this Kokomo native (the city in Indiana, that is; not the place the Beach Boys were singing about). It was a pretty decent song; had sort of a sixties sound to it, like several songs in this week's countdown.
33: I CAN'T STAND IT - ERIC CLAPTON & HIS BAND (22) - I believe this was the only Top 40 that credited "his band". The song is not quite my favorite from him, but there are several songs that I prefer this over ("Tears In Heaven" comes to mind).
32: WINNING - SANTANA (36) - Santana had three Top 40 hits in the 80s, and they were the best three of their career, IMO. I like all of them so much that I'm not sure what my favorite is. This was a big hit on WLS, so I remember it quite well.
31: YOU BETTER YOU BET - THE WHO (18) - This was another song I remember from back in the day (yes, it was also a Top Five hit on WLS). The song sounds a lot like Pete Townshend's solo hit from the previous year, "Let My Love Open The Door", and I always thought it was Townshend singing lead, but, in fact, it was Roger Daltrey. This was one of my favorite songs by the Who.
ARCHIVES: THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE – SIMON & GARFUNKEL - This song, of course, inspired Rush's signature hit "Spirit Of The Radio". One of my favorite songs from the duo.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: IN THE AIR TONIGHT - PHIL COLLINS - The second hit from Collins' debut album. Like the first (which I preferred, BTW), the song peaked at #19, but is still heard regularly on oldies stations today. I like the song better than I used to but still, it's not one of my favorites from him.
30: THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE - AIR SUPPLY (38) - This Aussie act was definitely on its way to becoming possibly THE biggest group of the 80s, but they fizzled out after 1983, as they only had one more hit after that. This was their only #1 hit and is one of my favorites from them.
29: FIND YOUR WAY BACK - JEFFERSON STARSHIP (29) - Here's one of several songs from around this time that only peaked in the lower half of the 40, but I remember hearing quite a lot (and still get a decent amount of recurrent airplay). I prefer several other songs by Airplane/Starship, but this one is a good one - I always thought they were saying "find your way back to Ohio". I loved the story that Casey told about lead guitarist Craig Chaquico running from the law by riding his motorized skateboard around Golden Gate Park.
28: AL NO CORRIDA - QUINCY JONES f/DUNE (30) - Quincy's second pop hit. It was a good one, but I preferred his later material.
27: IS IT YOU - LEE RITENOUR (35) - Today, this would be billed as "Lee Ritenour featuring Eric Tagg & Bill Champlin". This may have been Ritenour's only Top 40 hit, but I thought it was a neat song.
26: KISS ON MY LIST - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (16) - 1981 was definitely a great year for them, as they had two #1 hits, as well as two Top Five hits, one of which went on to hit #1 in early 1982. Of those four songs, this was definitely my favorite.
LDD: I MADE IT THROUGH THE RAIN – BARRY MANILOW - It seems that, more often than not, AT40 edited this song, cutting out the second verse. This week, however, they went with the entire song - as it should be with all LDD songs - after all, how do they know that the part they edited out is not the most relevant part of the song in relation to the LDD? Anyway, this was a great song - one of Manilow's best songs IMO.
25: THE WAITING - TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (32) - This was their fourth song to hit the Top 40. Linda Ronstadt did a pretty decent cover of it in the mid-1990s. I preferred this one, though.
24: JESSIE'S GIRL - RICK SPRINGFIELD (28) - Now here's a song that got a lot of mileage on the chart! It debuted two weeks before and lasted in the Top 40 until early October! That is staying power, my friend! But the song was definitely worthy because it was one of his best songs - one that overplay has not tarnished at all!
23: SINCE I DON'T HAVE YOU - DON McLEAN (25) - A song, originally by the Skyliners, that has been covered many times, by artists like Art Garfunkel, Guns 'N Roses, and this one - my favorite version of the song, as well as one of my favorite songs by Don McLean!
22: YOU MAKE MY DREAMS - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (31) - Four spots ahead of my favorite of their four hits from 1981, we have my least favorite of those songs. Not sure why, but this one never really did anything for me.
21: MORNING TRAIN - SHEENA EASTON (13) - I used to like this song a lot, but now it is, in fact, one of my least favorite songs from her. I wonder if this song would have lasted longer at the top had "Modern Girl" not been released as soon as it was. I'm thinking probably not as this song was pretty much done, while the newer song hadn't even hit the Top 40 yet.
ARCHIVES: WE CAN WORK IT OUT – THE BEATLES - Of course, they were in the midst of their immense popularity, with one song after another hitting the top. I thought that this was a good song, with a good message.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: SLOW HAND - THE POINTER SISTERS - This was one of several songs that would be edged out of #1 due to the marathon run at the top of "Endless Love". This song would, however, hit #1 for a pair of weeks on the R&R chart, which was good, because this was definitely one of their best hits, IMO.
20: SAY YOU'LL BE MINE - CHRISTOPHER CROSS (20) - Nowadays, this song would be billed as Christopher Cross featuring Nicholette Larson, as she was heard on back-up vocals near the end of the song. Anyway, this song was pretty good, but possibly my least favorite of his charted singles.
19: I MISSED AGAIN - PHIL COLLINS (19) - Phil's first solo hit, which, to this day, I just can't believe he didn't include on his HITS album, as it was his very first solo hit. It was a great one, too - one of my favorite of his solo hits.
18: WHAT ARE WE DOIN' IN LOVE - DOTTIE WEST & KENNY ROGERS (23) - Yes, I know that Kenny Rogers did not receive official label credit, but he certainly should have, as he was prominently heard in this song. It was a great song - I wonder if it would have gone higher had he gotten credit, as he definitely was on a hot streak at this point in his career.
17: THIS LITTLE GIRL - GARY U.S. BONDS (23) - As we all know, this song was a Bruce Springsteen production, such was the case with Bonds' next hit "Out Of Work". Both are good songs, but I preferred this one.
16: ALL THOSE YEARS AGO - GEORGE HARRISON (33) - Wow! What a huge chart jump there! This definitely looked like a future number one song, but unfortunately, the song fell short, peaking at #2 (shut out by “Bette Davis Eyes”). The song did, however, spend a pair of weeks at #1 on the R&R chart. Indeed, this was a great song - one I have yet to get tired of.
15: I LOVE YOU - THE CLIMAX BLUES BAND (17) - This is definitely a song I associate with the summer of 1981, as I heard it almost every day at the pool where I was taking swimming lessons that summer. This was WLS's #2 song of 1981, and deservedly so, as it's a great one!
14: ANGEL OF THE MORNING - JUICE NEWTON (4) - This successful country artist crossed over to Pop with this one. I like it, but preferred most of her other Top 40 hits.
13: HOW 'BOUT US – CHAMPAIGN (14) - The first of two Top 40 hits for this R&B band, named after their hometown. Both songs are great, and I like them both the same.
EXTRA: JUMPING JACK FLASH – THE ROLLING STONES - Interesting story about the band going to parties to collect empty pop bottles to return them to the store. As for the song, it was pretty good, though definitely not their best.
12: AMERICA - NEIL DIAMOND (15) - The third and final Top 40 hit from the Jazz Singer. I liked all three songs about the same, depending on my mood at the time - they're all great songs!
11: SWEETHEART - FRANKE & THE KNOCKOUTS (12) - They had a trio of Top 40 hits in the early-80s. All three were great hits, but this was by far my favorite!
ARCHIVES: MY LOVE – PETULA CLARK - Her second of two number one songs. I prefer this over "Downtown", which, of course, was her other #1, almost exactly a year before.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: THEME FROM "GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) - JOEY SCARBURY - This was another song that "Endless Love" shut out of the top spot. Like "Slow Hand", this one DID hit #1 on the R&R chart - and deservedly so, as it was a great one - one of the best TV show themes of all time!
10: WATCHING THE WHEELS - JOHN LENNON (10) - This one reminds me of his 1971 hit "Imagine". I like both songs about the same, but my favorite song from John's Double Fantasy album would have to be "(Just Like) Starting Over".
9: TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS - STYX (9) - Their second Top Ten hit from the Paradise Theater album. Even though I prefer the first of those, "The Best Of Times", this is also a good one - a song I learned to like over the years (since I used to think it was mediocre).
8: A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE - RAY PARKER JR. & RAYDIO (11) - Their final Top Ten hit before Ray went solo the following year. A great song; the instrumental arrangement sounded a lot like that of their 1979 hit "You Can't Change That".
7: JUST THE TWO OF US - GROVER WASHINGTON JR. & BILL WITHERS (3) - aka "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover pt 2". This was a nice, relaxing song. Glad that it was a big hit! Didn't quite hit #1 on AT40, but it did have a two-week run atop the R&R chart the previous month.
6: LIVING INSIDE MYSELF - GINO VANELLI (7) - A good way to save money on rent! But seriously, I imagine most of his chart success was in his native Canada, but he did have a few hits here in the states, and this was my favorite of all three of his Top 40 songs.
LDD: ALL MY LOVIN’ – THE BEATLES - Wow, they had several songs on this week's chart (as Paul and Ringo were said to have sung on George Harrison's song at #16). Perhaps a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Beatles special on July 4? Well, anyway, this song wasn't bad, but not one of my favorite songs from them. It was very fitting for the LDD, though.
5: TAKE IT ON THE RUN - REO SPEEDWAGON (6) - They definitely got a lot of mileage out of the Hi Infidelity album, didn't they? The first two hits from the album hit the Top Five and stayed in the Top 40 for a combined total of 35 weeks. I love both songs but slightly prefer this one.
4: SUKIYAKI - A TASTE OF HONEY (8) - The second incarnation of the song to hit the charts, only this time, they added English lyrics. I liked this song, but preferred the 4PM cover from 1994.
3: STARS ON 45 - STARS ON 45 (5) - Anyway, this is the one that kicked off the medley craze that lasted for about a year (but became a little tedious near the end). At least ten different medleys hit the Top 40, or so it seemed (definitely that many, if not more, hit the Hot 100). The song would be strong enough to interrupt the marathon run at #1 of "Bette Davis Eyes". The song was pretty good, but I'd probably get tired of hearing it all the time.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: QUEEN OF HEARTS - JUICE NEWTON - Wow! Three of this weeks extras are the three songs that "Endless Love" edged out of the top spot. (Ironic that "Endless Love" itself wouldn't hit the Hot 100 for another six weeks). Anyway, this was my favorite of her two 1981 hits. Great driving music!
2: BEING WITH YOU - SMOKEY ROBINSON (2) - This was the biggest of his solo hits, in the midst of a three-week peak in the runner-up position. This song was, IMO, mediocre at best. I preferred much of his earlier material, including hits with the Miracles.
1: BETTE DAVIS EYES - KIM CARNES (1) - This song was in its third week on top. And who knew that this song would spend two months on top? It was definitely worthy - one of the best #1 hits of 1981!
Coming up next week: June 3, 1984!