9/11/76
Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John & Kiki Dee
Let 'Em In - Wings
If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
Say You Love Me - Fleetwood Mac
Dr. Tarr & Prof. Fether - Alan Parsons Project
Magic Man - Heart
Rock 'n Me - Steve Miller
Lowdown - Boz Scaggs
Love Is Alive - Gary Wright
Baby I Love Your Way - Peter Frampton
Shower the People - James Taylor
Devil Woman - Cliff Richard
You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine - Lou Rawls
Get Closer - Seals & Crofts
She's Gone - Hall & Oates
You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees
A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy Orchestra
Disco Duck - Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots
The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
With Your Love - Jefferson Starship
Still the One - Orleans
A Little Bit More - Dr. Hook
Summer - War
Kiss and Say Goodbye - Manhattans
Rock & Roll Music - Beach Boys
9/19/81
"You know albums get their titles in a lot of different ways, usually they're named for the act itself, or for a song on the LP, or, after the LP's concept or theme, but when the British rock group ELO made their American album debut 9 years ago, their LP got its name because a telephone rang, and nobody answered, ELO drummer Bev Bevan told us the story, the band then called Electric Light Orchestra had released their first album in England and the American release was scheduled next, Bevan said, "The album was just called The Electric Light Orchestra which makes sense because it's a debut album, and when it was going to be released in America with United Artists, someone there said, check in London with this new group The Electric Light Orchestra on what the title of the album is, and somebody called our office, and there was no reply on the telephone, so, the American who made the call, wrote on a pad to their boss, regarding your query as to what The Electric Light Orchestra's 1st album title is, No Answer, and people figured, that was the name of the album, and it was released as, No Answer", and that's how ELO's debut album got its title, now, here's ELO, 10 albums later, with their latest hit, up 2 notches this week to #12, Hold On Tight..." - Casey Kasem's American Top 40: The 80's from September 19th, 1981
The previous year, David Bowie had released his "Ashes to Ashes" music video which was considered as the most innovative to date at that time. But Electric Light Orchestra were largely regarded to have surpassed that with their music video for "Hold On Tight". At the time it was the most expensive ever made at around £40,000 - Source: UK Midlands Central TV News, August, 1981, thanks Ade!
After hearing "Hold On Tight" on Casey Kasem's American Top 40 Mighty 690 AM Radio Show back in 1981 while with family around Ventura, California, a U.S. Route 101 road trip to Santa Barbara's Mission when I was just 8 years old, Dad then bought me my very first Electric Light Orchestra album from Tower Records, an audio cassette of Time by ELO, thus started the fandom 38 years ago!
Urgent - Foreigner
Who's Crying Now - Journey
The Voice - The Moody Blues
Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones
The Beach Boys Medley - The Beach Boys
Lady (You Bring Me Up) - The Commodores
General Hospi-Tale - The Afternoon Delights
The Breakup Song - The Greg Kihn Band
Private Eyes - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Really Wanna Know You - Gary Wright
Believe It or Not - Joey Scarbury
Arthur's Theme - Christopher Cross
Step by Step - Eddie Rabbitt
Super Freak - Rick James
Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
Some Days Are Diamonds - John Denver
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks w/Tom Petty
Queen of Hearts - Juice Newton
For Your Eyes Only - Sheena Easton
Slow Hand - Pointer Sisters
9/10/83
Tell Her About It - Billy Joel
Puttin' On the Ritz - Taco
Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
King of Pain - The Police
Every Breath You Take - The Police
One Thing Leads to Another - The Fixx
Promises, Promises - Naked Eyes
I'll Tumble 4 Ya - Culture Club
True - Spandau Ballet
Human Nature - Michael Jackson
Maniac - Michael Sembello
China Girl - David Bowie
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
Stand Back - Stevie Nicks
She Works Hard for the Money - Donna Summer
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler