Chart Critiques

[mrjukebox]

Robert Palmer also had a hit with "Early In The Morning"-His version reached the top twenty in the fall of 1988.

[mrjukebox]

The only other top ten hit .38 Special had was "Second Chance"-That was in 1989.

[mrjukebox]

"Rosanna" by Toto was supposedly written about actress Rosanna Arquette who was dating one of the members at that time-I believe it was Jeff Porcaro.

[Hervard]

American Top 40: The 70s - August 3, 2024

This week's presentation - August 2, 1975

I'M NOT LISA - JESSI COLTER (39) - The only Top 40 hit for this Phoenix native. However, she was more of a country artist, like her husband, Waylon Jennings, so she had many more hits at that format. I was never a big fan of this song, however - way too cheesy!
SWEET EMOTION - AEROSMITH (36) - Hard to believe that this song failed to climb any higher than #36, given all the recurrent airplay it receives today. Then again, it was their first hit, so they weren't really an established act at the time.
DISCO QUEEN - HOT CHOCOLATE (28) - Not one of their most successful hits. It was pretty good, but I preferred their first hit "Emma".
MISTY - RAY STEVENS (26) - Known mainly for his novelty songs, he had a few (somewhat) serious songs as well, like this one. It was a good 'un.
MAGIC - PILOT (23) - Here's a true one-hit wonder. I liked this song - they sort of reminded me of ELO (who themselves had a "magic" song the following year).
WILDFIRE - MICHAEL MURPHEY (21) - He was mainly a country artist, but he had several Top 40 crossover hits, including this one - one of my favorites from him - in fact, it's possibly my second favorite behind "What's Forever For" (although "Carolina In The Pines" from later on in 1975 might give it a run for its money, since I've gotten to really like that song as well).

40: LOOK AT ME - THE MOMENTS (debut) - Their last Top 40 hit before they became Ray, Goodman and Brown. It was pretty much your run-of-the-mill slow jam.
39: FAME - DAVID BOWIE (debut) - This song was moving up the chart at a rather slow pace at first, but it would eventually pick up steam and go on to hit #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?
38: RENDEZVOUS - HUDSON BROTHERS (debut) - Does anyone remember their TV show "Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show" on Saturday mornings? I vaguely recall watching it with my older brother, but don't remember much about it (since I was very young at the time). As for this song, it was pretty good.
37: THAT'S WHEN THE MUSIC TAKES ME - NEIL SEDAKA (debut) - 1975 was definitely a great year for Sedaka - two #1 hits and two additional hits that peaked in the 20s. I liked all four of them - not sure which one I preferred out of all of them.
36: SEND IN THE CLOWNS - JUDY COLINS (40) - This was the first chart run for this song - and both runs started off the same, with the song moving 40-36. That was all the further the song got this time around, but in its second run, in late 1977, it made it into the Top 20. I guess you could call this one a guilty pleasure, as I like it, although I prefer a few other songs from her.
35: BLUEBIRD - HELEN REDDY (37) - This one didn't last too long, as this is where the song peaked and dropped out the following week. As for this song, it was a little on the cheesy side, like many of her hits (although the song was actually written by Leon Russell), but the melody itself was good.
34: THIRD-RATE ROMANCE - RHYTHM ACES (38) - This was the only Top 40 hit for this country rock band from Memphis. One of five country crossover hits on this week's chart, it was a great song, IMO. Too bad lead singer Russell Smith passed away last year
33: BALLROOM BLITZ - SWEET (debut) - Sorry, but I'm not a fan of this one at all - way too loud and repetitive. Easily my least favorite of their charted hits.
32: GET DOWN TONIGHT - K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND (debut) - This song was indeed burning up the charts! However, even though it hit #1, it would fall just as fast as it climbed. I guess people got tired of the song fast, although it still pops up on oldies stations regularly.
31: THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD - EARTH, WIND & FIRE (35) - Their second hit of the year and by far the best - as well as one of my favorites from them of all time! Anyone notice a resemblance between this and Lenny Kravitz' debut single "It's Not Over 'Til It's Over"?
30: COULD IT BE MAGIC - BARRY MANILOW (34) - His third of many big hits. The song was based on the melody of Chopin's Prelude In C Minor, though it sounds a little like "Wild World" to me. This was by far my favorite of his three 1975 hits.
29: FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE - BAD COMPANY (33) - One of two Top Ten hits from them (although it seems they've had more than that). It was a good one, IMO.
28: WASTED DAYS & WASTED NIGHTS - FREDDY FENDER (32) - Meh, I didn't care much for this one - his voice was kind of annoying. I do prefer this over "Before The Next Teardrop Falls", albeit very slightly.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: PEPPERMINT TWIST - JOEY DEE & THE STARLITERS - This was one of those "whatever happened to" segments that Casey occasionally did. Not sure if this was from the same program, however, since the listing on the oldradioshows website doesn't list it. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that the whole song wasn't played (though it was longer than a drop piece). Anyway, this song wasn't too bad, but I wasn't too big on 60s dance hits.
27: SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL - LYNARD SKYNYRD (29) - This one sure didn't last long - this was all the higher it got and fell clean off the chart the following week. It was a good song, but I preferred a few others by them.
26: JUST A LITTLE BIT OF YOU - MICHAEL JACKSON (30) - This was his last solo hit for the next four years, but then, of course, he came back much bigger than ever then. This song was OK, but definitely not one of his best.
25: HOLDING ONTO YESTERDAY - AMBROSIA (31) - Their breakthrough hit. Not one of my favorites for them - I preferred their three Top 20 hits from the late-70s/early 80s.
24: FALLING IN LOVE - HAMILTON, JOE FRANK, & REYNOLDS (27) - Their second and biggest hit, reaching #1 just a few weeks later. I thought this was a good song. Canadian rapper Drake must have thought so too, for he sampled it in his first Top 40 hit "Best I Ever Had" from 2009.
23: AT SEVENTEEN - JANIS IAN (25) - I know several people who dislike this song, due to the "cheese factor", but I actually thought it was a great one - I guess, like the Judy Collins song back at #36, you could call it a guilty pleasure!
22: FIGHT THE POWER - ISLEY BROTHERS (24) - Ah, the song that contained the B.S. word, unedited from the song the first two weeks on AT40! Even though this one was the roof-raising R&B music that I generally hate, this one was actually not bad.
21: SWEARIN' TO GOD - FRANKIE VALLI (6) - Valli was still doing double duty, performing solo as well as with the Four Seasons (as the latter would chart later on in the summer). This was a good song - one of his best solo hits.
20: SLIPPERY WHEN WET - COMMODORES (22) - Of course, the rock band Bon Jovi had one of the biggest selling albums of the 1980s with one by this title, but the Commodores charted with the song, which was nowhere near as successful. This song was not bad, but wasn't generally a fan of their upbeat funk hits. They began having more slow songs, which, of course, I preferred, the following year.
19: EVERY TIME YOU TOUCH ME I GET HIGH - CHARLIE RICH (19) - This was this Colt, Arkansas native's final Top 40 hit. I thought it was a great one - with a mellow and relaxing melody.
18: MORNING BEAUTIFUL - TONY ORLANDO & DAWN (20) - Their last song made it all the way to #1. This song didn't fare quite as well, but it did peak at #14. I preferred this one over said #1 hit.
17: LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER - THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE (13) - In a year that featured more one-week number one songs than any other year, this one somehow managed to spend a month on top, although I'm not sure why, as this was definitely not their best hit. Its saving grace is that it's not as bad as their hit from the fall of the following year, "Muskrat Fungus Love". One might guess that this song would spend another week on the chart before dropping off, but, in fact, this song paused at #17 the following week and actually got a second wind, rebounding to #13 (Their Spanish version of the song, "Por Amor Vivaremos" was said to have been largely instrumental in that). That was enough for it to become the top song of 1975.
16: I'M ON FIRE - DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND (18) - One hit wonders abounded here - this was the only Top 40 hit by this band, consisting of Dwight Twilley himself, and Phil Seymour - both of whom each had one Top 40 single on their own in the 80s. This song was pretty good.
15: HOW SWEET IT IS - JAMES TAYLOR (17) - I still hear this one from time to time on oldies stations - it is indeed a great one - very upbeat and positive sounding.
14: RHINESTONE COWBOY - GLEN CAMPBELL (16) - This song was on its way to becoming one of the biggest hits of the entire year, and worthily so, as it was one of Campbell's best.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: ROCKY - AUSTIN ROBERTS - Another somewhat cheesy song, but I still liked it.
13: ROCKFORD FILES - MIKE POST (15) - The theme from the TV show of the same name and the first of three instrumentals on this week's chart. My parents used to watch this show, so I've been familiar with the theme for years - heard it every Friday night back in the day. It's a good one - one of many great TV show themes from the great Mike Post!
12: WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS - WAR (14) - The song with possibly the shortest verses ever! It would have been a better song and not as repetitive had they linked two or three verses together.
11: THE WAY WE WERE - GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (12) - Interesting interpretation of the Barbra Streisand classic from the year before (with a spoken word part at the beginning), though I preferred the original.
10: DYNAMITE - BAZUKA (13) - Of course, the "DYNOMITE!" shout heard throughout this mostly instrumental song was a catchphrase on the TV sitcom Good Times. The song wasn't bad, but nothing I'd want to hear on a regular basis.
9: ROCKIN' CHAIR - GWEN MCCRAE (10) - Of course, we all know that she was the wife of George McCrae, whom had charted the year before with "Rock Your Baby". I preferred that song; this one was pretty good, but nothing exceptional.
8: LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID - WINGS (5) - This was when their songs started improving vastly. Their 1974 songs were mediocre at best (though Junior's Farm was pretty good). From 1975 on, I liked all of their Top Ten hits (well, except for "Silly Love Songs", but that was due to overplay - I did like that song when it was on the charts). This song was one of their best IMO.
7: MIDNIGHT BLUE - MELISSA MANCHESTER (9) - This song reminded me a little of "These Are The Best Times" by Bobby Goldsboro, the theme for the 1973 Disney movie Superdad. This was Manchester's debut hit, and a great one it was! I liked most of her Top 40 hits, especially her ballads, like this one.
6: SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT - ELTON JOHN (8) - This was one of my all-time faves from him! Sort of a bittersweet listen anymore, as it was a special song between myself and a girl I used to date. No, not because she found someone else, but she died in a car wreck back in 1999.
5: THE HUSTLE - VAN MC COY & THE SOUL CITY SYMPHONY (1) - This was the only Top 40 entry for this man born in our nation's capital. Glad this song made it to #1, as it's one of my favorite disco instrumentals of all time!
4: PLEASE MISTER PLEASE - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (4) - Ah, a song about being unable to hear a song that reminded you of a lost love. It was a good one, though I preferred "Have You Never Been Mellow".
3: JIVE TALKIN' - BEE GEES (7) - Ah, their very first disco song, a style which they quickly became more famous for than ballads. This song wasn't bad, but I preferred most of their other disco songs.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: HELP ME RHONDA - JOHNNY RIVERS - One of several remakes from Rivers that hit the chart. This one was pretty good, but I preferred the original by the Beach Boys.
2: I'M NOT IN LOVE - 10 CC (2) - I felt sorry for this song, as it spent three weeks in the runner-up position, as two other songs leapfrogged over it into the #1 spot (besides this week's #1 song there was "The Hustle" by Van McCoy the week before and "Jive Talkin'" by the Bee Gees the following week. Anyway, this was a great song, but I actually preferred Will To Power's dance remake of it from early 1991 (which replaced the "Big boys don't cry" bridge with a sax solo).
1: ONE OF THESE NIGHTS - EAGLES (3) - This is the song that spent the most weeks in the Top Ten during 1975 - ten weeks in all. Oddly enough, only one of those weeks were spent at #1. Anyway, of their two #1 during 1975, this was my favorite.

[Hervard]

American Top 40: The 70s - August 3, 2024

This week's presentation - August 4, 1979

Droppers:
CHUCK E'S IN LOVE - RICKIE LEE JONES (40) - The week before, this song made possibly the biggest drop within the Top 40 of the 1970s, falling 12-40.
DAYS GONE DOWN (STILL GOT THAT LIGHT IN YOUR EYES) - GERRY RAFFERTY (34) - I must say, it is always quite refreshing to hear a song by him besides the grossly overplayed "Baker Street" (though it seems to me that I did hear "Right Down The Line" somewhere just recently). This one was actually a good song - too bad this one didn't go Top Ten.
HEART OF THE NIGHT - POCO (32) - The second of their two 1979 hits - I liked it about the same as "Crazy Love". Still, I think their best hit ever was "Nothing To Hide", from early 1990.
WEEKEND - WET WILLIE (29) - I vaguely remember hearing this song back in '79. It was most likely on a Friday
UP ON THE ROOF – JAMES TAYLOR (28) - A rather interesting interpretation of the old Drifter's classic hit. In fact, I preferred this over the original.

LW#3: GOOD TIMES - CHIC
LW#2: RING MY BELL - ANITA WARD
LW#1: BAD GIRLS - DONNA SUMMER
40: BORN TO BE ALIVE - PATRICK HERNANDEZ (debut) - Interesting that he has an Irish first name and a Spanish surname, yet he is French. This song was so/so, but nothing special (though it remains a disco/dance staple today).
39: HOT SUMMER NIGHTS - NIGHT (debut) - The first of two Top 40 hits from this band from Los Angeles. I liked it, but I preferred the follow-up, which featured Chris Thompson on vocals.
38: HIGHWAY SONG - BLACKFOOT (debut) - This was your run-of-the-mill late-70s southern rock song. It was pretty decent, IMO.
37: KISS IN THE DARK - PINK LADY (38) - Well they might have been a hot act in Japan, but this was their own hit here in the States. This one was OK; just typical 70s disco music.
36: HEAVEN MUST HAVE SENT YOU - BONNIE POINTER (39) - Even though this was a disco song, it was actually a good one, IMO. I still I preferred several songs from her former group The Pointer Sisters, which she had left the year before to pursue a solo career.
LDD: LEAN ON ME - BILL WITHERS - A cure for insomnia, even though it did fit the LDD well.
35: LET'S GO - THE CARS (37) - Here's one I remember hearing at the beach many times back in the summer of '79! It was a good song, though not quite my favorite from them.
34: MORNING DANCE - SPYRO GYRA (36) - Great jazz piece, with a definite Caribbean feel to it, with the congas and marimba. That said, it was a surprise to find that they were formed in Buffalo, New York! Anyway, this was one of my favorite songs for all of 1979!
ARCHIVE: CAT'S IN THE CRADLE - HARRY CHAPIN
OPTIONAL EXTRA: DON'T BRING ME DOWN - ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA - This song was debuting on the Hot 100 right outside the Top 40, at #41, poised to make a monster debut the following week at #18, looking like it could become their very first number one hit, but the song ran out of gas rather quickly, peaking at #4 in only its sixth week on the Hot 100. Perhaps their fans didn't like the fact that this song didn't use strings, like all of their previous hits. Anyway, Anyway, this song was OK, but I preferred many others by them, such as their other song on the countdown this week.
33: LONESOME LOSER - LITTLE RIVER BAND (debut) - As we all know, 1979 was definitely her best year in my book, as her three songs to chart during that year are my three favorites from her. This just might be my favorite of the bunch.
32: GOODBYE STRANGER - SUPERTRAMP (debut) - I've seen that the single version of this song is the same as the album version, so they must have played a promo version of the song, as the instrumental lead-ins to the choruses are deleted, which would take away about 20 seconds from the song. Plus, the song fades out a little earlier. Anyway, this is probably my favorite single from the Breakfast In America album (though I feel that several other songs, such as "Lord Is It Mine" and "Just Another Nervous Wreck" should have been released as well - they sounded just as radio-friendly as any of the singles).
31: SHADOWS IN THE MOONLIGHT - ANNE MURRAY (25) - As we all know, 1979 was definitely her best year in my book, as her three songs to chart during that year are my three favorites from her. This just might be my favorite of the bunch.
30: DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW - ABBA (21) - This was Abba's first charted single that featured Björn Ulvaeus on lead vocals instead of Agnetha Faltskog and Frida. It was a pretty good song, but it doesn't hold a candle to "Dancing Queen" or "The Winner Takes It All".
29: I'LL NEVER LOVE THIS WAY AGAIN - DIONNE WARWICK (35) - This was her first hit in five years, but she had definitely improved with age, as I preferred most of her songs from this point on over her earlier hits.
28: SHE BELIEVES IN ME - KENNY ROGERS (17) - Here's one that I remember quite well from '79! This one peaked at #5 for a pair of weeks on AT40, but on the R&R chart, it managed to sneak in a week at #1.
27: SUSPICIONS - EDDIE RABBITT (30) - 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.
26: THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA - CHARLIE DANIELS BAND (33) - This was definitely their signature song (as well as most successful - it went platinum). It was a great song, but I preferred "Still In Saigon".
25: IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM - JOE JACKSON (27) - 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.
24: ONE WAY OR ANOTHER - BLONDIE (26) - Meh, not a fan of this one - the way she says, “I’m gonna getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha” is just annoying and obnoxious sounding!
23: PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH WIND - KANSAS (24) - This was one of their last songs with Steve Walsh still handling the lead vocals before his hiatus from the band. It wasn't bad, but one of my least favorites from them - especially after I heard it on the show about this time last year and it stuck in my mind all day.
ARCHIVE: ANGIE BABY - HELEN REDDY - This song, played as the second Optional Extra, was pretty good - not really a cheesefest like most of her Top 40 hits (of course, Alan O'Day wrote this, so that could have something to do with it).
22: AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE - EARTH, WIND AND FIRE (31) - I used to like this song a lot, and still do a bit, but it has that kind of "rainy day" sound to it. I preferred many other songs from them, including "That's The Way Of The World" and "September".
21: I CAN'T STAND IT NO MORE - PETER FRAMPTON (14) - Well, try he might, he just couldn't come close to equaling the success of his Frampton Comes Alive album. As for this song, it wasn't bad, but I preferred a few songs from said album, as well as the title track from his second album I'm In You.
20: GETTING CLOSER - WINGS (20) - I wasn't a huge fan of this song. Is salamander a British term of endearment, or what?
19: DO IT OR DIE - ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION (19) - This song, along with being good melodically, had a great message - it was even used as a LDD a few times, IIRC.
18: BOOGIE WONDERLAND - EARTH, WIND AND FIRE (11) - A one-time team-up between these two acts. The song was OK, but I preferred most of EW+F's other material (and the only other song I've heard by the Emotions was "Best Of My Love" - yes, I preferred that one too).
LDD: YOU MADE ME BELIEVE IN MAGIC - BAY CITY ROLLERS - Their third and final Top Ten hit (in fact, after this, they'd have one last Top 40 hit before fading into obscurity). Anyway, this is about the only song by them that I like.
17: LEAD ME ON - MAXINE NIGHTENGALE (22) - 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. This is definitely my favorite song from her.
16: SAD EYES - ROBERT JOHN (23) - This week and the week before were the only two weeks in which this song made a jump any bigger than four spots during its entire climb within the Top 40. This song would tie "Hot Child In The City" by Nick Gilder as the slowest climb to #1 - a total of 21 weeks each! It was a great song, IMO.
15: SHINE A LITTLE LOVE - ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (8) - So strange that this was one of their biggest hits (in fact, it was THE biggest on the R&R chart, hitting #1 for a week), yet I don't remember ever hearing it at all during the summer of 1979. Must not have made a huge impression on me. Anyway, this was definitely one of my favorites from them.
14: AIN'T NO STOPPING US NOW - McFADDEN AND WHITEHEAD (13) - The only Top 40 hit by the founders of Philly soul music, this was one of the best Philly soul hits of all time, IMO! I remember this one quite well.
13: I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN' YOU - KISS (15) - Casey mentioned that this was the first time that a heavy metal song made the Top Ten on the disco chart. That was pretty much because Kiss had gone disco by this time. That didn't really work for them, however, 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).
ARCHIVE: LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS - ELTON JOHN - This is a song that defied the 1974-75 one-week limit at #1, and it's easy to see how - this was a great song - the instruments and Elton's voice made it sound quite majestic! One of my all-time faves from Elton John, who would have a slew of big hits over the next two decades!
OPTIONAL EXTRA: BAD CASE OF LOVING YOU (DOCTOR DOCTOR) - ROBERT PALMER - Here's another song that I remember hearing all the time back in the day – and it still gets moderate airplay on oldies stations. This song is OK, but I'm generally not a huge Robert Palmer fan.
12: MAMA CAN'T BUY YOU LOVE - ELTON JOHN (16) - Wow, two songs from Sir Elton twice in a row on the countdown! 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.
11: YOU CAN'T CHANGE THAT - RAYDIO (12) - 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).
10: I WANT YOU TO WANT ME - CHEAP TRICK (7) - Now THIS is definitely one of the songs that I associate with the summer of 1979 the most! I heard it on the juke box at the beach house almost every time I went there. Too bad that beach has all but gone to pot.
9: HOT STUFF - DONNA SUMMER (4) - This song sure had staying power - it was spending its thirteenth week in the Top Ten - with another song from Summer at #1! It was my favorite of her two songs on this week's chart.
8: WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN - DR. HOOK (9) - 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.
7: MAKIN' IT - DAVID NAUGHTON (5) - This song was more of a gimmick than anything, IMO, but it was passable. It did, however, make for an interesting LDD on an early 1980 show - from a girl, who had dreams of being a model, to her family, who pretty much bullied her about her endeavor. The LDD was pretty much a raspberry to them, which served them right, as she had indeed lived her dream.
6: MY SHARONA - THE KNACK (18) - It was clear where this song was headed, as it made the biggest move of the week for a second week in a row! 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 later on that year.
5: GOLD - JOHN STEWART (6) - Here's one I remember quite well! This one featured Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham on background vocals - making an already great song even better!
4: THE MAIN EVENT/FIGHT - BARBRA STREISAND (10) - Interesting to hear an upbeat song by Streisand. I guess she was trying to get in on the disco craze, little knowing that it was beginning to burn out. In fact, around the time this song debuted is when an event instrumental in the death of disco happened - Chicago DJ Steve Dahl's infamous Disco Demolition. Anyway, of the two disco songs on which Streisand sang in 1979, this was the only one that I liked.
3: RING MY BELL - ANITA WARD (2) - I heard this one a few times at the local skating rink back in the day. It was OK, but nothing special.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: CRUEL TO BE KIND - NICK LOWE - Here's one I remember hearing quite often back in the day. It was a great song – too bad it was his only Top 40 hit, though.
2: GOOD TIMES - CHIC (3) - This song was in the midst of a six-week run at #1 on the Soul chart, on its way to becoming the top song of the entire year! The song would also hit #1 here on the Hot 100 two weeks later. This song was OK, but quite overplayed. I preferred their previous hit "I Want Your Love".
1: BAD GIRLS - DONNA SUMMER (1) - Donna Summer had been at #1 for seven of the past ten weeks. She was indeed on fire! This was a good song. but, as I stated earlier, I preferred "Hot Stuff".

[Hervard]

American Top 40: The 80s - August 3, 2024

This week's presentation - August 2, 1980

Droppers:

FUNKY TOWN - LIPPS INC. (39) - This one was no huge loss, as I was never a big fan of this song.
KING OF THE HILL - RICK PINETTE & OAK (36) - Great song! Pinette sounded sort of a cross between Russell Hitchcock (of Air Supply) and Barry Manilow.
WALKS LIKE A LADY - JOURNEY (32) - This one was quite different than most of Journey's hits. It had sort of an R&B sound to it. Given that, I'm not surprised that it didn't get any higher than #32.

LW#3: LITTLE JEANNIE – ELTON JOHN
LW#2: MAGIC – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
LW#1: IT’S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME – BILLY JOEL
40: LOOKIN’ FOR LOVE – JOHNNIE LEE (debut) - Ah, the fourth original song from Urban Cowboy! I liked this song, though I didn't really like it much back in the day.
39: GIVE ME THE NIGHT – GEORGE BENSON (debut) - Benson was mainly an AC and smooth jazz artist, but he had a handful of pop hits, and this one was his biggest. It was OK, but I preferred several of his others, including a few AC/smooth jazz only hits.
38: LET’S GET SERIOUS – JERMAINE JACKSON (21) - The second most successful of the Jackson family as a solo artist on the charts (well, until the latter half of the decade, anyway). This song wasn't bad, but I preferred his mid-80s songs.
37: I’M ALIVE – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (29) - One of two Xanadu singles on the chart this week. It was so/so, but I preferred their duet with Olivia Newton-John, which, of course, was the title track.
36: YOU’RE THE ONLY WOMAN - AMBROSIA (debut) - Their fifth and, sadly, last Top 40 hit. It was a great one, but I preferred "How Much I Feel" and "Biggest Part Of Me".
35: DRIVIN’ MY LIFE AWAY – EDDIE RABBITT (40) - Is it me, or did Casey say that this was #5 in the intro to the song? Well, either way, it was a great song and one of my favorites from Mr. Rabbitt.
34: TULSA TIME – ERIC CLAPTON (38) - This was a double-sided single (with "Cocaine" on the flipside), but as far as I know, during its five-week run on the chart, Casey always played "Tulsa Time". Which was fine with me, because I was not a big fan of "Cocaine". The A-side was a pretty good song.
33: LET ME LOVE YOU TONIGHT – PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE (15) - I believe they had more hits on the country charts than Pop, where they had a grand total of four Top 40 hits, and this was the biggest of them all - and also, possibly my favorite of the bunch.
ARCHIVES: THE TWIST – CHUBBY CHECKER - Ah, the song that would hit #1 on the chart twice in the course of about a year and a half. It wasn't bad, but a little overdone IMHO.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: ONE IN A MILLION YOU - LARRY GRAHAM - This was the week's #1 song on the R&B chart, and right outside the Top 40 on the Hot 100. A nice, relaxing slow jam that would hit #9 on the AT40 chart.
32: I CAN’T LET GO – LINDA RONSTADT (34) - One of Ronstadt's "shouty" songs, which I was never a big fan of ("Get Closer", from late 1982, was another).
31: ALL OUT OF LOVE – AIR SUPPLY (37) - Not sure what the meaning of Casey's random story about phonographs in the intro to this song was... Anyway, as we all know, this one was one of my least favorite songs from Air Supply. I had a bad day today and the last thing I need to hear is depressing songs.
30: WHY NOT ME – FRED KNOBLOCK (35) - Here is another one, but the melody itself it upbeat. The song is about a guy who goes to the wedding of an old flame and finds himself wishing he was the groom. He probably should have gone golfing with Eddie! I sure wouldn't ever attend the wedding of anyone that I still had feelings for - I would make other plans that day and spare myself the hurt.
29: BOULEVARD – JACKSON BROWNE (33) - Browne's first Top 40 hit in two years - and a great one it is - one I remember quite well from back in the day.
28: MAKE A LITTLE MAGIC – THE DIRT BAND (30) - They seemed destined to remain a "one-hit wonder", a status they held for about nine years, then, when they dropped the "Nitty Gritty" from their name, they ended up having two more hits, both in 1980. This song, which featured Nicholette Larson on back-up vocals was a good one, but I preferred "An American Dream" from earlier in the year.
LDD: TO SIR WITH LOVE - LULU - This song definitely fit the dedication. It was a good one, but I preferred her comeback hit from 1981, "I Could Never Miss You More Than I Do".
27: FAME – IRENE CARA (31) - A song that got to be a theme song twice - first as the theme from the movie of the same title in 1980, and then again as the theme from the TV show called Fame, which ran for about five seasons, starting in 1982. The song wasn't bad, but one of my least favorite songs from Cara.
26: INTO THE NIGHT – BENNY MARDONES (28) - I don't remember this song at all from 1980, but I definitely remember it from 1989, when it returned to the charts - I heard it on AT40 and then ended up buying the single later on that summer. I played it quite a lot and ended up getting tired of the song. It's pretty good now, but I preferred several songs on his self-titled album which came out in 1989 (and included an updated version of "Into The Night") - these include "How Could You Love Me" and "I'll Be Good To You".
25: OLD FASHION LOVE – THE COMMODORES (27) - Stevie Wonder's "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" reminded me a lot of this song. I liked both songs, but preferred this one.
24: JO JO – BOZ SCAGGS (26) - Was he singing about K-Ci's partner? He couldn't have been singing about the one who sang "Leave (Get Out)" since, as far as I know, her parents hadn't even met yet. But seriously, this was a good song - had sort of a smooth jazz flavor to it.
23: TAKE A LITTLE RHYTHM – ALI THOMSON (25) - Before this song, Casey read a question letter about the act that had the most hits on the chart at the same time. Of course, the answer was the Beatles, and this man sounded a lot like one of the Beatles - Paul McCartney. Only difference is, this was his only hit. It was a great one, IMO.
22: STAND BY ME – MICKEY GILLEY (24) - Wow, lots of songs moving up two spots this week! This is possibly my favorite version of this song that I've heard.
ARCHIVES: MY HEART HAS A MIND OF IT’S OWN – CONNIE FRANCIS - This song reminds me of a song that I recently heard, but not sure which one. Anyway, this was a good song.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: DON'T ASK ME WHY - BILLY JOEL - The third release from Glass Houses, and my favorite of the four singles from that album.
21: LET MY LOVE OPEN THE DOOR – PETE TOWNSHEND (23) - And here's another two-point jumper. This one and one of the Who's songs, "You Better You Bet" sound very much alike but, oddly enough, it was a different member of the Who that sang lead on that one.
20: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - MECO (20) - Well, this breaks the streak of songs moving ahead two, as this one was in the same position as the previous week. I guess you could call this a guilty pleasure, as many people hate the idea of Darth Vader's entry theme being set to disco, but I like it.
19: ALL NIGHT LONG – JOE WALSH (19) - Wow, could this be a streak of songs standing still? Well, whatever the case, I was never a huge fan of Joe Walsh, but this one was actually pretty good.
EXTRA: I’VE GOT TO GET A MESSAGE TO YOU – THE BEE GEES - Interesting story about telepathy between twins. As for the song, it's not bad, but a little too whiny. With a few exceptions, the Bee Gees were better at upbeat records than slow ones.
18: GIMME SOME LOVIN’ – THE BLUES BROTHERS (18) - Surprised that this song only got as high as #18, given how big the Blues Brothers movie was, plus the station that I listened to back in 1980 played this one regularly. Anyway, this was a great song. I preferred this one over the original.
17: MISUNDERSTANDING - GENESIS (22) - Wow, was this the biggest jump within the Top 30? It's definitely the first song since #30 that moved up more than four spots. Anyway, this is another song that my station used to play all the time back in 1980, but didn't even hit the Top Ten on the Hot 100. This was definitely one of my favorite Genesis songs of all time!
16: THE ROSE – BETTE MIDLER (10) - One of several movie themes on the chart this week. I liked it, but such was not the case back in 1985, the year that my 7th grade choir sang it in the spring concert.
15: STEAL AWAY – ROBBIE DUPREE (7) - A two-hit wonder on the chart, with both of his Top 40 hits during the same year. I preferred this one over "Hot Rod Hearts" (though that was a great one as well).
14: LOVE THE WORLD AWAY – KENNY ROGERS (16) - Wow, this was the biggest song from Urban Cowboy - to this date, that is - it would eventually be surpassed by "Lookin' For Love". But this was by far my favorite song from the movie - just barely missed being the top song of 1980 according to my personal Top 30 charts - Kool & The Gang's "Too Hot" beat it by the narrowest margin possible.
13: MORE LOVE – KIM CARNES (14) - She had the duet with Kenny Rogers back in the spring, now she was on the chart with her first big solo hit. Of course, the best was yet to come. Not sure if I prefer this song or "Bette Davis Eyes" - I think it's one of those cases where it depends on my mood.
12: ONE FINE DAY – CAROLE KING (12) - One of those cases where the songwriter of a song charts with it after it charts one or more times by other artists. This would by my second favorite version of the song (that I've heard), behind Rita Coolidge's rendition from the previous year.
11: IN AMERICA – THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND (13) - Of course, I think we all know that my favorite song from them is "Still In Saigon". This song, however, is also pretty good, as is their signature hit "The Devil Went Down To Georgia".
ARCHIVES: MR. CUSTER – LARRY VERNE - Meh, this one was a little weird...
OPTIONAL: JESSE - CARLY SIMON - One I remember hearing on the jukebox at Pizza Hut all the time back in the day! Possibly my favorite Carly Simon song of all time!
10: SAILING – CHRISTOPHER CROSS (17) - Wow, kind of unusual for the biggest jump of the week to be way up in the Top Ten! There was quite a logjam in the mid-point of the chart. Anyway, this was a great song - definitely hit the chart at the right time of year!
9: EMOTIONAL RESCUE – THE ROLLING STONES (11) - Ah, my former supervisor's "favorite" song (she still works at the library, so I still get to torment her by singing this song, LOL!) Another guilty pleasure (as many people I know, other than said former supervisor, dislike the song, due to Jagger's falsetto singing).
8: TIRED OF TOEIN’ THE LINE – ROCKY BURNETTE (8) - A one-hit wonder, but his only song was a great one!
7: COMING UP (LIVE AT GLASGOW) – PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS (6) - Wow, this song was still going strong! As we all know, I preferred this song over the studio version. Speaking of which, I recently got a reply to a comment that I posted on a YouTube video of the studio version of the song. My comment was: "I never liked this version of the song. The vocals on this song were overdubbed or altered or whatever so much that a) it didn't even sound like Paul McCartney and b) you could barely understand what Paul was singing, especially in the choruses. No, I much preferred the live version. The Top 40 audience apparently thought so as well, because once radio stations began playing the live version, the studio version was all but left for dead about a month after the song first hit the charts." The reply went like so: "Its clearly not for everyone and that's why I like it. Same with the album itself. Couldn't care less what masses think." Alrighty then...
6: TAKE YOUR TIME – THE S.O.S. BAND (9) - Casey mentioned that this was the first hit by the S.O.S. Band. It turned out to be their only Top 40 hit (although I imagine they had others on the R&B and dance charts). This song wasn't bad, but nothing exceptional.
LDD: SPECIAL LADY – RAY, GOODMAN & BROWN - This song was indeed appropriate for the dedication, as it was from a prison inmate to his wife who was left to fend for herself and the kids until he was released two years later and she continued to write him and be supportive of him.
5: SHINING STAR – THE MANHATTANS (5) - They had sixteen Hot 100 hits, but only three of those made the Top 40, one of those just barely. Of their two big hits, this was definitely my favorite.
4: CUPID / I’VE LOVED YOU FOR A LONG TIME – THE SPINNERS (4) - This group charted twice in 1980, both with medleys. Of those, I preferred the first one, though this one was great as well.
3: LITTLE JEANNIE – ELTON JOHN (3) - This was Elton's first, and biggest, hit of the 1980s. It was a great one, and one of my favorites of his 80s songs.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: ALL OVER THE WORLD - ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA - I did prefer this one over "I'm Alive", but still, I generally preferred their 70s hits.
2: IT’S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME – BILLY JOEL (1) - And right here is the biggest hit in the entire chart career of the artist who, until 1992, was, alphabetically right behind Elton in the index of Top 40 chart performers. I like this song better than I used to, but still, it is my least favorite of the four singles from Glass Houses, one of Joel's best albums IMO.
1: MAGIC – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (2) - This song put ONJ in a three-way tie with Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand in second place for female singer who sang lead on the most #1 songs. Actually, a tie was all she could manage because by the time she next hit #1, Streisand had already had a #1 hit. Of course, by now, that second place record has all but been beaten many times over. Not sure whether or not Diana Ross' record has been beaten, but she had a total of 19 number one songs, which would be very hard to beat.

[Hervard]

American Top 40: The 80s - August 3, 2024

This week's presentation - July 30, 1983

Droppers:
SHE'S A BEAUTY - THE TUBES (38) - No big loss here, as this song never did anything for me. I preferred their two 1981 hits (though one of them only made the Bubbling Under chart - I'm sure it did make an appearance on the Rock chart, though, since I did hear it on the rock charts in my area a lot back then).
WISHING (IF I HAD A PHOTOGRAPH OF YOU) - A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS (32) - They were pretty much a "flash in the pan" - they had three Top 40 hits within the span of a year and then they were gone. This song was pretty good, but I preferred their first two hits.
FAMILY MAN - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (31) - No big loss here either - this was one of my least favorite H&O songs.
DON'T LET IT END - STYX (28) - Their second and final Top 40 hit from Kilroy Was Here. This was also my favorite of the two, since Mr. Roboto was pretty much played out.
TIME (CLOCK OF THE HEART) - CULTURE CLUB (23) - This was only their second hit and they were already on a roll. Of their Kissing To Be Clever singles, this would probably be my favorite.

LW#2: ELECTRIC AVENUE – EDDY GRANT
LW#1: EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE – THE POLICE
40: FAKE FRIENDS – JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (debut) - Try she might, she just could not manage to equal the success of "I Love Rock And Roll". This song wasn't bad, but her best song will always be said rock anthem..
39: SLIPPING AWAY – DAVE EDMUNDS (39) - The second of two Top 40 hits for Edmunds - not quite as successful as his cover of "I Hear You Knockin'" from 1971. I'm surprised it only got as high as #39, as I remember hearing it all the time on WLS back in the summer of 1983.
38: TELL HER ABOUT IT – BILLY JOEL (debut) - You could tell that An Innocent Man was going to be a monster album when the first single from it debuts on the Hot 100 way up in the Top 40! It was also the biggest hit from the album - its only #1 (but most of the other singles hit the Top 20). I liked many of his songs, but this was not one of them, since it was way overplayed.
37: THE SAFETY DANCE – MEN WITHOUT HATS (debut) - 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.
36: THE SALT IN MY TEARS – MARTIN BRILEY (37) - Didn't he sound a little like Phil Collins? He was nowhere near as successful, however, as this was his only Top 40 hit and #36 was all the further it got. I thought it was a pretty decent song.
35: HUMAN NATURE – MICHAEL JACKSON (debut) - Jackson was still cranking out hits from Thriller and this was the fifth. This one got as high as #7 on the Hot 100 and peaked in the runner-up position on R&R. Definitely one of my favorite of his Thriller songs.
34: THE BORDER - AMERICA (36) - Not one of their more successful hits, but I thought it was a good one - I remember hearing this on U93 back in the day pretty regularly - in fact, the song even made their annual Top 93 countdown that year.
33: PIECES OF ICE – DIANA ROSS (35) - Casey mentioned how Ross was only second to Hall & Oates as the biggest act of the 1980s so far, and she was still adding to her total. However, her popularity was beginning to wane. She would have three more hits, but after 1985, she would never hit the Top 40 again. As for the song, I thought it was a good one, though I don't believe any stations around me ever played this one.
32: HUMAN TOUCH – RICK SPRINGFIELD (40) - 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.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL - AIR SUPPLY - One of three Jim Steinmen-penned songs to chart in the fall of 1983. Larry mentioned how Bonnie Tyler recorded this song a few years later, which was funny, as she was the artist of one of the other Steinman songs from 1983. Not sure which of those I prefer, as they're both great songs
31: AFTER THE FALL - JOURNEY (39) - This song tied with Rick Springfield for the biggest mover of the week (sort of weird, as neither song hit the Top Ten). Anyway, of the four singles from Frontiers, this is definitely the one that gets the least amount of recurrent airplay (though I haven't heard "Send Her My Love" much over the past few years outside of countdown shows). My second favorite from the album behind "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)".
30: I’M STILL STANDING – ELTON JOHN (21) - This song charted in sort of a low period in his career, during which he had seven singles in a row that missed the Top Ten (the dry spell would end in early 1984, when "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" peaked at #4. I myself thought this was a great song and should have been a Top Ten (like it was on the R&R chart).
29: STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE – THE HOLLIES (30) - This was an interesting remake of the Supremes hit - they changed the lyrics around a little, the most notably being in the chorus (when they changed the second "before you break my heart" to "before you tear it apart"). Less notably, they removed the explanation point from the title. It was a great song, IMO, and I preferred this one over the Supremes version.
28: LAWYERS IN LOVE – JACKSON BROWNE (34) - Interesting how the manager at Geffen records tossed the demo tape that Jackson had sent in without even listening to it. His secretary sure set him straight! Anyway, this was 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.
27: ALL THIS LOVE - DeBARGE (17) - The second hit for this R&B family act from the Motor City. I liked it better than their first Top 40 entry, "I Like It", but IMO, it's not quite as good as "Time Will Reveal", which charted at the end of 1983. I see a resemblance between this song and Beth Nielsen Chapman's "That's The Easy Part", the latter, from Chapman's 1990 self-titled album.
26: PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ - TACO (33) - The man is Dutch and he named himself after a Mexican food - go figure! 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.
25: I’LL TUMBLE 4 YA – CULTURE CLUB (29) - 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.
24: ROCK ‘N’ ROLL IS KING - ELO (26) - They were good in the 70s, but, IMO, not so much in the 1980s. Melodically, this was pretty much "Hold On Tight Pt. 2".
23: TAKE ME TO HEART – QUARTERFLASH (25) - They had three Top 40 hits, and this one would probably be my favorite.
LDD: HURTS SO GOOD – JOHN COUGAR - This LDD definitely proved that opposites indeed attract. The author of the LDD had a best friend, who lived next door to her, whose tastes were very different than her own. One thing that they had in common was that they both loved this song, which was John Cougar's overall biggest hit - one that has held up quite well despite overplay.
22: SAVED BY ZERO – THE FIXX (24) - 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".
21: TOO SHY - KAJAGOOGOO (13) - I don't think I need to remind you how annoying I think this song is, do I?
OPTIONAL EXTRA: DON'T CRY - ASIA - I think they enlisted Elmer Fudd's help in this, as it sounds like they're saying "Don't Cwy". Anyway, while this is my least favorite of their four Top 40 hits (not counting "Go", which never even made the AT40 chart), it's still a good 'un.
20: CHINA GIRL – DAVID BOWIE (27) - As we probably know all too well, my favorite songs from him were his two 1987 hits, but this one wasn't bad either.
19: ROCK OF AGES – DEF LEPPARD (22) - The second of three Top 40 hits from Hysteria, none of which managed to hit the Top Ten, but the best was yet to come - their album Hysteria, which came out almost exactly four years later would spawn a host of big hits for them! As for my opinion of the song, it wasn't bad, but I preferred many others from them.
18: HOT GIRLS IN LOVE - LOVERBOY (19) - 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.
17: (KEEP FEELING) FASCINATION – THE HUMAN LEAGUE (18) - 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.
16: CUTS LIKE A KNIFE – BRYAN ADAMS (16) - The second hit, as well as the title track, from the album that put Adams on the map here in the States. It was OK, but definitely not his best.
15: IT’S A MISTAKE – MEN AT WORK (20) - Well, they definitely had a great year, but their chart days were nearing the end. This would end up being their last Top Ten hit. It was my second favorite of theirs, behind "Overkill".
14: BABY JANE – ROD STEWART (15) - Well, this was nowhere near as successful as his other "girl" hit (of course, that would be "Maggie May". Though it wasn't his best hit, I liked it.
13: COME DANCING – THE KINKS (6) - This song recently became their biggest hit ever for this band, who was more famous for their '60s and '70s hits. It had tied "Tired Of Waiting For You" for its peak of #6, weeks at the peak (2) and weeks in the Top Ten. "Tired", however, spent only eight weeks in the Top 40 and this song was in its eleventh week on the chart. It is also one of my favorite songs from them.
12: 1999 - PRINCE (12) - A song that had three chart runs - one from 1982, this one, and the last one at the beginning of the year responsible for this song's name. Due to the overplay, I'm still burned out on it and it is actually one of my least favorite songs from him (not that I was crazy about it in the first place).
11: MANIAC – MICHAEL SEMBELLO (14) - One of two #1 hits from the movie Flashdance! I preferred the title track over this one.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: PROMISES PROMISES - NAKED EYES - 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).
10: OUR HOUSE - MADNESS (7) - One of two hits from them, this one clearly being the best in the eyes of many, including yours truly. Indeed, an 80s mix show essential!
9: STAND BACK – STEVIE NICKS (9) - 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...
8: SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY – DONNA SUMMER (10) - This was the top song on the soul chart this week, and it would become Summer's first Top Five hit in three years the following week.
7: WANNA BE STARTIN’ SOMETHING – MICHAEL JACKSON (5) - Well, he had definitely long since started a long string of hits, and it would not be finished anytime soon! This wasn't bad, but I found it sort of annoying - especially the album version, which seemed to go on and on. Fortunately, AT40 usually, if not always, played the single edit, which was nearly two minutes shorter.
LDD: SOMEBODY’S BABY – JACKSON BROWNE - Very interesting how this was a follow-up to a letter from earlier in the year (exactly six months earlier, in fact) that requested the same song. This song always reminded me of a girl in my class when I was in fifth grade the year before.
6: SWEET DREAMS - EURYTHMICS (11) - It has been said that they tacked on the subtitle so as not to confuse it with Air Supply's "Sweet Dreams" from the previous year. Whether or not this is true is not certain, but anyway, this was the first of ten Top 40 hits from them, and it was their biggest hit, hitting #1 a few weeks back. It wasn't bad, but quite overplayed.
5: IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW – DURAN DURAN (8) - 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".
4: NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO – SERGIO MENDES (4) - 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!
3: FLASHDANCE…WHAT A FEELING – IRENE CARA (3) - The aforementioned title track to the Adrian Lyne-directed movie. A great song, though my sentiments were quite different back in the day, as this was even more overplayed than the Sergio Mendes song mentioned earlier.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART - BONNIE TYLER - This was the Jim Steinman ballad that I mentioned earlier that Bonnie Tyler had a hit with. This one would end up going all the way (in fact, it would block the one by Air Supply from the #1 spot!) As I mentioned earlier, I liked both songs about the same.
2: ELECTRIC AVENUE – EDDY GRANT (2) - This song wanted like anything into the top spot, as it was stuck in the runner-up spot for a fifth week. Unfortunately, the song at the top was simply too strong for it. 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.
1: EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE – THE POLICE (1) - And this was the most overplayed song of them all. It still is, too. I'm not sure how a song about stalking managed to spend two months at #1, but whatever.

[mrjukebox]

Ali Thomson was the younger brother of Dougie Thomson from Supertramp.

[Big Red Machine]

I agree about “Slipping Away.” Still a head scratcher that it only hit #39. That was played a lot during the summer of 1983 on the radio and especially on MTV as one of their top videos. Great song!!

[mrjukebox]

"Our House" is one of the featured selections from this week's B show presentation 7/30/83-It was eventually used in an ad campaign for Maxwell House coffee.

[Hervard]

American Top 40: The 70s - August 10, 2024

This week's presentation - August 14, 1976

Droppers:
I'M GONNA LET MY HEART DO THE WALKIN' - THE SUPREMES (40) - This, the Supremes' final Top 40 hit, will never be heard on the series, as it spent a single week in the Top 40, and that week happened to be guest-hosted (by Sonny Melendrez). I myself have never heard this song (that I know of anyway), so maybe when I get a chance, I'll see if I can find the song on YouTube.
C'MON MARIANNE - DONNY OSMOND (38) - I vaguely remember hearing this song on the July 31 show several years back and that I liked it. I'll have to check this one out too to refresh my memory.
MORE MORE MORE - ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION (34) - Of their two Top 40 hits, I preferred this song. The Canadian alternative rock band Len apparently liked it as well, as they sampled it in their big 1999 hit "Steal My Sunshine".
ANOTHER RAINY DAY IN NEW YORK CITY - CHICAGO (32) - This was the first single from their tenth album, but radio stations were ignoring this song in favor of "If You Leave Me Now", compelling Columbia to stop promoting this song and rush-release IYLMN instead. As a result, this song only got as high as #32. It was a good one, but I preferred the second single.
I'LL BE GOOD TO YOU - THE BROTHERS JOHNSON (28) - The first Top 40 hit for this soul duo from Los Angeles. This is my favorite song by them, which isn't saying much, as I disliked their three other hits. I preferred the cover by Quincy Jones featuring Chaka Khan and Ray Charles, which hit the charts in early 1990.
SOPHISTICATED LADY - NATALIE COLE (25) - Her first Top 40 hit made the Top Ten, then she had a pair of mid-charters. This was the second of them - not a bad song, but I preferred her 80s and 90s songs.

40: STREET SINGING - LADY FLASH (debut) - The 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.
39: SHE'S GONE - HALL & OATES (debut) - 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.
38: STILL THE ONE - ORLEANS (debut) - 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.
37: GETAWAY - EARTH, WIND & FIRE (debut) - Indeed, one of the biggest R&B acts of the 1970s! Though this wasn't quite as good as "That's The Way Of The World" and "September", it was still a good song nevertheless.
36: TEAR THE ROOF OFF THE SUCKER - PARLIAMENT (15) - Gerardo sampled this song - or was it a remake? I never really paid much attention to that song, so it was kind of hard to tell. As for this song, it pretty much blends in with all the faceless disco music during this era.
35: SHOWER THE PEOPLE - JAMES TAYLOR (39) - This is a song that has aged quite well - still sounds great 40 years later!
34: DEVIL WOMAN - CLIFF RICHARD (debut) - Casey mentioned that this as Cliff's first Top 40 hit in over a decade. It's a good one, but I generally preferred his 80s hits. first hit in well over a decade.
33: WHAM BAM (SHANG-A-LANG) - SILVER (37) - 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!
32: WITH YOUR LOVE - JEFFERSON STARSHIP (debut) - A high point in the show for JessieLou, especially since it was the highest debut. 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.
31: LET HER IN - JOHN TRAVOLTA (31) - He currently had a gig as Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back, Kotter, but he showed his second talent on this week's chart with his debut hit. It was a good one - hit the Top Ten a few weeks back.
30: WHO'D SHE COO - OHIO PLAYERS (33) - Meh, I think we all know why I don't care much for this song...
29: A LITTLE BIT MORE - DR. HOOK (35) - I don't like this song either, which is weird, as it used to be one of my favorite Dr. Hook songs. I guess that certain songs just lose their luster *Getting up and going to the kitchen to make breakfast*
28: SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL - ARETHA FRANKLIN (29) - The first version of this one that I heard was En Vogue's remake from the summer of 1992. That one would be more successful, hitting the Top Ten while this version would peak at #28 a few weeks later. This one wasn't bad, but sounds kind of dated - I preferred said remake.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: ROCK'N ME - Here's one I remember 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.
27: LOWDOWN - BOZ SCAGGS (36) - And look here - Steve Miller's former bandmate (in the Marksmen Combo). 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.
26: IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN - NEIL DIAMOND (11) - This song has sort of a theatrical sound to it, as if Jim Steinman had produced it. This song was OK, but there are many other songs from Diamond that I prefer.
25: SUMMER - WAR (30) - 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 two weeks prior, 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.
24: YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND - QUEEN (16) - You know what, I can’t believe this song didn’t hit the Top Ten - it sure got a lot of airplay. Although that depends on the radio stations in your area. I listened to WLS a lot and that song peaked at #4 on their station’s playlist. I still hear this on oldies station every now and then, which is good, because this is one of my favorites from Queen.
23: HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL - TAVARES (27) - While it's true that I'm no fan of R&B disco, I actually kind of liked this song.
22: YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE - CANDI STATON (23) - 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.
21: LAST CHILD - AEROSMITH (21) - Here's one I remember hearing from time to time back in the day. Good song, but I generally prefer their 80s and 90s hits
20: SAY YOU LOVE ME - FLEETWOOD MAC (24) - Their self-titled album had been out for over a year and would finally hit #1 on the album chart a few weeks later, 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".
19: GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE - BEATLES (7) - 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!
18: MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT - STARBUCK (3) - Wow, what a big drop! People sure got tired of this one fast, didn't they? Anyway this was the first of Starbuck's two Top 40 hit, and clearly the biggest of them. I preferred this one over "Everybody Be Dancin'", which charted the following year.
17: I'M EASY - KEITH CARRADINE (17) - Meh, sounds more like second-rate Jim Croce. I used to like this song, but not much anymore.
16: BABY I LOVE YOUR WAY - PETER FRAMPTON (18) - Frampton Comes Alive was having an on-again, off-again relationship with the #1 spot on the album chart. This was the second single from the album, which would go on to become the top album of the entire year. This song was pretty good, but I preferred the two other singles from what would become the top album of the year.
15: PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC - WILD CHERRY (22) - 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!
14: A FIFTH OF BEETHOVEN - WALTER MURPHY (20) - In the first few weeks this song was on the chart, it was taking baby steps, but it eventually began to pick up the pace, like this week, moving up six spots. The song, an interesting rendition of this well-known classical piece, would eventually go all the way to the top.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: MAGIC MAN - HEART - Another high point for JessieLou! This was their second Top 40 hit, and it made the Top Ten, unlike the first. 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).
13: AFTERNOON DELIGHT - STARLAND VOCAL BAND (10) - Ah, a song about engaging in a quickie with your significant other during your lunch break. This is another song I remember quite well (needless to say, I had no idea what it was really about, though, being only four years old and all).
12: THIS MASQUERADE - GEORGE BENSON (14) - 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.
11: GET CLOSER - SEALS AND CROFTS (13) - They appeared to be getting a second wind this week. They had hit the Top Ten several weeks prior, making a huge move to #6, held there another week, then fell back to #13. The week after this, it would re-enter the Top Ten, so I guess there were a few stations that were slow in adding this song (not sure what caused its odd chart movement a few weeks before, though). This song was OK, but Jim Seals sounded like he had a runny nose in this song.
10: TURN THE BEAT AROUND - VICKI SUE ROBINSON (12) - 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.
9: KISS AND SAY GOODBYE - MANHATTANS (8) - As we all know, I find this song depressing, especially the spoken part at the beginning. There were a few weeks that they skipped over that part, but. unfortunately, this wasn't one of those weeks. No - give me their other Top Ten hit "Shining Star" any day!
8: (SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY - K.C. AND THE SUNSHINE BAND
7: I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT - ENGLAND DAN AND JOHN FORD COLEY (19) - Wow, what a big move! Looked like this song might hit #1, but was shut out of the top by "Play That Funky Music", which was a shame, since this was a great song - my favorite of their six Top 40 hits. The following week, as "Get Closer" moved back into the Top Ten, it made for a rare occurrence with two brothers in the Top Ten simultaneously.
6: LOVE IS ALIVE - GARY WRIGHT (2) - 1976 was a great year for Mr. Wright, as he had two hits, both of which would peak at #2, and I remember both of them quite well - I even remember the first time I heard this song, I asked, "Is this Gary Wright?" And indeed it was - pretty good guess for a four-year old. Anyway, this was my favorite of Gary's two 1976 hits by a fair margin, as "Dream Weaver" is somewhat overplayed, yet this one doesn't get much in the way of recurrent airplay.
5: ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC - BEACH BOYS (6) - This song definitely showed that, even though the sixties was clearly their decade, they still had it in the 70s!
4: YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE - LOU RAWLS (9) - Casey mentioned that this song might go all the way. Unfortunately, the song would just miss hitting #1, which is a shame, since this was a great song! At least it did hit the Top Five and was Rawls' biggest hit ever.
3: LET 'EM IN - WINGS (4) - Possibly the only song I've ever heard that opens with a Westminster chime doorbell. As for the song, it is my favorite of Wings' two Top Five hits from 1976. I still preferred a few others from them.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW - CHICAGO - This is that song that caused the band to more or less steal their own thunder. I heard this song at least once a day back in the fall of 1976! But I don't think I ever got tired of it. Has a very haunting melody to it (so I guess it was fitting that it would hit #1 on Halloween weekend).
2: YOU SHOULD BE DANCIN' - BEE GEES (5) - They were in the midst their second wave of popularity at this point, as this song, like "Jive Talkin'" the year before, would end up hitting #1. It was so/so, but I preferred other hits from them, especially from Saturday Night Fever.
1: DON'T GO BREAKIN' MY HEART - ELTON JOHN AND KIKI DEE (1) - This great song, Elton & Kiki's first of two duets, wasted absolutely no time hitting the #1 spot, where it would hold for the entire month of August (it was even bigger on R&R, spending seven weeks on top, which was a record at the time). This song was all over the radio back in the summer of 1976, but I never got tired of it.

[Hervard]

American Top 40: The 80s - August 10, 2024

This week's presentation - August 8, 1981

Droppers:
A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE (JUST LIKE YOU DO) – RAY PARKER JR. & RAYDIO (29) - Their final Top Ten hit before Ray went solo the following year. A great song; the instrumental arrangement sounded a lot like that of their 1979 hit "You Can't Change That".
MODERN GIRL – SHEENA EASTON (26) - Like Pat Benatar, she had three Top 40 hits during 1981. This was the only one to miss the Top Ten, peaking at #18 for two weeks. This was my second favorite of those songs, behind the follow-up, "For Your Eyes Only". I especially loved the synth solo in the bridge.
MEDLEY – STARS ON 45 (25) - This song, of course, kicked off the medley craze that lasted for about a year (but became a little tedious near the end). I did like this one, though; a great selection of Beatles songs.
ALL THOSE YEARS AGO – GEORGE HARRISON (21) - As we know very well, this song was tribute to the late John Lennon. It was a great song - one that I have yet to grow tired of, although such was apparently not the case with the general Top 40 audience, as this song fell out just three weeks after it had been sitting in the runner-up position. Anyway, Harrison did great guitar work on this one!

LW#1: JESSIE’S GIRL – RICK SPRINGFIELD
40: THAT OLD SONG – RAY PARKER, JR. & RAYDIO (debut) - Their final hit before Parker went solo. This was a good song, but definitely not their best.
39: HOLD ON TIGHT - ELO (debut) - As we all know, I preferred their 70s hits. Their musical quality took a nosedive in the 80s, IMO.
38: STEP BY STEP – EDDIE RABBITT (debut) - 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.
37: EVERLASTING LOVE – REX SMITH AND RACHEL SWEET (debut) - One of five songs to chart in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and, to my best of knowledge, it was the only of them to go on to have a version hit the Top 40 in the 90s as well, when Gloria Estefan hit the Top 40 with her version. This one was a great cover - sounded a lot like Carl Carlton's version from seven years before.
36: YOU’RE MY GIRL – FRANKIE & THE KNOCKOUTS (40) - They had three Top 40 hits and, though this was my least favorite of them, I still thought it was a great one!
35: DON’T WANT TO WAIT ANYMORE – THE TUBES (37) - One of three songs by them that I know. Though I do prefer this one over "She's A Beauty" by a fair margin, it still doesn't measure up to "Talk To Ya Later", which I remember hearing on the AOR stations around the time this song charted.
34: LOVE ON A TWO WAY STREET – STACY LATTISAW (36) - 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.
33: ROCK ‘N ROLL DREAMS COME THROUGH – JIM STEINMAN (33) - I liked this song, as well as Meat Loaf's 1994 cover. But the song didn't seem as "theatrical" as most of Steinman's material (the fact that it wasn't a ballad might have had something to do with it).
32: DON’T GIVE IT UP – ROBBIE PATTON (34) - Of course, there were several Fleetwood Mac members backing him up on this song (in fact, Patton was apparently an unofficial member of Fleetwood Mac on their concert tour in 1979). As for this song, it was a great one and quite underrated - sounds a little like "Everlasting Love", back at #37.
ARCHIVE: KIND OF A DRAG – THE BUCKINGHAMS - One of those bands from the 1960s that hit #1 with their first song and then never again. They did have a total of five Top 40 hits. I thought this one was pretty good.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL - FOUR TOPS - In light of the passing of the Four Tops' last surviving member, Abdul Fakir, they replaced "Draw Of The Cards" by Kim Carnes with this song, which was the comeback hit for the band most famous for their classics from the 1960s. I thought that this song was among their best.
31: DOUBLE DUTCH BUS WRECK – FRANKIE SMITH (33) - One of the most annoying songs to ever hit the Top 40. That is all.
30: FEELS SO RIGHT - ALABAMA (35) - 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.
29: REALLY WANNA KNOW YOU – GARY WRIGHT (39) - 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).
28: GEMINI DREAM – THE MOODY BLUES (12) - They were more famous for their 60s and 70s hits, but I myself generally preferred their 80s hits, including this one, one of my favorites from them, although I preferred "The Voice", also from Long Distance Voyager, which Casey mentioned was the #1 album this week.
27: THE BREAKUP SONG – THE GREG KIHN BAND (27) - Here's one that I remember from back in the day! WLS played this one very regularly. I like it, but preferred their biggest hit ever, the top five hit "Jeopardy" from about a year and a half later.
LDD: YOU’RE A PART OF ME – KIM CARNES AND GENE COTTON - This song sounds a cross between two Paul Anka/Odia Coastes songs - "Having My Baby" and "One Man Woman". In fact, my live stream briefly cut out, during the LDD, and when it came back and I heard this song, I thought it was one of those songs that the two collaborated on back in the mid-70s. Given that, I think it should go without saying that I prefer other songs by both artists involved in this song.
26: FIRE AND ICE – PAT BENATAR (31) - Her second of three Top 40 hits in 1981. It was a good one, though I preferred "Treat Me Right".
25: STOP DRAGGIN’ MY HEART AROUND – STEVIE NICKS W/ TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (38) - This song was en route to a six-week peak at #3, which would be the longest stay at that position for twelve more years. It was a good song, but I preferred other songs by both artists.
24: DON’T LET HIM GO – REO SPEEDWAGON (24) - Of the four singles released from their Hi Infidelity album, this was my least favorite but it was still a great one! That whole album was really good - possibly their best ever!
23: COOL LOVE – PABLO CRUISE (28) - By the artist name, one might think this is a solo artist, but it was, in fact, a band. This is my favorite song from them - their only #1 on my Personal Top 30 chart.
22: WHO’S CRYING NOW – JOURNEY (30) - Oddly enough, though they had three #1 songs on the R&R chart, they had none on the Hot 100, showing that more people bought their albums than their singles, which, of course, is good news. This song was good; had a great Santana-like guitar solo at the end by Neil Schon.
ARCHIVE: RUBY TUESDAY – THE ROLLING STONES - I don't generally like their slow songs ("Angie" was a train wreck, IMO), but this one was OK (although it was quite off-key) "As Tears Go By" was a good one, though - possibly my favorite of their ballads.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: I COULD NEVER MISS YOU MORE THAN I DO - LULU - 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.
21: IN THE AIR TONIGHT – PHIL COLLINS (23) - The second hit from Collins' debut album. Like the first (which I preferred, BTW), the song peaked at #19, but is still heard regularly on oldies stations today. I like the song better than I used to but still, it's not one of my favorites from him.
20: URGENT - FOREIGNER (22) - Of course, we all know, this song peaked at #4 for four weeks, and it was the first single from the album "4". It is my second favorite from that album, behind "Break It Up".
19: SWEET BABY – STANLEY CLARK & GEORGE DUKE (19) - One of many many MOR ballads that there were on the charts in 1981, after disco had died and before the MTV era started. I actually liked that era, although I realize a lot of people here would beg to differ. As for the song, it was a great one IMO - nice and mellow.
18: THE STROKE – BILLY SQUIER (18) - His first of two Top 40 hits in 1981 - and I think we all know that it was by far my least favorite. "In The Dark", which would chart a few weeks later, was definitely my favorite of his 1981 hits, as well as one of my favorites of Squier.
17: IT’S NOW OR NEVER – JOHN SCHNEIDER (20) - 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.
16: TOUCH ME WHEN WE’RE DANCING – THE CARPENTERS (16) - Their comeback hit - although it would be a short-lived comeback, as it was their final Top 40 hit, but Karen Carpenter's health was beginning to deteriorate, due to her battle with anorexia. I thought this was a great song.
15: TIME – THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT (15) - The first song from Parsons to use Eric Woolfson on lead vocals (which proved to be a good tactic, as they had many of their biggest hits with him). This song used to make me cry, until a friend of mine made a funny parody.
14: LADY YOU BRING ME UP – THE COMMODORES (17) - One of three songs on this week's chart that Lionel Richie is involved with. Possibly my favorite of the three.
13: YOU MAKE MY DREAMS – DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (11) - They were definitely on a hot streak in the 80s. This song, however, was one of my least favorites from them. I preferred their two other 1981 hits.
12: BETTE DAVIS EYES – KIM CARNES (7) - This song didn't quite tie the rock era record for the most weeks at #1, but no matter; nine weeks was a long run on top and, although she was in a horse's race with "Endless Love" for top song of 1981, she ended up winning out. I was glad, since this was by far my favorite of the two.
ARCHIVE: LOVE IS HERE AND NOW YOU’RE GONE – THE SUPREMES - I had lain down to take a short snooze at this point (since I'm not used to getting up at 7:30 in the morning, due to my evening job), but I was at the point where I could hear the show as I was dreaming. I seem to recall this was a pretty good song.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: IN YOUR LETTER - REO SPEEDWAGON - The fourth and final single from the biggest album of 1981, Hi Infidelity. I like this song and the first two singles from the album about the same - all of them are great songs!
11: (THERE'S) NO GETTING’ OVER ME – RONNIE MILSAP (13) - This was definitely 1981, with many country crossovers on the chart. Oddly enough, this was his only Top Ten pop hit. It was a good one - the beginning of this song and that of his 1982 hit "Any Day Now" sound very similar.
10: THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE – AIR SUPPLY (2) - This is one of my favorite songs from them, since Russell Hitchcock sang both the choruses and the verses on this one. I generally don't like the ones that Graham Russell sings (though I do like "Lost In Love", on which Graham sings pretty much the whole thing. Except for the lead-ins to the chorus, Hitchcock doesn't start singing on that one until the last chorus. This was also Air Supply's only number one song on Billboard, and deservedly so!
9: QUEEN OF HEARTS – JUICE NEWTON (10) - Great driving music here! This was one of several songs that was shut out of #1 by "Endless Love". Although, as I've said many times, I preferred her 1982 songs, this is also a great one.
8: HEARTS – MARTY BALIN (9) - Wow, two songs about hearts back to back. He was the lead singer of the Jefferson Startship in the mid and late-70s, but I preferred this solo hit over all of his JS hits. One of my favorites on the chart this week. Glad they left the song intact (as it seems that they usually cut out the second verse).
7: BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY – MANHATTEN TRANSFER (8) - This was by far their biggest Pop hit. I liked it, but preferred a few others from them, including several songs that didn't quite hit the Top 40 (such as "Mystery" and "Choo Choo Ch-Boogie").
LDD: LONGER – DAN FOGELBERG - This song was very appropriate for this rather touching LDD!
6: SLOW HAND – THE POINTER SISTERS (7) - This was another one of the songs that would be edged out of #1 due to the marathon run at the top of "Endless Love". This song was, however, #1 on the R&R chart for two weeks as of this week, which was good, because this was definitely one of their best hits, IMO.
5: ELVIRA – THE OAK RIDGE GEEZERS (5) - EWWWWW, GET IT AWAY FROM ME!!
4: I DON’T NEED YOU – KENNY ROGERS (4) - Lionel does a hat trick on this week's chart, as being part of a group, a duo and, with this song, a producer, by a country singer that had a great year in 1981! Rogers had a handful of big hits, including the third biggest hit of the year (even though that was more of a 1980 hit, but due to their weird time frame, that song was deferred to 1981's year-ender). This was his other Top Ten song from the year. I guess you could call it a guilty pleasure, as many people I know hate this song, but I think it's a great one!
OPTIONAL EXTRA: THE VOICE - MOODY BLUES - As mentioned earlier, their Long Distance Voyager album was at #1 this week and this was the second song from it! As mentioned earlier, this was my favorite of the two hits, as well as one of my all-time faves from them!
3: THE THEME FROM “THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO” – JOEY SCARBURY (3) - This was one of my favorite songs on the chart. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard chart while Lionel and Diana had their endless run #1, but it did manage to sneak in a week at the top of the R&R chart.
2: ENDLESS LOVE - DIANA ROSS & LIONEL RICHIE (14) - Wow! With that huge jump into the runner-up spot, this one was definitely going to hit #1! Who knew that it would spend so long on top, though? 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.
1: JESSIE’S GIRL – RICK SPRINGFIELD (1) - If not for this song, the above song would likely have made one of the biggest jumps to #1 of all time - possibly the all-time leap to #1 in AT40 history. This song is possibly THE song from 1981 that receives the most recurrent airplay (but "Bette Davis Eyes" would be giving it a run for its money). I liked this song. It never made it to the top of the R&R chart and, oddly enough, it was already long gone from the chart, despite having a lot of steam left on the Billboard chart.

[Hervard]

American Top 40: The 80s - August 11, 2018

This week's presentation - August 15, 1987

Droppers:
FUNKYTOWN - PSEUDO-ECHO (38) - A one-hit wonder with a cover originally done by another one-hit wonder band. I preferred this pop/rock version over the dance/techno version by Lipps Inc.
HAPPY - SURFACE (35) - When I first heard the beginning of this song, I thought that maybe it was the long-awaited comeback hit for Michael Jackson (my dad knew someone who worked for CBS records, so I knew Michael would be releasing an album sometime that summer), but as I listened to it, I realized that, even though he did have a high voice, it didn't really sound like Jackson. Anyway, I like this song, but prefer their two 1991 hits.
DON'T DISTURB THIS GROOVE - THE SYSTEM (31) - This was their only big hit on the pop chart. It wasn't bad, but I preferred their next release "Nighttime Lover", which, sadly, wasn't released to pop radio (and if it was, it didn't go far).
POINT OF NO RETURN - EXPOSE (30) - Of their four hits to chart in 1987-88, this was my favorite of the bunch! In fact, it's one of my favorite songs from them of all time - even over many of their slower songs.
SOMETHING SO STRONG - CROWDED HOUSE (27) - One of several two-hit wonders that charted during 1987. I preferred this song, but "Don't Dream It's Over" was a close second. They almost had a third Top 40 hit the following year, "Better Be Home Soon", but that one petered out at #42. That was a good one as well.
HEARTS ON FIRE - BRYAN ADAMS (26) - Wow, this song dropped off the survey after moving up two spots the week before (though the song had lost its bullet). Anyway, this was not a cover of Randy Meisner's 1981 hit, but pretty much the same concept (as both songs, whose titles imply a plural of hearts, actually use the word in the lyrics with a contraction, meaning "heart is on fire"). Anyway, this was a great song - definitely underrated
GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS - MOTLEY CRUE (24) -I was never crazy about their music, but I did like their slow songs (such as "Without You" and "Home Sweet Home").

40: ONE HEARTBEAT – SMOKEY ROBINSON (debut) - His comeback was no fluke. He was on the chart just a few weeks ago with "Just To See Her" and the follow-up debuts on the chart this week, and, like that song, this song went Top Ten.
39: I NEED LOVE – L.L. COOL J. (debut) - This was possibly the first rap ballad ever to make the chart - certainly the first one that I ever heard. I thought it was a good one.
38: WHO FOUND WHO – JELLYBEAN FEATURING ELISA FIORILLO (debut) - The second of two hits with which John "Jellybean" Benitez had charted. This was my favorite of the two by a fair margin (as I wasn't a big fan of "Sidewalk Talk").
37: JAM TONIGHT – FREDDIE JACKSON (debut) - This week's #1 on the R&B chart, by a man who was definitely no stranger to that #1 position - in all, he'd scored with an impressive six number one Soul hits! Some of those crossed over to the Pop chart, like this one, which would peak at #32 two weeks later. It was a great song, IMO.
36: I HEARD A RUMOUR (FROM “DISORDERLIES”) - BANANARAMA (debut) - Of course, we all know that, of their three Top 40 hits, this one is my favorite. We heard my least favorite, "Venus" on the 1986 show two weeks ago, and will most likely hear their other song, "Cruel Summer" on a 1984 show later this year. This was also one of two songs on the chart from the movie Disorderlies.
35: LIES – JONATHAN BUTLER (debut) - Mainly a jazz artist, he managed to hit the Top 40 with this one hit, which was a great song - in fact, it was my #1 song of 1987, according to my Personal Top 30 charts. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the album version of the song, on which the second chorus is longer than on the single.
34: KISS HIM GOODBYE – THE NYLONS (18) - This song was a somewhat rare a cappella song (by late 80s standards anyway). But I liked it - about the same as the original, but in different ways, of course, as the music styles of both versions were very different.
33: MARY’S PRAYER – DANNY WILSON (36) - Wow, there were two acts on the 1978 show that could be mistaken for a solo act, and here's one on this week's 80s show! This was their only Top 40 hit and IMO, it was a great one. Too bad they cut out the second verse. I wonder if that was an original edit?
32: TOUCH OF GREY – GRATEFUL DEAD (debut) - This was their only Top 40 hit, but they were more of a album rock and concert band (although I don’t think that they usually performed this one at their shows). My brother was a Deadhead, so I've heard many songs from them, but this one remains my favorite. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but didn't they edit this one as well as the Danny Wilson song?
31: SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE – THE OUTFIELD (33) - Their third Top 40 hit and, of the five they had, their lowest peaking one (#31 was all the higher it got), which I thought was a shame, as this was one of their best IMO - my second favorite song of theirs behind "All The Love In The World", from the previous summer.
LDD: LEAN ON ME – CLUB NOUVEAU - I never used to like this song at all, and it's still not one of my favorites today, but its saving grace is that it wasn't a snoozefest like the original. The song, however, did fit the dedication quite well.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: DON'T LOOK DOWN (THE SEQUEL) - GO WEST - They didn't really hit the big time until the early 1990s, but they did have medium chart success in the 1980s. Their first single "We Close Your Eyes" just missed the Top 40 in 1985 and this song was sitting at its peak this week, which I thought was a shame, as it was definitely my favorite song from them. When I first heard Michael W Smith's song "Cross Of Gold" (on his Change Your World album), I noticed a slight similarity to this song.
30: WIPEOUT – FAT BOYS & THE BEACH BOYS (39) - We heard the Fat Boys’ awful remake of “The Twist” on last week's 1988 show and now we get their almost as bad cover of “Wipe Out” this week. I prefer the original by the Surfaris, thank you very much - slowing down the tempo just to add lyrics pretty much defeats the whole purpose.
29: I’D STILL SAY YES - KLYMAXX (22) - I believe they were more of an R&B act, but they did have three Top 40 hits. This was my favorite of the three (though "Man Size Love" was a close second, especially when I'm in the mood for something upbeat).
28: I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME) – WHITNEY HOUSTON (17) - Although by the time of the original airing of this show, I'd had it with this song, due to its overplay, I somehow came to like it shortly after its airplay waned and was glad it came out on top for the year on the R&R chart.
27: GIVE TO LIVE – SAMMY HAGAR (32) - He had taken over as lead singer of Van Halen the year before, but, as they were in between albums at the time, he put out an album (self-titled) that spawned one Top 40 hit. The song peaked at #23 on the Hot 100, but hit #1 on the album rock chart. Definitely one of his best solo hits ever, right up there with "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy".
26: HERE I GO AGAIN - WHITESNAKE (34) - The first of four Top 40 hits for this hard rock band from England, formed by David Coverdale, the former lead singer of Deep Purple. 1987 was definitely their year, as their two biggest hits charted and peaked within the year. I slightly preferred this song.
25: DIDN’T WE ALMOST HAVE IT ALL – WHITNEY HOUSTON (40) - Any other time, this huge, fifteen-spot jump would be the biggest mover of the week. But this actually is pretty far from it. This week’s biggest mover is later on, way up in the Top 20, by another one of the top acts of the 1980s. Anyway, this song might be also known as "All At Once, Part Two", as it sounds very much like that song, which was on Whitney's debut album and did receive a bit of radio airplay. This one received much, much, much more, as it flew straight to the top. It's a good song, but far from being her best.
24: WHEN SMOKEY SINGS - ABC (29) - I found it interesting that, every time a song about a music artist was on the countdown, a song by the same artist was on the countdown as well. A few weeks later, both songs would be in the Top Ten at the same time. As for the song, it was pretty good - I think that the song's resemblance to "Tears Of A Clown" was intentional, since the bass line was exactly the same (after all, it was a tribute to the artist of that song).
23: DOING IT ALL FOR MY BABY – HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS (28) - I remember hoping that this would be his next release as "I Know What I Like" was heading down the chart, and then playing this song all the time - so much that I got tired of it and got to hoping that Huey decided to release "Forest For The Trees". Well, what I forgot was that Huey always released the doo wop song that appeared on each of his albums. It's a good song, but definitely not one of my favorites from him.
22: LIVING IN A BOX – LIVING IN A BOX (25) - The seventh band to name themselves in one of their hits. It turned out to be their only Top 40 hit, however. This was one of at least three Top 40 hits in a twelve-year period that begin with the line "Woke up this morning..." (the others being by Peter Frampton and Bruce Springsteen). I always found that kind of interesting. As for the song, it was pretty good - reminds me of a guy from my home town who was famous for living in a cardboard box (known as "Bicycle Bob").
21: THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE – JANET JACKSON (15) - One of three Jacksons in the countdown this week, this was the sixth and last single from Janet's Contol album. The first five were all Top Five hits, but this one missed the Top Ten. Her first wave of popularity was over, but the best, of course, was yet to come - her next album would yield eight Top Ten radio hits. This song wasn't bad, but I can see why this one didn't do as well as the other Control singles.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: U GOT THE LOOK - PRINCE w/SHEENA EASTON - Even though Sheena didn't have official label credit, she certainly deserved it, as she was clearly heard singing back-up. I generally didn't like this type of upbeat R&B music, but there was just something about this song that I really liked.
20: CAN’T WE TRY – DAN HILL (DUET WITH VONDA SHEPARD) (23) - This was the song that finally relieved Hill of one-hit wonder status, as, up to now, he'd only had one Top 40 hit, "Sometimes When We Touch" back in early 1978. I had heard this song for the first time a month before, on an AC station, but when the DJ announced that it was by Dan Hill, I figured it was an older song. You can imagine my pleasant surprise when the song debuted on the Top 40 chart the following weekend! Like that first hit, this song made the Top Ten, which I'd hoped, as it was a great song IMO.
19: SEVEN WONDERS – FLEETWOOD MAC (20) - The second of five Tango In The Night singles, and my favorite of the bunch. I generally prefer the songs with Stevie Nicks singing lead.
18: WOT’S IT TO YA – ROBBIE NEVIL (10) - Ah, nothing like a loud kiss-off song! I like this and "Dominoes" about the same ("C'est La Vie" was pretty good, but it was quite overplayed).
17: ALONE – HEART (9) - This song had recently logged three weeks at #1. It was their second #1 (meaning that each of the Wilson sisters had a turn at handling the lead vocals on a number one song). This was my favorite of the two hits and I found it sick and wrong that this one lost to the aforementioned Bangles hit as 1987's #1 song. But such is life.
LDD: SUSPICIOUS MINDS (LIVE) – ELVIS PRESLEY - Interesting live version of this great song, played in memory of Elvis, who died exactly ten years before.
16: I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU – MICHAEL JACKSON w/SIEDAH GARRETT (37) - This is that biggest mover on the chart that I mentioned earlier. And, not only was it the longest jump of the week, but it was the biggest move within the Top 40 in nearly five years. And, get this - that song was by the same person (well, solo, anyway) - the first single from Thriller, "The Girl Is Mine". And now, lightning strikes twice, as the first single from the follow-up album Bad, which was poised for release on August 31, takes almost as big a leap (TGIM made a 22-spot move). I liked this song, though it sure got way overplayed.
15: LOVE POWER – DIONNE WARWICK & JEFFREY OSBORNE (21) - Today, this would be billed with Kenny G as a featured artist, since that's who was playing the sax in the bridge (with a broken thumb, no less), making an already great song even better!
14: IT’S NOT OVER (‘TIL IT’S OVER) - STARSHIP (19) - Their second-to-last chart hit (and their final Top Ten). It was a good one, but I preferred several others from them, in all three incarnations. Interesting story about various Yogi Berra quotes, the title of this song being the most famous.
13: BACK IN THE HIGH LIFE AGAIN – STEVE WINWOOD (16) - This, of course, is the title track from Winwood's most successful singles album. It's pretty good, but I preferred a few others from him. Today, the song would be billed as Steve Winwood featuring James Taylor.
12: SHAKEDOWN (FROM “BEVERLY HILLS COP II”) – BOB SEGER (3) - A line in "Like A Rock" might have served as an omen, as it had indeed been twenty years that Seger had been charting before he hit #1. This song was OK, but definitely not his best, IMO.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: CARRIE - EUROPE - They didn't have a very long chart career, but 1987 was definitely their heyday, with three Top 40 hits, and this one was their biggest. It was also my favorite song by them - a great power ballad!
11: ROCK STEADY – THE WHISPERS (14) - The biggest of their four Top 40 hits - as well as my favorite.
10: RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU – GLORIA ESTEFAN & MIAMI SOUND MACHINE (6) - This is one of those acts whose ballads I generally prefer over their upbeat songs (though "Bad Boys" and their next release after this, "Betcha Say That" were exceptions). This song was pretty good, but definitely far from being their best.
9: ONLY IN MY DREAMS – DEBBIE GIBSON (13) - The breakthrough hit for one of the biggest teen music stars from this era. It was a good song - my second favorite song from Out Of The Blue behind the #1 "Foolish Beat" (though I did rather like the title track as well).
8: CROSS MY BROKEN HEART (FROM BEVERLY HILLS COP II”) – THE JETS (8) - LOL, sounds like they're singing "That's just f---ing hogwash". As for my opinion of this song, well, it's mediocre at best. As we probably know all too well, I prefer their ballads over their upbeat dance numbers like this.
7: DON’T MEAN NOTHING – RICHARD MARX (12) - The first of many hits for this man from the Windy City. It was a good one, but definitely not my favorite from him.
6: HEART AND SOUL – T’PAU (4) - One of several one-hit wonders on this week's show. I never particularly cared for this song, however.
5: LA BAMBA – LOS LOBOS (11) - This was their first of at least three remakes of old Ritchie Valens songs (they did a version of "Donna", but I don't think it was ever released as a single). Anyway, this song was so/so, but way overplayed. I preferred their version of "Come On Let's Go" which we'll hopefully hear later on this year on the series.
4: LUKA – SUZANNE VEGA (5) - Does the opening notes of this song remind anyone else of the Jetsons' doorbell? Well, anyway, there are only two songs by Vega that I've heard, and this would be my favorite (I remember being sick of hearing the "do do dodo do dododo..." refrains of "Tom's Diner" everytime I turned on the radio in late 1990/early 1991). That song, by the way, was also on Solitude Standing album, only it was a cappella and the "do do do" part didn't come until the very end.
3: I WANT YOUR SEX (FROM BEVERLY HILLS COP II”) – GEORGE MICHAEL (2) - Don't care for this one at all! If not for the lyrical content, this one might have become one of the biggest hits of the year - possibly even THE biggest. I might dislike "Walk Like An Egyptian", but I'd rather listen to that one than this.
OPTIONAL EXTRA: WHO WILL YOU RUN TO - HEART - Even though they had gone the pop way, they revisited their classic rock side with this song, and it apparently worked, as the song went Top Ten. I liked it - one of my favorite of their upbeat songs.
2: WHO’S THAT GIRL - MADONNA (7) - On this week's 1981 show, Casey mentioned how Diana Ross had become the female artist with the most Top Ten hits. The song that did it for her was apparently the same one that also made her the female artist with the most solo number one hits. Well, at this point, she was in a tie with Madonna, with five each, but Madonna would pull into first place by herself the following week, and she wasn't done yet, thus putting her far out in front of Diana Ross, who was done hitting #1 at this point. As far as I know, Madonna might still be out in front, but I'm not sure, as I stopped believing in the Hot 100 soon after 1991. Anyway, this song was mediocre at best. One of my least favorite of her hits and possibly my least favorite of her #1s.
1: I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR – U2 (1) - This was the second of two #1 hits from The Joshua Tree, and my favorite of the two. This song has held up quite well despite overplay.

[mrjukebox]

Rory Dodd was the actual vocalist on "Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through" which is one of the selections on this week's A show presentation from 8/8/81-Dodd was the guy who sang "Turn around bright eyes" on Bonnie Tyler's 1983 mega-hit "Total Eclipse Of The Heart".

[chrislc]

>4: I DON’T NEED YOU – KENNY ROGERS (4) - Lionel does a hat trick on this week's chart, as being part of a group, a duo and, with this song, a producer, by a country singer that had a great year in 1981! Rogers had a handful of big hits, including the third biggest hit of the year (even though that was more of a 1980 hit, but due to their weird time frame, that song was deferred to 1981's year-ender). This was his other Top Ten song from the year. I guess you could call it a guilty pleasure, as many people I know hate this song, but I think it's a great one!<

I think it's Lionel Richie's best song, and he didn't sing it or even write it. But it just screams Lionel Richie. Great, great song.