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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 14, 2021 7:24:52 GMT -5
"Penny Lane" by The Beatles was one of the featured "AT40 Archive" songs from 8/15/81-Its flip side was "Strawberry Fields Forever"-I had heard that both of those songs were scheduled to appear on their landmark "Sgt.Pepper" album which was released in the summer of 1967-Unfortunately,that didn't happen.
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 15, 2021 18:56:40 GMT -5
"Endless Love" was a hit for the second time in 1994 by Mariah Carey & Luther Vandross-It peaked at # 2.
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Post by Hervard on Aug 20, 2021 12:53:30 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 70s - August 21, 2021
This week's presentation - August 19, 1978
Droppers: RUNAWAY - JEFFERSON STARSHIP (38) - I believe this was their final Top 40 hit featuring Marty Balin on lead vocals. I liked this song, but slightly preferred "Count On Me", which had charted earlier in the year. Both are great songs, IMO. THE GROOVE LINE - HEATWAVE (37) - aka "Boogie Nights Part 2". No big loss, as I wasn't a huge fan of the song (or the one to which it was the sequel), but their ballad "Always And Forever", which charted between those two songs, was a great one. MR. BLUE SKY - ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (35) - Not one of their more successful hits by any means, which is a shame, as this was IMO one of their best songs ever! I'VE HAD ENOUGH - WINGS (25) - I forget how this song goes, but I seem to remember it was mediocre - in any case, not as good as their #1 hit from earlier in 1978. STILL THE SAME - BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND (23) - Well, he dropped out this week, but he replaced himself with his second hit from Stranger In Town. This song was by far my favorite single from that album, as well as one of my favorite songs by him/them of all time! USE TA BE MY GIRL - THE O'JAYS (22) - One of two droppers this week that was in the Top Ten two weeks prior (Bob Seger being the other one). I was never a huge fan of the O'Jays, but I actually liked this song a lot - possibly my all-time favorite from them.
40: OH DARLIN' - ROBIN GIBB (debut) - The first Top 40 hit from Gibb as a solo artist. This is one of the three Top 40 hits from the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band soundtrack (the first of two in the countdown this week). This one wasn't bad, but I preferred his other Top 40 hit from four years later, entitled "Boys Do Fall In Love". 39: WHENEVER I CALL YOU FRIEND - KENNY LOGGINS & STEVIE NICKS (debut) - YES!! This is possibly my favorite song on this week's chart - definitely one of my favorites from both artists involved! 38: HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS - BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND (debut) - I don't remember this song from its chart run as I remember hearing it on the Stranger In Town album, which my Mom played all the time back in 1979. It's a pretty good song, but, as I mentioned earlier, the only single from the album that I really liked was "Still The Same". Too bad that song dropped out this week. There were several other songs on the album that I felt should have been released as singles. 37: ROCK & ROLL FANTASY - THE KINKS (debut) - Their comeback Top 40 hit, after being absent from the chart since their Top Ten anthem "Lola" in 1971. This song got as high as #30, but they'd be back about four and a half years later with what would become their biggest hit ever, "Come Dancing". As for this song, it was pretty good, but I preferred Bad Company's song of the same title from the following summer. 36: YOU'RE A PART OF ME - GENE COTTON & KIM CARNES (36) - This was the one that put Carnes on the map, but the best was yet to come for her. However, that was more than could be said for Gene Cotton, as he only had one more chart entry after this. Anyway, this song's OK, but I preferred other songs from both artists. 35: YOU NEEDED ME - ANNE MURRAY (debut) - Murray's only #1 hit on the Hot 100. It was a rather slow climber - it wouldn't hit the top until three months later (ironically, the song it knocked out of the top spot held the record at the time for THE slowest climb to #1). As for my opinion of this song - well, it was during her heyday, which started with this song, so I liked it a lot - one of my all-time faves from her! 34: JUST WHAT I NEEDED - THE CARS (39) - This song has aged quite well. Given all the airplay it receives on oldies and rock stations, I'm surprised that it peaked so low. 33: BAKER STREET - GERRY RAFFERTY (16) - This song almost made it to #1 (in fact, it has been said that the original version of one of the charts at which this song was #2 (may have been the previous week) had this song at #1, but a last minute revision placed it at #2. Anyway, I used to really like this song, but overplay pretty much did it in. 32: CLOSE THE DOOR - TEDDY PENDERGRASS (40) - This was pretty much your typical old school R&B. It was pleasant, but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. 31: RIVERS OF BABYLON - BONEY M (33) - The third Top 40 hit that borrowed passages from the bible to use in their lyrics (in this case, Psalm 137). 30: SHADOW DANCIN' - ANDY GIBB (15) - With eighteen Top 40 weeks so far, seven of those at #1, it's no wonder that this song became the top song of 1978. The song wasn't bad, but it didn't hold a candle to his song that's coming up later in the show. 29: SUMMER NIGHTS - JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (debut) - The second of two top 40 duets for the stars of the movie Grease. Of those two songs, it would be my favorite (though "You're The One That I Want" is a great one as well). 28: REMINISCING - LITTLE RIVER BAND (34) - The first of two Top Ten hits from their album Sleeper Catcher. It's a great one but, of course, I preferred "Lady". OPTIONAL EXTRA: DON'T LOOK BACK - BOSTON - Larry mentioned how this was their highest ranked song so far. It would hold that honor for eight years, until their successful comeback in 1986. I've somehow come to like this song better than I had previously (as I never cared for it). 27: MACHO MAN - VILLAGE PEOPLE (31) - Meh, not a big fan of this one. It's more tolerable than their next top 40 hit, though 26: TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE - EDDIE MONEY (30) - As usual, they played a different version of this song than was usually heard on the radio (the single version, I would imagine). I remember hearing this one quite regularly back in the day. I liked it, but I preferred several others from the Money Man. 25: YOU - RITA COOLIDGE (27) - I noticed that this song's verses have a slightly similar melody as that of "Mr. Blue Sky" by ELO (which, of course, drops out this week). Though not quite as good as her two 1977 Top Ten hits, it's still a great song nevertheless. 24: LOVE IS IN THE AIR - JOHN PAUL YOUNG (32) - As we know all too well, I'm not a disco fan, but this song was actually a pretty good song - one I remember from back in the day. 23: STUFF LIKE THAT - QUINCY JONES (26) - Meh, nothing special - sounds like most of the disco material from the late-70s. 22: YOU AND I - RICK JAMES (28) - And another such song right here by a man who had the most success on the R&B chart. He he did have a handful of Top 40 hits, though, and this was the most successful of them, peaking at #13. 21: HOT CHILD IN THE CITY - NICK GILDER (24) - This was the song I was talking about earlier that set the record for the longest climb to #1 - a record it held by itself until a little less than a year later. It was a good song - had that summertime feel to it. Had Gilder known how long it was going to take to reach the top, I wonder if he would have released it several months earlier. 20: STAY - JACKSON BROWNE (20) - Interesting how Browne changed the lyrics around to be addressing his audience instead of a loved one, like in the original. As for the song, it's not bad, but I preferred "The Load Out", which some radio stations play right before this song, as that's how Browne usually does this song in his concerts. 19: GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE - EARTH, WIND & FIRE (29) - Of course, the best version of this one was the one by the Beatles (which we heard on last week's 1976 show), but this one was actually a good version too. 18: FOOL IF YOU THINK IT'S OVER - CHRIS REA (21) - Here's a good song I remember quite well. About ten years after he charted with this, he recorded a new version, which did not do justice to the original at all. 17: KING TUT - STEVE MARTIN (19) - Glad he didn't quit his acting job! Just saying! 16: KISS YOU ALL OVER - EXILE (18) - 1978 was definitely a good year for producer Mike Chapman, as he had at least two songs that topped the chart that fall (back-to-back, nonetheless). This was the first of them. Of the two, I preferred the Nick Gilder song. 15: SHAME - EVELYN "CHAMPAGNE" KING (19) - Her first of four Top 40 hits. It's not bad, but my favorite song from her is "Love Come Down", which hit the Top 20 in the fall of 1982. 14: I'M NOT GONNA LET IT BOTHER ME TONIGHT - ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION (14) - I thought most of their songs were good, but this one was somewhat mediocre. Definitely nowhere near as good as "So In To You" or "Imaginary Lover". OPTIONAL EXTRA: BACK IN THE USA - LINDA RONSTADT - I can't say whether I prefer this or Chuck Berry's version, since I've never heard the latter. Linda's version was so/so, but definitely not one of her best. 13: MY ANGEL BABY - TOBY BEAU (13) - It was a group, not a solo male, like many people thought (such was the case with Pablo Cruise, coming up in the Top Ten). The song was pretty good. 12: LIFE'S BEEN GOOD - JOE WALSH (12) - Not sure why, but this song never really did anything for me. I wasn't a huge Joe Walsh fan anyway. 11: HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (11) - This week's chart was extremely tight at the top half - in fact, the entire Top 14 was in holding pattern this week. That means that, even after a nice jump of seven places last week, this song holds in place (don't worry, this is not where it peaked). Anyway, this was a special song between my former girlfriend and myself - it took awhile to be able to enjoy this song once again after we broke up, but that all changed back in May of 2016, when our paths crossed and she and I actually recently had a brief conversation, letting me know that we were at least back on speaking terms again. 10: EVERLASTING LOVE - ANDY GIBB (10) - This song wasn't peaking this week neither, although it didn't quite make it to the top, breaking Gibb's #1 streak. This would be a close second to "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" as my favorite song from Gibb. Glad that they did not edit the song, as they usually played a version that went right from the first verse to the last chorus, which repeats to the fade. 9: MAGNET & STEEL - WALTER EGAN (9) - This song lost its bullet this week, so it looked like it might be done. However, it did manage to climb one spot higher. Stevie Nicks, who this song was said to be about, was heard singing back-up on this song, which somehow, I associate more with the fall of 1978 instead of the summer (probably because that was when WLS played the song; it peaked on their survey in late October). 8: COPACABANA - BARRY MANILOW (8) - Definitely a departure from his usual ballad style. In fact, the rush release of this song while "Even Now" was still on its way up the chart caused the latter to tank (which wasn't really a bad thing, as "Even Now" wasn't one of his better hits anyway, IMO). This was a good one. 7: LOVE WILL FIND A WAY - PABLO CRUISE (7) - Here is that band I mentioned earlier whose name could be mistaken for a person. I remember this one quite well from back in the day. A great song, though I slightly preferred "What'cha Gonna Do", from the previous summer. 6: BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE - A TASTE OF HONEY (6) - Even an eleven-spot move the week before didn't stop this song from hitting the brick wall that the entire Top 14 hit this week. But, like most of those songs, this one happened to recover, and went all the way to the top. Glad that they played this song intact (as they seemed to cut out the second verse more often than not), as it was a great song - my favorite of their two Top Ten hits. ELVIS PRESLEY TRIBUTE: MYSTERY TRAIN - Not bad, but I generally preferred his #1 songs. 5: HOT-BLOODED - FOREIGNER (5) - Of course, this song's intro is very similar to the Pablo Cruise song back at #7. Of their three singles from Double Vision, this would be my least favorite, but it's a great song nevertheless. 4: MISS YOU - ROLLING STONES (4) - This song must have had a little juice left in it if it was able to keep so many fast-rising songs at bay on the chart. I was not a big fan of this song by any means, but I liked their other disco song, which would hit the Top Five two years later. 3: LAST DANCE - DONNA SUMMER (3) - I like this song, though it’s somehow kind of depressing - probably since I always associate this with the end of the summer and school starting again (since I heard it a lot when I was starting first grade - one of the toughest transitions ever!) OPTIONAL EXTRA: RIGHT DOWN THE LINE - GERRY RAFFERTY - This was his second chart entry, as well as his second highest charting song. Of the songs of his that I'm familiar with, this would be my favorite. 2: GREASE – FRANKIE VALLI (2) - The title track to one of the biggest movie soundtracks ever was on its way to the top. It's OK, but I prefer several other songs from him, both solo and with the Four Seasons. 1: THREE TIMES A LADY - COMMODORES (1) - Over on the R&R chart, this song was in the midst of a six-week run at #1. Here on the Hot 100, it would be #1 for two weeks (and spend the next four weeks in the runner-up position after falling out). I loved this song - so did a lot of other people, as it became a very popular LDD song (and was played at many wedding receptions as well).
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Post by Hervard on Aug 20, 2021 12:53:42 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - August 21, 2021
This week's presentation - August 16, 1986
Droppers: WHO'S JOHNNY - EL DEBARGE (39) - His first solo hit away from his family band - it was a great song! His brother, Chico, also charted with a solo hit at the very end of that year called "Talk To Me", which I also liked. YOUR WILDEST DREAMS - THE MOODY BLUES (38) - As big as this legendary band was, it's a surprise that they only had three Top Ten hits. This was one of them, peaking at #9 the previous month, and deservedly so, as it is one of my all-time faves from them! HOLDING BACK THE YEARS - SIMPLY RED (34) - The first of several big hits by this English band headed up by Mick "Red" Hucknall. When I first heard this song about a month earlier, I was like, wow, what a great song! However, the song was quite overplayed and I grew tired of it. Still, it's good to hear every now and then.
40: TWO OF HEARTS – STACEY Q (debut) - Meh, don't care much for this one. The ah-ah-ah-I need, I need you part is somewhat embarrassing and definitely annoying. 39: DREAMTIME – DARYL HALL (debut) - His first of two solo hits before rejoining his sidekick John Oates. I liked both of them, but slightly preferred this one. 38: TAKE IT EASY – ANDY TAYLOR (25) - It was beginning to look like all of the Taylors from Duran Duran would have solo Top 40 hits (as John had already hit earlier in the year), but Roger Taylor was the odd man out. This is definitely a song that I associate with the summer of 1986, as U93 played this song regularly (in fact, it kicked off their Top 93 of 1986). A great song indeed! 37: MODERN WOMAN (FROM “RUTHLESS PEOPLE”) – BILLY JOEL (17) - Here's one you don't hear much anymore! It was a good one, but definitely not one of my favorites from him. 36: DIGGING YOUR SCENE – THE BLOW MONKEYS (21) - Definitely one of the songs that I associate with the summer of 1986, since I liked it a lot (still do) and it received virtually no airplay after it fell off the chart. I always thought that this song should have hit the Top Ten, but I'm thinking that maybe that some of the Top 40 audience didn't like the voices of the lead singer. 35: HANGING ON A HEART ATTACK - DEVICE (35) - This song sounds a lot like “Love Touch” by Rod Stewart (and with good reason; Device's lead singer Holly Knight wrote both songs). This one’s more rocky than I remember - I always thought it was a dance/disco type song. Then again, I never really paid too much attention as it wasn’t really one of my favorite songs (and I never really heard it outside of countdown shows). Anyway, I think it's a good one. 34: THE CAPTAIN OF HER HEART - DOUBLE (37) - A song by a rare bird - a Swiss band. In fact, Casey mentioned that this was the first Swiss act to hit the chart. I imagine there have been more since then, but I can't think of any others. Anyway, I really liked this song - mellow and relaxing. 33: LOVE ZONE – BILLY OCEAN (40) - Your typical mid-80s slow jam. I preferred the song that preceded this as well as the follow-up - both tender love ballads. 32: TAKEN IN – MIKE & THE MECHANICS (32) - Definitely one of their most underrated songs! This one deserved a much higher peak than #32, IMO - it should have been a Top Ten hit just like their other two hits from 1986! At least it did do well on the AC chart, peaking at #7. LDD: JUST AS I AM – AIR SUPPLY - I'm a little surprised that this song didn't become more popular in the LDD department than it did. The song definitely fit this LDD. OPTIONAL EXTRA: THROWING IT ALL AWAY - GENESIS - This song hit #1 on the R&R chart, but didn't quite make it on the Hot 100. It did peak at #4, though, which isn't bad either. This song was OK, IMO, but my least favorite of the five singles from Invisible Touch. 31: DON’T FORGET ME (WHEN I’M GONE) – GLASS TIGER (36) - Of course, today, this song would be credited to Glass Tiger featuring Bryan Adams (as he is heard singing in the choruses). This was my favorite of their four Top 40 hits (though "I Will Be There", which charted the following spring, would be a fairly close second). 30: WALK THIS WAY – RUN-D.M.C. (debut) - Ah, those were the days, when rap was halfway decent. Of course, since this was a remake of a familiar song, that could have had something to do with how I like it, but back when this was on the charts, I did not like it, but in retrospect, it doesn't sound so bad now - in fact, I actually prefer it over the original by Aerosmith. I liked Casey's rap in the tease to this song. 29: OPPORTUNITIES (LET’S MAKE LOTS OF MONEY) – PET SHOP BOYS (19) - This was their second hit, though it doesn't get much in the way of recurrent airplay. They just assume we want to hear "West End Girls" for the millionth time. That's too bad, as this was a great song - one of their best, IMO. 28: RUMBLESEAT – JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP (30) - I couldn’t believe that this song only got as high as #28. When I first heard it, I thought it had Top Ten written all over it. I guess not. Then again, seeing that it was the fifth single from a huge smash album, it wasn’t a big seller (since most fans had the album) and there was no need to call in and request it. 27: MAN-SIZE LOVE (FROM “RUNNING SCARED”) – KLYMAXX (31) - The first of two Top 40 hits from the movie "Running Scared", both of which are on the chart this week. Of course, it's pretty much a toss-up between this and "I'd Still Say Yes" as my favorite song from Klymaxx, depending on whether I'm in the mood for an upbeat song or a ballad. 26: NASTY – JANET JACKSON (14) - Here's a song that I detested back in the day and used to switch the station when it came on the radio! It's still not her best song ever, but there are several songs of hers that I dislike more. 25: THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW – THE MONKEES (29) - Well, their comeback was sure quite short-lived, as it only consisted of this song, which would peak at #20 two weeks later. I thought it was a great song - one that takes me back to the summer of 1986 (rather than my freshman year, by which time radio stations weren't playing this much anymore (though I do remember hearing it on the way to school very early in the year) 24: STUCK WITH YOU – HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS (33) - He/they had already had a #1 hit the year before and were on their way to their second (I was pretty sure right off the bat that this would be a #1, based on their super-high debut on the R&R chart the previous week at #21). This would log three weeks on top - one of the longest stays at #1 in 1986 (of course, today, that would be considered a short term at the top). Anyway, this was a great song and I'm glad it ended up as R&R's top song of the year. 23: YANKEE ROSE – DAVID LEE ROTH (28) - This was a song that I didn't care much for back in the day (though I did like the part at the beginning - David's conversation with his guitar at the beginning of the song. Other than that...) 22: ONE STEP CLOSER TO YOU – GAVIN CHRISTOPHER (24) - This week, it's two steps closer. In fact, I don't think that, at any time during its chart run, it moved up a single spot (it did on R&R, though, the week before). Anyway, this was definitely one of my favorite songs from 1986! I heard this one quite often during its chart run, but then never. I felt this one was way underrated. LDD: TRULY – LIONEL RICHIE - Many people ask me why this is one of my favorite Lionel Richie songs ever, yet "Still", which sounds much like this, always gets (or used to get) a "No. Just no". The reason being is, while both songs are about undying love, the Commodores song is about a love affair coming to an end, while this song seems to be about a relationship that is going great and only getting better. Plus, this song was charting during a pretty good time in my life. OPTIONAL EXTRA: HEAVEN IN YOUR EYES - LOVERBOY - This song completed a hat trick of hits released from the Top Gun soundtrack (in fact, the following week, all three songs would be in the Top 40 simultaneously). I forget exactly where in the movie this song was, but I seem to recall it was only played for a few seconds, on someone's radio. Anyway, I liked this song, but preferred their other 1986 ballad "This Could Be The Night". 21: INVISIBLE TOUCH - GENESIS (11) - Their lead-off hit from the album of the same title, and to #1 it went! Good thing, as it's my favorite song from the album (as well as the fact that they'd been hitting the chart for nearly ten years). 20: WORDS GET IN THE WAY – MIAMI SOUND MACHINE (27) - Their third hit and, like the first two, it hit the Top Ten. I’ve said that I prefer their ballads to their upbeat songs, but this is actually one of least favorite of their slow songs - I prefer a few of their upbeat songs, such as "Bad Boy" and "Betcha Say That" over this one. 19: ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD – THE OUTFIELD (22) - Here is song that, like the Gavin Christopher song back at #22, I associate most with the summer of '86, since I don't think that I've heard it (outside of countdown shows) since it fell off the chart. This one wasn't quite as big as their first song, "Your Love", but at least it did hit the Top 20. 18: BABY LOVE - REGINA (26) - This one sounds like a Madonna song (which is no coincidence, as this was co-written by Stephen Bray, who collaborated with Madonna during the 1980s, co-writing and co-producing many of her big hits in the 1980s). 17: SUZANNE - JOURNEY (20) - Ah, I can smell the cool night air as I sat with my then-girlfriend in her backyard (even though her name was not Suzanne, some of the lyrics fit, like "those summer nights with me"). This great song was my second favorite of the four Top 40 hits from Raised On Radio, behind "I'll Be Alright Without You" 16: DANGER ZONE – KENNY LOGGINS (7) - This was the first Top Gun single released - and the king of movie soundtrack hits, Kenny Loggins, was the one singing it. He was also the artist of another single from the soundtrack that did not hit the Top 40 ("Playing With The Boys"). I preferred this one and the Top 40 audience apparently did as well, since it practically made it to #1. 15: FRIENDS AND LOVERS – CARL ANDERSON & GLORIA LORING (23) - For some odd reason I found the sudden crescendo in the first chorus (where they sing, “We don’t have to be one...OR THE OTHER) somewhat disturbing. But I eventually came to really like this song - that is, until the radio stations that I listened to played it ad nauseum and I was getting quite tired of it (by that time, Eddie Rabbitt & Juice Newton were charting at country with a cover of the song which I preferred over the original by a fair margin). Casey mentioned that Gloria was only the fourth soap opera star to have a Top 40 hit (and that only two different soap operas - Days Of Our Lives and General Hospital - have featured such stars. It's rather noteworthy that all four artists peaked at #1 or #2 with their biggest hit. 14: YOU SHOULD BE MINE (THE WOO WOO SONG) – JEFFREY OSBORNE (16) - This would have been a great song if not for the dumb title, and the "Can you woo woo woo" choruses. I preferred many other songs from him, like "On The Wings Of Love" and "Don't You Get So Mad". This is a pleasant slow jam, nevertheless. 13: SLEDGEHAMMER – PETER GABRIEL (4) - This has got to be one of the most overplayed songs of the 1980s. I’m still burned out on it (not that it was one of my favorite songs in the first place) and usually change the station when it comes on. I do like "Shock The Monkey" and "Big Time", though. 12: SWEET FREEDOM (THEME FROM “RUNNING SCARED”) – MICHAEL McDONALD (15) - Michael did quite well on the charts as a solo artist - I'm sure that the fact that he was the former lead singer of the Doobie Brothers was somewhat instrumental in that. This was one of his Top Ten hits and it was a good one. 11: LOVE TOUCH (THEME FROM “LEGAL EAGLES”) – ROD STEWART (6) - As stated earlier, this was written by Holly Knight, who headed up the band Device, who we heard back at #35 with "Hanging On A Heart Attack", and it definitely showed, given the similarity between the two songs. Though I slightly preferred the Device song, both of them were good songs. OPTIONAL EXTRA: LOVE WALKS IN - VAN HALEN - This was my favorite of the three Top 40 hits from 5150. Another song that takes me back to my freshman year! Too bad it only got as high as #22. 10: THE EDGE OF HEAVEN – WHAM! (12) - This was a bittersweet song for Wham! fans - their final Top 40 hit. But at least it was one of their best, IMO, anyway. George Michael, who was pretty much the voice of Wham! anyway, went on to have an even more successful career, so it really didn't make much of a difference. 9: TAKE MY BREATH AWAY (LOVE THEME FROM “TOP GUN”) – BERLIN (18) - The second hit from one of the biggest movie soundtracks of '86! As stated earlier, the soundtrack yielded three Top 40 hits, and one that didn't make the Top 40. Plus, I believe that several other songs, like Mighty Wings by Cheap Trick, received airplay as album cuts on a few radio stations. I liked this song - definitely not as annoying as their first Top 40 hit "No More Words". LDD: YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL – JOE C0CKER - This song indeed fit the dedication like a glove, but, of course, I'm not a huge fan of the song. 8: RUMORS – TIMEX SOCIAL CLUB (10) - I remember that this song was one of the Top Ten requests of the year according to U93's Top Ten at 10. Also making that list was the parody of the song, "Roaches" by Bobby Jimmy & The Critters. Back in the day, I liked that song a lot better, since this song was played to death during its chart run. Now I think it's a good one, though I wouldn't want to hear it all the time. 7: DANCING ON THE CEILING – LIONEL RICHIE (13) - Of course, this is only possible if the building you're in has been flipped over. But seriously, the song was pretty good, and it had a great video. I did, however, get sick of hearing kids at school saying, "Hey, look at that footprint on the ceiling!" 6: VENUS - BANANARAMA (9) - I wasn't a big fan of this song. I preferred their two other Top 40 hits, especially "I Heard A Rumour". 5: WE DON’T HAVE TO TAKE OUR CLOTHES OFF – JERMAINE STEWART (5) - I always got this song confused with "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston, as the drum intros sounded alike (of course, both songs were Narada Michael Walden productions), I never knew what song it was until the instruments kicked in. This was a good song with a good message. 4: HIGHER LOVE – STEVE WINWOOD (8) - Another overplayed song from 1986, like "Higher Love" and this is pretty much the same situation as "Higher Love" - I wasn't crazy about this song to begin with and the excessive airplay only made me like it less. No, I prefer many others by him, thank you very much! 3: MAD ABOUT YOU – BELINDA CARLISLE (3) - One of two songs on the chart with which Andy Taylor was involved (as he played guitar in this song). It was not bad, though I sure had different sentiments about it back during its chart run! OPTIONAL EXTRA: WHEN I THINK OF YOU - JANET JACKSON - The first of ten number one songs from her on the Hot 100, and the only one from Control. Janet would be halfway there when she was done releasing singles from Rhythm Nation 1814. Anyway, this song wasn't bad, but I preferred many others from her. 2: GLORY OF LOVE (THEME FROM “KARATE KID PART II”) – PETER CETERA (1) - I preferred the first Karate Kid movie over the second (but that could be because I've only seen the second once while I've watched the first one multiple times). The song, however, was a great one - possibly my favorite Peter Cetera solo hit ever! 1: PAPA DON’T PREACH - MADONNA (2) - Here is another song that, like "Nasty", I hated with a passion when it was on the charts. It's not bad now that I don't hear it every single time I turn on the radio, but still, I prefer many other songs by Madonna.
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 20, 2021 14:16:33 GMT -5
Actor Danny Aiello played Madonna's father in the video for "Papa Don't Preach".
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Post by Hervard on Aug 26, 2021 16:59:03 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 70s - August 27, 2021
This week's presentation - August 25, 1979
DROPPERS: YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME LOVE SOMEBODY ELSE - THE JONES GIRLS (38) - wtf did this sound like again? I WANT YOU TO WANT ME - CHEAP TRICK (31) - I definitely remember this one from back in the day! WLS played it all the time, plus I heard it on the juke box at the beach house that I went to a lot that summer. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER - BLONDIE (27) - No big loss - I was never a big fan of this song - I found it annoying and obnoxious sounding. HOT STUFF - DONNA SUMMER (19) - Well, I guess people had finally gotten tired of this song, which had spent most of its chart run in the Top Ten, three of those at #1, definitely living up to its title! This was my favorite of Summer's big hits in 1979!
LW#3: THE MAIN EVENT/FIGHT – BARBRA STREISAND LW#2: MY SHARONA – THE KNACK LW#1: GOOD TIMES – CHIC 40: HOLD ON - TRIUMPH (debut) - The first of two chart entries from this hard rock band from Canada. They were more of an album rock band than anything, as they only had two pop Top 40 hits, neither of which hit the Top 20. Both of them were really good songs, IMO - not sure if I prefer this or "Somebody's Out There". 39: POP MUZIK – M (debut) - Robin Scott tied the band Q for the act with the shortest name - and you sure can't get much shorter than one letter! Anyway, I think that we all know that I'm not a big fan of this song. But many people here do like it and really, more power to you. It just doesn't do anything for me. 38: GIRL OF MY DREAMS – BRAM TCHAIKOVSKY (39) - Like M, a one-hit wonder, only the former went all the way to the top, but this song ran out of gas at #37. Too bad, since it was a good song. 37: LOVIN’, TOUCHIN’, SQUEEZIN’ - JOURNEY (debut) - Remember, they say "na" exactly 154 times in the song. Yes, there was a time that I was so bored that I actually counted them. 22 na's in each group, and there are seven groups of na's, so do the math from there. Anyway, the song is a good one - one of my favorites from them. LDD: TO SIR WITH LOVE - LULU - Billboard's top song of 1967 - and IIRC, this song was used as a LDD request on more than one occasion. It was a good song, and fitting for the LDD. 36: THE BOSS – DIANA ROSS (40) - No surprise that this was the top disco song in the country, as Ross was indeed a hot disco artist. I wasn't generally a big fan of her disco songs, but I actually liked this one (probably because it wasn't overplayed like some of her other songs). 35: GOLD – JOHN STEWART (18) - Here's one I remember from back in the day! This one featured Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham on background vocals - making an already great song even better! 34: RISE – HERB ALPERT (debut) - Instrumental songs weren't quite as popular as they were earlier in the decade, but there were still a few that hit the charts - two of them in this week's Top 40. This was the biggest instrumental to chart in 1979, hitting #1 in October. I was glad, as this was my favorites from Alpert. ARCHIVES: BEST OF MY LOVE – THE EAGLES - They were in the midst of the string of one-week chart toppers in early 1975. It was a good song, though kind of depressing. I generally prefer their upbeat songs led by Henley, like "Hotel California". OPTIONAL EXTRA: DIM ALL THE LIGHTS - DONNA SUMMER - The Optional extras were a little on the meh side this week. But that is just an opinion and nothing more. This would actually be my favorite of the four. I preferred Summer's other big 1979 hits over this one, but I still liked it better than her duet with Barbra Streisand, which would hit the chart later on that year. 33: OH WELL – THE ROCKETS (35) - Originally recorded by Fleetwood Mac in the late 1960s, this song saw chart action ten years later as recorded by this Detroit rock band. It was pretty good, but nothing exceptional. 32: DIFFERENT WORLDS – MAUREEN McGovern (36) - You could definitely tell that this was a TV show theme - from the somewhat short-lived TV show Angie. I liked this song - possibly my favorite song from her. 31: MAKIN’ IT – DAVID NAUGHTON (15) - This song was more of a gimmick than anything, IMO, but it was passable. 30: CRUEL TO BE KIND – NICK LOWE (33) - Here's another one I remember from back in the day! It was a good one - too bad they cut out the second verse. 29: DRIVER’S SEAT – SNIFF ‘N’ THE TEARS (34) - Hmm, I wonder how they came up with a band name like that? As for this song, which is used in a current Amazon Prime commercial, it wasn't bad, but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. 28: BORN TO BE ALIVE – PATRICK HERNANDEZ (32) - Interesting story about Hernandez's experience in France, where he went to college. His parents sure were less than enthused when they found out he was going to be a rock star instead of a teacher, which was the career he went to school to study for. I wonder if he reconsidered that when this became his only Top 40 hit? 27: HIGHWAY SONG - BLACKFOOT (29) - This was your typical late-70s southern rock song. It was pretty decent, IMO. 26: BAD CASE OF LOVING YOU (DOCTOR, DOCTOR) – ROBERT PALMER (30) - Given how much this song is played on oldies stations today, it's a surprise that this song never hit the Top Ten (though it did peak at #7 on R&R). The song's not bad, but I've never been a huge fan of Robert Palmer (though I did like his two Top 40 remakes). 25: I DO LOVE YOU - GQ (28) - The second of two Top 40 hits, both in 1979, from this soul group from the Bronx. Their first hit was a dance/disco song and this one was more mellow. I preferred this song of the two. 24: MORNING DANCE – SPYRO GYRA (26) - This was the second of the two instrumentals on this week's chart. I preferred this one - a great song with sort of a Caribbean flavor, with the congas and marimba. 23: SAIL ON – THE COMMODORES (37) - This one had sort of a country feel to it. It apparently worked, as it was not only this week's biggest mover, but it also hit the Top Five (and spent three weeks at #1 on R&R). This was definitely one of my favorite songs by the Commodores. ARCHIVES: HAVE YOU NEVER BEEN MELLOW – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN - Another one-week #1 (though it fared much better on R&R, spending five weeks on top there). My favorite of her 1975 hits, by a fair margin. OPTIONAL EXTRA: DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH - MICHAEL JACKSON - His first of four Top Ten hits from Off The Wall. Not a big fan of this one at all. 22: HEAVEN MUST HAVE SENT YOU – BONNIE POINTER - She was a former member of the Pointer Sisters, but left the group the year before to pursue a solo career. This song, her only solo Top 40, was pretty good, but I generally preferred songs by the Pointer Sisters. 21: IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM – JOE JACKSON (21) - This is one I remember from back in the day. Sugar Ray did a remake of this song back in 2003, but the original is definitely the best. 20: HOT SUMMER NIGHTS - NIGHT (24) - The first of two hits from this L.A. band. It was a great one, but I preferred the follow-up, which featured Chris Thompson on lead vocals. 19: LONESOME LOSER – LITTLE RIVER BAND (22) - Here's one I remember hearing a lot during the fall of 1979. It was pretty good, but I preferred LRB's two other 1979 hits by a fairly wide margin. 18: GOODBYE STRANGER - SUPERTRAMP (20) - The second of three Top 20 hits from Supertramp's multi-million selling album Breakfast In America. It was actually about this time back in '79 that I bought this album (at a discount store known as T G & Y), so I heard this song all the time back then, mainly on said album. LDD: THE GAMBLER – KENNY ROGERS - I used to like this song, but that annoying Geico ad that used it a year or so back has actually dimmed my fascination for this song. 17: LET’S GO – THE CARS (23) - I remember hearing this one at the beach every now and again back in the summer of 1979. It's a good song, but I generally preferred their 80s hits (mainly from Heartbeat City). 16: I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN’ YOU - KISS (11) - The band had gone disco by this time and that didn't really work for them, as this was their only Top 40 single with a disco beat. I myself prefer their slow songs (as did the general Top 40 audience, as their two Top Ten singles were both ballads). 15: SUSPICIONS – EDDIE RABBITT (17) - Possibly Rabbitt's most un-country sounding song ever. It had more of a smooth jazz sound to it, but it was a great one, IMO. 14: I’LL NEVER LOVE THIS WAY AGAIN – DIONNE WARWICK (16) - A member of a very musical family and, at the time, she was the most successful, but little did anyone know that Warwick's first cousin would come along six years later to give her a run for her money. As for the song, it's a great one - one of my favorites from her. 13: YOU CAN’T CHANGE THAT – RAYDIO (9) - This song and their 1981 song "A Woman Needs Love" sounded very similar. I slightly prefer this one though (but both of them are great songs!) ARCHIVES: BLACK WATER – THE DOOBIE BROTHERS - They had their second number one song earlier in the year, and this was their very first. Both are great songs and among my favorites from them. OPTIONAL EXTRA: PLEASE DON'T GO - KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND - Gee, KC, would you like a little cheese and crackers to go along with your whine? 12: RING MY BELL – ANITA WARD (7) - I heard this one a few times at the local skating rink back in the day. It was OK, but nothing special. 11: WHEN YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN – DR. HOOK (6) - As we all know, my favorite song from them was "Better Love Next Time", but this was a good one too - and it became one of their most successful hits. 10: SAD EYES – ROBERT JOHN (12) - With all the baby steps this song was taking (though it had made a few large moves a few weeks earlier), who knew that it was going to go all the way to the top? This song would tie "Hot Child In The City" by Nick Gilder as the slowest climb to #1 - a total of 21 weeks each - a record that would stand for about two and a half years. Anyway, this is definitely my favorite of the two songs. 9: MAMA CAN’T BUY YOU LOVE – ELTON JOHN (10) - I'm surprised that we don't hear this song much anymore, given that it was a Top Ten hit. I liked this one - one of his best late-70s hits. 8: LEAD ME ON – MAXINE NIGHTINGALE (13) - A true two-hit wonder here, as her only other song was "Right Back Where We Started From", a song I used to like, but now not quite as much, due to overplay. This is definitely my favorite song from her. 7: THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA – CHARLIE DANIELS BAND (8) - Interesting about Charlie Daniels challenging Stan Kenton to cut a decent country record - and welching on the bet by not even listening to the record. And how's this for irony - on the day that this show aired, Kenton passed away. 6: DON’T BRING ME DOWN – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (14) - With the chart momentum of this song (which was in only its third week in the Top 40), this song looked like a sure-fire #1, but, in fact, the song climbed only two spots higher. I liked the song back in the day, though it was quite overplayed. I preferred their other 1979 Top Ten, which is sadly ignored by radio anymore. 5: BAD GIRLS – DONNA SUMMER (4) - As "Hot Stuff" stepped off the chart after a good, long run, this song was still going strong in the Top Five. Although I preferred "Hot Stuff", this was a good one as well. 4: AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE – EARTH, WIND & FIRE (5) - One of their most successful hits ever - in fact, according to the R&R chart, it was their most successful, as it peaked at #1 there. The song did well on the Hot 100 as well, peaking at #2. This used to be one of my favorite songs, but now, I find it mediocre. 3: THE MAIN EVENT/FIGHT – BARBRA STREISAND (3) - Interesting to hear an upbeat song by Streisand (though this was the only one that I liked - I think you all know that I did not like her duet with Donna Summer from later that year). OPTIONAL EXTRA: DEPENDIN' ON YOU - Michael McDonald had handled the lead vocals on the first two singles from the Minute By Minute album, but they went with a Patrick Simmons song as the third single. The song was pretty good, but nowhere near as good as "What A Fool Believes". 2: GOOD TIMES - CHIC (1) - This one is kind of overplayed, but I do prefer it over "La Freak". But my favorite of their 1979 hits, as you probably know all too well, was "I Want Your Love" 1: MY SHARONA – THE KNACK (2) - This song was in its first of six weeks at #1. Despite the fact that this song was played ad nauseum in 1979, I actually didn't really get tired of it, but somehow, a few years ago, I somehow decided that I'd tired of it many years before and didn't even know it. I preferred "Good Girls Don't", which charted about a month later. Thankfully, they played the single version of the song, with the shorter instrumental bridge (and didn't they cut out the second verse as well?)
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Post by Hervard on Aug 26, 2021 17:05:34 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - August 27, 2021
This week's presentation - August 28, 1982
Droppers: I REALLY DON'T NEED NO LIGHT - JEFFREY OSBORNE (39) - After being in the R&B funk band LTD for ten years (lead singer since 1976), Osbourne embarked on a solo career. This was his first Top 40 hit and, even though this was all the higher it got, there was more where that came from. This was a great song, IMO - had a smooth jazz feel to it. Still, I preferred “On The Wings Of Love”, which, of course, was the follow-up to this. ROUTE 101 - HERB ALPERT (37) - Ah, the only artist at the time that hit #1 with both an instrumental and a vocal song. Unless that's happened since then, but somehow, I doubt it. Anyway, this was a pretty good song, though not quite as good as "Rise". PERSONALLY - KARLA BONOFF (35) - Back in the summer of 1994, I bought Karla’s Wild Heart Of The Young album, after hearing the title track playing over a scene in The Wonder Years, and it turned out to be a worthy purchase, as I liked each and every song on the album, this one included (in fact, this just might give the title cut a run for its money as my favorite). YOUR IMAGINATION - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (33) - One of their lesser known hits. I myself preferred most of their other hits. PAPERLATE - GENESIS (32) - A few years back, I learned the meaning of the title - it's the British equivalent of "Extra, Extra - Read all about it!". This song, one of several songs from them that uses the horn section from Earth Wind & Fire, was a good one, though not quite their best. IF THE LOVE FITS, WEAR IT - LESLIE PEARL (28) - She had written hits for many country and AC artists and now charted with a single hit of her own. It was a great song - one I've heard many times on my Barry Scott's Lost 45s CD.
Note that none of the above songs dropped out of the countdown from way up in the teens. However, of these songs, five of them took huge drops into the 80s and 90s. The only exception is the Jeffrey Osbourne song, which was never moving up the chart fast enough for a "superstar" (in fact, it didn't have a star for several weeks after it debuted), so its chart run was "legit" instead of having technicalities with Bill Wardlow's "superstar" rule.
LW#3: ABRACADABRA – THE STEVE MILLER BAND LW#2: HURTS SO GOOD – JOHN COUGAR LW#1: EYE OF THE TIGER - SURVIVOR 40: LOVE OR LET ME BE LONELY – PAUL DAVIS (debut) - Third Single Syndrome definitely applied here, as "Cool Night" and "'65 Love Affair" both hit the Top 20, but this is all the further this song got. Too bad, as this was a great song (though I preferred the original by Friends Of Distinction, which hit #6 in 1970). 39: NEVER BEEN IN LOVE – RANDY MEISNER (debut) - One of several former members from the Eagles gone solo. Of his Top 40 hits, this one was possibly my favorite - has that MOR sound typical of the early 80s. 38: LET ME GO – RAY PARKER JR. (40) - He usually did songs that were upbeat, but he went with a slow jam this time around. Apparently, most of his fans preferred his fast and mid-tempo songs, as this song didn't get past #38. It was a pretty good song, IMO. 37: DO YOU WANNA TOUCH ME – JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (debut) - She indeed had a great year in 1982, with her rock and roll anthem, one of the biggest hits of the year, and her Top Ten remake of "Crimson And Clover". This song didn't do quite as well, but did hit the Top 20. I wasn't a big fan of this song, however. 36: SOMEDAY, SOMEWAY – MARSHALL CRENSHAW (38) - The only Top 40 entry for this Detroit native, but his only hit was indeed a great song! 35: WHAT’S FOREVER FOR – MICHAEL MURPHY (debut) - Chiefly a country artist, Murphey had several pop crossovers. His biggest was "Wild Fire", a #3 hit in 1985, but this was second biggest hit, peaking at #19 for five weeks. It is also my favorite of his crossover hits - a great song indeed! 34: HOLD ON - SANTANA (debut) - Carlos Santana definitely had his best chart success during his comeback around the turn of this century - especially at Hot AC radio. I liked a lot of those songs, as overplayed as they were, but they didn't hold a candle to this song - possibly my favorite Santana song of all time! 33: I KEEP FORGETTIN’ – MICHAEL McDONALD (debut) - REGULATORS!!! Mount up! Well, at least that would be the song that, twelve years later, sampled this song, which was a great song and showed that Michael McDonald was good as a solo artist as well as lead singer of the Doobie Brothers. 32: DON’T YOU WANT ME – THE HUMAN LEAGUE (26) - This is one of the songs I most associate with the summer of 1982, as that was when it was #1 and played a lot on the stations I listened to - a great song indeed! OPTIONAL EXTRA: NOBODY - SYLVIA - Classic case of a guy having an affair and playing it down when asked about it. This song reminded me of "Seven Year Ache" by Roseanne Cash, one of my favorite country crossover songs of the early 80s, as is this song. 31: TAINTED LOVE – SOFT CELL (23) - Definitely one of the most overplayed songs of the 1980s. Of course, we all know that this song held the record for the longest consecutive run on the Hot 100 - in fact, I believe that the song has such a record for the pre-Soundscan era (remember - "What About Me" by Moving Pictures doesn't count, as that song had two chart-runs). 30: LET ME TICKLE YOUR FANCY – JERMAINE JACKSON (36) - Meh, I was never a big fan of this one - possibly my least favorite songs of his. 29: SOMEBODY’S BABY – JACKSON BROWNE (34) - The only Top 40 hit from the 1982 comedy film Fast Times At Ridgemont High, and one of Jackson Browne's more successful hits - as well as one of my favorites from him. 28: HOT IN THE CITY – BILLY IDOL (31) - This song had two chart runs - it peaked at #23 in this one and, when it was re-released in 1987, it climbed to #48. I liked it, but preferred his other songs from the latter year. 27: LET IT WHIP – DAZZ BAND (22) - This was a recent #1 song on the soul chart, and it didn't do half bad on the Hot 100, peaking at #5 a few weeks before. I wasn't a big fan of the song, however. 26: BLUE EYES – ELTON JOHN (30) - One of two songs he charted with in 1982, both of them making the Top 20. Though I preferred the other song, "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny", this one was a good one too. LDD: LOST IN LOVE – AIR SUPPLY - 25: KIDS IN AMERICA – KIM WILDE (25) - This was the first of two Top 40 hits for Wilde. Her other hit, from five years later, was, of course, her biggest hit ever, hitting #1. This song was OK, but I preferred said #1, as well as her 1988 song "You Came", which just barely missed becoming her third Top 40 hit, peaking at #41. At least that song was a Top Ten dance hit, so it's all good. 24: ONLY TIME WILL TELL - ASIA (29) - Their second of two hits this band put into the Top 20 during 1982. It was also my favorite of the two (though the other song, "Heat Of The Moment", was a great one too). 23: YOU CAN DO MAGIC - AMERICA (27) - A comeback hit for them in two different ways - their first Top Ten hit since 1975, when "Sister Golden Hair" hit #1, and their first Top 40 since 1976, when they peaked at #23 with "Today's The Day". This one would hit #8 two months later. It was one of their best hits, IMO, and one I remember quite well back in the day! 22: AND I’M TELLING YOU I’M NOT GOING – JENNIFER HOLLIDAY (24) - Sort of an operatic song here. I kind of liked it, though it definitely sounded out of place on this show. The song was OK, except for the parts near the end, where she growled the words instead of singing. OPTIONAL EXTRA: STEPPIN' OUT - JOE JACKSON - I don't like this song quite as much as I did back in the day, but it's still good. Still, I preferred his other Top 40 hits. 21: OUT OF WORK – GARY U.S. BONDS (21) - You can definitely tell that this one is a Springsteen song (even has Clarence Clemons wailing away on the sax). It's a great song, and one with a very timely message, what with the high unemployment rate nowadays. 20: ROSANNA - TOTO (15) - This song couldn't get any higher than #2, but it became their biggest hit overall (especially on the R&R chart, where it spent a month on top). It was a good song that still gets quite a lot of recurrent airplay. 19: ONLY THE LONELY – THE MOTELS (13) - The first of four Top 40 hits from this band from Los Angeles. I liked all four of those hits, my favorite being "Remember The Nights", from early 1984. This was their biggest hit overall, and the only one that gets any kind of recurrent airplay nowadays. 18: WHO CAN IT BE NOW – MEN AT WORK (20) - This one, along with their other Business As Usual #1, "Down Under" are both way overplayed. Yet radio stations pretty much ignore any of the Cargo singles, which IMO are superior to the two #1s. 17: THINK I’M IN LOVE – EDDIE MONEY (19) - His first Top 40 hit in a little over three years. This was the first of two singles from his album No Control (the other one, "Shakin'" didn't quite make it into the Top 40). It was a good song, though I preferred several others from him (such as "Maybe I'm A Fool", "Endless Nights" and "After This Love Is Gone", among others). 16: AMERICAN MUSIC – THE POINTER SISTERS (18) - The Pointer Sisters seemed to have a 60s thing going in 1982, as two of their songs from that year sounded as though they were remakes of songs from the 1960s. I liked both songs, but preferred the other one, "Should I Do It". 15: EYE IN THE SKY – THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT (17) - Here is a song that was overplayed back in the day, but now, I seldom hear it outside of countdown shows anymore. Definitely one of my favorite songs from them. Many of the stations I listened to back then played the "Sirius" intro along with this song. 14: JACK AND DIANE – JOHN COUGAR (16) - This is another song that was played to death back during its chart run (and many years afterward). As a result, I'm pretty much burned out on it. I definitely preferred his other song in the countdown this week. 13: LOVE WILL TURN YOU AROUND – KENNY ROGERS (14) - This one was on its way to a peak of #13, a position it held for five weeks, which was somewhat unusual even by 1982 standards, before falling out of the Top 40 from that peak (which, on the other hand, was a very common occurrence for 1982). The song did manage to hit the Top Ten on the R&R chart, which is good, since this is one of my favorite songs from Kenny Rogers! NOTE: From this point on, every song in the countdown was in holding position (remember - this was 1982). 12: LOVE IS IN CONTROL – DONNA SUMMER (12) - Now this song had an odd run on the chart, even by 1982 standards. The song looked like it was peaking here at #12, since it held there for three weeks, then it surprised everyone by moving up to #11 the following week, and then #10 the week after, before falling clean out of the Top 40, defying the "more than one week at its peak" rule. I'm wondering if they fudged around with the chart somewhat so this song wouldn't just miss the Top Ten. As for my opinion of this song, I wasn't a big fan of it - sounded a little like something the Jacksons would do - in fact, when I first heard this song, I thought that's who it was. EXTRA: HAPPY – THE ROLLING STONES - This was the only Top 40 hit by the Rolling Stones that did not feature Mick Jagger on lead. Instead, Keith Richard took the reins on this song and Jagger sang back-up. It was not bad, but definitely not their best. OPTIONAL EXTRA: I RAN (SO FAR AWAY) - A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS - The first (and biggest) of three hits by this English new wave and synthpop band. I liked all three songs, but I'm not sure which one I liked best. 11: YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU – MELISSA MANCHESTER (11) - She definitely nailed the fives with this song - aside from peaking at #5, it spent five weeks in the Top Ten, fifteen weeks in the Top 40, and 25 weeks on the Hot 100 - and, had one of her lower charters not made the Top 40, this would have been her fifth Top 40 hit. Anyway, this was a good song, although sounds a little like a note you’d find in a middle school girls’ notebook. 10: TAKE IT AWAY – PAUL McCARTNEY (10) - Earlier, I mentioned how I suspected that "Love Is In Control" was artificially moved up into the Top Ten. The fact that this song, which peaked at #10 for five weeks, dropped back only one spot the same week might back that up. I'm thinking that, with the rule that was in place, it would have spend another week at #10. But who knows - that's just speculation and nothing more. Anyway, I really liked this song - one of my favorite of Sir Paul's solo hits. 9: WASTED ON THE WAY – CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH (9) - The comeback hit for the trio, who had been absent from the Top 40 for five years. This was one of two hits that they placed on the charts during 1982. Of those songs, I preferred this one (though "Southern Cross" was also a great one). 8: VACATION – THE GO-GO’S (8) - I seem to recall that this was the first cassette single released in the States. Of their three 1982 hits, this would be my second favorite behind "Alex The Seal" "Our Lips Are Sealed". LDD: THEME FROM "GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) – JOEY SCARBURY - One of the most successful TV show themes of all time (as well as one of my favorites)! This one almost got up to the top, but just barely fell short (it did manage to sneak in a week on top of the R&R chart). Is this show out on CD yet? This song also fit the LDD, from a girl to her softball team, who just barely missed winning title when she was on the team during her senior year. 7: KEEP THE FIRE BURNIN’ – REO SPEEDWAGON (7) - Their only upbeat song to make the Billboard Top Ten (as all of their other Top Ten hits were power ballads). I liked this song, but preferred their next release, "Sweet Time". EXTRA: PROUD MARY – CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - This was one of those "biggest hits by a certain artist" filler extras - and, as I recall, this might have been the last time they featured that type of extra. I may be wrong, though. Anyway, being that CCR was the champ of having the most #2s without a #1, all three songs that Casey named off peaked in the runner-up position. This song spent three weeks up there and fourteen on the Hot 100, so it was obviously their biggest hit. It wasn't bad, but I prefer several of their other songs, including a few of said number two hits. 6: EVEN THE NIGHTS ARE BETTER – AIR SUPPLY (6) - This is the song that holds the somewhat undesirable record for the song that took the longest fall out of the Top 40. Four weeks later, the song would fall from #6 to #42 (but you already knew that, right?) Anyway, this was one of their best songs, IMO. 5: HARD TO SAY I’M SORRY - CHICAGO (5) - Their comeback hit after over three years, but they more than made up for lost time with this song, which looked like it was going to peak here at #5, a position it held for the past four weeks, but it managed to rise above the competition and went all the way to #1 the following week. As you probably know all too well, at one time, it was my favorite song in the world, but now, I'm pretty much burned out on the song (Az Yet's 1997 cover, which sounded much like the original, was instrumental in that), so much that I usually change the station when it comes on the radio. 4: HOLD ME – FLEETWOOD MAC (4) - Here's a song that set a record for the longest peak at #4 that, as far as I know, could still be standing today (though, of course, I stopped believing in the Hot 100 soon after 11/30/1991). It was one of my favorites from them back in the day, but I have since grown tired of the song (though it's good to hear it every now and again). 3: ABRACADABRA – THE STEVE MILLER BAND (3) - Back at #5 was a song that many people thought had peaked, as it spent four weeks there. For the same four weeks, this song held the #3 position. In fact, the entire Top Five was at a standstill for the entire month of August, but things began to move around a little as September rolled in. This song had just the magic that it needed to break away from the number three spot and became their third #1 song - I guess you could say it did a hat trick. OPTIONAL EXTRA: WAITING ON A FRIEND - ROLLING STONES - The final Extra was changed in light of the recent death of Rolling Stones' drummer Charlie Watts. This was the first of three hits by them to chart in 1982 - my favorite of the three Tattoo You singles. 2: HURTS SO GOOD – JOHN COUGAR (2) - This is the song whose drop from the runner-up position the following week made the difference for the Top Five, as the songs had more leg room. As I said, I preferred this song over "Jack And Diane". Unlike that song, this one has held up quite well despite overplay. 1: EYE OF THE TIGER – SURVIVOR (1) - This song held the most desirable place to be stuck for a whole month - the coveted top spot! In fact, this song spent a total of six weeks there and would go on to become the second most popular song of 1982, behind "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John. It was a good song - has held up pretty well despite overplay. I do prefer a few others from them, though.
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Post by Hervard on Aug 26, 2021 17:08:56 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - August 27, 2021
This week's presentation - August 24, 1985
LAY IT DOWN - RATT (40) - They just barely escaped "one-hit wonder" status with this song, as it had only spent a single week on the chart - at the anchor position, no less. I liked this one a lot better than "Round And Round" (which is also a great song) and felt it was way underrated. RASPBERRY BERET - PRINCE (32) - This used to be one of my favorite songs by Prince, but not so much anymore. As I’ve said many times before, I find the falsetto part at the end (which is actually Wendy & Lisa instead of Prince, as I once thought) quite annoying. A VIEW TO A KILL - DURAN DURAN (31) - The second of two #1 songs for Duran Duran (you thought they had more, didn't you?) - and was by far my favorite of the two - a great song indeed! SENTIMENTAL STREET - NIGHT RANGER (30) - This one reminded me a lot of "Sister Christian" (and what do you know - those were their only Top Ten hits - I guess the Top 40 audience preferred their power ballads). I do too, although I also liked the mid-tempo ballads, such as "Four In The Morning" and "Goodbye".
40: LONELY 'OL NIGHT - JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP (debut) - The first of five Top 40 hits from Mellencamp's album Scarecrow and possibly my favorite song from the album (although "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." and "Rain On The Scarecrow" were good ones as well). 39: SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU - WHITNEY HOUSTON (debut) - As mentioned earlier, she had only just begun. As she dropped out of the countdown with her first hit, this was racing up the chart, on its way to becoming her first of many #1 songs. It was a good one, but I preferred many, many others from her. 38: TAKE ON ME - A-HA (debut) - The first hit for this Norwegian act, who's often known as a one-hit wonder, because of this song (as not everyone is familiar with "The Sun Always Shines On TV"). This was a great song, and I'm glad it hit #1! 37: I WONDER IF I TAKE YOU HOME - LISA LISA & CULT JAM (34) - This must have been one of those songs that received sporadic airplay, due to the fact that it fell down the chart slowly after it peaked (while songs above it on the chart dropped out of the Top 40). Well, whatever the case, this was a pretty good song, but as we all know, I preferred "All Cried Out" by a wide margin. 36: WHEN YOUR HEART IS WEAK - COCK ROBIN (37) - Must! Resist! Inserting! Lecherous! Batman! Joke! Here! But seriously, this song was pretty good, though a little cheesy. 35: CRY - GODLEY & CREME (39) - "Huh huh - he's faking. He's not really taking a dump!" Yeah, when I saw the episode of Beavis & Butthead with the video to this song, I never saw it the same way again! 34: LIVE EVERY MOMENT - REO SPEEDWAGON (35) - Well, the first two hits from Wheels Are Turnin' both hit the Top 20, yet this one couldn't push past #34, where it was peaking this week. It wasn't one of my all-time faves from them, though it was still pretty good. I was generally a big fan of their music, especially the power ballads. 33: OH SHEILA - READY FOR THE WORLD (debut) - The first of three Top 40 hits from this R&B band from Flint, Michigan, as well as the biggest (would hit #1 in October). It wasn't bad, but I preferred "Love You Down". 32: THERE MUST BE AN ANGEL - EURYTHMICS (38) - Of course, we know full well that this is my favorite of their Top 40 hits! Lennox's vocals are somewhat theatrical sounding, and Stevie Wonder does a killer harmonica solo in the bridge of the song! 31: DRESS YOU UP - MADONNA (36) - Madonna's charting streak, which had been active since September 1, 1984, was broken a few weeks back when "Angel" dropped out of the Top 40. However, it continued on the R&R chart, as Madonna replaced herself by debuting with this song as "Into The Groove" stepped off the chart the week before, thus extending her streak there into October. This was one of my favorite of her upbeat songs. 30: YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE - WHITNEY HOUSTON (20) - The first of many, many, many big Top 40 hits for her (it wasn't her first Hot 100 appearance, however, as she sang on a duet with Teddy Pendergrass the year before, called "Hold Me". It was looking like this song had peaked, but it got a second wind the following week and peaked at #3 the week after that. As for my opinion of this song, it was a great one, as I generally preferred her slow songs (though a few of her upbeat songs are great as well). OPTIONAL EXTRA: BE NEAR ME - ABC - This was the first of two Top Ten hits for this English group. It wasn't bad, but I preferred their two earlier hits. 29: SHAME - THE MOTELS (33) - Their fourth and final Top 40 hit. It was my least favorite of their hits, but was still a great one - that said, it's too bad they didn't have more Top 40 hits. 28: GET IT ON (BANG A GONG) - THE POWER STATION (14) - Their second of three Top 40 songs they charted with in 1985. I actually preferred this over the mediocre original by T. Rex from 1972. 27: PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE - DEPECHE MODE (16) - The first Top 40 hit for this English band. I never cared much for it, however; I preferred their two Top 20 hits from 1990. 26: STATE OF THE HEART - RICK SPRINGFIELD (22) - A rare ballad from Mr. Springfield. I liked it - too bad it wasn't one of his more successful hits, but he had clearly had his day in the sun. His last Top Ten hit was "Love Somebody" from the previous summer. 25: MYSTERY LADY - BILLY OCEAN (28) - One of only three Top 40 hits during Ocean's chart career that did not hit the Top 20. I guess slow jams like this were passé. Anyway, I thought it was a good song, though certainly not his best. 24: ROCK ME TONIGHT (FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE) - FREDDIE JACKSON (21) - He was big on the soul charts (where this one spent six weeks at #1), but he also had a few Pop hits as well. This one, as well as the others, were great, but my favorite song from him was his Christmas song "One Wish". LDD: EBONY & IVORY - PAUL McCARTNEY & STEVIE WONDER - This spent seven weeks at #1 and ranked among the Top Five of that year. Back in the day, I hated this song, because, every time you turned on the radio, there it was. I was burned out on it for quite awhile, but have learned to start liking it better over the past few years. It's a great song with a great message that fit the subject matter of the LDD to a T! 23: LIFE IN ONE DAY - HOWARD JONES - (29) - He had his first Top Ten earlier in the year with "Things Can Only Get Better". This one didn't quite make it, but it was his second Top 20 hit, peaking at #19. It was a great song IMO - one of Hojo’s best as well. 22: GLORY DAYS - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (13) - Bruce had recently joined Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie as only the third artist to score with five Top Tens from a single album. Bruce wasn't done yet, though - he released two more songs from Born In The USA and those hit the Top Ten at well, tying him with Michael Jackson for the record number of Top Tens from one album. This one used to be so/so, but I've grown to really like this song over the past few years. 21: SMOKIN' IN THE BOYS ROOM - MOTLEY CRUE (26) - Something I got caught doing once back in my sophomore year. Fortunately, the teacher just scoffed and walked off - didn't want to waste his time apparently, so I dodged a bullet there! As for the song, it was a pretty good song, considering I wasn't a huge fan of them. 20: DARE ME - THE POINTER SISTERS (25) - Little did Casey know that three weeks later, he couldn't care less if he never heard this song again. Of course, it was the song after which the infamous "Dead Dog Dedication" was placed. I actually liked this song, considering that I generally did not like their later hits. OPTIONAL EXTRA: LOVIN' EVERY MINUTE OF IT - LOVERBOY - his song somewhat defies the general rule that the lower their songs peak, the less obscure they are, as this one was one of two Top Ten hits from them and still gets occasional recurrent airplay. Their other Top Ten hit, "This Could Be The Night" receives virtually no recurrent airplay, which is a shame IMO, as it was a great song (as was this one). 19: FREEDOM - WHAM (27) - This used to be my favorite song ever since I first heard it in mid-June, 1985, when B-96 gave this song early action, when "Everything You Want" was still in the Top Ten. However, overplay sort of dimmed my like for this song. This song had a normal climb up the BB chart, but was burning up the R&R chart (moved 16-11 this week) until it hit the Top Ten, and it only got as high as #6. I have a feeling that early action on other stations besides B-96 played a role in that. It peaked at #3 on Billboard though, which is surprising, seeing that this was their fourth single from "Make It Big". Usually, sales are quite small for fourth singles, especially from such a successful album as "Make It Big" was. Maybe the fact that the single version was different than the album version (I think) was instrumental in that (wasn't the single version the one with the horn solo at the end (which they played this week), or was that a demo version?) 18: POP LIFE - PRINCE & THE REVOLUTION (24) - This was one of my favorite songs by Prince, but it sure seemed to come and go pretty quickly. It didn't even make the Top 100 of the year, which I thought was a shame, considering that it peaked at #7. It did a lot better on my Personal Top 30, though, hitting #1 and ranking #4 on the year-ender. 17: MONEY FOR NOTHING - DIRE STRAITS (23) - One of two songs on this week's chart that Sting's involved with (of course, he's the one who wants his MTV). The song was OK, but it was very overplayed. I preferred their three other Top 40 hits, as well as a few album cuts from their first, self-titled album. 16: YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD) - DEAD OR ALIVE (11) - Wow, this song looked to be a cinch to hit the Top Ten the week before with its 16-11 move, but the song actually falls back to #16 this week. Anyway, Dead Or Alive were a two-hit wonder band from Liverpool, England. I slightly preferred their other song, "Brand New Lover", which was a Top 20 hit (as was this one) about two years later, but this one's pretty good as well (though it's too bad Flo Rida had to go and mess it nearly a quarter of a century later). 15: INVINCIBLE (THEME FROM "THE LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN") - PAT BENATAR (17) - I hope our friend JessieLou was listening this week! This was Benatar's fourth and final Top Ten hit. Anyway, this wasn't quite my favorite song from her, but it was pretty good. 14: YOU'RE ONLY HUMAN (SECOND WIND) - BILLY JOEL (18) - This one wasn't one of my favorites from him, but it definitely had a great message. He even left in a mistake that he made recording this song to prove his point that "you're only human - you're supposed to make mistakes". 13: DON'T LOSE MY NUMBER - PHIL COLLINS (19) - Anyone notice that the video of this seemed to be a ripoff of the video for "You Might Think" by the Cars? As for the song, I liked it and was surprised that it was omitted from Collins' HITS album. 12: CHERISH - KOOL & THE GANG (15) - This one was number one for six weeks on the AC chart (and I believe was the top song of the year). It also was a huge pop smash, peaking at #2 for three weeks, becoming their second biggest hit behind "Celebration". I liked it - my second of their Emergency singles, behind "Fresh". They played a different version of the song, without any drums or bass during the first verse. Did AT40 play that version any other time? 11: WHO'S HOLDING DONNA NOW - DeBARGE (8) - It took a few years, but they finally hit the Top Ten in 1985 with "Rhythm Of The Night". This one followed suit, peaking at #6 the week before. This was easily my favorite of the two hits! 10: WHAT ABOUT LOVE - HEART (12) - This was Heart's comeback hit and their songs didn't have the same classic rock sound that their previous ones did, which might have helped, as they had more success on the pop charts than before, with seven Top Ten hits, including two #1s. This was another high point in the show for JessieLou! OPTIONAL EXTRA - I GOT YOU BABE - UB40 w/CHRISSIE HYNDE - A very interesting reggae version of the Sonny & Cher classic. Too bad they didn't re-release it later on like they did "Red Red Wine", since it may have performed a little better on the charts than it did the first time around. 9: EVERYTIME YOU GO AWAY - PAUL YOUNG (6) - This was definitely among the most played songs of the summer of 1985, but it has held up quite well. I don't think I ever got tired of this song, and I'm glad that it made it to #1. 8: IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY SET THEM FREE - STING (4) - This song, Sting's first of many solo Top 40 hits, was said to be an antidote to his biggest hit ever, "Every Breath You Take", which he considered "a really nasty song". Whether that's true or not, I'm not completely sure, but either way, I like this song, but generally preferred his 90s hits. LDD: TAKE A CHANCE ON ME - ABBA - I like many, if not most, of their Top 40 hits. This song was pretty good - one that I've learned to like over the past year or so. I definitely prefer it over their other 1978 hit "The Name Of The Game", but it doesn't hold a candle to "Dancing Queen" or "The Winner Takes It All". It definitely fit the LDD. 7: SUMMER OF '69 - BRYAN ADAMS (9) - Of course, this song told a fictional story, as Adams was only nine years old that summer - he'd be riding bikes and playing touch football, not playing in a band. 6: WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER HERO (THUNDERDOME) - TINA TURNER (10) - Like Heart, Tina Turner was definitely most successful on the charts during her 1980s comeback, and this is one of her biggest hits, just missing the top spot, peaking at #2. I thought it was a good song, though I preferred a few of her others. 5: FREEWAY OF LOVE - ARETHA FRANKLIN (5) - With none other than Clarence Clemons playing sax, this was Aretha's comeback hit - that put her back into the Top Ten, that is. It was definitely a comeback over on the R&R chart, from where she'd been absent for over eleven years. Anyway, this song was pretty good, but I preferred her next hit, the title track of her Who's Zoomin' Who album, as well as a few of her songs after that. 4: ST. ELMO'S FIRE (MAN IN MOTION) - JOHN PARR (7) - Like Dead Or Alive, Parr was a two-hit wonder. Only difference is that, while the two hits of the former were about equally as successful, this song was by far the most successful of his two hits (spent two weeks at #1 in September). I thought it wasn't bad, but it sure was overplayed. 3: NEVER SURRENDER - COREY HART (3) - This was a rare case where the biggest hit by an artist (with at least five hits) was my favorite by them. This one peaked at #3 in August, and overplay hasn't tarnished it at all. OPTIONAL EXTRA: AND WE DANCED - THE HOOTERS - Another band whose name I had a misconception about - at first, I thought they were talking about owls. But it was actually the nickname for the keyboard harmonica (melodica) that band member Rob Hyman played. For the record, I never thought they named themselves after a certain female body part. Anyway, this was a good song - my favorite of their three Top 40 hits. 2: SHOUT - TEARS FOR FEARS (1) - Meh, I never cared for this one at all. I guess you could say this is a song I can do without. BTW, was that 14-week streak of foreign artists at #1 ever broken (pretty sure it was on the Hot 100, but I'm talking about the AT40 chart)? 1: THE POWER OF LOVE - HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS (2) - A song from one of the best movies ever, IMO. I loved the Back To The Future trilogy! This was played in the first one as Marty McFly rode his skateboard to school after finding out he was 20 minutes late, hoping to dodge his principal, but no such luck.
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Post by mga707 on Aug 26, 2021 17:22:39 GMT -5
38: GIRL OF MY DREAMS – BRAM TCHAIKOVSKY (39) - Like M, a one-hit wonder, only the former went all the way to the top, but this song ran out of gas at #37. Too bad, since it was a good song. No comment on the subject matter, huh? Always loved the 'sound' of this song. Bought the LP that august (it's good) and saw the group at a local club later that fall. But ooooh, that subject matter....
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 27, 2021 10:59:43 GMT -5
I agree that "Girl Of My Dreams" should've been a much bigger hit.
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 27, 2021 14:27:01 GMT -5
The members of Devo backed Jermaine Jackson on "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy".
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Post by mrjukebox on Aug 28, 2021 5:50:48 GMT -5
Hi,Hervard-The "Tattoo You" album produced three top forty hits:"Start Me Up","Waiting On A Friend" & "Hangfire".
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Post by mga707 on Aug 28, 2021 10:20:01 GMT -5
Hi,Hervard-The "Tattoo You" album produced three top forty hits:"Start Me Up","Waiting On A Friend" & "Hangfire". Oh, that's right - "Going To A Go Go" was on their live album Still Life. I always thought it was on Tattoo You, since it was released right after "Hang Fire". I stand corrected. Yes, if you listen real hard you can hear me in the crowd! One of the shows recorded for the LP was the December 13, 1981 show at ASU Stadium, Tempe AZ. I was there.
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Post by Hervard on Sept 3, 2021 12:54:41 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - September 4, 2021
This week's presentation - September 4, 1976
Droppers: TEDDY BEAR – RED SOVINE (40) - This was the previous week's only debut. It sure didn't last long in the chart, did it? All I can say is I'm not surprised! LAST CHILD - AEROSMITH (39) - Most of the droppers were near the bottom of the chart, due to the slow chart the week before. Anyway, this was a good song, but I generally prefer their 80s and 90s hits. GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE – THE BEATLES (38) - Here's one I remember quite well, since it was #1 on the station I listened to back in 1976 - WLS in Chicago, so I heard it all the time that summer. It was a great song! SPRINGTIME MAMA – HENRY GROSS (37) - The second song by one of several artists connected to the "Dead Dog Dedication". I preferred his other song, but this wasn't bad either - reminded me a lot of the Beach Boys. MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT - STARBUCK (34) - This song had a rather odd chart descent. After peaking at #3 a month before, the song took not one, but two big drops yet rests at #34 the week. A few suspicious chart moves this week indeed! Anyway, of their two Top 40 hits, this one would be my favorite. I’M EASY – KEITH CARRADINE (32) - Meh, sounds more like second-rate Jim Croce. I used to like this song, but not much anymore.
40: DON'T FEAR THE REAPER - BLUE OYSTRER CULT (debut) - A classic rock staple here. The album version, which radio usually plays features, the instrumental bridge, but it was cut out in this song (as far as I know, it was never used on AT40). 39: DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' - OLIVUA NEWTON-JOHN (debut) - No, this was not the original version of the song Journey charted with at the end of 1981. It was completely different. But you already knew that, right? Anyway the song was pretty good, but sounds a lot like her other mid-70s hits. I preferred said Journey song. 38: THAT'LL BE THE DAY - LINDA RONSTADT (debut) - One of many remakes from her. It wasn't bad, but I preferred the original by the Crickets (not the same ones who sing back-up on Johnny Rivers’ “Slow Dancing”) 37: ROCKIN' ME - STEVE MILLER BAND (debut) - Here's one I remember quite well from back in the day! Glad this one got to sneak in a week at the top before Rod Stewart began his marathon run up there. 36: AFTERNOON DELIGHT - STARLAND VOCAL BAND (30) - Ah, a song about engaging in a quickie with your significant other during your lunch break. This is another song I remember from 1976 (needless to say, I had no idea what it was really about, though). 35: MAGIC MAN - HEART (debut) - A high point in the show for our friend JessieLou, although it seems like they faded the record out near the halfway point of the song, but that's mid-70s AT40 for ya! This was the Wilson sisters' second Top 40 hit, and it made the Top Ten, unlike their debut hit, "Crazy On You". Both songs still get regular airplay on classic rock and oldies stations (and I remember both from back in the day, since WLS played them constantly). 34: DISCO DUCK - RICK DEES & HIS CAST OF IDIOTS (debut) - OK, how in the world did this goofy, annoying song get to #1? Oh yeah, disco was all the rage back in 1976. Whatever... 33: YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE - CANDI STATON (35) - With six debuts this week, it would seem logical that this was one of the droppers, but it actually moves back up two spots this week (it was a fluke, though, as the song fell clean off the survey the following week). This was the tenth and last (as well as biggest) hit for this American soul and gospel singer from Hanceville, Alabama. It was a pretty good song IMO. 32: ONE LOVE IN MY LIFETIME - DIANA ROSS (36) - I assume that it's no coincidence that this sounded so much like her version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". This was a good song - much better than her previous hit "Love Hangover", but I preferred her other 1976 hit, "Theme From Mahogany". 31: TURN THE BEAT AROUND - VICKI SUE ROBINSON (26) - There definitely is not much difference between this and Gloria Estefan's cover 18 years later. That said, I don't know which version I prefer. 30: I CAN'T HEAR YOU NO MORE - HELEN REDDY (33) - Wow, kind of refreshing to hear a non-cheesy song from her. I don’t even mind the fact that this is disco. 29: STREET SINGING - LADY FLASH (31) - Interesting story about how the popular fad of street singing launched the careers of many artists. This was only hit for Barry Manilow's back-up singers. It was a good song but, of course, I preferred most of Barry's big hits. 28: ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC - THE BEACH BOYS (18) - This song definitely showed that, even though the sixties was clearly their decade, they still had it in the 70s! 27: GET AWAY - EARTH, WIND & FIRE (29) - Indeed, one of the biggest R&B acts of the 1970s! Though this isn't quite as good as "That's The Way Of The World" and "September", it was still a good song nevertheless. OPTIONAL EXTRA: NADIA'S THEME (THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS) - BARRY de VORZON & PERRY BOTKIN JR. - The theme from the ever-popular soap opera. I definitely recognize the music, even if I have never seen any episodes of it. I like it - a great chill-out type song. 26: SHOWER THE PEOPLE - JAMES TAYLOR (28) - This is a song that has aged quite well - still sounds great 40 years later! 25: SHE'S GONE - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (27) - This was their second hit, and the best was definitely yet to come for this dynamic duo! This song was so/so, but definitely not their best. 24: KISS AND SAY GOODBYE - THE MANHATTANS (11) - *GROIN* They went with the version of the song that includes the spoken word part at the beginning. Come on, the song's depressing enough, huh? Anyway, as we all know, I preferred "Shining Star" over this song any day! 23: WHAM BAM (SHANG-A-LANG) - SILVER (25) - Track 11 on Volume 2 of Barry Scott Presents: Lost 45s of the 70's & 80's, a CD I've listened to many a time, so I've heard this song many times as a result. It's a good one! 22: LOVE IS ALIVE - GARY WRIGHT (15) - Now here is one of the songs I most associate with the summer of 1976, as the radio stations I listened to played it constantly. I definitely prefer it over "Dream Weaver", which is the only of Wright's three hits that receives any recurrent airplay (though once in a blue moon I do hear this one). 21: WHO'D SHE COO - OHIO PLAYERS (23) - Meh, I think we all know why I don't care much for this song... 20: STILL THE ONE - ORLEANS (22) - 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. 19: A LITTLE BIT MORE - DR. HOOK (21) - Meh, this used to be one of my favorite songs from them, but for some reason, such is not the case anymore. Give me "Better Love Next Time" any day! 18: IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW - CHICAGO (24) - This song was on its way to becoming their very first #1 song! Another great song that I remember from back in the day! 17: DEVIL WOMAN - CLIFF RICHARD (20) - His first Top 40 hit in over a decade ended up being his biggest hit ever, peaking at #6 a few weeks later. This song was pretty good, but I generally preferred his 80s hits. 16: WITH YOUR LOVE - JEFFERSON STARSHIP (19) - Another high point for JessieLou! This one sounded very much like their big hit "Miracles", from the year before. I liked it, but I preferred their two 1978 hits when Marty Balin was still lead singer. 15: HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL - TAVARES (17) - While it's true that I'm no fan of R&B disco, I actually kind of liked this song. 14: GET CLOSER - SEALS & CROFTS (9) - This song had a rather odd chart run - it moved from #16 to #6, where it peaked, dropped to #13 and returned to the Top Ten for a two-week encore). This song was OK, but Jim Seals sounded like he had a runny nose in this song. OPTIONAL EXTRA: BETH - KISS - They may be more known for their hard rock songs, but their two biggest hits, both of which hit the Top Ten, were ballads, and those are among my favorites from them. I like this song and "Forever" about the same. 13: SAY YOU LOVE ME - FLEETWOOD MAC (14) - Their self-titled album had been out for over a year and the following week, would hit #1 on the album chart, setting a record for the slowest climb to #1 on that chart. As for this song, I thought it was good, though I slightly preferred "Rhiannon". 12: BABY I LOVE YOUR WAY - PETER FRAMPTON (12) - As Frampton Comes Alive was having an on-again, off-again relationship with the #1 spot on the album chart, the second single from it was sitting at its peak and would start its chart descent the following week. The song was pretty good, but I preferred the two other singles from what would become the top album of the year. 11: SUMMER - WAR (13) - I always thought this one was released a little too late - it should have been put out in May so it would hit the chart in time for summer. The song had debuted on the AT40 chart when summer was just about half over. The song peaked at #7 on the weekend after the fall equinox. I wonder if the song would have done any better if released earlier. No matter; it did hit the Top Ten. I actually like this song at any time of year. 10: THIS MASQUERADE - GEORGE BENSON (10) - A nice, mellow chill-out type song, as was his next release, the instrumental "Breezin'". Too bad the latter didn't hit the Top 40. 9: LOWDOWN - BOZ SCAGGS (16) - He had a few low charters in the early-70s and a minor Top 40 hit earlier in 1976, but this is that song that really put him on the map. The song wasn't bad, but I preferred most of his other hits that charted after this. 8: DON'T GO BREAKIN' MY HEART - ELTON JOHN & KIKI DEE (1) - Despite its hefty drop from the top spot this week, this song was still in the midst of a then-unheard of seven-week stay atop the R&R chart, and didn't do too shabby here on AT40 either, having spent the past four weeks at #1. As you might guess, this was another song I remember quite well from 1976 - I don't think I ever went a day without hearing it. But overplay did not tarnish this song at all, and it still sounds great today! 7: A FIFTH OF BEETHOVEN - WALTER MURPHY (8) - This was an interesting disco version of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. One of the most successful instrumentals of all time (and THE most successful instrumental to be adapted from a classical composition - in this case, the Fifth symphony of Ludwig Von Beethoven, hence the song's title). 6: PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC - WILD CHERRY (7) - Ever since Vanilla Ice went and messed up this song in early 1991, I never was able to look at this song in the same light ever again! 5: SHAKE YOUR BOOTY - K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND (6) - This song was looking like it was almost done, as it had held at #6 the previous week and this week, moved up a spot to #5. It surprised everyone next week, however, as it leapt to number one. While I prefer a few others by them, this still is better than their 1979 whinefest "Please Don't Go". 4: I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT - ENGLAND DAN & JOHN FORD COLEY (5) - The brother of half of the duo back at #14 was en route to peaking at #2 with the first hit for him, along with his "sidekick". This was my favorite song from them. (Please, don’t even get me started on how Barry Manilow totally messed this song up about 20 years later with his dance remake...) 3: LET 'EM IN - WINGS (3) - One of the only songs I've ever heard that opens with a Westminster chime doorbell (interesting about how Paul McCartney wrote this song around that chime, which was at the former Apple Records headquarters, which Paul took over for his company after the Apple label dissolved). As for the song, it is my favorite of Wings' two Top Five hits from 1976. I still preferred a few others from them. 2: YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE - LOU RAWLS (4) - This song would just miss hitting #1 two weeks later, which is a shame, since this was a great song! At least it did hit the Top Five and was Rawls' biggest hit ever. 1: YOU SHOULD BE DANCIN' - THE BEE GEES (2) - It was beginning to look like this song was going to peak at #2, as it held at that spot for three weeks, but they had just enough oomph to make it to #1 this week. This song was pretty good, but I preferred their next hit "Love So Right".
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Post by Hervard on Sept 3, 2021 12:54:51 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - September 4, 2021
This week's presentation - September 3, 1983
Droppers: SAVED BY ZERO - THE FIXX (40) - 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". ALL TIME HIGH – RITA COOLIDGE (36) - 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 at that format. Anyway, I liked most of Coolidge's hits, this one included. NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO – SERGIO MENDES (33) - 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! ELECTRIC AVENUE – EDDY GRANT (31) - 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. FLASHDANCE...WHAT A FEELING – IRENE CARA (22) - This was the longest running song of the year so far, at 20 weeks total. Of course, "The Stalker Song" came along and tied it a few weeks later. This was 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.
40: HOLD ME 'TIL THE MORNING COMES - PAUL ANKA (debut) - Paul was pretty much a has-been at this point - I'm pretty sure that Peter Cetera singing back-up might have been this song's saving grace, although the song only got as high as #40. One reason I say this is because I caught this show on WWIS, whose live stream seems to be monaural, so you could hardly hear Cetera's vocals. Hearing that, I must say, this song definitely wouldn't have done as well as it did if not for Cetera. 39: BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE - TALKING HEADS (debut) - OH HELL NO!! If you're gonna burn down the house, make sure that as many copies of this song are inside said house! 38: TONIGHT I CELEBRATE MY LOVE - PEABO BRYSON AND ROBERTA FLACK (debut) - This was one of several duets from Peabo & Roberta, though it was the only one that charted on AT40 (the second, "You're Looking Like Love To Me" just missed, in early 1983). That was my favorite of the two (it's even on my Favorite Songs 2 playlist on YouTube). This one was a great song as well. 37: ROCK OF AGES - DEF LEPPARD (25) - The second of three Top 40 hits from Pyromania, 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. 36: YOU'RE DRIVING ME OUT OF MY MIND - LITTLE RIVER BAND (39) - Unfortunately, this would turn out to be their final Top 40 hit. It was pretty good - sounded kind of like a few of their other Top 40 hits. U93 played this song on a regular basis, so I remember hearing this one often back in the late summer of 1983. 35: TELL HER NO - JUICE NEWTON (debut) - One thing I remember about this song is that it had an odd chart run on the R&R chart. It moved 39-36-34-31-26-33. As a result, it only spent a single week on "Countdown America", which only went down to 30 back in 1983. I was surprised that it peaked so low, as this was another song that U93 played regularly. I liked it, but, as we all know, her three 1982 hits were my favorites. 34: BIG LOG - ROBERT PLANT (debut) - This was the first solo hit by the lead singer of the legendary band Led Zeppelin. It was a good one, but I generally prefer his Led Zeppelin singles. 33: LADY LOVE ME - GEORGE BENSON (38) - A great jazz artist here! This song had his trademark scat singing during the bridge. This was one of my favorite of his songs that charted at Top 40 radio, but I preferred a few others that were marketed to smooth jazz and AC stations. 32: KISS THE BRIDE - ELTON JOHN (35) - 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! 31: ROCK 'N' ROLL IS KING - ELO (19) - They were good in the 70s, but, IMO, not so much in the 1980s. Melodically, this was pretty much "Hold On Tight Pt. 2". 30: DON'T YOU GET SO MAD - JEFFREY OSBORNE (34) - 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. OPTIONAL EXTRA: TELEFONE (LONG DISTANCE LOVE AFFAIR) - SHEENA EASTON - This was somewhat of a departure from her more "innocent" songs like "Morning Train", "Modern Girl" and "For Your Eyes Only". As we all know, I generally prefer her slower songs, but this one was an exception. One of my all-time faves from her! 29: IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW - DURAN DURAN (15) - 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". 28: AFTER THE FALL - JOURNEY (23) - 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). This was my second favorite from the album behind "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)". LDD: KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - ROBERTA FLACK - One of three #1 songs from her and my favorite of the three by a fair margin. The song was very fitting for the dedication, which I found quite heartwarming. 27: HOT GIRLS IN LOVE - LOVERBOY (17) - 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. 26: DEAD GIVEAWAY - SHALAMAR (29) - This one isn't quite as good as "Second Time Around", but I like it a lot better than "Dancing In The Sheets". 25: KING OF PAIN - POLICE (37) - The follow-up to their ad nauseum played song that came before. Oh, shoot! I think that one's coming up later on the list. Dadgummit! Anyway, the week before, this song debuted on the entire Hot 100 in the Top 40, as did "Every Breath You Take", so many people were thinking that this might also hit #1 (which it actually did on R&R, for two weeks), but the song ran out of steam at #3, which is still great. 24: TRUE - SPANDAU BALLET (32) - 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 that much during its chart run. 23: HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU - LAURA BRANIGAN (27) - 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. 22: FAR FROM OVER - FRANK STALLONE (30) - This was the only Top 40 hit from actor Sylvester Stallone's younger brother. It was a great song, IMO. 21: PROMISES, PROMISES - NAKED EYES (24) - 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). OPTIONAL EXTRA: DELIRIOUS - PRINCE - Meh, I'm not a fan of this one at all. Give me "Little Red Corvette" any day! 20: HUMAN TOUCH - RICK SPRINGFIELD (21) - 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. 19: TAKE ME TO HEART - QUARTERFLASH (18) - They sure didn't last long on the charts, did they? This was their third and final Top 40 entry, and possibly my favorite of their hits. 18: MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL - AIR SUPPLY (26) - 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). 17: (SHE'S) SEXY + 17 - STRAY CATS (28) - 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. 16: STAND BACK - STEVIE NICKS (7) - 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"... 15: TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART - BONNIE TYLER (20) - 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. 14: LAWYERS IN LOVE - JACKSON BROWNE (14) - 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. 13: DON'T CRY - ASIA (16) - 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. 12: CHINA GIRL - DAVID BOWIE (10) - Of course, my favorite songs from him were his two 1987 hits, but this one wasn't bad either. OPTIONAL EXTRA: SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER - THE MOTELS - They had four Top 40 hits, and I liked all of them. This one would peak at #9, like their first hit "Only The Lonely". I think that we all know that my favorite song from them was "Remember The Nights, which was the follow-up to this song. 11: (KEEP FEELING) FASCINATION - HUMAN LEAGUE (8) - 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. 10: HUMAN NATURE - MICHAEL JACKSON (13) - 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. This song also broke the record for most Top Ten hits from a single album, which had been part of a five-way tie up to now, shared by Michael's other 80s album Off The Wall, the two big 1978 soundtracks (Saturday Night Fever and Grease), and Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. Of course, that record would stand for only a few months, as he had a sixth, and then a seventh hit from Thriller, both of which also made the Top Ten. 9: I'LL TUMBLE 4 YA - CULTURE CLUB (9) - 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. 8: IT'S A MISTAKE - MEN AT WORK (6) - Well, they definitely had a great year, but their chart days were nearing an end. This would end up being their last Top Ten hit. It was my second favorite of theirs, behind "Overkill". 7: TELL HER ABOUT IT - BILLY JOEL (12) - 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. 6: THE SAFETY DANCE - MEN WITHOUT HATS (11) - 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. 5: SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY - DONNA SUMMER (4) - This song had just recently spent three weeks atop the R&B chart and spent as many weeks at #3 here on AT40. Not my favorite song by her by any means, mainly due to overplay. 4: PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ - TACO (5) - 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 (on the previous week's show, I believe). 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. 3: EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE - POLICE (1) - Well, this song's reign had finally come to an end. This was the most overplayed song of them all - so much that it occasionally appears on the AC recurrent chart. I do, however, prefer it over the Donna Summer song (actually, I've found myself liking this song a little better than I have for the past 30+ years). OPTIONAL EXTRA: ISLANDS IN THE STREAM - KENNY ROGERS & DOLLY PARTON - I wasn't too much for this song (and I don't think I need to tell you my opinion on Getto Superstar!), but I've grown to like this song a lot better than I have over the past few years. Still, there are other songs by both artists that I prefer. 2: MANIAC - MICHAEL SEMBELLO (3) - The second of two hits from Flashdance on this week's chart (and both of them were #1 hits, to boot). This was good, but I preferred the film's title track. 1: SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS) - EURYTHMICS (2) - The Police had locked "Electric Avenue" out of the top spot and it looked like the same thing would happen to this song, but Annie and Dave's persistence paid off, as they managed to end the Police's marathon run at the top this week. It wasn't a bad song, but quite overplayed.
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