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Post by mga707 on Sept 3, 2022 22:47:08 GMT -5
Phoebe Cates is quite the hottie in "Ridgemont High". ...as she still was a couple of years later in "Gremlins". She still looks good in fairly recent photos of her online. She turned 59 in July.
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Post by mrjukebox on Sept 4, 2022 21:51:21 GMT -5
Hervard,I do remember the parody of "Rumors" called "Roaches"-It recieved a few spins on "The Dr.Demento Show" in 1986.
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Post by Hervard on Sept 5, 2022 6:28:43 GMT -5
Happy Labor Day, fellow AT40 board posters! Today, as we all know, WPNC is playing an AT40 guest-host marathon. My following posts are the critiques for all five shows that they will be presenting! Two of them will be building commentaries, as I have not heard them yet.
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Post by Hervard on Sept 5, 2022 6:28:53 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - WPNC Special Labor Day presentation #1: September 12, 1981 (Tribute to the late Gary Owens)
Droppers: NICOLE - POINT BLANK (39) - This was this Texas band's only Top 40 hit. While the song only charted in the lower reaches of the AT40 chart, it got significant airplay on Chicago's WLS back in the fall of 1981, so I remember this one quite well. A great song! DON'T GIVE UP - ROBBIE PATTON (35) - Of course, there were several Fleetwood Mac members backing him up on this song (in fact, Patton was apparently an unofficial member of Fleetwood Mac on their concert tour in 1979). As for this song, it was a great one and quite underrated - was somewhat reminiscent of "Everlasting Love", a song that, as stated earlier, is one of this week's droppers. IT'S NOW OR NEVER - JOHN SCHNEIDER (34) - Of course, we all know that this was a remake of an old Elvis song, the melody of which was adapted from "O Sol Mio". Not sure which version I prefer. Both were pretty good. ELVIRA - OAK RIDGE GEEZERS (31) - WOO-HOO! GOOD RIDDANCE TO THIS PIECE OF TRASH!! BABY, BYE-BYE-BYE, BYE BYE!! Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, good-bye! Don't let the screen door hit you on your way out! ABC ya! HEARTS - MARTY BALIN (27) - Aww, too bad this one dropped off! Balin was the lead singer of the Jefferson Starship in the mid- to late-1970s, hitting the Top Ten several times. This song also made the Top Ten, peaking at #8. This was definitely my favorite of his solo hits. BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY - MANHATTAN TRANSFER (14) - Wow! With songs falling clean out of the Top 40 from way up in the Top Twenty, you knew that 1982 had to be around the corner! Anyway, this was by far their biggest Pop hit. I liked it, but preferred a few others from them, including several songs that didn't quite hit the Top 40 (such as "Mystery" and "Choo Choo Ch-Boogie").
LW#1: ENDLESS LOVE - DIANA ROSS & LIONEL RICHIE 40: I'M IN LOVE - EVELYN KING (debut) - The first of two Top 40 hits in which she didn't use her bubbly nickname. It wasn't a bad song, but I preferred her next release, "Love Come Down", which hit the Top 20 the following year. 39: WE'RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER - AL JARREAU (debut) - He was mainly a smooth jazz singer, but he did have a few Top 40 crossover hits, and this was his most successful. I liked it, but preferred a few others from him, including a few that did not chart on AT40. 38: GENERAL HOSPI-TALE - AFTERNOON DELIGHTS (debut) - I'm sure I would appreciate this song better if I was a General Hospital fan, but that's hardly the case. I avoided soap operas like the plague (which wasn't easy, as many of my babysitters back in the day - that was all they ever watched on TV). 37: SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS - JOHN DENVER (38) - His first hit of two hits during the 1980s. It wasn't bad, but I preferred most of his material from the 1970s, which I am more familiar with, as my Mom used to play his records all the time when I was very young. 36: I'VE DONE EVERYTHING FOR YOU - RICK SPRINGFIELD (debut) - There are several songs on this week's countdown that have a sound-alike. In this case, the songs are from the same artist, as well as the same album. Springfield's next Top 40 hit, "Love Is Alright Tonight" sounded very much like this one. Both songs are good, but I preferred a few others from Mr. Springfield. 35: CHLOE - ELTON JOHN (36) - One of his lesser known hits, as it only got as high as #34 and spent but three weeks on the chart. It was a good song, but I prefer many others from him. 34: PRIVATE EYES - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (debut) - One of two #1 songs from the duo in 1981. Though they both sounded somewhat alike, I preferred "Kiss On My List" by a fairly wide margin. This was still a good one, though. 33: YOU COULD TAKE MY HEART AWAY - SILVER CONDOR (37) - One of many faceless MOR-type songs that charted in 1981. I thought it was a great song and quite underrated. 32: SHARE YOUR LOVE - KENNY ROGERS (debut) - Here's one of several country acts that had a great year at Top 40 radio as well in 1981! Rogers had a handful of big hits, including the third biggest hit of the year (even though that was more of a 1980 hit, but due to their weird time frame, that song was deferred to 1981's year-ender). ARCHIVE: INCENSE AND PEPPERMINTS - Based on the title of this one, you could tell it was a 1967 hit! It was a good one! OPTIONAL EXTRA: JUST ONCE - QUINCY JONES f/JAMES INGRAM - Great song, although I preferred their other collaboration. 31: I DON'T NEED YOU - KENNY ROGERS (11) - This was Rogers' other Top Ten song from 1981. I guess you could call it a guilty pleasure, as many people I know hate this song, but I think it's a great one! 30: DRAW OF THE CARDS - KIM CARNES (32) - The follow-up to her monster hit "Bette Davis Eyes". I wasn't a huge fan of it ; it definitely doesn't hold a candle to what became the top song of 1981. Apparently, the general pop audience agreed, as the song only got as high as #28 on the chart. 29: SUPER FREAK - RICK JAMES (33) - Of course, the bass for this song was used in "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer nearly a decade later. That's probably the only reason that I somewhat like it (as well as the funny scene in the film Little Miss Sunshine over which the song plays) though it's nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. LDD: NO MORE TEARS - BARBRA STREISAND & DONNA SUMMER - Not sure what the LDD was about, since the live stream cut out and didn't come back until after the song was over with. 28: THE NIGHT OWLS - LITTLE RIVER BAND (40) - This song was on its way to becoming their fifth Top Ten hit. Though I prefer other songs from them, this was a really good song - one I remember from its chart run. 27: BREAKING AWAY - BALANCE (30) - The first of two songs with this title to hit the Hot 100 in 1981 - although the second one, by Al Jarreau was called "Breakin' Away". Balance decides to be grammatically correct with a song that sounds a lot like "Tired Of Toein' The Line" by Rocky Burnette, from the previous year. 26: LOVE ON A TWO WAY STREET - STACY LATTISAW (26) - Her second hit, which was a ballad, like her first one. This one, however, wasn't quite as much of a snoozefest as that debut song. I prefer this one. 25: IN YOUR LETTER - REO SPEEDWAGON (28) - The fourth and final single from the biggest album of 1981, Hi Infidelity. I like this song (which had sort of a malt shop era sound) and the first two singles from the album about the same - all of them are great songs! 24: I COULD NEVER MISS YOU - LULU (25) - The comeback hit for this Glasgow native who had several chart hits in the late-60s and early-70s, including the #1 "To Sir With Love". This song, which was obviously inspired by "The Immigrant" by Neil Sedaka, was her second biggest behind that song, peaking at #18. 23: FOR YOUR EYES ONLY - SHEENA EASTON (23) - Sheena's second Top Ten hit, following "Morning Train" from earlier in the year. I much preferred this song - one of my all-time faves from her! Kind of weird that it was in a holding pattern, as the song would eventually peak at #4. 22: THE VOICE - THE MOODY BLUES (22) - Another song in holding pattern that wasn't done yet (it would go on to hit #15). This must have been a tight spot in the chart. Anyway, the Moody Blues were more famous for their 60s and 70s hits, but I myself generally preferred their 80s hits, including this one, one of my favorites from them! ARCHIVE: DAYDREAM BELIEVER - THE MONKEES - This was one of my favorite songs by the Monkees, but I actually preferred Murray's cover over this one, so that shows how much I liked it! OPTIONAL EXTRA: TRYIN' TO LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU - BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND - Great song! Very lively sounding, and they played the full version (with the longer intro)! 21: THAT OLD SONG - RAY PARKER JR. & RAYDIO (21) - Their final hit before Parker went solo. This was a good song, but definitely not their best. 20: FEELS SO RIGHT - ALABAMA (20) - They were mainly a country group, but they did have a few pop crossover hits. This was their first of four such songs. It was OK, but possibly my least favorite song that hit the Pop chart. I preferred songs like "Love In The First Degree" from a year later, as well as "Dancin', Shaggin' On The Boulevard" from circa 1997. 19: START ME UP - THE ROLLING STONES (29) - They started out 17 years before and were still on a roll, as this song climbed as high as #2, becoming their biggest hit of the 1980s. I'm sort of burned out on this one, due to overplay, but it's still not bad. 18: THE BEACH BOYS MEDLEY - THE BEACH BOYS (19) - They decided to go the way of Stars On 45 and put together a medley of eight of their most well-known hits. It was a good one - I liked all of the songs they put together. 17: FIRE AND ICE - PAT BENATAR (17) - This was her second of three Top 40 hits in 1981. It was a good one, though I preferred "Treat Me Right". 16: REALLY WANNA KNOW YOU - GARY WRIGHT (16) - This was Gary's obscure third hit. Of course, since it wasn't overplayed, that might be why it's my favorite song from him (though "Love Is Alive" would be a close second). 15: THE BREAKUP SONG - THE GREG KIHN BAND (15) - Here's one that I remember from back in the day! WLS played this one very regularly. I like it, but preferred their biggest hit ever, the top five hit "Jeopardy" from about a year and a half later. 14: HOLD ON TIGHT - ELO (18) - As we all know, I preferred their 70s hits. Their musical quality took a nosedive in the 80s, IMO. 13: COOL LOVE - PABLO CRUISE (13) - This song was their only #1 on my Personal Top 30 chart. I liked most of their Top 40 hits - my favorites (besides this one) would be "What'cha Gonna Do" and "Love Will Find A Way". 12: THEME FROM "GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) - JOEY SCARBURY (10) - 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 DVD yet? ARCHIVE: HELLO GOODBYE - THE BEATLES - One of many hits that the Beatles took all the way to the top back in the 1960s. This was a great one, IMO. OPTIONAL EXTRA: WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL - THE FOUR TOPS - They were indeed most famous for their classics from the '60s, but this comeback hit was among their best, IMO. 11: JESSIE'S GIRL - RICK SPRINGFIELD (9) - Possibly THE song from 1981 that receives the most recurrent airplay (but "Bette Davis Eyes" would be giving it a run for its money). Despite the overplay, it has held up quite well! 10: STEP BY STEP - EDDIE RABBITT (12) - 1981 was definitely his best year on the Pop charts, as he had two Top Five hits, including a #1 hit, "I Love A Rainy Night" from earlier in the year. While I prefer that song, I really like this one as well. 9: ARTHUR'S SONG (BEST THAT YOU CAN DO) - CHRISTOPHER CROSS (24) - Wow, with a huge leap like that, it's no surprise that it made it all the way to the top! This was the theme from the hilarious Dudley Moore movie Arthur. It was a great song - definitely my favorite song from Christopher Cross, as well as one of my favorite songs of the entire decade! LDD: RESPECT - ARETHA FRANKLIN - Good song, and very interesting LDD - from a guy in Buffalo, who was fed up with his city being the butt of so many jokes. 8: LADY (YOU BRING ME UP) - THE COMMODORES (8) - Even though I prefer several others from them, this one was a great one nevertheless. 7: WHO'S CRYING NOW - JOURNEY (7) - Good song. One of three songs that would go on to hit #1 on the R&R chart (in fact, this one would top that chart the very next week). Sadly, they never had a #1 on the Hot 100. 6: QUEEN OF HEARTS - JUICE NEWTON (6) - This one seemed destined to peak at #6, since this was its third week at that position, but it would rocket ahead to #2 the following week, looking like a possible #1 song, but there was another song in the midst of a marathon run at the top, so it didn't quite make it. Although, as I've said many times, I preferred her 1982 songs, this is also a great one. 5: (THERE'S) NO GETTING' OVER ME - RONNIE MILSAP (5) - Wow, the Top Ten was really tight this week, as many songs were at at standstill. This was a good song and a soundalike, also from Milsap, would hit the Top 20 the following summer. 4: URGENT - FOREIGNER (4) - This song was from the album "4" and that is exactly where this song peaked - and guess how many weeks it spent there! 3: STOP DRAGGIN' MY HEART AROUND - STEVIE NICKS W/ TOM PETTY (3) - Another song that spent many weeks at its peak position - six in all which, at the time, was a record for weeks at that position. It was a good song, though I preferred others from both artists involved, including their other 1981 hits. OPTIONAL: OUR LIPS ARE SEALED - THE GO-GOs - Great song! My favorite of their five Top 40 hits! 2: SLOW HAND - THE POINTER SISTERS (2) - This song was on its way down the R&R chart, after a pair of weeks at #1 earlier in the month. This was definitely one of my favorite songs from them! 1: ENDLESS LOVE - DIANA ROSS & LIONEL RICHIE (1) - As we know all too well, "Bette Davis Eyes" was, up to this point, the biggest hit of the decade. Little did he know that this song would join that song, as both songs spent nine weeks at #1 and would be in a horse race for the top spot of the entire year. Of course, we all know which song won out. Anyway, I used to dislike this song, but now I think it's a good one, though I wouldn't want to hear it all the time.
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Post by Hervard on Sept 5, 2022 6:29:04 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - WPNC Special Labor Day presentation #2: April 16, 1983 (Guest host: Bob Eubanks)
LW#1: BILLIE JEAN – MICHAEL JACKSON 40: SO WRONG - PATRICK SIMMONS (debut) - The only Top 40 solo hit from the former lead singer of the then-recently disbanded Doobie Brothers. It was a pretty good song. 39: STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART - BRYAN ADAMS (debut) - His very first Top 40 hit. I read in another thread that this song just barely missed making the Top 100 of 1983. The song was OK, but I preferred many others from him. 38: FLASHDANCE…WHAT A FEELING - IRENE CARA (debut) - As we all know, "Every Breath You Take" was the most overplayed song during the summer of 1983. Here is the song that would come in second. In late June, when both songs were in the Top Five, it was literally impossible to listen to any Top 40 station without hearing at least one of those songs. 37: MY LOVE - LIONEL RICHIE (debut) - This song, reminiscent of Lionel's hit with the Commodores, "Easy", was pretty good, though I preferred the first two hits from his debut solo album. 36: ALL RIGHT - CHRISTOPHER CROSS (27) - This song had a promising start, debuting on the entire Hot 100 at #29 back in January. Sounds like a sure-fire Top Five hit, yet it didn’t even hit the Top Ten, though it did hit #3 on the R&R chart - I guess, since it was from a long-awaited album, people bought it instead of the single. Anyway, like most of Cross' Top 40 hits, this song was a great one, IMO. 35: RIO - DURAN DURAN (40) - This, of course, was the title cut from this English band's first big album here in the States. While it's true that this was my favorite Duran Duran song for several years, I somehow got tired of it. I still like it somewhat, though. 34: SOME KIND OF FRIEND - BARRY MANILOW (38) - Manilow seemed to be picking up the tempo at this point in his career - in a one-year period, three of four songs he charted with in a period between spring, 1982 and spring, 1983 were upbeat songs. This one was a good one. 33: WELCOME TO HEARTLIGHT - KENNY LOGGINS (33) - This song was part of a somewhat funny LDD situation in late 1984. Someone who learned the hard life of working on a farm requested this song as "Welcome To Hard Life". I rather liked this song, though it was far from being my favorite from Loggins. I preferred the other two High Adventure singles. 32: PHOTOGRAPH - DEF LEPPARD (debut) - This was their first Top 40 hit - came close to the Top Ten, but didn't quite make it. They wouldn't hit the Top Ten until the Hysteria era - they even got a #1 hit out of that album. As for this song, it was my favorite single from Pyromania. 31: I LIKE IT - DEBARGE (31) - The debut hit for this family band, and it didn't do too bad, peaking at #31 this week. Their next two songs hit the Top 20, but their best year was clearly 1985 when they had two Top Ten hits. The song was pretty good, though I prefer most of their other slow songs like “Time Will Reveal” and “Who’s Holding Donna Now”. OPTIONAL EXTRA: ELECTRIC AVENUE - EDDY GRANT - The OE's for this show were just chosen this week, without narration. This song was debuting this week on the Hot 100 at #89 and was another one of the most played songs of the summer of 1983 (It was #1 on WLS for three or four weeks). It was a good one, although I did get tired of hearing it no less than ten times a day. 30: WHIRLY GIRL - OXO (34) - This was the only Top 40 hit by this Florida quartet, but what a song it was! It's one of those songs that makes you want to just get up and dance! Too bad this didn't get any higher than #28. 29: IT MIGHT BE YOU - STEPHEN BISHOP (32) - Here's a song that spent an unusually long time on the Hot 100 for a song that only got as high as #25 - 20 weeks. I don't think it was promoted at Top 40 radio, though I certainly don't know why, as it was the theme from a blockbuster movie. Despite its low peak on the Hot 100, it definitely did well at AC radio, however, where it hit #1 this very week. LDD: YOU NEEDED ME – ANNE MURRAY - This song, from about five years before, was Murray's first hit in several years, but it was worth the wait, as this song made it all the way to the top. This was one of her all-time best, ranking right up there with her three 1979 Top 40 hits, as well as her two from 1980. Indeed, 1978-1980 was her heyday, especially on my Personal Top 30 chart. 28: FALL IN LOVE WITH ME - EARTH, WIND & FIRE (24) - I don't remember this song from back in the day, as the stations I listened to back then never played this. It wasn't bad, but definitely not their best. 27: LITTLE TOO LATE - PAT BENATAR (20) - Definitely a high point in the show for our friend JessieLou! This was a good song, but I preferred several others from her (especially her last song before this, "Shadows Of The Night"). 26: POISON ARROW – ABC (25) - The follow-up to their debut hit "The Look Of Love". I'm kind of surprised that this song only got as high as #25, as WLS and B96 (Chicago stations) played this song on a regular basis. I liked it and "Look Of Love" about the same. 25: SHAME ON THE MOON - BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND (17) - This song, penned by country singer Rodney Crowell, peaked at #2 for four weeks here on AT40, but managed a week at #1 on the R&R chart - in fact, its #1 week happened to be on the first weekly countdown show I ever listened to ("Countdown America" with John Leader). It's a good song - sounds sort of like a laid-back version of his 1980 hit "Fire Lake". 24: I'VE GOT A ROCK 'N' ROLL HEART - ERIC CLAPTON (18) - I wasn't generally a huge fan of his music, but this one was actually a good one, IMO. But that line about getting off on '57 Chevies and screaming guitars can be taken wrong nowadays... 23: TWILIGHT ZONE - GOLDEN EARRING (10) - A great song that the two Chicago stations that I listened to back then (WLS 94.7 and B96) played quite a lot. That said, it's a shock that this song came nowhere near the R&R chart. Here on AT40, it peaked at #10. 22: SOLITAIRE - LAURA BRANIGAN (26) - The first of many big hits written by one of the most successful songwriters ever, the great Diane Warrren. This was my least favorite of Laura's first three hits, but it's still a good song! 21: CHANGE OF HEART - TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (21) - This song, which had a very erratic chart run, was in the midst of a three-week peak at #21. It was a great song, and I loved how the vinyl of the 45 of the song was red. OPTIONAL EXTRA: FAITHFULLY - JOURNEY - It looks as though they chose songs debuting on the April 16 the Hot 100 that were the biggest or most memorable. Strange that this song missed the Top Ten, since it still receives a ton of recurrent airplay, especially on AC-based oldies stations. I like it, but preferred many others from them (including their other song on this week's chart). 20: I WON'T HOLD YOU BACK - TOTO (23) - Their album Toto IV, which had recently won a Grammy for Album of the Year, was living up to its name, as it produced as many Top 40 hits. This was also their fourth (and, as it turned out, final) Top Ten hit. It was a great one, IMO. 19: OVERKILL - MEN AT WORK (28) - This song had made the highest Hot 100 debut in twelve years the week before and, as it made a hefty chart jump this week, it looked as though this was going to become their third #1 hit, but it didn't quite make it, peaking at #3 in June. The song did, however, manage to spend three weeks on top of the R&R chart. Anymore, radio tends to play the Business As Usual songs to death, but I never hear any of the Cargo singles outside of radio shows. 18: BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG - THE PRETENDERS (14) - This was their second Top 40 hit and their first Top Ten. Possibly my favorite song from them (though "Brass In Pocket" might give this a run for its money). 17: LITTLE RED CORVETTE - PRINCE (19) - I never knew how dirty it was until about fifteen years ago, when I looked at the lyrics (since there are times that I couldn’t understand what he was saying). This was the first Top Ten hit from a singer who we lost five years ago. R.I.P. Prince. 16: EVEN NOW - BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND (22) - Ever notice how this and his 1986 hit "American Storm" sound similar? Both songs are great, but I slightly prefer this one. 15: LET'S DANCE - DAVID BOWIE (29) - Of course, we all know that my favorite songs from him were "Day-In, Day-Out" and "Never Let Me Down", both from his 1987 by the title of the latter song. But this song is also pretty good. 14: I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON - FRIDA (13) - One of two former members of Abba that hit the chart in 1983 (the other was Agnetha Faltskog, whose "Can't Shake Loose" charted in the fall). Phil Collins' trademark drumming was featured in this song (and you can hear him on backup vocals). This song was pretty good, but I generally preferred her material with Abba. 13: SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE - THOMAS DOLBY (16) - I'm so glad that AT40 generally played the album version of this song. The single version, which is pretty much the only version you hear on retro shows, was just too watered down, IMO. EXTRA: CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE, BABE – BARRY WHITE - This song was played to tie in with how Barry White was act that has hit the Soul Chart the most times in the past ten years (from the standpoint of this show, that is), with a total of 31 hits. This one, from late 1994, was one of them. It was a pretty good song, as was Taylor Dayne's cover ten years later. 12: YOU ARE - LIONEL RICHIE (11) - This was #1 on the R&R chart during one of the seven weeks that "Billie Jean" topped the Billboard chart. This one definitely takes me back to early spring, 1983 - namely, since it receives absolutely no recurrent airplay. Yet "All Night Long" is played regularly - where is the justice I tell ya! But seriously, I liked this song a lot. Glad that it managed to at least top the R&R chart, which was about a month earlier. 11: WE'VE GOT TONIGHT - KENNY ROGERS AND SHEENA EASTON (6) - Well, I must say that I do prefer this one over the original by Bob Seger, but it still is definitely not my favorite song by either artist. OPTIONAL EXTRA: AFFAIR OF THE HEART - RICK SPRINGFIELD - This was the highest debuting song on the Hot 100 the week of April 16, coming in at #53. This song wasn't bad, but this is around the time when his musical quality was beginning to slip. 10: DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME - THE CULTURE CLUB (2) - The debut hit for this English band headed up by Boy George. I prefer the shorter version of this song without the whiny intro and the annoying bridge (Which I think most radio stations played that version near the end of the song's chart run IIRC). Alas, the version they played this week contained both. Oh well, such is life. 9: DER KOMMISSAR - AFTER THE FIRE (12) - This was their very first hit, too - as well as their last. This one was an 80s mix show essential! 8: SEPARATE WAYS (WORLDS APART) - JOURNEY (8) - This song had spent the past two weeks on top of the R&R chart and was now on its way down. On the Hot 100, however, this is where it peaked - for six weeks. Aside from R&R's oddball bullet policy, the fact that Frontiers sold millions of copies contributed to its peak difference (as most Journey fans bought the album). This was my favorite release from their Frontiers album, but there were many other songs from them that I preferred. 7: ONE ON ONE - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (7) - This song had peaked at #2 on R&R two weeks prior, and was now peaking on the Hot 100. I really liked this song - was my favorite of the three singles from the H2O album. 6: HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF - DURAN DURAN (3) - This, of course, was the breakthrough hit here in the States from one of the most successful bands of the 1980s! It was also my favorite of their 1983 hits, as well as one of my all-time favorites from them! 5: BEAT IT - MICHAEL JACKSON (10) - One of several rock-based Michael Jackson songs to hit the charts. Eddie Van Halens's guitar solo in this was outstanding! 4: JEOPARDY - THE GREG KIHN BAND (9) - This was the song that dethroned "Separate Ways" from the #1 position on the R&R chart this week, and reigned for three weeks. This song also saved the Greg Kihn band from being one-hit wonders, and gave them their first Top Ten hit as well. A great song that always takes me back to the spring of 1983. 3: MR. ROBOTO - STYX (5) - I'M KILROY!! This was somewhat of a comeback hit for Styx, as they had been absent from the chart for about two years. I was never a huge fan of this song, though - one of my least favorites from them. OPTIONAL EXTRA: NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO - SERGIO MENDES - I felt sure that the final extra was going to be "Time (Clock Of The Heart)" by Culture Club, but instead, it was the comeback hit for Sergio Mendes, featuring Joe Pizzulo and Leeza Miller on vocals. By the summer of 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! 2: COME ON EILEEN - DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS (4) - Still another heavily played song. I'm still burned out on this song. But I did used to like it - I even bought the single when the song was on its way up the charts. 1: BILLIE JEAN - MICHAEL JACKSON (1) - The second of seven singles from the monster album Thriller, and it turned out to be the biggest, spending seven weeks at the top. It was a good song - has held up quite well over the years.
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Post by Hervard on Sept 5, 2022 6:29:17 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - WPNC Special Labor Day presentation #3: October 11, 1975 (Guest host: Wink Martindale)
40: SOS - ABBA (debut) - The way this song was climbing (especially the following week, when it moved ahead sixteen spots), it looked like it would be their second Top Ten, but it ran out of gas at #15. It wasn't bad, but I preferred many others from them. 39: THERE GOES ANOTHER LOVE SONG - THE OUTLAWS (debut) - Typical southern rock here - a decent song IMO. 38: SWEET STICKY THING - THE OHIO PLAYERS (debut) - This song was bookended by their two #1 hits. It was a good song - I actually preferred it over said #1's. 37: BLUE EYES CRYIN' IN THE RAIN - WILLIE NELSON (debut) - This was his first Top 40 hit. It wasn't bad, but I preferred his 80s hits, 36: SKY HIGH - JIGSAW (debut) - Often thought of as a one-hit wonder, they did actually have another minor Top 40 hit in 1976 called "Love Fire". I preferred this one, though - one of my favorite hits from 1975! 35: HOW LONG (BETCHA GOT A CHICK ON THE SIDE) - THE POINTER SISTERS (20) - Meh, I preferred Ace's Top Ten hit "How Long" from earlier in the year. That is all. 34: ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD - JOHN FOGERTY (38) - Fogerty's third hit since the disbanding of Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was pretty good, but I preferred his three 1985 hits (as well as several by CCR). 33: YOU - GEORGE HARRISON (debut) - This was possibly my least favorite of his solo hits. You couldn't understand what he was saying half the time. 32: I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU - ART GARFUNKEL (36) - A classic golden oldie that has been covered many times over! This is one of the best renditions of it that I've ever heard. 31: COULD IT BE MAGIC - BARRY MANILOW (16) - His third of many big hits. This song, based on the melody of Chopin's Prelude In C Minor, was by far my favorite of his three 1975 hits. 30: BORN TO RUN - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (debut) - This was definitely one of his signature songs! Hard to believe that this song didn't get any higher than #23, especially with its good-sized debut this week! 29: WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES - ESTHER PHILLIPS (35) - Meh - her grating voice negates any redeeming qualities that this song might have. 28: AT SEVENTEEN - JANIS IAN (21) - I know several people who dislike this song, due to the "cheese factor", but I actually thought it was a great one - I guess you could call it a guilty pleasure! OPTIONAL EXTRA: ISLAND GIRL - ELTON JOHN - This song was debuting on the Hot 100 this week at #49 and, believe it or not, would hit #1 just three weeks later! That's just how hot Elton John was at the time! He had many great songs and this was definitely one of them! 27: LOW RIDER - WAR (debut) - Meh, not a huge fan of this song. Way too repetitive. 26: THIS WILL BE - NATALIE COLE (40) - It's impossible not to think of the eHarmony.com commercials when hearing the intro to this song. It's not bad, but I prefer many others from her. 25: THE WAY THAT I WANT TO TOUCH YOU - THE CAPTAIN AND TENILLE (33) - Their second Top 40 hit and, while not a big #1 like their first, it did hit Top Five, peaking at #4 in late November. While I do prefer it over the ad nauseum played "Love Will Keep Us Together" (not to mention the barf-inducing "Muskrat Love"), it's definitely not my favorite from them (that honor, of course, goes to "Do That To Me One More Time"). 24: CAROLINA IN THE PINES - MICHAEL MURPHY (28) - One of two Top 40 hits for Murphey in 1975. Previously, I had preferred "Wildfire", but I have come to like this song a lot better than in the past. Either way, both are great songs! 23: GONE AT LAST - PAUL SIMON & PHOEBE SNOW (23) - With the fast beat and the Dixie Hummingbirds singing along, this sounds like an upbeat gospel choir tune. It's a great, energetic song! 22: LADY BLUE - LEON RUSSELL (26) - I remember Leon most from the Bangla Desh benefit album from earlier in the decade, on which he sang a few songs. As for this song, it was a great one - nice and mellow. 21: DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA - PEOPLES CHOICE (29) - This one was quite repetitive. Not a fan of it at all. 20: WASTED DAYS AND WASTED NIGHTS - FREDDIE FENDER (11) - Meh, I didn't care much for this one either - his voice was kind of annoying. I do, however, prefer it slightly over "Before The Next Teardrop Falls". 19: SOMETHING BETTER TO DO - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (debut) - Well, here it is - the highest of this week's nine debuts. Olivia looked like she might be collecting her third #1 song with this song, but it was not to be. In fact, this song did not even make it into the Top Ten; it ran out of steam at #13! Not sure what happened there, but whatever the case, I thought this was was a good song - reminded me a little of her #1 "Have You Never Been Mellow" from earlier in 1975. 18: HEATWAVE - LINDA RONSTADT (31) - Along with nine debuts, this chart also contains a few large chart jumps, like this one. She was definitely the queen of remakes (though I believe that, at this point, Aretha was still in the lead for the most Top 40 cover versions of previous hits). I liked this one better than the original by Martha & The Vandellas. The flipside of this song, "Love Is A Rose" was also getting airplay and was played in place of the "A" side on the show two weeks later. I still prefer this one. 17: RUN JOEY RUN - DAVID GEDDES (4) - My goodness, there's enough whine in this song to serve all of France! 16: BRAZIL - THE RICHIE FAMILY (19) - This was an interesting remake of the big band classic from the 1940s with Philly music incorporated into it. Reminds me a little of the AT40 Shuckatoom theme. 15: RHINESTONE COWBOY - GLEN CAMPBELL (3) - Definitely one of the top hits of 1975, and worthily so, since this was one of my favorite songs from Campbell - a great song indeed! 14: WHO LOVES YOU - THE FOUR SEASONS (17) - Their comeback hit, and the last with Frankie Valli singing lead. It was a great song - one of their best, IMO. OPTIONAL EXTRA: FLY ROBIN FLY - SILVER CONVENTION - 13: GAMES PEOPLE PLAY - SPINNERS (14) - This song, which would peak at #5 in November, was their lowest peaking single to hit the Top Ten. That's right; they either hit the Top Five or missed the Top Ten altogether. This was one of my favorite songs from them. 12: IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE - TAVARES (13) - Well, as they say, third time's a charm, as this song, a recent #1 R&B song, was their third Top 40 hit and their first (and only) Top Ten. It was actually pretty good, considering I'm not generally a big fan of this kind of music. 11: FEELINGS - MORRIS ALBERT (12) - This cheese factor indeed abounds in this song, but I've actually learned to like it better than I used to (a few years back, it always got "No. Just no" status, but not anymore). Just as long as it's not Steve Urkel's version... 10: LYIN' EYES - THE EAGLES (18) - This is a great song, but I preferred the album version of the song - the single version seems way too chopped down. I did, however, hear the long version several times over the past few weeks, as I had the Urban Cowboy soundtrack in my car CD player, so it's all good. 9: ROCKY - AUSTIN ROBERTS (10) - This is a great song, but I preferred the album version of the song - the single version seems way too chopped down. 8: AIN'T NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY - HELEN REDDY (9) - Like most of her songs, the cheese factor is definitely present, but compared to several of her more cringe-worthy songs, this one was actually a good song. 7: DANCE WITH ME - ORLEANS (8) - They may have had only three Top 40 hits, but all three were great! I don't even know which of them is my favorite. 6: BALLROOM BLITZ - SWEET (7) - Sorry, but I'm not a fan of this one at all. 5: MIRACLES - JEFFERSON STARSHIP (22) - Wow! With a leap like that, this one seemed to have number one written all over it. Unfortunately, it did not quite make it, but it peaked at #3 over the next three weeks, which is also great. Marty Balin had taken over as lead singer of Jefferson Starship at this point. This was a good song, but I preferred the two 1978 songs with him singing lead. 4: MR. JAWS - DICKIE GOODMAN (5) - This was one of Goodman's famous break-in type songs that became his trademark. This song used brief clips of about a dozen songs from 1975, most of them from earlier in the year, to "answer" comedic questions posed by voice actors. It was a good song, but I'd probably get tired of it if I heard the song over and over again (such was the case with the general public, as this song kind of came and went, which was somewhat typical of novelty songs like this). OPTIONAL EXTRA: SATURDAY NIGHT - BAY CITY ROLLERS - 3: FAME - DAVID BOWIE (1) - The song wasn't bad, but quite overplayed IMO. I don't think that I need to remind y'all that my favorite songs from him are his two songs from 1987, do I? 2: I'M SORRY - JOHN DENVER (2) - This song sure wasted no time hitting the top, but, surprisingly, the song only spent a single week on top - "Fame" reclaimed the top spot the previous week. I imagine that many people listening to the show thought this song would do the same this week, but another song leapfrogged over it. At least this song stuck around for awhile, spending five weeks in the runner-up position. During that time, the song “Calypso”, which was on the flipside, joined this song to make for a double-sided hit. AT40 intermittently played both songs during the remainder of its chart run. Both are great songs, IMO. 1: BAD BLOOD - NEIL SEDAKA (6) - This is the song that prevented John Denver from having an encore appearance at the top. It must have really had momentum (after all, it had made a huge nineteen-spot jump the week before). Today, this song would be billed as being by Neil Sedaka featuring Elton John (and, ironically, the featured artist would be the one to succeed this song at #1). It was a good song - one of my favorite songs from Sedaka.
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Post by Hervard on Sept 5, 2022 6:29:28 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - WPNC Special Labor Day presentation #4: July 17, 1982 (Tribute to the late Mark Elliott)
Droppers: ANGEL IN BLUE - J GEILS BAND (40) - A prime example of "Third Single Syndrome" here - the first two singles from "Freeze Frame" made the Top Five, but this one didn't get any higher than #40. I can kind of see why the song didn't fare too well, as it was more laid back than the first two hits. Fans who were used to their typical upbeat sound were probably disappointed in this song, which I actually thought was pretty good. DANCING IN THE STREET - VAN HALEN (38) - Interesting that Van Halen’s biggest chart success up to that point had been with remakes. That would all change a little less than two years later... Anyway, of the three versions of this that I've heard (the other being the original by Martha & The Vandellas and Mick Jagger/David Bowie), this would be my favorite. ISLAND OF LOST SOULS - BLONDIE (37) - Blondie had spanned many different genres of music, including rock, disco, reggae and even rap. This one had a calypso flavor to it and, IMO, was a pretty decent song. BE MINE TONIGHT - NEIL DIAMOND (35) - The third and final single from On The Way To The Sky. It was OK, but nothing exceptional. This is where the song peaked - might have done a little better had it been released a few years earlier. THIS MAN IS MINE - HEART (33) - This was their first Top 40 hit in about a year and a half, and would be their last for another three years, before they came back bigger than ever. As for this song, though it wasn't quite their best, it was still a good song. (BTW, all of the above songs were at their peaks the week before they fell out). BREAK IT UP - FOREIGNER (31) - This song was the fourth single from their album 4. The song's pretty good - sounds a little like several of their late-70s hits ("Cold As Ice" and "Blue Morning, Blue Day" come to mind). THE OTHER WOMAN - RAY PARKER, JR (30) - A song about infidelity. The sequel to this song, in which he expressed remorse for his unfaithful behavior, "Bad Boy", was a Top 40 hit early the following year, but it didn't quite measure up to the success of this song, which was Ray's first hit without Raydio. It was okies, but one of my least favorites from him.
WHAT?? No songs dropping out from inside the Top 20? And the highest one dropped out from #30? This WAS 1982, wasn't it?
LW#3: HURTS SO GOOD - JOHN COUGAR LW#2: ROSANNA - TOTO LW#1: DON'T YOU WANT ME - THE HUMAN LEAGUE 40: LOVE PLUS ONE - HAIRCUT 100 (debut) - The only Top 40 hit by this British new wave band that reminded me a little of the Psychedelic Furs. The song was not bad, but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. 39: NICE GIRLS - EYE TO EYE (debut) - Another one-hit wonder here, in this case, a duo from Seattle consisting of Deborah Berg and Julian Marshall. This was a pretty good song - had that typical early-80s sound to it. 38: I FOUND SOMEBODY - GLENN FREY (debut) - Wow, lots of songs in the lower reaches of the chart that never hit the Top 30! This was the first solo hit for one of the main lead singers of the recently disbanded Eagles. It was also one of his most underrated solo hits IMO. 37: KIDS IN AMERICA - KIM WILDE (debut) - 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. 36: LOVE IS IN CONTROL (FINGER ON THE TRIGGER) - DONNA SUMMER (debut) - Now this song had an odd run on the chart, even by 1982 standards. The song looked like it was peaking at #12, since it held there for three weeks (and we all know the story about songs spending forever at their peak in 1982), 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. 35: OUT OF WORK - GARY U.S. BONDS (39) - 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. 34: IF THE LOVE FITS WEAR IT - LESLIE PEARL (36) - 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. 33: HOOKED ON SWING - LARRY ELGART AND HIS MANHATTAN SWING ORCHESTRA (34) - As we all know, there was a medley fad on the charts in the early 1980s, and this was a big band one. It was actually pretty good. Casey didn’t talk over the song this week, but two weeks later he did as he told the listeners the title of every song. He did that a few times with “Hooked On Classics” earlier in 1982. 32: VACATION - THE GO-GO'S (debut) - 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". OPTIONAL EXTRA: LOVE WILL TURN YOU AROUND - KENNY ROGERS - 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! 31: TAKE IT AWAY - PAUL MCCARTNEY (debut) - 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 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 favorites of Sir Paul's solo hits. 30: YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU - MELISSA MANCHESTER (32) - 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. LDD: ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE - KISS - Wow, what a LDD! I think it was about someone who was seriously injured or had an illness that took many operations that were very risky, yet the guy defied the odds. At the time this letter was written, the person had to go in for another operation, but AT40 held the letter for a few months to see how he fared. It was very heartening to know that he pulled through and was making a lot of progress in his rehabilitation! Kiss was one of his favorite bands and I sure hope he got to rock and roll all nite again! 29: CRIMSON AND CLOVER - JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (29) - This one wasn't quite as good as her monster hit "I Love Rock And Roll" from earlier in the year, but I prefer it over her third hit from later on that year, as well as the original by Tommy James. 28: ALWAYS ON MY MIND - WILLIE NELSON (19) - As I've said before, my favorite version of this song would be the Pet Shop Boys techno cover from 1988 (which we heard on this week's regular 1988 show), but I do like this better than the two other versions that Casey played in a medley during the time the Pet Shop Boys version was charting - by Elvis Presley and Brenda Lee, IIRC. 27: EBONY & IVORY - PAUL MCCARTNEY AND STEVIE WONDER (8) - These two men were mentioned earlier in the countdown in response to a question letter, asking about artists involved in duets that had solo hits in the countdown at the same time. With Paul McCartney debuting this week and Stevie already in the survey with a solo hit of his, it became the fourth time that it had ever happened. This song had recently spent seven weeks at #1, becoming one of the biggest hits of the year so far. The song was indeed quite overplayed back in 1982, but now that I don't hear it anywhere near as often as I used to, I actually like this song - it definitely has a great message. 26: EARLY IN THE MORNING - THE GAP BAND (28) - Mainly an R&B act, they did have two crossover hits, both in 1982. They sounded very similar, so I'm not sure which of them I prefer, though neither of them are anything exceptional. 25: GOING TO A GO-GO - THE ROLLING STONES (27) - Recorded live in 1981, this was a remake of the Miracles #11 hit from 1966. With its good-sized debut at #30 two weeks before, it would seem that it stood a chance to best that peak, but this is actually where the song peaked! The song was OK, but definitely not one of their best. 24: HEAT OF THE MOMENT - ASIA (4) - Wow, people certainly got sick of this song quickly, didn't they? This was the first of four Top 40 hits for this British band, as well as their biggest. My third favorite from them, only ahead of "Don't Cry" (which is also a good one). 23: FORGET ME NOTS - PATRICE RUSHEN (23) - Ah, "The Blinker Song", as I've dubbed this as there was one time that a blinker that I was coming up to at the junction of Indiana State Road 2 and US Highway 6 kept perfect rhythm with the song , which I'm sure I've mentioned here a time or two. This song was sampled twice in the 1990s - first of all in George Michael's 1996 hit "Fastlove", then used as the bass line in one of Will Smith's most overplayed songs ever, "Men In Black" a year later. 22: PERSONALLY - KARLA BONOFF (22) - It looked like this song was peaking this week, but it managed to climb to #20 the following week, held there for another week, and then finally peaked at #19 the week after that. The song's tenacity helped to place it at #93 for the entire year. It was a great song, as was the case with every song on her Wild Heart Of The Young album, which I bought back in the summer of 1994 after hearing the title track playing over a scene in The Wonder Years, and it obviously turned out to be a very worthy purchase! OPTIONAL EXTRA: EYE IN THE SKY - ALAN PARSONS PROJECT - 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. 21: WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I - RICK SPRINGFIELD (21) - This song was in the midst of a six-week stay at #21 - possibly the longest peak for a song outside the Top 20. It did hit the Top Ten in R&R, though, which was good, as this was one of my favorite songs from Springfield. Too bad it's totally ignored by radio anymore. 20: WASTED ON THE WAY - CROSBY STILLS & NASH (25) - 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). 19: STILL THEY RIDE - JOURNEY (19) - The fourth single from what is IMO one of their best albums ever, ESC4P3. Several other songs from the album were not released as singles, but were popular album cuts (i.e. "Stone In Love" and "Keep On Runnin'"). This song was by far my favorite song from the album. 18: TAKE ME DOWN - ALABAMA (18) - One of four songs of theirs that crossed over to Pop. It wasn't bad, but didn't hold a candle to "Love In The First Degree" 17: PLAY THE GAME TONIGHT - KANSAS (17) - Wow, two groups named after states back to back in the countdown. That sure didn't happen often, did it? Anyway, this was their very first song with John Elefante as the lead singer, as former lead singer Steve Walsh had left the group to start a solo career. This was a pretty good song, but I generally preferred their earlier material. 16: EVEN THE NIGHTS ARE BETTER - AIR SUPPLY (24) - This is the song that holds the undesirable record for the song that took the longest fall out of the Top 40. Three weeks later, it would fall from #6 to #42 (but you already knew that, right?) Anyway, this was one of their best songs, IMO. 15: HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY - CHICAGO (26) - They had been absent from the chart for over three years, but more than made up for lost time with this song, which would go all the way to #1 by late summer. Of course, 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. 14: ANY DAY NOW - RONNIE MILSAP (14) - One of several country crossover artists that hit during 1982. This was one of my favorite songs from Milsap - a great song indeed! The song was peaking at #14 this week, but, as Mark mentioned going into the song, it had already hit #1 on the Country chart (two weeks before). 13: DO I DO - STEVIE WONDER (13) - Several songs on this week's chart that were sampled in future Top 40 hits, in this case, "Livin' It Up" by Cookie Monster - er, I mean Ja Rule. Of course, I preferred this song. EXTRA: ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - JOHN DENVER - The story to tie in with this song was how Denver became the official poet laureate of Colorado. I mentioned in my 1977 critique this weekend that my mom listened to John Denver a lot back in the mid-70s, and this was one of the songs that I remember the most. It was a great song! 12: KEEP THE FIRE BURNING - REO SPEEDWAGON (16) - This was their only upbeat song that hit the Top Ten. It was pretty good, but I generally preferred their power ballads. 11: ABRACADABRA - STEVE MILLER BAND (15) - On this week's 1977 show, "Jet Airliner" was debuting on the chart. That would be their last Top Ten for five years. This was the one that broke that dry spell, the following week, in fact. But the song didn't stop there - it went all the way to #1 in September. I was getting tired of the song near the end of its chart run, but now I think it's a good song, since it's not overplayed as a recurrent. 10: CAUGHT UP IN YOU - .38 SPECIAL (10) - Definitely one of my absolute favorites from them! This was their first of two Top Ten hits (you thought they had more, didn't you?) OPTIONAL EXTRA: AMERICAN MUSIC - POINTER SISTERS - Earlier in the year, they charted with "Should I Do It", which had sort of a sixties sound to it. This one also had such a sound and, like the first one, it made the Top 20. I preferred the one from earlier in 1982, though this was a good one as well. 9: ONLY THE LONELY - MOTELS (11) - 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. 8: TAINTED LOVE - SOFT CELL (9) - This song, which had debuted way back in mid-January (exactly six months before) was finally reaching its peak this week. This was definitely one of the most overplayed songs of the 1980s (still is, on oldies stations). 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). 7: LOVE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD ON ME - JUICE NEWTON (7) - Of course, this was one of my favorite songs from her, as it was one of her 1982 hits. I preferred the other two, but this is still a great one nonetheless! LDD: YOU'RE A PART OF ME - GENE COTTON & KIM CARNES - 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. I generally like both artists, but I didn't care too much for this song - sounded a cross between Paul Anka's two duets with Odia Coates. 6: HOLD ME - FLEETWOOD MAC (12) - 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). 5: LET IT WHIP - THE DAZZ BAND (6) - This song had recently spent five non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the soul chart, and it was on its way up the Hot 100, eventually peaking at #5. I wasn't a big fan of the song, however. 4: EYE OF THE TIGER - SURVIVOR (5) - This song made a huge debut in the Top 40 at #19 three weeks before, then made it into the Top Ten in only its second week, and last week, made it into the Top Five in its third week on! Unsurprisingly, this song was on its way to #1 (in fact that's where it was the following week). It was a good song - has held up pretty well despite overplay. I do prefer a few others from them, though. 3: HURTS SO GOOD - JOHN COUGAR (3) - Here's one of the biggest songs of the decade that fell short of the #1 spot. Chart performance-wise, it was his biggest hit ever (before late 1991, anyway). A good song that has aged quite well. OPTIONAL EXTRA: SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO - THE CLASH - This song did not hit the Top 40, but, due to its use in many TV commercials, it has received a significant amount of recurrent airplay on 80s stations. The song was sampled ten years later in the song "The Globe" by Big Audio Dynamite, a band that Clash guitarist Mick Jones formed in 1984 after being 86'ed by the band the year before. This song was OK, but I preferred their two songs that did make the Top 40. 2: ROSANNA - TOTO (2) - Wow, I heard both of Toto's "women's name" hits this weekend (as "Pamela" was on the 1988 show). 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. 1: DON'T YOU WANT ME - HUMAN LEAGUE (1) - This was one of two #1 songs that held the aforementioned Toto song out of the top spot. 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!
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Post by Hervard on Sept 5, 2022 6:29:38 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - WPNC Special Labor Day presentation #5: July 4, 1970 (American Top 40's first show)
40: END OF OUR ROAD - MARVIN GAYE (debut) 39: SILVER BIRD - MARK LINDSEY (debut) 38: SPILL THE WINE - ERIC BURDEN & WAR (debut) – Here's a great example of making lemons out of lemonade. War's keyboardist, Lonnie Jordan, accidentally knocked over a glass of wine on a mixing board console. Not sure how much damage it caused, but the profits from this song most likely helped pay for it. I'm not generally a huge fan of them, but I really liked this catchy song. 37: GO BACK - CRABBY APPLETON (37) – The only hit from this California band. This song only got as high as #36, the following week. 36: I JUST CAN'T HELP BELIEVING - B.J. THOMAS (debut) – He hit #1 with “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head”. This song, which sounds a little like that song, didn't quite make it to the top, but it did peak at #9 in August. It was a nice song, but I preferred his hit from early the year before, “Hooked On A Feeling”. 35: SPIRIT IN THE DARK - ARETHA FRANKLIN (31) – Ah, the queen of soul found a spot on this week's show. This song peaked at #23 two weeks prior. It wasn't bad – had sort of a blues/gospel feel to it. 34: MISSISSIPPI - JOHN PHILLIPS (36) – One of several one-hit wonders on this chart in this case, a native of Paris Island, SC, with a song entitled with a word that almost every kid hopes comes up with their turn in a spelling bee. 33: WESTBOUND #9 - FLAMING EMBER (34) – This blue-eyed soul band from the Motor City had a trio of Top 40 hits. This was the most successful of the three, peaking at #24 about a month later. The song wasn't bad, but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. 32: IT'S ALL IN THE GAME - FOUR TOPS (24) – Appropriately enough, the Four Tops sang the fourth hit version of this song, which was written by former Vice-President Charles G. Dawes. I'm not sure who originally charted with it, but Tommy Edwards had the most success with it, taking it to #1 in 1958. 31: SAVE THE COUNTRY - FIFTH DIMENSION (32) – Whoa, that title definitely rings true today! 30: OHIO - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG (debut) – Four spots above “Mississippi” is another state that's three states northeast, by this supergroup quartet, whom, unlike John Phillips, have had many Top 40 hits. I liked this song, but I prefer many others from them, including their songs without Neil Young. 29: EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL - RAY STEVENS (22) – He can be both funny and serious, the latter of which is the case in this former #1 song, which became a pop standard and, with the children's choir singing “Jesus Loves The Little Children”, common in religious performances. A great listen in tough times like these! 28: CHECK OUT YOUR MIND – IMPRESSIONS (28) – This R&B band from Chicago had many hits in the 1960s, both on the Pop and the Soul charts. This was their second-to-last Top 40 hit. This song was not really my cup of tea, as you might have guessed 27: QUESTION - MOODY BLUES (21) – This song spent the past four weeks at #21, but this is actually one of this popular progressive rock band's more well-known hits. I rather liked it. OPTIONAL EXTRA: IT'S NOT UNUSUAL – TOM JONES – This was one of several in-show extras. I found it kind of odd that Jones was one of the nominees (and the winner) of the Most Magnetic man award, in which the artist of one of the other Extras on this show (which ended up being nixed) was also in the running. 26: SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED - STEVIE WONDER (39) – Even though Casey didn't acknowledge it, this was the biggest mover of the week, and it's no surprise, as it was from one of the most popular artists on the charts back in the early-70s. I preferred a few of his other hits 25: SUGAR, SUGAR - WILSON PICKETT (25) – An R&B cover of the song that was the #1 hit of the year before. No offense, but I preferred the original. 24: TEACH YOUR CHILDREN - CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG (30) – Wow, they had two songs on their way up the chart this week! Since both songs peaked in the teens, it looks like they might have somewhat stole each other's thunder. I preferred this song, which featured the late Jerry Garcia on the steel pedal guitar. 23: WHICH WAY YOU GOIN' BILLY - THE POPPY FAMILY (11) – The debut hit for this Candian pop quartet, led by Susan Jacks, who was the wife of Mr. Seasons In The Sun himself, Terry Jacks, whom was also in the band. This song wasn't bad, but somewhat cheesy. OLDIE: LITTLE OLE MAN - BILL COSBY – This was said nixed extra, so I have no idea wtf this sounds like. 22: LOVE ON A TWO-WAY STREET – MOMENTS (16) – This Soul trio's biggest hit, as well as their only Top Ten – under this name, that is (as, when they charted under Ray, Goodman & Brown, they got a #5 hit of it ten years later). This was a pleasant song, but I actually preferred Staci Lattisaw's cover, which was a Top 40 hit in the summer of 1981. 21: MISSISSIPPI QUEEN – MOUNTAIN (23) – The second of two hits on this week's chart bearing the name of this southeastern state. It's okies. 20: MAKE IT WITH YOU – BREAD (debut) – Wow, this song came in at the halfway point of the chart! No surprise that this song hit #1 six weeks later. It turned out to be their only chart topper, but no matter – they had plenty of big hits. This was one of their best, IMO. 19: ARE YOU READY - PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC (29) – The sole Top 40 hit for this blues/rock band from the West Coast. 18: LOVE LAND - CHARLES WRIGHT & THE WATTS 103RD STREET RHYTHM BAND (18) – Wow, that's almost as long as today's artist credits! 17: TIGHTER & TIGHTER - ALIVE AND KICKING (20) – Tommy James co-wrote and co-produced this song, and it definitely sounds like a song that he and his band the Shondells would record. It was a good one! 16: MY BABY LOVES LOVIN' - WHITE PLAINS (15) – Wow, Tony Burrows sure got around, as he was a member of many other early-70s bands – besides White Plains, he was with Brotherhood Of Man, Edison Lighthouse, First Class and the Pipkins, two of which are coming up later in the show. 15: A SONG OF JOY - MIGUEL RIOS (17) – For his lone chart hit, this singer from Granada, Spain, used the last movement of the Beethoven's 9th Symphony (aka “Ode To Joy”). Not bad. OLDIE: HELLO DOLLY - LOUIS ARMSTRONG – Interesting how this song put an end to the Beatles' impressive #1 streak (which would have happened anyway, as Mary Wells had the next #1 song after this one). 14: UNITED WE STAND - BROTHERHOOD OF MAN (13) – Hey, here's one of the bands I mentioned earlier that Tony Burrows was in! This was a pretty good song. OPTIONAL EXTRA: MRS. BROWN YOU'VE GOT A LOVELY DAUGHTER – HERMAN'S HERMITS – Was this originally an in-show extra? If so, it was not listed on the list on the Old Radio Shows website. Well, anyway, this song at one time held the record for the highest debut on the Hot 100, coming in at #12 in April, 1965. It held that record for a little less than five years. 13: GET READY - RARE EARTH – This was the longest-running song on the Hot 100, with eighteen weeks so far. Not bad, considering how fast the charts moved back in 1970. This song was written by Smokey Robinson and originally performed by the Temptations, who took this to #29 in 1966. Rare Earth had the most successful version, which had peaked at #4 several weeks back. It was a pretty good song. 12: OOH CHILD – STAIRSTEPS (18) – I thought they were the 5 Stairsteps. Well, whatever the case, I'm more familiar with the 1993 cover by Dino and prefer that one, though this is a good one as well. 11: GIMME DAT DING - THE PIPKINS (12) – Another band featuring Tony Burrows. This song wasn't bad, but I have a feeling that I'd get tired of this one fast (such is the case with most novelty songs). 10: HITCHIN' A RIDE - VANITY FAIR (5) – Something I recommend against, as it is a great way to get hurt or killed. As for the song, it was a good one – I liked the use of the penny whistle in the song. OLDIE: SPINNING WHEEL - BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS – This song was the subject of a plagiarism suit, as Milli Vanili allegedly stole the melody of this song for their 1990 hit “All Or Nothing” (of course, that turned out not to be their only problem later on that year, but that's another story for another time). I think that the majority of the pop music audience prefers this song, myself included. 9: THE WONDER OF YOU - ELVIS PRESLEY (9) – Speaking of wonder, there are many one-hit wonders on this week's chart, and there are also many artists who have had tons and tons of hits. Of course, the King of rock & roll fits the latter. I liked this song a little, but it definitely wasn't his best. 8: THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD – BEATLES (4) – Right above the most successful solo artist of all time is the most successful group/band! Of course, this was somewhat of a bittersweet song, as it was the Beatles' last chart hit before they split up. It was a great song, and appropriate for the occasion. 7: CLOSE TO YOU – CARPENTERS (14) – And right here is the top act of the 1970s (according to the 1974 list). And I have no doubt that Elton John, who claimed that title by 1978, will also appear later in the show...oh wait, he didn't come along until later in 1970 – nevermind... Anyway, this song was burning up the chart, hitting the Top Ten in only its third week in the Top 40. It would end up spending four weeks at #1 as of two weeks later. It was a great song, like most of their Top 40 hits. 6: LAY DOWN (CANDLES IN THE RAIN) – MELANIE (8) – Over the past two weeks, someone in charge of printing the Hot 100 had trouble getting the subtitle of this song right. Two weeks before, the chart showed it as being “Candles In The Road”. The week after, it was “Rain In The Road”. They finally got it correct this week. Melanie was a very popular artist in the early-70s, with six Top 40 hits. This was one of the more successful songs. I seem to remember a version of this song played as an extra on the Rick Dees show back in the 1990s, but I can't remember who it was by. 5: BAND OF GOLD - FREDA PAYNE (7) – Wow, this song had been on the Hot 100 for 17 weeks and was still climbing – not bad! As for the song, it's a good one – I can see why it was so popular! 4: RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE - BLUES IMAGE (6) – Ah, an East Coast band singing about the West Coast! This was a great song, IMO! 3: BALL OF CONFUSION (THAT'S WHAT THE WORLD IS TODAY) – TEMPTATIONS (3) – Ain't that the truth! 2: THE LOVE YOU SAVE - JACKSON FIVE (1) – On AT40's 20th Anniversary Special, Shadoe Stevens erroneously identified this as the very first #1 song on AT40. Well, the song was indeed #1 on Billboard's July 4 chart, but when AT40 started out, they used the chart for the following week, by which time this song dropped out of the top spot. At least Shadoe got things right at the end of the show, in the montage of #1 songs on July 4th weekend played as the show's “grand finale”. Anyhoo, the Jackson 5 were on a roll at this point, with the third of four consecutive #1 songs. This song was pretty good, but definitely not their best. OLDIE: SATISFACTION - ROLLING STONES – This song was the #1 song this same week five years before. One of the top songs of that entire year as well – it was a great one! 1: MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME - THREE DOG NIGHT (1) – This, of course, was the true first #1 song on AT40, by a very popular act during the late-60s/early 70s. This was the first of three #1 songs by them. It was a great song, but my favorite of theirs was their next #1 song, “Joy To The World”, which was the top song of the following year!
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Post by dth1971 on Sept 5, 2022 14:42:53 GMT -5
Great critique on the first AT40 show for 1970, Hervard! Third time you went before 1975!
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Post by SFGuy on Sept 5, 2022 17:23:50 GMT -5
34: VALLEY GIRL - FRANK & MOON ZAPPA (debut) - Interesting that it took his hip 14-year old daughter to help him get his first Top 40 hit. Though kind of silly, I actually kinda liked this song, especially Moon Unit's dialogue. "Oh my GAWD!" "Ugh, gag me with a sp00n!" However, I'm wondering what possessed Frank to name his daughter Moon Unit? I bet she became the butt of many jokes (no pun intended).
None of Frank's children had common names. Besides Moon Unit there is Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva.
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Post by Hervard on Sept 5, 2022 17:55:59 GMT -5
Great critique on the first AT40 show for 1970, Hervard! Third time you went before 1975! There was this one, my birthday show, and (what was the other one)?
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Post by freakyflybry on Sept 5, 2022 18:20:13 GMT -5
6: LAY DOWN (CANDLES IN THE RAIN) – MELANIE (8) – Over the past two weeks, someone in charge of printing the Hot 100 had trouble getting the subtitle of this song right. Two weeks before, the chart showed it as being “Candles In The Road”. The week after, it was “Rain In The Road”. They finally got it correct this week. Melanie was a very popular artist in the early-70s, with six Top 40 hits. This was one of the more successful songs. I seem to remember a version of this song played as an extra on the Rick Dees show back in the 1990s, but I can't remember who it was by. It was by Meredith Brooks and Queen Latifah.
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Post by dth1971 on Sept 5, 2022 19:41:28 GMT -5
Great critique on the first AT40 show for 1970, Hervard! Third time you went before 1975! There was this one, my birthday show, and (what was the other one)? May 4, 1974 which you did a Critique for, Hervard.
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Post by trekkielo on Sept 6, 2022 20:06:22 GMT -5
34: VALLEY GIRL - FRANK & MOON ZAPPA (debut) - Interesting that it took his hip 14-year old daughter to help him get his first Top 40 hit. Though kind of silly, I actually kinda liked this song, especially Moon Unit's dialogue. "Oh my GAWD!" "Ugh, gag me with a sp00n!" However, I'm wondering what possessed Frank to name his daughter Moon Unit? I bet she became the butt of many jokes (no pun intended).
None of Frank's children had common names. Besides Moon Unit there is Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva.
Moon Zappa made an appearance as Rusty's California Girl in National Lamp00n's European Vacation.
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Post by Hervard on Sept 8, 2022 13:25:53 GMT -5
There was this one, my birthday show, and (what was the other one)? May 4, 1974 which you did a Critique for, Hervard. Oh, that's right - the one where I posted scathing comments for some of the songs. By the way, there were at least four pre-1975 critiques that I have posted. Check out this one, the second post on the page.
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