American Top 40: The Shadoe Stevens era: 1988
Dec 11, 2017 12:29:20 GMT -5
freakyflybry, Dale Latimer, and 3 more like this
Post by Hervard on Dec 11, 2017 12:29:20 GMT -5
Since we all know that we're probably never going to hear repeats of Shadoe Stevens' American Top 40 (at least not on the American Top 40: The 80s series), I've compiled a list of songs from 1988 only heard during the Shadoe Stevens era. Starting with his very first show, each song is listed in order of appearance on the chart. The number after each song represents its debut position on American Top 40. I wouldn't be surprised if I overlooked a song or two – but if I did, by all means, let me know and I'll add it.
PLEASE DON'T GO GIRL – NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK (37) – Ah, this is the one that started it all off for this boyband that all the then-tweens were crazy about. Honestly – every young girl I knew had at least one favorite New Kid. They were way overrated, IMO, but they did have a few decent songs. This one was OK, but a little too whiny, like many “please don't go” types of songs (KC & The Sunshine Band come to mind)
I DON'T WANNA BE A HERO – JOHNNY HATES JAZZ (38) – The second hit that was pretty much riding the coattails of their debut song “Shattered Dreams”, which I liked, as well as their AC-only hit “Turn Back The Clock”, but this song, for some reason, just never did anything for me.
I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU – JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (39) – They'd had several low charters since their first wave of popularity in 1982, but this one took them back into the Top Ten. It was a pretty good song. Janet Jackson's 1990 #1 hit “Black Cat” sounded a lot like this one IMO.
DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY – BOBBY MCFERRIN (40) – This was the first song that new AT40 host Shadoe Stevens introduced, since it kicked off the countdown. You don't hear this one very often anymore (though I remember the song being played ad nauseum on the radio at the beginning of my junior year in High School – had I been doing critiques back then, this one just might have gotten “No. Just no” status, but now, I don't mind hearing it every once in awhile.
DON'T BE CRUEL – CHEAP TRICK (37) – They'd had a big #1 hit back in July with “The Flame” and this song proved that their comeback was no fluke, as it also hit the Top Ten. Of course, it was a cover of the King's big 1956 hit. I'm not sure which one of those I preferred, as both of them were pretty good.
DON'T BE CRUEL – BOBBY BROWN (38) – This was a completely different song. It also marked the first time that two songs with the same title debuted on the chart at the same time – and they were back-to-back, no less. In addition, this was Brown's first solo hit, after singing with New Edition (who themselves had a chart hit during the fall of 1988). I wasn't a huge R&B fan, but Bobby Brown's music was usually pretty good, this one included.
LOVE BITES – DEF LEPPARD (39) – After over five years of charting, they finally had their first #1 song, with their only power ballad that they released from their behemoth album Hysteria, which spawned a total of seven singles! I liked this song, though I preferred a few others from them.
NIGHTMARE ON MY STREET – DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE (40) – This was their second Top 40 hit and, like the first one, it was a story song, based on the thriller Nightmare On Elm Street, with Will being tormented by Freddy Krueger.
FALLEN ANGEL – POISON (38) – Wow, all the debuts on the first few charts of the Shadoe ere seemed to be on the bottom of the charts! This was Poison's fourth Top 40 single and I couldn't help but notice that they couldn't seem to get any Top Ten hits on the R&R chart, as their first three singles just missed and this one peaked at #15. I liked this song when it first came out, but grew tired of it somewhat quickly. Not sure why, though; it's not like this song was way overplayed or anything. It just wasn't their best song, that's all.
LOOK OUT ANY WINDOW – BRUCE HORNSBY & THE RANGE (39) – Not sure what it is about this song – its musical arrangement is magnificent, with a great piano solo. Yet, I was never crazy about the song at all. I think it's just the lyrics I didn't like. Look out any window or open door and see what's going on in the world around you – um, yes everybody knows that. Sounds more like the chorus of a kiddie song to me. But again, the melody is pretty good – it was just in need of better lyrics.
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND (PURE ENERGY) – INFORMATION SOCIETY (40) - The first of two Top Tens for this pop-dance quartet formed in Minneapolis. Nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to.
STAYING TOGETHER – DEBBIE GIBSON (34) – Ah, that's better - the debuts are more spread out on this chart. This song was the fifth single from Out Of The Blue, though it certainly wasn't as successful as the first four, all of which made the Top Five. This one, on the other hand, didn't even break the Top 20. I can kinda see why, as it was nowhere near as good as some of the first singles, plus, her album had been out for over a year and most fans already had it (though I myself did not buy it until November, 1989, when I won a certificate good for one free tape or CD at Orbit Records (Mishawaka, IN) and that's what I spent it on.
RED RED WINE – UB40 (36) – This was actually a re-entry, as the song had previously charted in 1984, peaking at #34. The decision to re-release this was definitely worthwhile, as it went all the way to the top. The song is OK, as long as it doesn't contain the “Red Red Wine, you make me feel so fine...” bridge.
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET – BRENDA K STARR (40) – Her first hit was a ballad and, for her second, she went with an upbeat dance song. Of course, I preferred “I Still Believe”, but this one was actually pretty good as well.
FOREVER YOUNG – ROD STEWART (35) – This was the second of four singles from Stewart's Out Of Order album, which had been released back in May. Like the first single “Lost In You”, this song peaked at #12. I still hear this one every once in awhile on AC or 80s Oldies stations.
DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT THE NIGHT CAN DO – STEVE WINWOOD (36) - This song always makes me thirsty for a Michelob. It was a pretty good song, IMO, but it's far from being my favorite song from him.
TRUE LOVE – GLENN FREY (37) – This was one of several songs with that “false ending”. I can't think of any others off the top of my head (well, except for “Lean On Me” by Club Nouveau), but as for this song, I thought it was pretty good.
CHAINS OF LOVE – ERASURE (38) – The first of three Top 40 singles from this London-based synthpop duo. I thought it was a good song, as well as their other two hits “A Little Respect” and “Always”.
A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE – PHIL COLLINS (31) - The original version of this song, by the Mindbenders, was a mid-tempo song, but Phil turned it into a ballad - and it apparently worked, as the song went all the way to the top. It was a great one, but I preferred his next hit, "Two Hearts", which also went to #1.
NEVER TEAR US APART – INXS (33) – This was the fourth and final Top 40 hit from their album Kick. For some reason, this song just never did anything for me - I guess it was too boring. I was never a big fan of them in the first place (though I did like their two mid-1988 songs).
WILD WILD WEST – ESCAPE CLUB (36) – The video for this song always creeped me out – especially the mirror-imaged legs. The song, however, was pretty good.
THE LOCO-MOTION – KYLIE MINOGUE (40) - The last of three versions of this song to hit the Top Ten. It was also the lowest peaking version of the song. I preferred the other two versions (by Little Eva and Grand Funk, both of which hit #1), though it would have been neat if this song had made it also, making it the first time that the same song performed a hat trick.
ONE MOMENT IN TIME – WHITNEY HOUSTON (35) – A song recorded for the 1988 Summer Olympics. I thought it was a great song at first, but somehow, it got old pretty fast (probably due to its overplay during its first few weeks on the chart). It's good to hear every now and then, but it's definitely not my favorite song from her.
SUPERSTITIOUS – EUROPE (37) – This Swedish rock band definitely had already had their day in the sun the year before when their album “The Final Countdown” gave them three Top 40 hits. Their next album, Out Of This World, did well, selling three million copies worldwide, but only generated a single Top 40 hit, which ran out of gas before hitting the Top 30. I wasn't too crazy about the song, so it was no big loss that it tanked so fast.
TIME AND TIDE – BASIA (39) – This Poland native, who only went by one name (presumably because her last name, Trzetrzelewska was hard to spell or pronounce), was most successful at Smooth Jazz and AC radio, but she did have two Top 40 hits. This was the first of them. It was a pretty good song, but I preferred the next one, “Cruising For Bruising”, which charted in the spring of 1990.
KOKOMO – THE BEACH BOYS (40) - Who knew that the Beach Boys, more famous for their 1960s hits, would still be hitting #1 in the late 1980s? This is possibly the song of theirs that receives the most recurrent airplay, especially since 1960s hits have pretty much disappeared from oldies stations.
BAD MEDICINE – BON JOVI (34) – They made it two in a row, as far as successful singles albums, as New Jersey, though it did not sell quite as well as Slippery When Wet, generated more singles – a total of five Top Ten hits. This was the first of them, and to number one it went. It wasn't bad, but definitely not one of my favorite songs from them.
ANOTHER LOVER – GIANT STEPS (35) – The only Top 40 hit from this English pop duo. I actually thought it was a neat song. Unfortunately, they would not duplicate the success of this song, as their next single, “Into You” petered out at #58.
INDESTRUCTIBLE – THE FOUR TOPS (37) – Their early-80s comeback was somewhat successful, as they got a #11 hit out of it (“When She Was My Girl”), but such was not the case when they tried again seven years later, as this song didn't get any higher than #35, which was too bad, as I really liked this song a lot. Since NBC used this song for the Summer Olympics, I'm wondering if this song might have done better had it been released a few months earlier, though I'm thinking probably not.
DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GOT ('TIL IT'S GONE) – CINDERELLA (38) – They hit #13 the year before with their debut single “Nobody's Fool” and they did one better with this power ballad, which turned out to be their biggest hit ever. I thought it was a good one, though I did prefer said debut single, as well as “Coming Home”, which would chart the following spring.
HOW CAN I FALL – BREATHE (40) - Ever notice how the beginning of this song sounds like the intro to "Purple Rain" by Prince? Anyway, I wasn't a huge fan of the singles from their debut album All That Jazz (probably since they were so overplayed, especially the first two). I do prefer this song over "Hands To Heaven", though. But I preferred the singles from their second album, Peace Of Mind, which was nowhere near as successful as the first.
DESIRE – U2 (37) – The first of two singles from Rattle And Hum. One thing I remember about this song is that it just barely made it onto the YE 1988 show, as it peaked the last week of November (I believe the cutoff date was December 3). This was a pretty good song, but I prefer a few others from them.
DANCE LITTLE SISTER – TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY (39) – This song wasn't anywhere near as successful as the other two Top 40 singles from the Hardline album, and I can see why (though this song isn't as annoying as the first single from the album, “If You Let Me Stay”. He basically screamed that song instead of singing it.
BABY I LOVE YOUR WAY/FREEBIRD MEDLEY (FREEBABY) – WILL TO POWER (32) - A very unnecessary cover - that is all.
KISSING A FOOL – GEORGE MICHAEL (34) - Clearly the top male artist of 1988, who, sadly, left us on Christmas day of last year, with the fifth it from his Faith album. This was the only one of them that did not get up to #1 - in fact, it barely made the Top Five. That could be because, aside from the different music style (sounds more like a piano bar song), it was from an album that nearly everyone had at this point, so the single was probably only being bought by teenage fans that didn't make a lot of money. Anyway, I rather liked this song - partially because it wasn't played to death like the other Faith singles.
LOOK AWAY – CHICAGO (35) – This song ended up being their third #1 hit, and, of course, everyone knows that it was Billboard's #1 song of 1989. Had it peaked a few weeks earlier, this would have wound up on the 1988 list, and probably not at #1. Many people were irked about the song winning the gold, since the song was more of a 1988 song (in fact, besides peaking in 1988 and spending all but one of its Top Ten weeks during that year, the song only spent four weeks in the Top 40 in the calendar year of 1989), but I didn't mind at all. Besides, Chicago had been charting for close to 20 years; I was happy for them - really happy for them - that they finally had a top song of the year (especially since I don't think they ever even made the Top Ten of any year). And, of their three #1 songs, this was definitely my favorite.
A WORD IN SPANISH – ELTON JOHN (37) – We never did find out the Spanish word that Elton didn't understand, did we? All we know that the leading man spoke it with devotion and sincerity that made the female lead cry.
IT TAKES TWO – ROB BASE & DJ EZ ROCK (38) – This song might have only gotten as high as #36, but it's known to many. The song samples Lyn Collins funk hit “Think (About It) . That's where the “Woo! Yeah” shouts, as well as the chorus lines are sampled. The shouts, of course, have been used in many hits over the years (I believe this was the song that sampled them first). As for my opinion of the song, I like hearing it at dances, but otherwise, the song doesn't do anything for me.
WAITING FOR A STAR TO FALL – BOY MEETS GIRL (39) – This song's title was inspired by a sighting of a shooting star by one of the members at a Whitney Houston concert. It was a good song, though quite overplayed back in the day.
GIVING YOU THE BEST THAT I GOT – ANITA BAKER (36) - Since she was more of a R&B Jazz artist, I figured that the Rapture album would be the only one to have any kind of success at Top 40, but she actually was slightly more successful with her album for which this was the title track, as this one hit the Top Five, and she had a Top Twenty follow-up, "Just Because". This one was a pretty good song, but I generally preferred the Rapture album, which had several great album cuts in addition to the Pop and AC hits.
I DON'T WANT YOUR LOVE – DURAN DURAN (38) - The Big Thing album was a low point in their career, both in my opinion and many others, since this was their first album (excluding Carnival, which was outlasted by Rio) not to attain Platinum status. The song spawned two singles and this song was the only Top Ten. It was so/so, but one of my least favorite songs from them.
WALK ON WATER – EDDIE MONEY (39) - Well, the Bible tells us that Jesus did it (and I seem to remember that someone did it in the video for "Magic" by The Cars), but Eddie Money seemed to want to be the third one, in order to right a wrong done unto his loved one. I liked this song, but preferred a few others from him, including the follow-up, "The Love In Your Eyes", which petered out at #24 in March.
THE PROMISE – WHEN IN ROME (40) – Another English one-hit wonder, like Giant Steps. The only difference is, while I liked the Top 40 hit by the latter, this song just never did anything for me somehow.
DOWNTOWN LIFE – DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (38) – People sure got tired of this one fast! It only lasted three weeks in the Top 40, and the week after it fell out, to #50, it practically fell clean off the Hot 100, pausing at #100. I myself was never a big fan of this song – the only song I liked from Ooh Yeah was “Everything Your Heart Desires”.
EDGE OF A BROKEN HEART – VIXEN (39) – They were a somewhat rare bird – a female heavy metal band. This was their first of two Top 40 hits. I preferred the second one by a fair margin, but this one was a good one as well.
SMALL WORLD – HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS (40) – They seemed to have a thing about worlds, as this was their second consecutive Top 40 hit with that word in the title. I actually preferred this one – and I don't think any overplay of “Perfect World” had anything to do with it, as that was never one of my favorites from them in the first place. It's too bad this one didn't get any higher than it did, but the band's popularity was clearly beginning to wane at this point – the album from which this was the title track was their last album to be certified platinum.
DOMINO DANCING – THE PET SHOP BOYS (32) – Their first five hits all made the Top Ten, but this one only got as high as #18, which is a shame, since I really liked this song. I guess they decided to quit while they were ahead, since this was their final Top 40 hit.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE – GUNS 'N ROSES (33) - They were one of the top new acts of 1988, especially after their #1 debut single “Sweet Child O' Mine”. This was their second Top 40 hit, and though it didn't hit #1, it did hit the Top Ten. This song was OK, but I preferred others from them.
FINISH WHAT YA STARTED – VAN HALEN (35) – I have violated this rule many a time, but this 1988 critique will NOT be one example. As for this song, it was a good one – I did prefer “When It's Love” over this one, but I liked it better than “Black And Blue”, among a few other Van Halen songs.
SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE – WAS (NOT WAS) (40) – They were more famous for their 1989 hit “Walk The Dinosaur”, but this was actually their first Top 40 hit, which to me, was kinda just there – I neither hated nor liked it.
EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN – POISON (32) – Power ballads from hard rock bands seemed to abound in the late 1980s. This was one of the bigger ones, spending three weeks on top around the holiday season of 1988. I liked it at first, but then, after hearing it umpteen times, I grew tired of it. Now it's one of those songs that's good to hear every once in awhile.
MY PREROGATIVE – BOBBY BROWN (33) - Anyway, this song helped to expand my vocabulary, as I had never even heard of the word "prerogative" before, let alone knew what it meant. As for the song itself, I thought it was a great song - one of his all time best!
IN YOUR ROOM – THE BANGLES (36) - Their third album "Everything" gave them three Top 40 hits, two of which made the Top Ten. I liked this song, but preferred a few others from them, including their follow-up, which is coming up later.
TILL I LOVED YOU – BARBRA STREISAND & DON JOHNSON (38) – Babs and Crockett, with a one-time duet from the musical Goya. The cheese factor was indeed present, but it was a really beautiful song that I felt was underrated (though, at the same time, I can see why this wouldn't do very well at Top 40 radio, especially at the time).
EARLY IN THE MORNING – ROBERT PALMER (39) – His remake of the Gap Band's 1982 hit (though he did not include the rooster crowing at the beginning), which was even more successful, peaking at #19, five spots above the original. I actually thought it was a good song, which is kind of surprising, given that I'm not a huge Robert Palmer fan (perhaps the fact that this wasn't even one of his own songs contributed to that).
NOT JUST ANOTHER GIRL – IVAN NEVILLE (40) – The son of Aaron Neville, whom, at this point, was a one-hit wonder as his only Top 40 hit so far was “Tell It Like It Is”. I wonder if Ivan was influential to Aaron making a comeback, with his hits with Linda Ronstadt, and, later, on his own. As for this song, I liked it and felt it deserved a higher peak than #26.
I REMEMBER HOLDING YOU – BOYS CLUB (38) – This song was more or less second rate "Careless Whisper", and I think we all know how I feel about that song. At least I didn't get snubbed anytime when this song was playing. Of course, that could be because I didn't to to any dances during this song's chart run.
SILHOUETTE – KENNY G (39) – The second of three instrumental songs of his that made it into the Top 40. It's not bad, but I preferred a few others from him, including vocal tracks and other instrumentals that did not quite make the Top 40 (i.e. “Going Home” and “Sentimental”).
SYMPTOMS OF TRUE LOVE – TRACIE SPENCER (40) – I remember hearing this one on B96 quite a lot back in late 1988. It was a great song and quite underexposed. Possibly my favorite Tracie Spencer song of all time!
DON'T RUSH ME – TAYLOR DAYNE (33) - The last of four Top Ten hits from Dayne's debut album Tell It To My Heart. My favorite was the title track, but this would be a close second or third, since I'm not sure if I prefer it or "Prove Your Love". I generally preferred the Can't Fight Fate singles anyway.
TWO HEARTS – PHIL COLLINS (35) - People certainly got tired of this song fast, as it fell from #1 to #10 in a single week - the biggest drop since"Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe" by Barry White, in October, 1974 "Do You Know Where You're Going To" by Diana Ross almost exactly thirteen years before. I liked it a lot; had sort of a Motown feel to it, and, if I'm not mistaken, sometimes, in his concert he segues from "You Can't Hurry Love" (of course, a Motown remake) into this song.
YEAH YEAH YEAH – JUDSON SPENCE (36) – The only Top 40 hit for this Mississippi native. I remember this one – it was a great, feel-good type of song with a simple, yet catchy chorus. Too bad the song didn't even hit the Top 30.
THE WAY YOU LOVE ME – KARYN WHITE (37) – She first hit the Top 40 in 1987 as a featured vocalist on Jeff Lorber's “The Facts Of Love”, but this was her first hit of her own. The song pretty much blends in with the other R&B dance music of the late 1980s (and I seem to remember this song hit #1 on the American Dance Traxx chart, but I could be wrong).
SMOOTH CRIMINAL – MICHAEL JACKSON (38) – His Thriller album spawned seven Top 40 hits, and Bad was now doing the same, as this was the seventh hit from that album. It was a good one, though he's had many other songs that I prefer.
PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART – ANNIE LENNOX & AL GREEN (34) – The ending theme to the 1988 Christmas film Scrooged. For some reason, I was never a big fan of this song.
ARMAGEDDON IT – DEF LEPPARD (37) – Like Bad, this band's Hysteria album spawned multiple Top 40 hits. Most of its success was during 1988, but it still had quite a lot of steam left in it during early 1989, with this song and the #12 "Rocket". I liked this song but it wasn't quite my favorite from them.
ALL THIS TIME – TIFFANY (40) - Her second album didn't fare quite as well as her first (which spawned three Top Ten hits, two of them making it to the top), but she did get a Top Ten hit out of it. I remember when I first heard this on AT40 the week it debuted and instantly loved it. The song topped my Personal Top 30 chart for nine weeks and would have been the #1 song of that year all points totalled but the fact that the first few weeks of its chart climb were in 1988 affected its ranking on the year-ender, so the song lost out to "Cryin'" by Vixen - the very song that bumped it out of the top on the weekly charts, so it was a double-whammy there. Oh well, Tiffany had the last laugh on this chart, as the Vixen song didn't even make it.
WILD WORLD – MAXI PRIEST (37) – An interesting reggae cover of the Cat Stevens classic. My favorite version was the original, of course, but this would probably be my second favorite. Of course, Mr. Big's 1993 cover could give it a run for the money (The Pet Shop Boys' 1987 cover doesn't count).
LITTLE LIAR – JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (38) – This song proved that her 1988 comeback wasn't a fluke. Although it didn't fare quite as well as “I Hate Myself For Loving You”, the song did make the Top 20. I preferred it over the other 1988 song, since it was a little more mellow.
THANKS FOR MY CHILD – CHERYL “PEPSII” RILEY (39) – This song received a lot of flak from parents, teachers, and so forth, since they felt the song promoted teenage pregnancy, which might have hindered its chart run somewhat (as the song only peaked at #32). I actually liked the song a lot, since even though the father of the baby up and left, she promises everything's going to be alright.
HOLDING ON – STEVE WINWOOD (40) – The third and final Top 40 single from Roll With It. I preferred the other two, but this one wasn't bad (though it seemed to be a watered-down version of the title track.
WHEN THE CHILDREN CRY – WHITE LION (31) - Meh, I wasn't a fan of this one at all - too maudlin. I much preferred their other Top Ten hit, "Wait" from earlier in the year.
BORN TO BE MY BABY – BON JOVI (34) - They were definitely on a roll during the latter half of the 1980s, with many Top Ten hits on the charts, this one included. I remember being a little tired of the song, which was overplayed by my radio stations back in the day, but now that it gets very little recurrent airplay, I enjoy hearing it every now and again.
WHEN I'M WITH YOU – SHERIFF (38) - First released in the spring of 1983, this song couldn't manage to get past #61. But the song apparently aged, like fine wine, since when the song was re-released a little over five years later, it went all the way to #1. This song also set the record for the longest note held on a Top Ten record - Freddy Curci's 25-seconds of singing the final word in the song bested that of Russell Hitchcock in "All Out Of Love" by a fraction of a second, IIRC.
GHOST TOWN – CHEAP TRICK (39) – Third Single Syndrome definitely applied here, as the first two singles from Lap Of Luxury hit the Top Five, yet this one ran out of gas at #33, which is too bad, as this was one of my favorite songs from them. This one was a little reminiscent of their early 1980 hit “Voices” - another favorite Cheap Trick song of mine.
I WANNA HAVE SOME FUN – SAMANTHA FOX (40) – Meh, this one was pretty much "Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)" Part 2 (it even mentions that title in the song). Not a big fan of this one at all.
THE LOVER IN ME – SHEENA EASTON (34) – The title track from the ninth studio album by this Scottish Lass (as well as the only Top 40 hit from the album). I generally preferred her earlier hits (excluding "Morning Train"). This one didn't really do anything for me.
STRAIGHT UP – PAULA ABDUL (35) – She definitely had a bang-up year in 1989, with four Top Five hits, three of them making it all the way to the top. This was her first one, which I myself was never a big fan of (and naturally, it's the song of hers that seems to get the most recurrent airplay). I generally reach for the station tuner when this song comes on.
WILD THING – TONE LOC (37) - Meh, I never liked this song too much, and overplay made it worse. Back in the day, this would probably get a "No. Just no", but I can stomach a listen to this song every once in awhile.
KISS – THE ART OF NOISE f/TOM JONES (40) – Many people I know hated this version of Prince's #1 song from 1986, but in my opinion, it was actually the saving grace for this song (as I did not like the original version, since Prince sang in a falsetto voice that I found quite irritating). In this song, you can actually understand what Jones is singing. As obscure as this song was, the “think I better dance now” part was sampled in at least two Top 40 hits (“Two To Make It Right” by Seduction and “How To Dance” by the Bingo Boys).
I'll try to get the 1989 version posted sometime in the future - probably sometime after the holidays.
PLEASE DON'T GO GIRL – NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK (37) – Ah, this is the one that started it all off for this boyband that all the then-tweens were crazy about. Honestly – every young girl I knew had at least one favorite New Kid. They were way overrated, IMO, but they did have a few decent songs. This one was OK, but a little too whiny, like many “please don't go” types of songs (KC & The Sunshine Band come to mind)
I DON'T WANNA BE A HERO – JOHNNY HATES JAZZ (38) – The second hit that was pretty much riding the coattails of their debut song “Shattered Dreams”, which I liked, as well as their AC-only hit “Turn Back The Clock”, but this song, for some reason, just never did anything for me.
I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU – JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (39) – They'd had several low charters since their first wave of popularity in 1982, but this one took them back into the Top Ten. It was a pretty good song. Janet Jackson's 1990 #1 hit “Black Cat” sounded a lot like this one IMO.
DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY – BOBBY MCFERRIN (40) – This was the first song that new AT40 host Shadoe Stevens introduced, since it kicked off the countdown. You don't hear this one very often anymore (though I remember the song being played ad nauseum on the radio at the beginning of my junior year in High School – had I been doing critiques back then, this one just might have gotten “No. Just no” status, but now, I don't mind hearing it every once in awhile.
DON'T BE CRUEL – CHEAP TRICK (37) – They'd had a big #1 hit back in July with “The Flame” and this song proved that their comeback was no fluke, as it also hit the Top Ten. Of course, it was a cover of the King's big 1956 hit. I'm not sure which one of those I preferred, as both of them were pretty good.
DON'T BE CRUEL – BOBBY BROWN (38) – This was a completely different song. It also marked the first time that two songs with the same title debuted on the chart at the same time – and they were back-to-back, no less. In addition, this was Brown's first solo hit, after singing with New Edition (who themselves had a chart hit during the fall of 1988). I wasn't a huge R&B fan, but Bobby Brown's music was usually pretty good, this one included.
LOVE BITES – DEF LEPPARD (39) – After over five years of charting, they finally had their first #1 song, with their only power ballad that they released from their behemoth album Hysteria, which spawned a total of seven singles! I liked this song, though I preferred a few others from them.
NIGHTMARE ON MY STREET – DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE (40) – This was their second Top 40 hit and, like the first one, it was a story song, based on the thriller Nightmare On Elm Street, with Will being tormented by Freddy Krueger.
FALLEN ANGEL – POISON (38) – Wow, all the debuts on the first few charts of the Shadoe ere seemed to be on the bottom of the charts! This was Poison's fourth Top 40 single and I couldn't help but notice that they couldn't seem to get any Top Ten hits on the R&R chart, as their first three singles just missed and this one peaked at #15. I liked this song when it first came out, but grew tired of it somewhat quickly. Not sure why, though; it's not like this song was way overplayed or anything. It just wasn't their best song, that's all.
LOOK OUT ANY WINDOW – BRUCE HORNSBY & THE RANGE (39) – Not sure what it is about this song – its musical arrangement is magnificent, with a great piano solo. Yet, I was never crazy about the song at all. I think it's just the lyrics I didn't like. Look out any window or open door and see what's going on in the world around you – um, yes everybody knows that. Sounds more like the chorus of a kiddie song to me. But again, the melody is pretty good – it was just in need of better lyrics.
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND (PURE ENERGY) – INFORMATION SOCIETY (40) - The first of two Top Tens for this pop-dance quartet formed in Minneapolis. Nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to.
STAYING TOGETHER – DEBBIE GIBSON (34) – Ah, that's better - the debuts are more spread out on this chart. This song was the fifth single from Out Of The Blue, though it certainly wasn't as successful as the first four, all of which made the Top Five. This one, on the other hand, didn't even break the Top 20. I can kinda see why, as it was nowhere near as good as some of the first singles, plus, her album had been out for over a year and most fans already had it (though I myself did not buy it until November, 1989, when I won a certificate good for one free tape or CD at Orbit Records (Mishawaka, IN) and that's what I spent it on.
RED RED WINE – UB40 (36) – This was actually a re-entry, as the song had previously charted in 1984, peaking at #34. The decision to re-release this was definitely worthwhile, as it went all the way to the top. The song is OK, as long as it doesn't contain the “Red Red Wine, you make me feel so fine...” bridge.
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET – BRENDA K STARR (40) – Her first hit was a ballad and, for her second, she went with an upbeat dance song. Of course, I preferred “I Still Believe”, but this one was actually pretty good as well.
FOREVER YOUNG – ROD STEWART (35) – This was the second of four singles from Stewart's Out Of Order album, which had been released back in May. Like the first single “Lost In You”, this song peaked at #12. I still hear this one every once in awhile on AC or 80s Oldies stations.
DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT THE NIGHT CAN DO – STEVE WINWOOD (36) - This song always makes me thirsty for a Michelob. It was a pretty good song, IMO, but it's far from being my favorite song from him.
TRUE LOVE – GLENN FREY (37) – This was one of several songs with that “false ending”. I can't think of any others off the top of my head (well, except for “Lean On Me” by Club Nouveau), but as for this song, I thought it was pretty good.
CHAINS OF LOVE – ERASURE (38) – The first of three Top 40 singles from this London-based synthpop duo. I thought it was a good song, as well as their other two hits “A Little Respect” and “Always”.
A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE – PHIL COLLINS (31) - The original version of this song, by the Mindbenders, was a mid-tempo song, but Phil turned it into a ballad - and it apparently worked, as the song went all the way to the top. It was a great one, but I preferred his next hit, "Two Hearts", which also went to #1.
NEVER TEAR US APART – INXS (33) – This was the fourth and final Top 40 hit from their album Kick. For some reason, this song just never did anything for me - I guess it was too boring. I was never a big fan of them in the first place (though I did like their two mid-1988 songs).
WILD WILD WEST – ESCAPE CLUB (36) – The video for this song always creeped me out – especially the mirror-imaged legs. The song, however, was pretty good.
THE LOCO-MOTION – KYLIE MINOGUE (40) - The last of three versions of this song to hit the Top Ten. It was also the lowest peaking version of the song. I preferred the other two versions (by Little Eva and Grand Funk, both of which hit #1), though it would have been neat if this song had made it also, making it the first time that the same song performed a hat trick.
ONE MOMENT IN TIME – WHITNEY HOUSTON (35) – A song recorded for the 1988 Summer Olympics. I thought it was a great song at first, but somehow, it got old pretty fast (probably due to its overplay during its first few weeks on the chart). It's good to hear every now and then, but it's definitely not my favorite song from her.
SUPERSTITIOUS – EUROPE (37) – This Swedish rock band definitely had already had their day in the sun the year before when their album “The Final Countdown” gave them three Top 40 hits. Their next album, Out Of This World, did well, selling three million copies worldwide, but only generated a single Top 40 hit, which ran out of gas before hitting the Top 30. I wasn't too crazy about the song, so it was no big loss that it tanked so fast.
TIME AND TIDE – BASIA (39) – This Poland native, who only went by one name (presumably because her last name, Trzetrzelewska was hard to spell or pronounce), was most successful at Smooth Jazz and AC radio, but she did have two Top 40 hits. This was the first of them. It was a pretty good song, but I preferred the next one, “Cruising For Bruising”, which charted in the spring of 1990.
KOKOMO – THE BEACH BOYS (40) - Who knew that the Beach Boys, more famous for their 1960s hits, would still be hitting #1 in the late 1980s? This is possibly the song of theirs that receives the most recurrent airplay, especially since 1960s hits have pretty much disappeared from oldies stations.
BAD MEDICINE – BON JOVI (34) – They made it two in a row, as far as successful singles albums, as New Jersey, though it did not sell quite as well as Slippery When Wet, generated more singles – a total of five Top Ten hits. This was the first of them, and to number one it went. It wasn't bad, but definitely not one of my favorite songs from them.
ANOTHER LOVER – GIANT STEPS (35) – The only Top 40 hit from this English pop duo. I actually thought it was a neat song. Unfortunately, they would not duplicate the success of this song, as their next single, “Into You” petered out at #58.
INDESTRUCTIBLE – THE FOUR TOPS (37) – Their early-80s comeback was somewhat successful, as they got a #11 hit out of it (“When She Was My Girl”), but such was not the case when they tried again seven years later, as this song didn't get any higher than #35, which was too bad, as I really liked this song a lot. Since NBC used this song for the Summer Olympics, I'm wondering if this song might have done better had it been released a few months earlier, though I'm thinking probably not.
DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GOT ('TIL IT'S GONE) – CINDERELLA (38) – They hit #13 the year before with their debut single “Nobody's Fool” and they did one better with this power ballad, which turned out to be their biggest hit ever. I thought it was a good one, though I did prefer said debut single, as well as “Coming Home”, which would chart the following spring.
HOW CAN I FALL – BREATHE (40) - Ever notice how the beginning of this song sounds like the intro to "Purple Rain" by Prince? Anyway, I wasn't a huge fan of the singles from their debut album All That Jazz (probably since they were so overplayed, especially the first two). I do prefer this song over "Hands To Heaven", though. But I preferred the singles from their second album, Peace Of Mind, which was nowhere near as successful as the first.
DESIRE – U2 (37) – The first of two singles from Rattle And Hum. One thing I remember about this song is that it just barely made it onto the YE 1988 show, as it peaked the last week of November (I believe the cutoff date was December 3). This was a pretty good song, but I prefer a few others from them.
DANCE LITTLE SISTER – TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY (39) – This song wasn't anywhere near as successful as the other two Top 40 singles from the Hardline album, and I can see why (though this song isn't as annoying as the first single from the album, “If You Let Me Stay”. He basically screamed that song instead of singing it.
BABY I LOVE YOUR WAY/FREEBIRD MEDLEY (FREEBABY) – WILL TO POWER (32) - A very unnecessary cover - that is all.
KISSING A FOOL – GEORGE MICHAEL (34) - Clearly the top male artist of 1988, who, sadly, left us on Christmas day of last year, with the fifth it from his Faith album. This was the only one of them that did not get up to #1 - in fact, it barely made the Top Five. That could be because, aside from the different music style (sounds more like a piano bar song), it was from an album that nearly everyone had at this point, so the single was probably only being bought by teenage fans that didn't make a lot of money. Anyway, I rather liked this song - partially because it wasn't played to death like the other Faith singles.
LOOK AWAY – CHICAGO (35) – This song ended up being their third #1 hit, and, of course, everyone knows that it was Billboard's #1 song of 1989. Had it peaked a few weeks earlier, this would have wound up on the 1988 list, and probably not at #1. Many people were irked about the song winning the gold, since the song was more of a 1988 song (in fact, besides peaking in 1988 and spending all but one of its Top Ten weeks during that year, the song only spent four weeks in the Top 40 in the calendar year of 1989), but I didn't mind at all. Besides, Chicago had been charting for close to 20 years; I was happy for them - really happy for them - that they finally had a top song of the year (especially since I don't think they ever even made the Top Ten of any year). And, of their three #1 songs, this was definitely my favorite.
A WORD IN SPANISH – ELTON JOHN (37) – We never did find out the Spanish word that Elton didn't understand, did we? All we know that the leading man spoke it with devotion and sincerity that made the female lead cry.
IT TAKES TWO – ROB BASE & DJ EZ ROCK (38) – This song might have only gotten as high as #36, but it's known to many. The song samples Lyn Collins funk hit “Think (About It) . That's where the “Woo! Yeah” shouts, as well as the chorus lines are sampled. The shouts, of course, have been used in many hits over the years (I believe this was the song that sampled them first). As for my opinion of the song, I like hearing it at dances, but otherwise, the song doesn't do anything for me.
WAITING FOR A STAR TO FALL – BOY MEETS GIRL (39) – This song's title was inspired by a sighting of a shooting star by one of the members at a Whitney Houston concert. It was a good song, though quite overplayed back in the day.
GIVING YOU THE BEST THAT I GOT – ANITA BAKER (36) - Since she was more of a R&B Jazz artist, I figured that the Rapture album would be the only one to have any kind of success at Top 40, but she actually was slightly more successful with her album for which this was the title track, as this one hit the Top Five, and she had a Top Twenty follow-up, "Just Because". This one was a pretty good song, but I generally preferred the Rapture album, which had several great album cuts in addition to the Pop and AC hits.
I DON'T WANT YOUR LOVE – DURAN DURAN (38) - The Big Thing album was a low point in their career, both in my opinion and many others, since this was their first album (excluding Carnival, which was outlasted by Rio) not to attain Platinum status. The song spawned two singles and this song was the only Top Ten. It was so/so, but one of my least favorite songs from them.
WALK ON WATER – EDDIE MONEY (39) - Well, the Bible tells us that Jesus did it (and I seem to remember that someone did it in the video for "Magic" by The Cars), but Eddie Money seemed to want to be the third one, in order to right a wrong done unto his loved one. I liked this song, but preferred a few others from him, including the follow-up, "The Love In Your Eyes", which petered out at #24 in March.
THE PROMISE – WHEN IN ROME (40) – Another English one-hit wonder, like Giant Steps. The only difference is, while I liked the Top 40 hit by the latter, this song just never did anything for me somehow.
DOWNTOWN LIFE – DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (38) – People sure got tired of this one fast! It only lasted three weeks in the Top 40, and the week after it fell out, to #50, it practically fell clean off the Hot 100, pausing at #100. I myself was never a big fan of this song – the only song I liked from Ooh Yeah was “Everything Your Heart Desires”.
EDGE OF A BROKEN HEART – VIXEN (39) – They were a somewhat rare bird – a female heavy metal band. This was their first of two Top 40 hits. I preferred the second one by a fair margin, but this one was a good one as well.
SMALL WORLD – HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS (40) – They seemed to have a thing about worlds, as this was their second consecutive Top 40 hit with that word in the title. I actually preferred this one – and I don't think any overplay of “Perfect World” had anything to do with it, as that was never one of my favorites from them in the first place. It's too bad this one didn't get any higher than it did, but the band's popularity was clearly beginning to wane at this point – the album from which this was the title track was their last album to be certified platinum.
DOMINO DANCING – THE PET SHOP BOYS (32) – Their first five hits all made the Top Ten, but this one only got as high as #18, which is a shame, since I really liked this song. I guess they decided to quit while they were ahead, since this was their final Top 40 hit.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE – GUNS 'N ROSES (33) - They were one of the top new acts of 1988, especially after their #1 debut single “Sweet Child O' Mine”. This was their second Top 40 hit, and though it didn't hit #1, it did hit the Top Ten. This song was OK, but I preferred others from them.
FINISH WHAT YA STARTED – VAN HALEN (35) – I have violated this rule many a time, but this 1988 critique will NOT be one example. As for this song, it was a good one – I did prefer “When It's Love” over this one, but I liked it better than “Black And Blue”, among a few other Van Halen songs.
SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE – WAS (NOT WAS) (40) – They were more famous for their 1989 hit “Walk The Dinosaur”, but this was actually their first Top 40 hit, which to me, was kinda just there – I neither hated nor liked it.
EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN – POISON (32) – Power ballads from hard rock bands seemed to abound in the late 1980s. This was one of the bigger ones, spending three weeks on top around the holiday season of 1988. I liked it at first, but then, after hearing it umpteen times, I grew tired of it. Now it's one of those songs that's good to hear every once in awhile.
MY PREROGATIVE – BOBBY BROWN (33) - Anyway, this song helped to expand my vocabulary, as I had never even heard of the word "prerogative" before, let alone knew what it meant. As for the song itself, I thought it was a great song - one of his all time best!
IN YOUR ROOM – THE BANGLES (36) - Their third album "Everything" gave them three Top 40 hits, two of which made the Top Ten. I liked this song, but preferred a few others from them, including their follow-up, which is coming up later.
TILL I LOVED YOU – BARBRA STREISAND & DON JOHNSON (38) – Babs and Crockett, with a one-time duet from the musical Goya. The cheese factor was indeed present, but it was a really beautiful song that I felt was underrated (though, at the same time, I can see why this wouldn't do very well at Top 40 radio, especially at the time).
EARLY IN THE MORNING – ROBERT PALMER (39) – His remake of the Gap Band's 1982 hit (though he did not include the rooster crowing at the beginning), which was even more successful, peaking at #19, five spots above the original. I actually thought it was a good song, which is kind of surprising, given that I'm not a huge Robert Palmer fan (perhaps the fact that this wasn't even one of his own songs contributed to that).
NOT JUST ANOTHER GIRL – IVAN NEVILLE (40) – The son of Aaron Neville, whom, at this point, was a one-hit wonder as his only Top 40 hit so far was “Tell It Like It Is”. I wonder if Ivan was influential to Aaron making a comeback, with his hits with Linda Ronstadt, and, later, on his own. As for this song, I liked it and felt it deserved a higher peak than #26.
I REMEMBER HOLDING YOU – BOYS CLUB (38) – This song was more or less second rate "Careless Whisper", and I think we all know how I feel about that song. At least I didn't get snubbed anytime when this song was playing. Of course, that could be because I didn't to to any dances during this song's chart run.
SILHOUETTE – KENNY G (39) – The second of three instrumental songs of his that made it into the Top 40. It's not bad, but I preferred a few others from him, including vocal tracks and other instrumentals that did not quite make the Top 40 (i.e. “Going Home” and “Sentimental”).
SYMPTOMS OF TRUE LOVE – TRACIE SPENCER (40) – I remember hearing this one on B96 quite a lot back in late 1988. It was a great song and quite underexposed. Possibly my favorite Tracie Spencer song of all time!
DON'T RUSH ME – TAYLOR DAYNE (33) - The last of four Top Ten hits from Dayne's debut album Tell It To My Heart. My favorite was the title track, but this would be a close second or third, since I'm not sure if I prefer it or "Prove Your Love". I generally preferred the Can't Fight Fate singles anyway.
TWO HEARTS – PHIL COLLINS (35) - People certainly got tired of this song fast, as it fell from #1 to #10 in a single week - the biggest drop since
YEAH YEAH YEAH – JUDSON SPENCE (36) – The only Top 40 hit for this Mississippi native. I remember this one – it was a great, feel-good type of song with a simple, yet catchy chorus. Too bad the song didn't even hit the Top 30.
THE WAY YOU LOVE ME – KARYN WHITE (37) – She first hit the Top 40 in 1987 as a featured vocalist on Jeff Lorber's “The Facts Of Love”, but this was her first hit of her own. The song pretty much blends in with the other R&B dance music of the late 1980s (and I seem to remember this song hit #1 on the American Dance Traxx chart, but I could be wrong).
SMOOTH CRIMINAL – MICHAEL JACKSON (38) – His Thriller album spawned seven Top 40 hits, and Bad was now doing the same, as this was the seventh hit from that album. It was a good one, though he's had many other songs that I prefer.
PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART – ANNIE LENNOX & AL GREEN (34) – The ending theme to the 1988 Christmas film Scrooged. For some reason, I was never a big fan of this song.
ARMAGEDDON IT – DEF LEPPARD (37) – Like Bad, this band's Hysteria album spawned multiple Top 40 hits. Most of its success was during 1988, but it still had quite a lot of steam left in it during early 1989, with this song and the #12 "Rocket". I liked this song but it wasn't quite my favorite from them.
ALL THIS TIME – TIFFANY (40) - Her second album didn't fare quite as well as her first (which spawned three Top Ten hits, two of them making it to the top), but she did get a Top Ten hit out of it. I remember when I first heard this on AT40 the week it debuted and instantly loved it. The song topped my Personal Top 30 chart for nine weeks and would have been the #1 song of that year all points totalled but the fact that the first few weeks of its chart climb were in 1988 affected its ranking on the year-ender, so the song lost out to "Cryin'" by Vixen - the very song that bumped it out of the top on the weekly charts, so it was a double-whammy there. Oh well, Tiffany had the last laugh on this chart, as the Vixen song didn't even make it.
WILD WORLD – MAXI PRIEST (37) – An interesting reggae cover of the Cat Stevens classic. My favorite version was the original, of course, but this would probably be my second favorite. Of course, Mr. Big's 1993 cover could give it a run for the money (The Pet Shop Boys' 1987 cover doesn't count).
LITTLE LIAR – JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (38) – This song proved that her 1988 comeback wasn't a fluke. Although it didn't fare quite as well as “I Hate Myself For Loving You”, the song did make the Top 20. I preferred it over the other 1988 song, since it was a little more mellow.
THANKS FOR MY CHILD – CHERYL “PEPSII” RILEY (39) – This song received a lot of flak from parents, teachers, and so forth, since they felt the song promoted teenage pregnancy, which might have hindered its chart run somewhat (as the song only peaked at #32). I actually liked the song a lot, since even though the father of the baby up and left, she promises everything's going to be alright.
HOLDING ON – STEVE WINWOOD (40) – The third and final Top 40 single from Roll With It. I preferred the other two, but this one wasn't bad (though it seemed to be a watered-down version of the title track.
WHEN THE CHILDREN CRY – WHITE LION (31) - Meh, I wasn't a fan of this one at all - too maudlin. I much preferred their other Top Ten hit, "Wait" from earlier in the year.
BORN TO BE MY BABY – BON JOVI (34) - They were definitely on a roll during the latter half of the 1980s, with many Top Ten hits on the charts, this one included. I remember being a little tired of the song, which was overplayed by my radio stations back in the day, but now that it gets very little recurrent airplay, I enjoy hearing it every now and again.
WHEN I'M WITH YOU – SHERIFF (38) - First released in the spring of 1983, this song couldn't manage to get past #61. But the song apparently aged, like fine wine, since when the song was re-released a little over five years later, it went all the way to #1. This song also set the record for the longest note held on a Top Ten record - Freddy Curci's 25-seconds of singing the final word in the song bested that of Russell Hitchcock in "All Out Of Love" by a fraction of a second, IIRC.
GHOST TOWN – CHEAP TRICK (39) – Third Single Syndrome definitely applied here, as the first two singles from Lap Of Luxury hit the Top Five, yet this one ran out of gas at #33, which is too bad, as this was one of my favorite songs from them. This one was a little reminiscent of their early 1980 hit “Voices” - another favorite Cheap Trick song of mine.
I WANNA HAVE SOME FUN – SAMANTHA FOX (40) – Meh, this one was pretty much "Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)" Part 2 (it even mentions that title in the song). Not a big fan of this one at all.
THE LOVER IN ME – SHEENA EASTON (34) – The title track from the ninth studio album by this Scottish Lass (as well as the only Top 40 hit from the album). I generally preferred her earlier hits (excluding "Morning Train"). This one didn't really do anything for me.
STRAIGHT UP – PAULA ABDUL (35) – She definitely had a bang-up year in 1989, with four Top Five hits, three of them making it all the way to the top. This was her first one, which I myself was never a big fan of (and naturally, it's the song of hers that seems to get the most recurrent airplay). I generally reach for the station tuner when this song comes on.
WILD THING – TONE LOC (37) - Meh, I never liked this song too much, and overplay made it worse. Back in the day, this would probably get a "No. Just no", but I can stomach a listen to this song every once in awhile.
KISS – THE ART OF NOISE f/TOM JONES (40) – Many people I know hated this version of Prince's #1 song from 1986, but in my opinion, it was actually the saving grace for this song (as I did not like the original version, since Prince sang in a falsetto voice that I found quite irritating). In this song, you can actually understand what Jones is singing. As obscure as this song was, the “think I better dance now” part was sampled in at least two Top 40 hits (“Two To Make It Right” by Seduction and “How To Dance” by the Bingo Boys).
I'll try to get the 1989 version posted sometime in the future - probably sometime after the holidays.