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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 8, 2021 20:39:08 GMT -5
"What Does It Take To Win Your Love" reached the top five in 1969.
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 8, 2021 21:01:51 GMT -5
"Don't Mean Nothin" featured members of The Eagles-Joe Walsh played slide guitar-Randy Meisner & Timothy B.Schmitt sang backgtound vocals.
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Post by pb on Aug 9, 2021 10:19:07 GMT -5
"Don't Mean Nothin" featured members of The Eagles-Joe Walsh played slide guitar-Randy Meisner & Timothy B.Schmitt sang backgtound vocals. I remember one of the critics back then mentioned that the riff was nearly the same as "Life's Been Good," and then looked it up and found that Joe Walsh was playing it himself.
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Post by Hervard on Aug 13, 2021 12:34:27 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 70s - August 14, 2021
This week's presentation - August 20, 1977
Droppers: MARGARITAVILLE - JIMMY BUFFETT (35) - This song's not bad, but quite overplayed. I preferred other songs from him, such as "Cheeseburger In Paradise" and "Fins". WAY DOWN - ELVIS PRESLEY (31) - As this song dropped off the chart, little did anyone know that Elvis would die unexpectedly a mere four days later. The song would return to the chart two weeks later on its way to a new peak of #18. This was a pretty good song, but I preferred his other 1977 hit, his rendition of the Frank Sinatra hit "My Way".
40: THAT’S ROCK & ROLL – SHAUN CASSIDY (debut) - Ah, the teen idol of the late-70s. I remember a girl who was in kindergarten with me had a huge crush on him. I liked most of his music - this and Da Doo Ron Ron are probably my two favorites from him. 39: SUNFLOWER – GLEN CAMPBELL (40) - His last Top 40 entry went all the way to the top, yet this one stopped right here at #39. Quite a far cry indeed! Anyway, this song was pretty good, but I prefer his Top Tens. 38: HARD ROCK CAFÉ – CAROLE KING (debut) - Her popularity had peaked during the first half of the 1970s, but she indeed had a few last gasps in the late-70s. This was her second-to-last Top 40 hit. It was a good one. 37: IT’S A CRAZY WORLD – MAC MCANALLY (37) - Someone on the boards mentioned that this Alabama native sounded a cross between James Taylor and Ronnie Milsap and I definitely hear the resemblance to both artists. As for the song - it sort of reminds me of another song from around the same era, but I can’t think of what it is. Either way, it was a good song. 36: SO YOU WIN AGAIN – HOT CHOCOLATE (38) - I was never a huge fan of them, but this one actually was not too bad. Like the Mac McAnally song above, it sounds a little like another song from the 70s (I'm thinking 1975 or 1976, but I can't quite put my finger on it). 35: LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT – BARY MANILOW (14) - Ouch! What a huge drop there! This was his third and final #1 hit. No matter; he'd have many more big hits. This was by far my favorite of his #1 songs. 34: DON’T WORRY BABY – B.J. THOMAS (36) - I was surprised to hear that the Beach Boys only got as high as #24 with their version of this song, since it receives a lot of recurrent airplay. This song would peak at #17. I liked this one - there's a similarity between this and the theme from the TV show Growing Pains, which Thomas sang with Jennifer Warnes. 33: EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE – BEE GEES (39) - Their final song before their biggest wave of popularity ever - this song was pretty good, but not quite their best. 32: SLIDE – SLAVE (33) - The only Top 40 entry from this funk band from Dayton, Ohio. It was OK, but nothing exceptional. 31: UNDERCOVER ANGEL – ALLEN O’DAY (17) - This was O'Day's only charted hit of his own, but he did write several other big hits ("Angie Baby" by Helen Reddy, for instance). As for this song, well, I love it! Definitely one of the best #1 hits of 1977, IMO. 30: KEEP IT COMIN’ LOVE – K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND (34) - This was their only Top Ten hit that did not go to #1 (it didn't miss by much, though; it peaked at #2 for three weeks, but couldn't quite get past Meco; then, when Debby Boone leapfrogged this song, of course, there was no hope). I never used to like this song very much, but now I think it's one of their best. 29: CHRISTINE SIXTEEN – KISS (32) - This hard rock band from the Big Apple had a pretty decent year in 1977, with three Top 40 hits. This one wasn't bad, but I prefer their ballads over their upbeat songs. 28: DA DOO RON RON – SHAUN CASSIDY (12) - The first of three Top Ten hits for Shaun Cassidy, and the biggest, as it hit #1 six weeks before. Of the two charted versions of this song, I definitely prefer this one. 27: MY HEART BELONGS TO ME – BARBRA STRIESAND (6) - Wow, I felt sure that the Barry Manilow song had to be the biggest drop of the week, but it is actually tied with this song for that misfortune. This must be the week that many radio stations removed easy listening songs! But seriously, this one was a guilty pleasure of mine, since many people I know consider this a snoozefest. That's why I like it; nice and mellow - has sort of a haunting sound to it. OPTIONAL EXTRA: HELP IS ON ITS WAY - LITTLE RIVER BAND - This song was generally edited by cutting out the second verse and chorus, but they played the entire song this week. However, there were indeed other songs that were chopped down in this week's countdown, going to show that a four-hour show was called for a few years before it finally became a reality - a little over a year after this week's show. Anyway, I liked this song, though I preferred a few others from them. 26: YOU’RE MY WORLD – HELEN REDDY (25) - This song reminds me a little of Joni James' 1955 hit "How Important Can It Be". The song is quite cheesy, like most of Reddy's songs, but still pretty good. 25: ON AND ON – ELVIN BISHOP (30) - This was his second chart entry and clearly my favorite of his two 1977 hits, as well as one of my favorites from him of all time. 24: SWAYIN’ TO THE MUSIC (SLOW DANCIN') – JOHNNY RIVERS (26) - This one wasn't bad - it definitely showed that Rivers had just as much hit potential in the late-70s as he did in the sixties (which was clearly his heyday). 23: STRAWBERRY LETTER #23 – BROTHERS JOHNSON (27) - This one wasn't quite my cup of tea, although it wasn't exactly "roof-raising R&B" music - it was actually somewhat mellow. I guess it just didn't do anything for me. 22: COLD AS ICE – FOREIGNER (30) - Their second hit - and there was a lot more where that came from! This would probably be my favorite of their two Top Ten hits from 1977 (though "Feels Like The First Time" was also a great one!) 21: THEME FROM “STAR WARS” – LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (28) - The first of two versions of this song to chart. This song did quite well on the charts, but when Meco's disco version came along a few weeks later, this one was pretty much left for dead, which is too bad, as this version was my favorite of the two. 20: BLACK BETTY – RAM JAM (25) - Meh, not a fan of this one. Way too repetitive and besides, I don't really like southern rock. 19: HOW MUCH LOVE – LEO SAYER (22) - The first two hits from Leo's Endless Flight album hit #1 and it looked like this one could do the same but, as a matter of fact, it didn't even hit the Top Ten. That's too bad, as it was my favorite song from the album. 18: TELEPHONE MAN - MERI WILSON (19) - Let's just say that I'm glad that this goofy song's playing time was only two minutes long. 17: GIVE A LITTLE BIT – SUPERTRAMP (21) - This was their very first Top 20 hit, peaking at #15 - far better than the remake by the Goo Goo Dolls (on the pop chart; that version of the song was a #1 Hot AC smash, a format that did not exist back in 1977). This was one of my favorite songs by Supertramp. EXTRA: LET’S STAY TOGETHER – AL GREEN - The biggest soul hit of the 1970s so far, with nine weeks at the top back in 1972. It was a good song, IMO. 16: TELEPHONE LINE – E.L.O. (20) - They had four songs that charted in 1977, and this was my favorite of those songs. It turned out to be their biggest as well! 15: SMOKE FROM A DISTANT FIRE – SANFORD TOWNSEND BAND (18) - Ah, the Hall & Oates soundalikes. However, they weren't anywhere near as successful; this was their only Hot 100 hit. But at least it was a Top Ten. I remember hearing this one back in the day, as well as on Sunny 101.5, which played it every once in awhile back in the early 1990s as a recurrent). 14: BARRACUDA – HEART (16) - A high point in the show for our friend JessieLou. This is a song that I used to think was just OK, but I've recently gotten to like it a lot recently. OPTIONAL EXTRA: STAR WARS - MECO - Here is that other version of the Star Wars theme that I mentioned earlier. It was an interesting disco version of the Star Wars theme, though, as I said earlier, I preferred the John Williams version, back at 21. 13: FLOAT ON – FLOATERS (23) - This song inspired a Sesame Street segment that came out in early 1978. It featured a song called "Give Me Five", performed by Bob, Gordon, David and Luis. It featured each of them introducing themselves (like the Floaters group members did in this song) and then singing the chorus. I actually preferred that version (since it was by people that I saw on TV regularly back in the day). This song was pretty good as well. 12: HANDY MAN – JAMES TAYLOR (15) - I actually associate this more with 1978, since that’s when my Mom played his JT album a lot (plus, she was really good at playing this song on her guitar). Definitely one of his best and I prefer this over the original Jimmy Jones version by a fairly wide margin. 11: DON’T STOP – FLEETWOOD MAC (13) - The third of four hit singles from their Rumors album. Possibly my least favorite from the album as well, since it is so overplayed. My favorite single from the album would be their next one,. "You Make Lovin' Fun". 10: YOU MAKE ME BELIEVE IN MAGIC – BAY CITY ROLLERS (10) - I was so obsessed with this song in the early 1990s, it wasn't even funny. I called a lunchtime oldies program and requested this song, but they didn’t have it. I requested it so many times that they decided to finally order it. In May, 1992, I finally heard it for the first time since 1977. It’s my favorite song by the Rollers. 9: YOU AND ME –ALICE COOPER (9) - He was more famous for his loud, hard-rocking songs, but he had a few slow ones as well, which I preferred. My favorite song from him is "Only Women", but this one would be a close second - it's a great song! 8: JUST A SONG BEFORE I GO – CROSBY, STILLS & NASH (11) - After being absent from the chart for nearly seven years, this was their comeback hit, and it turned out to be their biggest, peaking at #7 a month later. It was a great one - one of their all-time best hits, IMO. 7: DO YOU WANNA MAKE LOVE – PETER MCCANN (5) - Of course, I have mentioned how this song sounds a lot like "Goodbye Girl" by David Gates (and that I prefer the latter). Not much else to say about the song... 6: WHAT YOU GONNA DO – PABLO CRUISE (8) - The first of several great songs by them. This one peaked at #3 on my Personal Top 30 chart in September 1977. I actually like this one a little better than "Cool Love", which actually made it to #1 on my chart due to a lack of good songs (IMO, mind you) in the fall of 1981. In 1977, however, there were plenty of great ones. 5: EASY – COMMODORES (7) - This was when their musical quality began to improve, as their first few hits were mediocre at best (though I have grown to like "Sweet Love" a little more). This remains one of my favorite Commodores songs of all time! 4: I’M IN YOU – PETER FRAMPTON (2) - He never quite matched the success of his Frampton Comes Alive album, but this song, the title cut from his sophomore album, was his most successful single, peaking at #2 (and spent a pair of weeks at #1 on the Radio & Records chart). It is definitely my favorite song from him. 3: (YOUR LOVE HAS LIFTED ME) HIGHER & HIGHER – RITA COOLIDGE (4) - This was an interesting disco rendition of the Jackie Wilson classic. It is also my favorite version, and possibly my favorite of Rita Coolidge's six Top 40 hits (though I'm not sure I've ever heard her early 1980 hit "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love"). OPTIONAL EXTRA: I FEEL LOVE - DONNA SUMMER - I liked many of her disco hits, but this sure wasn't one of them - way too repetitive. Basically the same three sentences sung over and over and over again. No, I preferred Summer's songs from the 1978-80 era. 2: I JUST WANT TO BE YOUR EVERYTHING – ANDY GIBB (1) - This song appeared to be on its way down the chart, but after dipping to #3 a few weeks later, it decided that three weeks weren't quite enough and made an encore appearance at the top. It went on to become AT40's #1 song of 1977. This song also ended the revolving door of #1 songs, which had been going on steadily since June, and on and off throughout 1977. This was the 24th #1 song of the year so far and, with about five months of the year to go, it looked like 1977 could challenge 1974 and 1975 for the year with most #1 songs (35 in all), but, in fact, there would only be four more songs that hit the top, since they would all spend multiple weeks at the top. Anyway, this was the song that kept Frampton from having his first Billboard #1. But that's all good, because this song was just as good, if not better. 1: THE BEST OF MY LOVE – EMOTIONS (3) - This song was on its way to #1, where it would spent five non-consecutive weeks. It was a great song! Mariah Carey apparently thought so as well, as the bass line for her song "Emotions" was very similar to this.
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Post by Hervard on Aug 13, 2021 12:34:38 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - August 14, 2021
This week's presentation - August 15, 1981
Droppers: GEMINI DREAM – THE MOODY BLUES (28) - They were more famous for their 60s and 70s hits, but I myself generally preferred their 80s hits, including this one, one of my favorites from them, although I preferred "The Voice", also from Long Distance Voyager, which was the #1 album the week before. DON’T LET HIM GO – REO SPEEDWAGON (24) - Of the four singles released from their Hi Infidelity album, this was my least favorite but it was still a great one! That whole album was really good - possibly their best ever! SWEET BABY – STANLEY CLARK & GEORGE DUKE (19) - One of many, many MOR ballads that there were on the charts in 1981, 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. As for the song, it was a great one IMO - nice and mellow.
LW#1: JESSIE’S GIRL – RICK SPRINGFIELD 40: BREAKING AWAY - BALANCE (debut) - The first of two songs with this title to hit the Hot 100 in 1981 (although the second one, by Al Jarreau was called "Breakin' Away"). Balance decides to be grammatically correct with a song that sounds a lot like "Tired Of Toein' The Line" by Rocky Burnette. 39: THE VOICE - THE MOODY BLUES (debut) - They were more famous for their 60s and 70s hits, but I myself generally preferred their 80s hits, including this one, one of my favorites from them! 38: YOU MAKE MY DREAMS - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (13) - They were definitely on a hot streak in the 80s. This song, however, was one of my least favorites from them. I preferred their two other 1981 hits. 37: THE BEACH BOYS MEDLEY - THE BEACH BOYS (debut) - They decided to go the way of Stars On 45 and put together a medley of eight of their most well-known hits. It was a good one - I liked all of the songs they put together. 36: THAT OLD SONG - RAY PARKER JR. & RAYDIO (40) - Their final hit before Parker went solo. This was a good song, but definitely not their best. 35: DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANYMORE - THE TUBES (35) - One of three songs by them that I know. Though I do prefer this one over "She's A Beauty" by a fair margin, it still doesn't measure up to "Talk To Ya Later", which I remember hearing on the AOR stations around the time this song charted. 34: EVERLASTING LOVE - REX SMITH AND RACHEL SWEET (37) - One of five songs to chart in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and, to my best of knowledge, it was the only of them to go on to have a version hit the Top 40 in the 90s as well, when Gloria Estefan hit the Top 40 with her version. This one was a great cover - sounded a lot like Carl Carlton's version from seven years before. 33: HOLD ON TIGHT - ELO (39) - As we all know, I preferred their 70s hits. Their musical quality took a nosedive in the 80s, IMO. 32: ROCK 'N ROLL DREAMS COME THROUGH - JIM STEINMAN (33) - I liked this song, as well as Meat Loaf's 1994 cover. But the song didn't seem as "theatrical" as most of Steinman's material (the fact that it wasn't a ballad might have had something to do with it). ARCHIVES: PENNY LANE – THE BEATLES - This, of course, was one of many number one hits by the Fab Four. It was a good song, but not quite their best (though it was my favorite of their three chart toppers from the 1970s). OPTIONAL EXTRA: TAKE MY HEART (YOU CAN HAVE IT IF YOU WANT IT) - KOOL & THE GANG - Gwen Stefani's big #1 from 2007 "The Sweet Escape" sounds somewhat reminiscent of this one. A great song indeed! 31: LOVE ON A TWO WAY STREET - STACY LATTISAW (34) - Her second hit, which was a ballad, like her first one. This one, however, wasn't quite as much of a snoozefest as that debut song. I prefer this song, originally done by the Moments. 30: DOUBLE DUTCH BUS WRECK - FRANKIE SMITH (31) - One of the most annoying songs to ever hit the Top 40. That is all. 29: YOU'RE MY GIRL - FRANKE & THE KNOCKOUTS (36) - They had three Top 40 hits and, though this was my least favorite of them, I still thought it was a great one! LDD: THE CLOSER I GET TO YOU – ROBERTA FLACK & DONNY HATHAWAY 28: DON'T GIVE IT UP - ROBBIE PATTON (32) - Of course, there were several Fleetwood Mac members backing him up on this song (in fact, Patton was apparently an unofficial member of Fleetwood Mac on their concert tour in 1979). As for this song, it was a great one and quite underrated - sounds a little like "Everlasting Love", back at #34. 27: STEP BY STEP - EDDIE RABBITT (38) - 1981 was definitely his best year on the Pop charts, as he had two Top Five hits, including a #1 hit, "I Love A Rainy Night" from earlier in the year. While I prefer that song, I really like this one as well. 26: FEELS SO RIGHT - ALABAMA (30) - They were mainly a country group, but they did have a few pop crossover hits. This was their first of four such songs. It was OK, but possibly my least favorite song that hit the Pop chart. 25: THE BREAKUP SONG (THEY DON'T WRITE 'EM) - GREG KIHN BAND (27) - Here's one that I remember from back in the day! WLS played this one very regularly. I like it, but preferred their biggest hit ever, the top five hit "Jeopardy" from about a year and a half later. 24: FIRE AND ICE - PAT BENATAR (26) - Her second of three Top 40 hits in 1981. It was a good one, though I preferred "Treat Me Right". 23: REALLY WANNA KNOW YOU - GARY WRIGHT (29) - This was Gary's obscure third hit. Of course, since it wasn't overplayed, that might be why it's my favorite song from him (though "Love Is Alive" would be a close second). 22: BETTE DAVIS EYES - KIM CARNES (12) - This song didn't quite tie the rock era record for the most weeks at #1, but no matter; nine weeks was a long run on top and, although she had heavy competition with "Endless Love" as the top song of 1981, she ended up winning out. I was glad, since this was by far my favorite of the two. ARCHIVES: HAPPY TOGETHER – THE TURTLES - This was the only number one hit for this Los Angeles pop band. It wasn't bad, but quite overplayed. I seem to remember that this song was used for Golden Grahams cereal commercials back in the 1980s. OPTIONAL EXTRA: WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL - THE FOUR TOPS - Amazing how they had been together for 27 years without any changes in memberships! Generally known for their earlier hits, this comeback hit was among their best, IMO. 21: STOP DRAGGIN' MY HEART AROUND - STEVIE NICKS WITH TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (25) - This song was en route to a six-week peak at #3, which would be the longest stay at that position for twelve more years. It was a good song, but I preferred other songs by both artists. 20: COOL LOVE - PABLO CRUISE (23) - By the artist name, one might think this is a solo artist, but it was, in fact, a band. This is my favorite song from them - their only #1 on my Personal Top 30 chart. 19: IN THE AIR TONIGHT - PHIL COLLINS (21) - 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. 18: URGENT - FOREIGNER (20) - Of course, we all know, this song peaked at #4 for four weeks, and it was the first single from the album "4". It is my second favorite from that album, behind "Break It Up". 17: THE STROKE - BILLY SQUIER (18) - His first of two Top 40 hits in 1981 - and I think we all know that it was by far my least favorite. "In The Dark", which would chart a few weeks later, was definitely my favorite of his 1981 hits, as well as one of my favorites of Squier. 16: TOUCH ME WHEN WE'RE DANCING - THE CARPENTERS (16) - Their comeback hit - although it would be a short-lived comeback, as it was their final Top 40 hit, but Karen Carpenter's health was beginning to deteriorate, due to her battle with anorexia. I thought this was a great song. 15: TIME - THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT (15) - he first song from Parsons to use Eric Woolfson on lead vocals (which proved to be a good tactic, as they had many of their biggest hits with him). This song used to make me cry, until a friend of mine made a funny parody. 14: IT'S NOW OR NEVER - JOHN SCHNEIDER (17) - Of course, we all know that this was a remake of an old Elvis song, the melody of which was adapted from "O Sol Mio". Not sure which version I prefer. Both were pretty good. 13: WHO'S CRYING NOW - JOURNEY (22) - Oddly enough, though they had three #1 songs on the R&R chart, they had none on the Hot 100, showing that more people bought their albums than their singles, which, of course, is good news. This song was good; had a great Santana-like guitar solo at the end by Neil Schon. 12: THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE - AIR SUPPLY (10) - This is one of my favorite songs from them, since Russell Hitchcock sang both the choruses and the verses on this one. In fact, I believe that this was the first song that didn't feature Graham Russell on lead vocal at any point in the song. This was the lowest ranked #1 song on the year-ender, coming in at #32. The rest of the songs were #24 or higher. ARCHIVES: SOMETHING STUPID – FRANK & NANCY SINATRA - For some reason, this was the used as the third Optional Extra. Must have been slim pickings as far as up and coming songs on the Hot 100. Anyway, I rather liked this song. 11: LADY YOU BRING ME UP - THE COMMODORES (14) - One of three songs on this week's chart that Lionel Richie is involved with. Possibly my favorite of the three. 10: (THERE'S) NO GETTIN' OVER ME - RONNIE MILSAP (11) - This was definitely 1981, with many country crossovers on the chart. Oddly enough, this was his only Top Ten pop hit. It was a good one - the beginning of this song and that of his 1982 hit "Any Day Now" sound very similar. 9: QUEEN OF HEARTS - JUICE NEWTON (9) - It appeared that this song had peaked the week before, but this song's chart climb was far from over; it would get as high as #2 five weeks later. Although, as I've said many times, I preferred her 1982 songs, this is also a great song - one of three songs that were shut out of #1 due to the marathon run at #1 by "Endless Love". 8: HEARTS - MARTY BALIN (8) - Wow, two songs about hearts back to back. How sweet! Anyway, Balin was the lead singer of the Jefferson Starship in the mid and late-70s, but I preferred this solo hit over all of his JS hits. Glad they left the song intact (as it seems that cut out the second verse the last time that this show was aired). 7: BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY - THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER (7) - This was by far their biggest Pop hit. I liked it, but preferred a few others from them, including several songs that didn't quite hit the Top 40 (such as "Mystery" and "Choo Choo Ch-Boogie"). LDD: STILL THE ONE - ORLEANS - They had three Top 20 hits, and I really liked all three of them about the same, but this one would be my favorite by a thin margin over the other two. 6: SLOW HAND - THE POINTER SISTERS (6) - This was another one of the songs that would be edged out of #1 by "Endless Love". This song was, however, #1 on the R&R chart for two weeks (in fact, this was its second week at the top), which was good, because this was definitely one of their best hits, IMO. 5: ELVIRA - THE OAK RIDGE GEEZERS (5) - EWWWWW, GET IT AWAY FROM ME!! 4: JESSIE'S GIRL - RICK SPRINGFIELD (1) - This song is possibly THE song from 1981 that receives the most recurrent airplay (but "Bette Davis Eyes" would be giving it a run for its money). I liked this song. It never made it to the top of the R&R chart and, oddly enough, it was already long gone from the chart, despite having a lot of steam left on the Billboard chart. 3: I DON'T NEED YOU - KENNY ROGERS (4) - I mentioned earlier that Lionel Richie did a hat trick on this week's chart, as being part of a group, a duo and, with this song, a producer, sung by a country singer who had a great year in 1981! Rogers had a handful of big hits, including the third biggest hit of the year (even though that was more of a 1980 hit, but due to their weird time frame, that song was deferred to 1981's year-ender). This was his other Top Ten song from the year. I guess you could call it a guilty pleasure, as many people I know hate this song, but I think it's a great one! OPTIONAL EXTRA: FOR YOUR EYES ONLY - SHEENA EASTON - Sheena's second Top Ten hit, following "Morning Train" from earlier in the year. I much preferred this one. 2: THE THEME FROM "THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" - JOEY SCARBURY (3) - This was one of my favorite songs on the chart. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard chart while Lionel and Diana had their endless run #1, but it did manage to sneak in a week at the top of the R&R chart. 1: ENDLESS LOVE - DIANA ROSS AND LIONEL RICHIE (2) - And here was the song responsible for keeping all of those great songs out of #1. This song spent a total of nine weeks at #1, putting it in a horse race with "Bette Davis Eyes" for the top spot of the entire year. Of course, we all know which song won out. Anyway, I used to dislike this song, but now I think it's a good one, though I wouldn't want to hear it all the time.
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Post by Hervard on Aug 13, 2021 12:34:48 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - August 14, 2021
This week's presentation - August 20, 1983
Droppers: PIECES OF ICE - DIANA ROSS (38) - Ross was only second to Hall & Oates as the biggest act of the 1980s so far, and she was still adding to her total. However, her popularity was beginning to wane. She would have three more hits, but after 1985, she would never hit the Top 40 again. As for the song, I thought it was a good one, though I don't believe any stations around me ever played this one. However, this was a mistake, as the real #38 song (as listed on the Hot 100) was... IT'S INEVITABLE - CHARLIE - Because of said mistake, this song was only heard on AT40 once, even though it was rightfully in the Top 40 for two weeks. I myself heard this song several times in the summer of 1983, since WLS gave it moderate airplay. I thought it was a pretty good song. COME DANCING - THE KINKS (31) - This song recently became their biggest hit ever for this band, who was more famous for their '60s and '70s hits. It had tied "Tired Of Waiting For You" for its peak of #6, weeks at the peak (2) and weeks in the Top Ten. "Tired", however, spent only eight weeks in the Top 40 and this song was in its eleventh week on the chart. It is also one of my favorite songs from them. CUTS LIKE A KNIFE - BRYAN ADAMS (29) - The second hit, as well as the title track, from the album that put Adams on the map here in the States. It was OK, but definitely not his best. I generally preferred the Reckless era. WANNA BE STARTIN' SOMETHIN' - MICHAEL JACKSON (17) - Well, he had definitely long since started a long string of hits, and it would not be finished anytime soon! This wasn't bad, but I found it sort of annoying - especially the album version, which seemed to go on and on. Fortunately, AT40 usually, if not always, played the single edit, which was nearly two minutes shorter. Weird that it dropped from well inside the Top 20, though - this wasn’t 1982
LW#2: SWEET DREAMS - EURYTHMICS LW#1: EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE - THE POLICE 40: KISS THE BRIDE - ELTON JOHN (debut) - Ah, a song about going to the wedding of a former flame. But at least he's not feeling sorry for himself like Fred Knoblock in "Why Not Me". He's gonna do something about it, dammit! 39: OUR HOUSE - MADNESS (22) - One of two hits from them, this one clearly being the best in the eyes of many, including yours truly. Indeed, an 80s mix show essential. 38: DON'T YOU GET SO MAD - JEFFREY OSBORNE (debut) - This song reminds me of "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson, especially in the choruses. I liked this song a lot, but preferred a few others from Osborne. 37: ALL TIME HIGH - RITA COOLIDGE (37) - Given the fact that this song was #1 for four weeks on the Hot AC chart, I'm surprised that this song only got as high as #36 at Top 40 - must not have been promoted very well. Anyway, I liked most of Coolidge's hits, this one included. 36: FAR FROM OVER - FRANK STALLONE (debut) - This was the only Top 40 hit from actor Sylvester Stallone's younger brother. It was a great song, IMO. 35: FAKE FRIENDS - JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (35) - Try she might, she just could not manage to equal the success of "I Love Rock And Roll". This song wasn't bad, but her best song will always be said rock anthem.. 34: (SHE'S) SEXY + 17 - STRAY CATS (debut) - For some reason, I was never a big fan of this song. Definitely my least favorite of their Top 40 hits. My favorite would be their next release, "I Won't Stand In Your Way". Too bad that song petered out at #35. 33: THE BORDER - AMERICA (33) - Not one of their more successful hits, but I thought it was a good one - I remember hearing this on U93 back in the day pretty regularly. 32: MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL - AIR SUPPLY (39) - One of two songs composed by Jim Steinman on the charts this week - and a great one at that. Not sure which one I prefer (although a third song written and composed by Steinman that charted later that year ("Read 'Em And Weep" by Barry Manilow) tops both of them). 31: SHALAMAR - DEAD GIVEAWAY (34) - This one isn't quite as good as "Second Time Around", but I like it a lot better than "Dancing In The Sheets". OPTIONAL EXTRA: HOLIDAY ROAD - LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM - This goes right up there with songs like "YMCA" and "Too Shy" as one of my absolute favorites of all time! 30: TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART - BONNIE TYLER (40) - The other Steinman-composed song on the chart this week, and this one would end up going all the way (in fact, it would block the other one from the #1 spot!) As I mentioned earlier, I liked both songs about the same. 29: PROMISES PROMISES - NAKED EYES (32) - 1983 was definitely their heyday, as they had their two biggest hits that year (along with a minor hit at the very end). This was my favorite of their two Top 20 hits (I forget how "When The Lights Go Out" goes at the moment, though I recall it was pretty good). 28: HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU - LAURA BRANIGAN (36) - Of course, it's pretty common knowledge that Michael Bolton wrote this one (and later on recorded his own version). This is my favorite of Laura's 1983 hits (including "Gloria", which ranked on 1983's year-end list), but I slightly prefer Bolton's version. 27: 1999 - PRINCE (18) - A song that had three chart runs - one from 1982, this one, and the last one at the beginning of the year responsible for this song's name. Due to the overplay, I'm still burned out on it and it is actually one of my least favorite songs from him (not that I was crazy about it in the first place). 26: HUMAN TOUCH - RICK SPRINGFIELD (28) - Rick was known for melodically recycling his songs, and this was no exception, as it sounded a lot like his hit from earlier in the year, "Affair Of The Heart". Not one of my favorites from him, however. 25: SAVED BY ZERO - THE FIXX (20) - Their very first Top 40 hit, and possibly my favorite from them. Too bad it doesn't receive as much airplay as "One Thing Leads To Another". LDD: CECELIA - SIMON & GARFUNKEL - The third single from their Bridge Over Troubled water album. It was OK, but I preferred the title track and "El Condor Pasa". 24: AFTER THE FALL - JOURNEY (26) - Of the four singles from Frontiers, this is definitely the one that gets the least amount of recurrent airplay (though I haven't heard "Send Her My Love" much over the past few years outside of countdown shows). My second favorite from the album behind "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)". 23: DON'T CRY - ASIA (30) - Their second Top Ten hit (third, if you go by the R&R charts, where "Only Time Will Tell" peaked at #5). This was my least favorite of their hits, but it was still a good one. 22: TELL HER ABOUT IT - BILLY JOEL (27) - The first song from what could be Joel's most successful album ever (spawned six singles - only one of which didn't quite hit the Top 20). This was the biggest song from the album, hitting #1 in September - wasn't bad, but was one of my least favorite songs from him. 21: ROCK OF AGES - DEF LEPPARD (16) - The second of three Top 40 hits from Hysteria, none of which managed to hit the Top Ten, but the best was yet to come - their album Hysteria, which came out almost exactly four years later would spawn a host of big hits for them! As for my opinion of the song, it wasn't bad, but I preferred many others from them. OPTIONAL EXTRA: TRUE - SPANDAU BALLET - PM Dawn and Nelly apparently like this song, as both artists sampled it in their songs. I think the song's pretty good, too, though I didn't like it too much during its chart run. 20: ELECTRIC AVENUE - EDDIE GRANT (11) - Well, try it might, this song just couldn't break into the top spot - the act up there was just too strong for it, so instead, it spent the entire month of July at #2, which isn't bad either. It was a good song - one that pops up on the oldies stations from time to time, but I generally hear it on the AT40 reruns. 19: ROCK 'N' ROLL IS KING - ELO - (21) - They were good in the 70s, but, IMO, not so much in the 1980s. Melodically, this was pretty much "Hold On Tight Pt. 2". 18: THE SAFETY DANCE - MEN WITHOUT HATS (24) - Of course, AT40 usually played the single version of the song which I preferred, because it pretty much got straight to the point, without all the instrumental mumbo jumbo and the spelling of "Safety", as if we didn't know how to spell it. EXTRA: I'M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME - THE SUPREMES & THE TEMPTATIONS - A one-time duet between the top male group and the top female group in the history of the soul chart (up to that point, anyway). A #2 hit in 1969, this was the biggest group duet in the history of the charts, which, of course, was the story told to tie in with this song. 17: LAWYERS IN LOVE - JACKSON BROWNE (25) - The title track of Browne's seventh album. I preferred it over the follow-up, "Tender Is The Night", but it's still not one of my favorites from him. 16: NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO - SERGIO MENDES (9) - Today, this song would be billed as "Sergio Mendes featuring Joe Pizzulo & Leeza Miller". By this time in 1983, I'd had about enough of the song, as it was way overplayed. But now that I don't hear it as much, it's a great one - the synth bridge after the second chorus is awesome! 15: HUMAN NATURE - MICHAEL JACKSON (23) - Michael was still cranking out hits from Thriller. This was the fifth of seven, and it was one of my favorite songs on the album. 14: TAKE ME TO HEART - QUARTERFLASH (19) - They had three Top 40 hits, and this one would probably be my favorite. 13: FLASHDANCE…WHAT A FEELING - IRENE CARA (7) - This was the oldest song on the survey, with 19 weeks at this point. The following week, it became the longest running song of the entire year so far (of course, "The Stalker Song" came along and tied it a few months later). A great song, though my sentiments were quite different back in the day, as radio stations played this song ad nauseum during the summer of 1983. 12: CHINA GIRL - DAVID BOWIE (14) - Of course, my favorite songs from him were his two 1987 hits (one of which was heard on this week's "A" show), but this one wasn't bad either. 11: HOT GIRLS IN LOVE - LOVERBOY (13) - Definitely a hot hit, as I heard this one all the time during that hot summer. Not so much anymore; pretty much all we hear anymore are their lower peaking songs like "Working For The Weekend" and "Turn Me Loose". I liked this song, but prefer a few others from them. OPTIONAL EXTRA: TONIGHT, I CELEBRATE MY LOVE - PEABO BRYSON & ROBERTA FLACK - This was one of several duets from them, though it was the only one that charted on AT40 (the second, "You're Looking Like Love To Me" just missed, in early 1984). 10: I'LL TUMBLE 4 YA - CULTURE CLUB (15) - aka "The Mexican Hat Dance Song". I liked this song when it first came out (I even bought the 45), then eventually, I hated it (gave it "No. Just No" status a few times, IIRC). Now I like it almost as much as I did during its chart run. 9: PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ - TACO (12) - The man is Dutch and he named himself after a Mexican food - go figure! Actually, Taco is his given name, not his stage name. Apparently Taco is a Dutch name and he was not aware that it was also the name of a Mexican sandwich until a few years ago, according to Casey. Anyway, this song, originally a hit over years before, was updated so as not to sound out of place by 1983 standards. It was a good song. 8: FASCINATION - THE HUMAN LEAGUE (10) - Definitely a group that's associated with the 80s, with their electronic, new wave sound. I preferred "Don't You Want Me" and their next hit after this one, "Mirror Man", but I like this song too. LDD: THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND - ANDREW GOLD - This song, of course, was still quite popular in the LDD department (remember - this was before songs like "That's What Friends Are For", "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "Because You Loved Me" came along). It was a great song and fitting for this dedication. 7: IS THEIR SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW - DURAN DURAN (5) - Yes, there is something you should know - this song is royally annoying! I preferred many others by them, including their breakthrough hit here in the States, "Hungry Like The Wolf". 6: IT'S A MISTAKE - MEN AT WORK (8) - Well, they definitely had a great year, but their chart days were nearing the end. This would end up being their last Top Ten hit. It was my second favorite of theirs, behind "Overkill". 5: STAND BACK - STEVIE NICKS (6) - She was still an active member of Fleetwood Mac, but also had a successful solo career going as well. This was the first of three hits from The Wild Heart. It was a good one, but sounds quite a lot like "Little Red Corvette"... 4: MANIAC - MICHAEL SEMBELLO (4) - The second of two #1 hits from Flashdance on this week's chart. This was good, but I preferred the film's title track. 3: SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY - DONNA SUMMER (3) - This song had just completed a three-week run atop the R&B chart and was spending its third week at #3 here on AT40. Not my favorite song by her by any means. OPTIONAL EXTRA: BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE - TALKING HEADS - On the other hand, I think I'd rather hear the Donna Summer than this barf fest! 2: SWEET DREAMS - THE EURYTHMICS (2) - This song was spending a third of four weeks at #2, but, unlike poor Eddy Grant, their persistence paid off, as they managed to end the Police's marathon run at the top. It wasn't bad, but quite overplayed. 1: EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE - THE POLICE (1) - And this was the most overplayed song of them all. It still is, too. I'm not sure how a song about stalking managed to spend two months at #1, but whatever.
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 13, 2021 13:51:23 GMT -5
The actual singer on "Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through" was Rory Dodd who sang background vocals on Bonnie Tyler's megahit "Total Eclipse Of The Heart".
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 13, 2021 14:08:47 GMT -5
"Double Dutch Bus" is absolutely hideous!
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 13, 2021 15:19:54 GMT -5
"Urgent" by Foreigner features that outstanding saxophone solo by Junior Walker.
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Post by mga707 on Aug 13, 2021 15:26:03 GMT -5
"Double Dutch Bus" is absolutely hideous! I'm not ashamed to admit that I've liked it for the past 40 years--it's unique. Bought that 45 40 years ago.
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 13, 2021 15:39:38 GMT -5
I thought John Schnieder's version of "It's Now Or Never" was quite good.
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 13, 2021 15:46:43 GMT -5
Robert Knight had the original version of "Everlasting Love" in 1967.
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 13, 2021 15:49:17 GMT -5
"Thank You For Being A Friend" was the final Long Distance Dedication that Casey played in 2009.
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Post by mga707 on Aug 13, 2021 16:23:05 GMT -5
"Double Dutch Bus" is absolutely hideous! I'm not ashamed to admit that I've liked it for the past 40 years--it's unique. Bought that 45 40 years ago. I start shouting out the 'pig Latin' part every time that ultra-annoying Liberty Mutual jumproping ad comes on TV.
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Post by laura on Aug 13, 2021 22:00:00 GMT -5
I'm not ashamed to admit that I've liked it for the past 40 years--it's unique. Bought that 45 40 years ago. I start shouting out the 'pig Latin' part every time that ultra-annoying Liberty Mutual jumproping ad comes on TV. I first heard that one as a sample on Missy Elliott's "Gossip Folks" in 2003.
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