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Post by mga707 on Mar 17, 2024 12:07:51 GMT -5
The saxophone solo on "Same Old Lang Syne" was performed by Michael Brecker. Michael and trumpet/flugelhorn-playing brother Randy were session musicians on a LOT of hit albums in the '70s/'80s, either solo or together as The Brecker Brothers.
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Post by mrjukebox on Mar 17, 2024 17:43:58 GMT -5
In 1986,Bobby Caldwell returned to the top forty as the writer of "The Next Time I Fall" which was a # 1 duet for Peter Cetera & Amy Grant. Sadly Bobby passed away on 3/15/23 from natural causes-He was 71.
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Post by Hervard on Mar 22, 2024 13:52:23 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 70s - March 23, 2024
This week's presentation - March 20, 1976
Droppers: 35: HOLD BACK THE NIGHT – THE TRAMMPS (35) - Even though they're most famous for "Disco Inferno" from two years later, this was their first hit. I preferred this one, though it wasn't anything exceptional. Sounds a little of "Build Me Up Buttercup" by the Foundations TAKE IT LIKE A MAN – BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE (33) - They were all over the charts in 1974, but began to fizzle out in 1975 and, at this point, they were pretty much yesterday's news, as this was their final Top 40 hit. I liked this song, but much preferred their next single, the mellow, bluesy "Lookin' Out For #1". Too bad that song petered out at #65. YOU SEXY THING – HOT CHOCOLATE (17) - I was never a big fan of this song, or them in general. I did like "Emma", from the previous year, though.
40: HE'S A FRIEND - EDDIE KENDRICKS (debut) - Formerly a member of the Temptations, he did have a few solo hits. This was the last time he'd see chart action until his collaboration with fellow Temptations member David Ruffin and Hall & Oates nearly ten years later. As for this song, it was a good one. 39: YOU'LL LOSE A GOOD THING - FREDDY FENDER (debut) - Well, I do admit this is better than his 1975 hits, but it's still not quite one of my personal faves on this week's chart (due to his grating voice). 38: LOOKING FOR SPACE - JOHN DENVER (debut) - I've been a huge John Denver fan pretty much all my life. Such a shame that we lost him at such a young age. This song was a great one - too bad it didn't get any higher than #29. 37: LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY - DONNA SUMMER (29) - 36: LOVE FIRE - JIGSAW (39) - Generally considered a one-hit wonder, this English pop quartet did actually have a second hit. This song sounded a little like "Sky High" which I preferred over this one. 35: BOOGIE FEVER - THE SYLVERS (40) - The first of three Top 40 hits from them. This was their biggest, hitting #1 in May. This was also my favorite from them. 34: INSEPARABLE - NATALIE COLE (34) - This song reminded me a little of her Dad's hit "Unforgettable" which, of course, Natalie herself did a version of, dubbing in her Dad's vocals. It was a really good song. 33: ONLY LOVE IS REAL - CAROLE KING (36) - Her fourth and final AC #1 hit only got as high as #28 on the Hot 100 as King was passé at that format at this point (she was done hitting the Top Ten). This was a good song - reminded me of "It's Too Late". 32: THE WHITE KNIGHT - CLEDUS MAGGARD (19) - Ugh! Nothing more than an annoying ripoff of "Convoy"! Thank goodness it wasn't anywhere near as big a hit - peaked at #19 the week before and was now falling fast! Anyway, next song, please... 31: THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH (ALL OVER THE WORLD) - THE CARPENTERS (38) - A great rendition of the Herman's Hermits classic that peaked at #4 in 1967. This version did pretty well too, getting as high as #12. Not sure which version I prefer - depends on my mood at the time. 30: LOVE IS THE DRUG - ROXY MUSIC (31) - The only Top 40 hit for this English art-rock band. They did have a song, "More Than This", that somewhat returned from obscurity when 10,000 Maniacs covered it in 1997. I preferred that one, though this one wasn't bad either. 29: 50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER - PAUL SIMON (11) - This was Simon's first #1 hit after parting ways with Art Garfunkel (who, sadly, never hit #1 on his own). I liked this song, but preferred his next hit, the title track from his album Still Crazy After All These Years. 28: GOOD HEARTED WOMAN - WAYLON & WILLIE (32) - A song that was originally done solo by Waylon, which peaked at #3 on the country charts in 1972. This live recording made the Pop chart, peaking at #25 a few weeks later. It was a pretty good song, but nothing special. 27: JUST YOU AND I - MELISSA MANCHESTER (30) - The beginning of this song reminds me of "I Write The Songs" by Barry Manilow (coincidentally, the latter replaced the former at #27 the previous week). I thought this was a great song - too bad it didn't get any higher than #27. OPTIONAL EXTRA: NEVER GONNA FALL IN LOVE AGAIN - ERIC CARMEN - Since his first solo hit was already on the chart, they went with his second one, which would chart later that summer. Of all of his Top 40 hits, this one was my favorite. 26: ACTION - SWEET (30) - This song was pretty good, but sounded kind of like a 90s alternative rock song - sounded out of place on a 1976 show. 25: SHOW ME THE WAY - PETER FRAMPTON (37) - The first of three singles from what would become the top album of the year, "Frampton Comes Alive". It was my favorite of the three, and a song I remember well from back in the day. 24: THEME FROM "S.W.A.T." - RHYTHM HERITAGE (7) - 1976 was definitely the year for TV show themes on the chart, and this was indeed one of the biggest, topping the chart three weeks before. A great song it was! EXTRA: DIAMOND GIRL – SEALS & CROFTS - This song, which was played as the second Optional Extra, was tied to a story about the duo donating their private plane to take over supplies (food, clothing, medicine, and blankets) to Guatemala, which had recently been struck by a huge earthquake (measured 7.5 on the Richter Scale). 23: TANGERINE - SALSOUL ORCHESTRA (26) - Typical Philly style disco music - I thought it was pretty good, like their other hit, "Nice 'N" Naasty", also from 1976. 22: CUPID - TONY ORLANDO & DAWN (24) - One of two Sam Cooke remakes on this week's chart, and one of three remakes of this particular song to hit the Top 40 - I don't believe I've ever heard the first one, which was by Johnny Nash. My favorite remake is by the Spinners, but this one isn't bad either. 21: SWEET LOVE - THE COMMODORES (23) - I used to think this one was mediocre, but I've actually found myself liking it better over the past few years - even more than some of their late-70s/early-80s songs. Still, it's definitely not my favorite song from them. 20: SLOW RIDE - FOGHAT (20) - As I've said many times before, this is a classic rock staple! I sort of remember this one from its chart run, though it wasn't really one of my favorites. 19: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - QUEEN (22) - SCHWING! This song had two chart runs - and it hit the Top Ten both times (on the R&R chart, anyway). But on both that chart and the Hot 100, it definitely hit the Top Ten the first time around and spent a long time in the Top 40! This is definitely one of my favorite songs by Queen. (BTW, I'm aware that it hit the Top 40 a third time, but that was way after I stopped believing in the Hot 100). 18: LOVE HURTS - NAZARETH (8) - The only Top 40 hit for this Scottish band formed in 1969. One of the best power ballads ever! 17: LET YOUR LOVE FLOW - THE BELLAMY BROTHERS (28) - The first of two Top 40 hits for this brotherly duo from Florida, and by far the biggest, as it would hit #1 in early May - indeed a great song and one I remember quite well. 16: DEEP PURPLE - DONNY & MARIE OSMOND (18) - The third version of this song to hit the chart and, like the other two, it hit the Top 20. Possibly my favorite Donny & Marie song ever! 15: ONLY SIXTEEN - DR. HOOK (21) - Here's the second Sam Cooke remake in this week's countdown. I don't remember how the original goes, but this was pretty good. Nowhere near as good as "Better Love Next Time", of course. 14: RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM - MAXINE NIGHTINGALE (25) - This song was looking like a number one song with its initial chart action, with such a high debut the week before, its large chart move this week, and making it to the Top Ten the following week. Well, the song did come close, peaking at #2 behind "Let Your Love Flow" and "Welcome Back". This was the first of Maxine's two Top 40 hits, both of which hit the Top Five. This one was pretty good, but I preferred her other hit "Lead Me On" by far. 13: GOLDEN YEARS - DAVID BOWIE (15) - This would be his final Top Ten hit for seven more years (then, he would become more successful than ever). I wasn't a big fan of this song, though it was passable. 12: FANNY (BE TENDER WITH MY LOVE) - THE BEE GEES (14) - This song and their hit from later that year, "Love So Right" sounded a lot alike. I preferred the latter, but this was a good one as well. 11: MONEY HONEY - THE BAY CITY ROLLERS (13) - Their second hit, and it would be another Top Ten, like their first hit, the #1 "Saturday Night". This song wasn't anything I'd go out of my way to listen to - the only songs by them that I like would be "I Only Want To Be With You" and "You Made Me Believe In Magic". 10: DISCO LADY - JOHNNY TAYLOR (12) - The week before, Casey correctly predicted this song going to #1. Not only that, but it was up there for four weeks - one of the longest running chart toppers of 1976. As big a hit as it was, this song just wasn't quite my cup of tea (it was quite repetitive). 9: JUNK FOOD JUNKIE - LARRY GROCE (10) - This song was recorded at McCabes Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, which accounts for the laughing and cheering audience heard many times throughout the song. Funny song, though I'm sure I'd get tired of it if I heard it all the time. 8: DREAM ON - AEROSMITH (16) - Wow, they mercilessly edited this song, going straight from the first chorus to the bridge - the only point in the song where they sing the title - and even that was cut down to about a third. This is definitely one of my favorite Aerosmith songs - I prefer to hear it intact. 7: SWEET THING - RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN (9) - Pretty much your typical mid-70s R&B slow jam - I liked this and Mary J Blige's 1992 cover about the same. 6: LOVE MACHINE PT. 1 - THE MIRACLES (3) - This song definitely got a lot of mileage on the chart. It was on for its 15th week and, with its slow descent, it looked like it might make to 20, but there was a strong barrage of new hits on their way up and it only managed sixteen weeks (which is still good). As for my opinion of the song, it was pretty good, but I preferred their songs with Smokey Robinson. 5: LONELY NIGHT (ANGEL FACE) - THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE (6) - Well, this wasn't as overplayed as "Love Will Keep Us Together" or barf-inducing like "Muskrat Love" from later on in the year, but it was still nothing exceptional. OPTIONAL EXTRA: STRANGE MAGIC - ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA - This was the third of a total of twenty hits for this English orchestral rock band. It was OK, but not one of my favorites from them, especially since I associate it with the royally depressing movie "The Virgin Suicides", (since it is played during the prom scene). 4: TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT - THE EAGLES (4) - The newest hit from their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 album. It was also my favorite from that album - a great song indeed! If my memory serves me correctly, I believe this is the only of the Eagles' Top 40 hits to feature Randy Meisner on lead vocals. 3: DREAM WEAVER - GARY WRIGHT (5) - Another one of my personal faves from back in the day. It has since lost some of its luster due to overplay, but it's still not bad. I do prefer his two other Top 40 hits, though 2: ALL BY MYSELF - ERIC CARMEN 1: DECEMBER 1963 (OH WHAT A NIGHT) - THE FOUR SEASONS (1) - They had several #1 songs in the sixties, and even managed one in the 1970s which, of course, was this one. It was a pretty good song, though quite overplayed.
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Post by Hervard on Mar 22, 2024 13:52:33 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - March 23, 2024
This week's presentation - March 19, 1983
Droppers: DON'T TELL ME YOU LOVE ME - NIGHT RANGER (40) - This was their first hit, and the music style was somewhat misleading, as they were more successful on the charts with power ballads than with hard rockers like this one. I remember hearing this one all the time on WLS back in early 1983, so I'm surprised that this one never got above #40 on AT40. Though it was my least favorite of their charting hits, it was a good one nevertheless. YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE - PHIL COLLINS (37) - The first of two Supremes covers that charted during the 1983 chart year. The other one was "Stop! In The Name Of Love" by the Hollies, from that summer (both, BTW, were among the Supremes five #1's in a row). I preferred the Hollies song, but this was a good one as well. I'M ALIVE - NEIL DIAMOND (35) - Oddly enough, this song spent all of its Top 40 weeks at #35 - four in all, this being the last. This song was pretty good - I remember hearing it from time to time back in early 1983 (mainly on AC station WTHQ). THE WOMAN IN ME - DONNA SUMMER (33) - A rare slow song from her (slow all the way through, that is - the songs of hers that start out slow and pick up the pace a few bars into the song don't count). It was a good song, as was Heart's remake of it about ten years later. They sounded very much alike, IIRC. GOODY TWO SHOWS - ADAM ANT (28) - One of several rockabilly songs not involving the Stray Cats that charted around this time period. I liked this song, but preferred his 1995 hit "Wonderful", which had sort of an early-80s sound to it, making me wonder how it would have done had it charted around now instead of "Goody Two Shoes".
LW#1: BILLIE JEAN – MICHAEL JACKSON 40: SO CLOSE – DIANA ROSS (debut) - It appeared that Ross was losing her touch, as this song didn't get any higher than #40. I was surprised that this wasn’t a remake of a song from the 50s or 60s (and if it was, it did not chart), because it sounds like something from that era. It was a good song IMO. 39: BURNING HEART - VANDENBERG (39) - Here's another song I remember hearing on WLS every now and again, though not as often as the Night Ranger song. Vandenberg was the first of two Dutch bands in the countdown. 38: WINDS OF CHANGE – JEFFERSON STARSHIP (debut) - The third song in a row that was in its peak position on the chart. It was a great song that has sadly faded into obscurity. 37: LITTLE RED CORVETTE - PRINCE (debut) - I never knew how dirty it was until about ten years ago, when I looked at the lyrics (since there are times that I couldn’t understand what he was saying). This was the first Top Ten hit from a singer who we lost eight years ago. R.I.P. Prince 36: SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE – THOMAS DOLBY (debut) - I'm so glad that AT40 generally played the album version of this song. The single version, which is pretty much the only version you hear on retro shows, was just too watered down, IMO. 35: ON THE LOOSE - SAGA (26) - One I remember quite well from early 1983 (since the stations I listened to back then played it regularly). It's a good song, but surprisingly, I'm a little tired of it, since it's on a mix tape that I used to listen to on a regular basis, but it's still a great song! 34: YOUR LOVE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY – SAMMY HAGAR (24) - According to my Personal Top 30 charts, this song was the #1 song of 1983, as well as one of the biggest hits of the 1980s. On the Hot 100, the song didn't quite make the Top Ten, but at least it gained enough points to register on the year-ender. This was yet another song that I heard all the time back in early 1983, since the radio stations I listened to played it often. 33: PASS THE DUTCHIE – MUSICAL YOUTH (23) - This song was OK, but nothing I'd want to hear on a regular basis. 32: LIES – THOMPSON TWINS (36) - The debut single of this English band who were actually a trio despite their name (which sometimes caused problems with booking shows). As for the song, it was good (I even used to own the 45), but my favorite song from them was "Hold Me Now", which was also their biggest. 31: MY KIND OF LADY - SUPERTRAMP (32) - The second of two Top 40 hits from their ...Famous Last Words album. This one has sort of a sixties sound, like the first hit from the album "It's Raining Again". In fact, it sounds a little like a slow version of that song, especially at the end, when it's nearly in the same key. It was a great song! OPTIONAL EXTRA: SOLITAIRE - LAURA BRANIGAN - The first of many big hits written by one of the most successful songwriters ever, the great Diane Warrren. This was my least favorite of Laura's first three hits, but it's still a good song! 30: DREAMIN’ IS EASY – STEEL BREEZE (30) - Their second hit didn't quite measure up to the success of the first. I liked both songs about the same - I felt this one was way underrated. 29: MAKE LOVE STAY – DAN FOGELBERG (34) - The second of two new tracks on his first Greatest Hits album, which had come out in October of the previous year. The first one, "Missing You" charted at the end of 1982 and now this one was on its way up, en route to a peak of #28. This song always reminded me of his 1981 Top Five hit "Hard To Say". It was a great song, IMO, like most of his songs. 28: CHANGE OF HEART – TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (38) - This song had one of the most erratic chart runs of all time - this week, it shot ahead to #28, stayed there for another week, then made another good-sized jump to #21, where it peaked. It was a great song, and I loved how the vinyl of the 45 of the song was red. 27: POISON ARROW – ABC (31) - The follow-up to their debut hit "The Look Of Love". I'm kind of surprised that this song only got as high as #25, as WLS and B96 (Chicago stations) played this song on a regular basis (yes, this was back in the day when radio stations played just about everything). 26: YOU AND I – EDDIE RABBIT/CRYSTAL GAYLE (22) - A one-time duet from two of my favorite pop/country artists, and a great one at that - one of my favorite from both of them. 25: LITTLE TOO LATE – PAT BENATAR (29) - A high point in the show for our friend JessieLou (along with #38)! This was a good song, but I preferred several others from her (especially her last song before this, "Shadows Of The Night"). 24: BEAT IT – MICHAEL JACKSON (debut) - One of several rock-based Michael Jackson songs to hit the charts. Eddie Van Halens's guitar solo in this one was outstanding! LDD: YOU DECORATED MY LIFE – KENNY ROGERS - I liked most of Rogers' Top 40 hits, but this wasn't one my favorites by any means. Don't get me wrong; it is indeed tolerable, but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. 23: ALLENTOWN – BILLY JOEL (17) - Excluding all Hot 100 chart data past 11/30/91, I believe this could hold the record for the longest peak at #17. It was in its sixth and final week there - and here's a good one - it didn't plummet straight off the chart the week after its last week at its peak (as evidenced here). Anyway, this was one of his best (and unfortunately, the message in this song is still timely today). 22: DOWN UNDER – MEN AT WORK (15) - This one, along with "Who Can It Be Now", was, and still is, quite overplayed. Too bad the Cargo singles don't get much in the way of airplay anymore - they are far superior to the ones from Business As Usual, IMO. 21: BABY, COME TO ME – PATTI AUSTIN (9) - This was their first of two duets that made the chart - the second was "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" would peak at #45 later in the year, but would do much better at AC radio. This song was a good one, but I preferred said other duet as well as some of their solo hits. OPTIONAL EXTRA: SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO - THE CLASH - This song did not hit the Top 40, but, due to its use in many TV commercials, it has received a significant amount of recurrent airplay on 80s stations. The song was sampled ten years later in the song "The Globe" by Big Audio Dynamite, a band that Clash guitarist Mick Jones formed in 1984 after being 86'ed by the band the year before. This song was OK, but I preferred their two songs that did make the Top 40. 20: DER KOMMISSAR – AFTER THE FIRE (25) - The first hit from this band from London - as well as their last. This one was an 80s mix show essential! 19: I’VE GOT A ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HEART – ERIC CLAPTON (21) - I wasn't generally a huge fan of his music, but this one was actually a good one, IMO. But that line about getting off on '57 Chevies and screaming guitars can be taken wrong nowadays... 18: BREAKING US IN TWO – JOE JACKSON (19) - The verses of this song sound a little like "Day After Day" by Badfinger. This was a cool song, possibly my favorite by him (although it’s a close race between this and “Is She Really Goin’ Out With Him”). I was pleasantly surprised that they did not edit this song (as they usually do around the halfway point of the song). 17: FALL IN LOVE WITH ME – EARTH, WIND & FIRE (18) - I don't remember this song from back in the day, as I don't believe that the stations I listened to back then ever played this. It wasn't bad, but definitely not their best. 16: JEOPARDY – GREG KIHN BAND (27) - This song saved them from being one-hit wonders, and also gave them their first Top Ten hit. A great song that always takes me back to the spring of 1983. 15: I KNOW THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON - FRIDA (15) - One of two former members of Abba that hit the chart in 1983 (the other was Agnetha Faltskog, whose "Can't Shake Loose" charted in the fall). Phil Collins' trademark drumming was featured in this song (and you can hear him on backup vocals). This song was pretty good, but I generally preferred her material with Abba. 14: COME ON EILEEN – DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS - Meh, I'm still burned out on this song. But I did used to like it - I even bought the single when the song was on its way up the charts. 13: TWILIGHT ZONE – GOLDEN EARRING (14) - Another great song that the two Chicago stations I listened to back in 1983 played quite a lot. That said, it's a shock that this song came nowhere near the R&R chart. Then again, not all stations were playing it at the same time (this was actually around the time that WLS added it). Here on AT40, the song peaked at #10. 12: ALL RIGHT – CHRISTOPHER CROSS (12) - This song had a promising start, debuting on the entire Hot 100 at #29. Sounds like a sure-fire Top Five hit, yet it didn’t even hit the Top Ten, though it did hit #3 on the R&R chart - I guess, since it was from a long-awaited album, people bought it instead of the single (combined with Billboard's oddball figuring system). Anyway, like most of Cross' Top 40 hits, this song was a great one, IMO. 11: STRAY CAT STRUT – STRAY CATS (3) - This was their second Top Ten hit (following "Rock This Town", which had recently peaked at #9), and, of course, this one did significantly better. This song was my second favorite from them, behind "I Won't Stand In Your Way", which charted at the end of that year. 10: MR. ROBOTO - STYX (13) - I'M KILROY!! This was somewhat of a comeback hit for Styx, as they had been absent from the chart for about two years. I was never a huge fan of this song, though - one of my least favorites from them. OPTIONAL EXTRA: 9: ONE ON ONE – DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (11) - This song came very close to topping the R&R chart, but was edged out by “Billie Jean”. I’m kinda surprised it only got as high as #7 on Billboard. Anyway, of the H20 singles, this was my favorite. 8: SEPARATE WAYS – JOURNEY (10) - This song was on its way to #1 on the R&R chart, where it would spend a pair of weeks. On the Hot 100, however, it would peak here at #8 - for six weeks. Aside from Billboard's oddball bullet policy, the fact that Frontiers sold millions of copies contributed to its peak difference (as most Journey fans bought the album). This was my favorite release from their Frontiers album, but there were many other songs from them that I preferred. LDD: ANNIE’S SONG – JOHN DENVER - I heard this many a time when I was younger (and I believe it was also my aunt & uncle's wedding song back in June, 1979). While it's true that I like most of John Denver's songs, this isn't one of them, since it's so maudlin sounding (though it did make for a funny scene in the 1997 film My Best Friend's Wedding). 7: WE’VE GOT TONIGHT – KENNY ROGERS AND SHEENA EASTON (8) - Well, I must say that I do prefer this one over the original by Bob Seger, but it is definitely not my favorite song by either artist. 6: YOU ARE – LIONEL RICHIE (7) - This one definitely takes me back to early spring, 1983 - namely, since it receives absolutely no recurrent airplay. Yet "All Night Long" is played regularly - where is the justice I tell ya! But seriously, I liked this song a lot. Glad that it got in a week at #1 on the R&R chart - this very week, in fact! 5: BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG – THE PRETENDERS (6) - This was their second Top 40 hit and their first Top Ten. Possibly my favorite song from them (though "Brass In Pocket" might give this a run for its money). 4: HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF – DURAN DURAN (5) - This, of course, was the breakthrough hit here in the States from one of the most successful bands of the 1980s! It was also my favorite of their 1983 hits, as well as one of my all-time favorites from them! 3: DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME – CULTURE CLUB (4) - I prefer the shorter version of this song without the whiny intro and the annoying bridge. Unfortunately, they played the longer one this week. Oh well... 2: SHAME ON THE MOON – BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND (2) - This song, penned by country singer Rodney Crowell, peaked at #2 for four weeks here on AT40, but managed a week at #1 on the R&R chart - in fact, its #1 week happened to be on the first weekly countdown show I ever listened to ("Countdown America" with John Leader). It's a good song - sounds sort of like a laid-back version of his 1980 hit "Fire Lake". 1: BILLIE JEAN – MICHAEL JACKSON (1) - The second of seven singles from the monster album Thriller, and it turned out to be the biggest, spending seven weeks at the top. It was a good song - has held up quite well over the years.
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Post by mrjukebox on Mar 23, 2024 18:35:50 GMT -5
I recently saw an interview with Pat Boone on You Tube-He & Crystal Gayle teamed up to record a new version of "You & I"-It was just as good as the original.
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Post by mrjukebox on Mar 24, 2024 17:32:52 GMT -5
"Back On The Chain Gang" was featured on the soundtrack of the Robert De Niro-Jerry Lewis movie "The King Of Comedy".
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Post by mrjukebox on Mar 24, 2024 18:06:10 GMT -5
"Der Kommisar" was first an overseas hit for Austrian artist Falco who topped the U.S. pop chart three years later with "Rock Me Amadeus".
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Post by Hervard on Mar 30, 2024 7:05:02 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 70s - March 30, 2024
This week's presentation - March 26, 1977
DROPPERS: SPRING RAIN - SILVETTI (39) - Their only song, which many thought was going to be a one-week wonder, as it dropped out this week. The song, however, would return for an encore the following week, when it spent a pair of weeks in the anchor position of the chart. As for the song, it was pretty much your typical disco instrumental of its time. ENJOY YOURSELF - JACKSONS (36) - I wasn't a big fan of them by this point. They were much better in the early 70s, when they were known as the Jackson 5. WEEKEND IN NEW ENGLAND - BARRY MANILOW (31) - I recently discovered how similar this and his 1982 hit "Somewhere Down The Road" sound. As we all know, I liked most of Barry's slow songs, those two included. NEW KID IN TOWN - EAGLES (27) - Wow, people were sure getting tired of this song quickly, as it was #1 four short weeks ago and this week, falls out of the Top 40. Glad that it hit #1, though, since this was one of their all-time best hits, IMO.
40: NEW YORK YOU GOT ME DANCING - ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION (debut) - This was her/their second Top 40 hit, but it didn't quite measure up to the success of their first one, "More, More, More" from the previous year. 39: LOVE IN C MINOR - CERRONE (debut) - One of many disco one-hit wonders that charted in the 70s. It was a pretty good song. 38: SOMETHING ABOUT YOU - LATIMORE (debut) - Another R&B disco artist, only he had two hits, the first one being "Let's Straighten It Out" in 1974. This one had a nice melody. 37: COULDN'T GET IT RIGHT - CLIMAX BLUES BAND (debut) - Another act that had two Top 40 hits, like the Andrea True Connection and Latimore. The only difference is, both were big hits that lasted quite awhile on the charts. This was a good song, but I preferred "I Love You", which charted four years later - and we just might hear on a future 1981 show. 36: I WANNA GET NEXT TO YOU - ROSE ROYCE (40) - Their follow-up to the song that they're most famous for, the theme from the 1976 film Car Wash, which dropped out last week as this one replaced it. The song wasn't bad, but somewhat of a sleeper. 35: WHEN I NEED YOU - LEO SAYER (debut) - Another instance of following up an upbeat dance number with a ballad. Like Leo's last song, this would go all the way to #1. It was an even bigger hit on R&R, spending five weeks on top! I liked it, but preferred his other two Top 20 hits from 1977. 34: ALL STRUNG OUT ON YOU - JOHN TRAVOLTA (38) - The first line in this song reminds me of a song from the sixties or early-70s - I believe the line I'm thinking of goes "I just can't get her out of my mind", but I can't quite place it. Anyway, this song was OK, but a little too whiny for my taste. EDIT: The song in question is "I Think I'm Going Out Of My Head" by Little Anthony & The Imperials. 33: AT MIDNIGHT (MY LOVE WILL LIFT YOU UP) - RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN (35) - I'm not generally a big fan of them, but this one was actually pretty good. 32: LIDO SHUFFLE - BOZ SCAGGS (37) - Here's one I remember jamming to back in the day! Definitely one of my favorites from him! 31: YEAR OF THE CAT - AL STEWART (26) - The first of a handful of songs he had on the chart. I liked all of them, this one included. 30: DISCO LUCY - WILTON PLACE STREET BAND (34) - Interesting disco interpretation of the theme from a TV show that almost everyone knows. Is it me, or was this one mercilessly butchered? 29: BLINDED BY THE NIGHT - MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND (18) - Definitely one of the biggest Springsteen-penned hits ever! This one has held up quite well despite overplay. They generally edited this one (even more than the single version), but they left it intact this week. 28: FREE - DENIECE WILLIAMS (30) - This one was a good one. I preferred her Footloose hit, but this one is better than her snoozefest from 1982. OPTIONAL EXTRA: CALLING DR. LOVE - KISS - 1976 - 1977 was definitely their heyday, since that was when they had the most hits. This song wasn't bad, but I preferred their two Top Ten hits. BTW, I never knew that "Peg Bundy" sang back-up on this song. 27: THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST - ROD STEWART (29) - Originally done by Cat Stevens, this one was covered several times, the most successful one being Sheryl Crow's version, which was the biggest AC hit of 2004. I prefer that version over this one and the original (most likely since I've heard it much more than the others). 26: GLORIA - ENCHANTMENT (32) - This was your typical mid-70s slow jam. It wasn't bad, but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. 25: DO YA - ELO (28) - 1977 was definitely a great year for them, as they had four chart hits over the course of the year. This song was OK, but it was one of my least favorite songs from them. I didn't mind much that it wasn't included on their Greatest Hits album that I have. 24: TRYING TO LOVE TWO - WILLIAM BELL (33) - One of at least three songs about infidelity that charted during 1977. One of the others is coming up in the Top Ten. I preferred this one - the other one is somewhat of a cure for insomnia. 23: HERE COMES THOSE TEARS AGAIN - JACKSON BROWNE (23) - I was pleasantly surprised that they left this song intact this week (as it seems that they usually edit it). A great song, featuring Bonnie Raitt on backup vocals - very possibly my favorite song from him! 22: SAM - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (24) - This song is sort of a variable for me, since it has ranged from one extreme to the other, although for the past few years, it's been sort of in the middle. Either way, it wasn't her best hit by any means. 21: RIGHT TIME OF THE NIGHT - JENNIFER WARNES (25) - This song was written by Peter McCann, who himself would chart later on that year with "Do You Wanna Make Love". This was my favorite of the two hits, as well as one of my faves from Jennifer Warnes. 20: BOOGIE CHILD - BEE GEES (12) - They didn't quite make the Top Ten with this one, but little did we know how big they'd become at the end of the year, as well as through 1978 and the first half of 1979, with six consecutive #1 hits. I preferred those over this song - one that just wasn't my cup of tea. 19: CRACKERBOX PALACE - GEORGE HARRISON (20) - Even though I remember this song from its chart run, I associate this song with my college years, since I had the song on one of my favorite mix tapes that I compiled early in the school year, and listened to all the time. Definitely one of Harrison's best solo hits! Despite the fact that this was moving up this week, it fell clean out of the Top 40 the following week. Interestingly, it was replaced at #19 by a song that kicks off with a similar-sounding guitar riff (that would be the Jennifer Warnes song back at #21). When I heard the April 2 show a few years back, I had false hope that the song held on for another week, LOL! 18: GO YOUR OWN WAY - FLEETWOOD MAC (10) - Interesting that their album "Rumors" took a year less to hit #1 than their self-titled album. This was the first of four Top Ten hits from "Rumors", and is my second favorite of those, behind "You Make Lovin' Fun". 17: HOTEL CALIFORNIA - EAGLES (19) - After making a huge, sixteen-spot jump the week before, it makes a more modest, two-spot move this week. This, of course, was the title track from one of their biggest albums ever and one of my favorites from them. A true classic which has aged quite well! 16: SOUTHERN NIGHTS - GLEN CAMPBELL (21) - Campbell had many Top 40 hits, and two of those went all the way to #1, including this one. I like it, but preferred his other #1 hit, "Rhinestone Cowboy" from two years before. 15: SAY YOU'LL STAY UNTIL TOMORROW - TOM JONES (17) - This was Jones' first hit since the summer of 1971 (and his last until he was the featured artist in the Art Of Noise's remake of "Kiss" by Prince). It was a pretty good song - reminds me a little of "You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry", a song that's been covered by many artists - the one I remember most was the Tennessee Ernie Ford version, which was on the flipside of "Sixteen Tons". OPTIONAL EXTRA: LUCILLE - KENNY ROGERS - This song was pretty good, but I prefer many others from him. 14: SO INTO YOU - ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION (16) - They had a handful of Top 40 hits and I thought most of them were great, like this one! 13: CARRY ON WAYWARD SON - KANSAS (15) - The first of seven Top 40 hits from this band from Topeka. This one didn't quite make the Top Ten, though it may as well have, with all the airplay it got back in the day. Anyway, this was one of my favorites from them. 12: I'VE GOT LOVE ON MY MIND - NATALIE COLE (14) - Casey mentioned the possibility of this song hitting #1. That didn't happen, of course, but nevertheless, this was her biggest hit ever, peaking at #5 and spending 14 weeks on the chart. It was indeed a good one, though I preferred several others from her. 11: MAYBE I'M AMAZED - WINGS (13) - Another song that was mercilessly butchered, like the Kansas song was, I think. Not sure how long the playing time was, but I don't think it was even two minutes. As I recall, it was edited like that more often than not. Such a shame, too, as it was a great song - the live version was much better than the studio version from the early-70s, IMO. 10: TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS - MARY MacGREGOR (7) - The other song about infidelity on this week's chart. This one resembles a confession on the Jerry Springer show, especially the first verse (you know, how the Jerry Springer guests butter up their lover before spilling the beans)? I was never a fan of this song, which is definitely a cure for insomnia. 9: I LIKE DREAMIN' - KENNY NOLAN (6) - After years of writing big hits for other artists, Kenny wrote one for himself, and it proved to be worthwhile, as the song climbed all the way to #3. This song reminds me a little of "My Eyes Adored You", which would be no coincidence, as Nolan wrote that one as well. This is a good song - that is, when it doesn't stick in my mind all day, like it has done several times before. 8: THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE - 10CC (11) - This song sounds like something Queen might have done, doesn't it? Of their two Top Ten his, this would be my favorite - a song I remember quite well from back in the day. 7: NIGHT MOVES - BOB SEGER (4) - The title track from one of Seger's best albums ever! I preferred the next single from that album, "Mainstreet". 6: FLY LIKE AN EAGLE - STEVE MILLER BAND (2) - The third Top 40 single from the album of the same name. It would also be the last, as Miller would release Book Of Dreams soon after this song ended its chart run. This is one of my favorite Steve Miller songs ever! 5: DON'T LEAVE THIS WAY - THELMA HOUSTON (9) - No relation to Whitney, to my best of knowledge. This was her only big hit, but it was definitely a long-standing one. I liked it, but I preferred the underrated cover by the Communards from ten years later. Glad that they had the song on the jukebox at the local arcade. I played it practically everytime I went there. 4: DON'T GIVE UP ON US - DAVID SOUL (8) - The only Top 40 single for Hutch. It's a pretty cheesy song, but not bad. OPTIONAL EXTRA: FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME - FOREIGNER - The first of many hits for this legendary band, and a great one at that - both the song and the band! 3: DANCING QUEEN - ABBA (5) - It's a rather rare occasion when my favorite song by a certain act ends up being their biggest hit ever, but this is definitely an example. This song was a mere two weeks away from topping the chart! Glad it made it, since it's definitely one of my favorite songs from Abba! 2: EVERGREEN - BARBRA STREISAND (1) - This song was vacating the top spot after a three-week stay up there. The song is a guilty pleasure of mine, since many people I know hate this song. Not me! 1: RICH GIRL - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (3) - Good; they didn't edit out the lines that contained the B-word. The song's short enough as it is, and IMO, it's only a bad word when you're calling someone a name or yelling "son of a b----" when you're mad. The context they use it in means a tough situation. But that is only my opinion and nothing more. As for my opinion on the song, I like it - glad it made it to the top.
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Post by Hervard on Mar 30, 2024 7:05:49 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - March 30, 2024
This week's presentation - March 31, 1984
Droppers: DON'T LET GO - WANG CHUNG (38) - This one was quite underrated. Pretty much all we hear from them today is “Dance Hall Days” and “Everybody Have Fun Tonight”. Too bad, as this was a great song IMO! LET THE MUSIC PLAY - SHANNON (32) - No tremendous loss, as this was one of those songs I could take or leave. LIVIN' IN DESPERATE TIMES - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (31) - Her second of two Top 40 hits from her Two Of A Kind movie. Too bad this one didn't do as well as the first one, "Twist Of Fate", since it was my favorite of the two, as well as one of my favorite ONJ songs of all time! KARMA CHAMELEON - THE CULTURE CLUB (24) - No big loss, as I'm not a fan of this song at all. WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER - THE POLICE (23) - Of the four singles from Synchronicity, this just might be my favorite, but I still prefer others from both the band and Sting solo.
LW#1: JUMP - VAN HALEN 40: ONE IN A MILLION - THE ROMANTICS (debut) - We just heard their first chart hit, "What I Like About You" and now we hear what would turn out to be, well, their last song to hit the top half of the chart.. The one in between, of course, was their biggest hit, "Talking In Your Sleep". Of the three songs, this would probably be my favorite, since it has pretty much fallen into obscurity. 39: TO ALL THE GIRLS I'VE LOVED BEFORE - JULIO IGLESIAS AND WILLIE NELSON (debut) - A true guilty pleasure, as many people I know hate this song, due to the cheese factor, as well as the fact that Julio wasn't very good at singing English. 38: A FINE FINE DAY - TONY CAREY (debut) - The first of two songs that this man charted with in 1984. It was a great song - one of my favorite songs of 1984 (and possibly my favorite song on the chart this week). 37: THE KID'S AMERICAN - MATTHEW WILDER (40) - Many people consider him a one-hit wonder, since the only song they know from him was his first hit, "Break My Stride", but he did indeed have a follow-up, though it wasn't anywhere near as big. This song was OK, but I preferred said first hit. 36: HEAD OVER HEELS - THE GO-GO'S (debut) - With the exception of the annoying "We Got The Beat", I like all of their songs about the same. They're all good ones! 35: THE AUTHORITY SONG - JOHN COUGAR MELLANCAMP (debut) - John's version of "I Fought The Law (And The Law Won)". A great, fun song indeed! Anyone ever notice that the beginning of this song is similar to "Footloose"? A coincidence, I'm sure, as this song was recorded before that one. 34: RED RED WINE - UB40 (36) - A cover of Neil Diamond's mid-chart hit from 1968. I wasn’t too crazy about this song, especially after it was re-released in 1988 and way overplayed. But at least this one didn’t have the annoying “Red red wine you make me feel so fine...” bridge. 33: NOBODY TOLD ME - JOHN LENNON (19) - This was Lennon's third posthumous hit (and the fourth to peak after his death). I definitely prefer the Double Fantasy singles; this one was nothing exceptional, IMO. 32: LEAVE IT - YES (37) - Mainly an album rock group, they did have a handful of Top 40 hits. I preferred this over "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" (since the latter was quite overplayed). 31: LET'S STAY TOGETHER - TINA TURNER (26) - Definitely one of the most successful comebacks of the 1980s, although this one, a remake of the biggest #1 R&B hit of the 1970s, was one of her lower charting hits. Her next hit, of course, would go all the way to the top. I liked this song, though it wasn't one of her best, IMO. OPTIONAL EXTRA: SHOW ME - THE PRETENDERS - As far as I know, this could be the only extra that was replaced twice. First, it was "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler, then last time, they changed the extra to "It's My Life" by Talk Talk, as a tribute to the lead singer Mark Hollis, who had passed away several weeks before. Now, they went with the Pretenders' follow-up to "Middle Of The Road". I liked this song, though I prefer a few others from them (such as "Brass In Pocket" and "Back On The Chain Gang". 30: TONIGHT - KOOL & THE GANG (34) - The hot band with the Kool name, as Casey sometimes referred to them. And hot they were indeed; they were the most successful R&B act on the Pop chart so far in the 1980s! This song was pretty good, but I preferred other hits from them, such as "Joanna" and their best one ever, "Too Hot". 29: DON'T ANSWER ME - THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT (35) - They definitely seemed to have the most chart success with Eric Woolfson on lead vocals. I liked this song, but I preferred a few of their other hits. 28: YOU MIGHT THINK - THE CARS (39) - The first of five Top 40 hits from their then-brand-new album Heartbeat City. This song was good, but not really one of my favorites from them. LDD: YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND - CAROLE KING - Definitely fitting for the LDD, since the author and her mother were best friends. 27: NEW SONG - HOWARD JONES (28) - The first of nine Top 40 hits for this man from Southampton, England. It was a good song - one of my favorites by him, but not quite as good as "No One Is To Blame". 26: LOVE SOMEBODY- RICK SPRINGFIELD (33) - The first and most successful of his three Top 40 hits from the movie Hard To Hold, and it was hard to believe that this would be his last Top Ten hit. As for the song, it was a great one, like many of his hits. 25: THEY DON'T KNOW - TRACEY ULLMAN (30) - One of few artists whose name begins with the letter U to chart - in fact, several weeks later, Casey mentioned how she was the first artist with that letter to hit the Top Ten. She has since been joined by UB40, USA For Africa, and U2, among others. Anyway, I liked this song, which was her only Top 40 hit. 24: COME BACK AND STAY - PAUL YOUNG (27) - This English singer's first hit here in the States. The song was pretty good, but I preferred most of his later hits. 23: RUNNER - MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND (22) - The comeback hit for this English band that had not hit the charts in seven years, when they hit the Top 40 for a single week with "Spirit In The Night". This was a great song - one of my favorites from them. 22: GIVE IT UP - KC (21) - His first (and only) hit without the Sunshine Band (well, unless you count his duet with Teri DeSario from 1980). It was a good song and, with all the airplay it received on the stations I listened to, it's a surprise it did not climb any higher than #18 on the chart. 21: GIRLS - DWIGHT TWILLEY (29) - I liked this song, though it wasn't quite as good as the solo hit from his former bandmate Phil Seymour from three years before. OPTIONAL EXTRA: WOULDN'T IT BE GOOD - NIK KERSHAW - This was certainly a curveball extra, as the song never hit the Top 40 and it doesn't get any recurrent airplay - at least not on the stations that I listen to. It was a really good song - too bad it missed the Top 40. 20: BACK WHERE YOU BELONG - .38 SPECIAL (20) - Is it me, or was this song back-to-back on the chart with "Runner" more often than not? They seemed to chart together on R&R, which is why I closely associate these two songs - when I hear one, I automatically think of the other. Well, anyway, we all know what my three favorite songs by them are, but this song would possibly be my fourth favorite, as it was a great one as well! This one sounds a cross between "If I'd Been The One" and "Like No Other Night". 19: RADIO GA-GA - QUEEN (25) - This song title pretty much sums up my opinion of the song itself. 18: NEW MOON ON MONDAY - DURAN DURAN (16) - This was far and away my favorite of their 1984 hits. I certainly didn't like the way they butchered this song. Too bad they didn't do that to the Queen song instead. 17: THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE - DAN FOGELBERG (13) - Fogelberg's songs were generally tender love ballads by this point but this song, though about love, rocked out a little. It was a great song - one of my favorites from him. 16: GOT A HOLD ON ME - CHRISTINE McVIE (10) - Her first solo hit ever, and it was a good one - sounded a lot like her hits with Fleetwood Mac on which she sang lead. 15: THRILLER - MICHAEL JACKSON (11) -This song set (or actually, further secured) a record for the most Top Ten hits from a single album several weeks before when it hit the Top Ten like the previous six. As for the song, I definitely preferred the album version - the single edit doesn't have the Vincent Price narration near the end, so I'm not sure if this song would have hit #1 even if its single release had been when radio stations began playing this song (instead of a month later) - especially since virtually everyone had the Thriller album. 14: EAT IT - "WEIRD" AL YANKOVIC (18) - Oddly enough, this was his only Top 40 hit (well, pre-Soundscan, that is). Then again, all of his songs were novelty songs, which tend to come and go real quick. This one just happened to hit the Top 40 before it got old. I liked this song, as well as many of his other ones. 13: HELLO - LIONEL RICHIE (17) - This song was on its way to becoming one of his most successful Top 40 hits ever, and deservedly so, as it was also one of my favorites from him! 12: HOLD ME NOW - THOMPSON TWINS (15) - It's not often that my favorite song by an artist is also their biggest, but such is the case with this song. This song's overplay back in the day did not tarnish it at all! A great song indeed! 11: 99 LUFTBALLONS - NENA (7) - This song just missed being the fourth song to be sung entirely in a foreign language to hit #1 (and it would further diversify the other three, which were all sung in different languages). AT40 generally played the German version of this song, like this week, but I believe that they played the English version twice, and played the hybrid version a few times as well, though I'm not sure how many and on which shows (one of them was the year-ender, I think). Anyway, of those three, I prefer the English version - since I never took German in High School. OPTIONAL EXTRA: THE LONGEST TIME - BILLY JOEL - Interesting that all the voices in this song are Billy Joel - I always thought he had several singers backing him up. Anyway, I liked this song, as well as the An Innocent Man album as a whole, due to its wide variety of music styles. 10: MISS ME BLIND - CULTURE CLUB (14) - This was their sixth consecutive Top Ten hit and, sadly, ended up being their last. It was a good one, but their musical quality was indeed starting to decline at this point. 9: ADULT EDUCATION - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (9) - One of two new hits from their first Greatest Hits album. I liked both it and "Say It Isn't So", but still, I preferred many other songs from them. 8: AUTOMATIC - THE POINTER SISTERS (8) - As I've mentioned many times before, this is when their musical quality began to take a nosedive. I do, however, prefer this song over their next release "Jump (For My Love), though only slightly. 7: AGAINST ALL ODDS - PHIL COLLINS (12) - This was a song that was definitely worthy of hitting the top, as it's one of Phil's best songs ever! Too bad Van Halen had to go and beat this song out for the top song of 1984, according to Radio & Records LDD: SO FAR AWAY - CAROLE KING - Wow, not too often that the LDD's are both by the same artist! Anyway, this was a similar LDD as the first, only this was about two high school friends, now going to different colleges. Anyway, this was a good song - not sure if I prefer this or her other LDD song on this week's show. 6: I WANT A NEW DRUG - HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS (6) - A song that charted twice in 1984 - peaked at #6 the first time around and then came back and hit #1 in August its second time out. It was a good song, but I preferred "If This Is It", also from the Sports album. 5: GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN - CYNDI LAUPER (3) - This is the song that started it all off for the unusual one. It was a great one - not sure if I prefer this one or "She Bop". 4: HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN - EURYTHMICS (5) - The third Top 40 single for this British duo and one of their biggest hits, peaking here at #4. It was pretty good, but it doesn't hold a candle to "There Must Be An Angel". 3: JUMP - VAN HALEN (1) - This song, which had just spent the past five weeks at #1, isn't really a bad song, but sounded more like a commercial or a sporting event intro. I do prefer other songs from them, though - my favorite being "Dance The Night Away", from five years before. OPTIONAL EXTRA: ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE - THE SCORPIONS - Interesting that none of the four Optional Extras this week hit the Top Ten. But this one does receive occasional recurrent airplay, especially on rock-based stations. It was the first Top 40 hit by this band from the city in Germany where the hamburger originated, though I had heard their music before - two years before, they had a song that got heavy airplay on Chicago station WLS, called "No One Like You". I liked this song, but slightly preferred their two 1991 hits. 2: SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME - ROCKWELL (2) - The fact that Michael Jackson (as well as brother Jermaine) sang the chorus of this song was definitely instrumental in the song doing as well as it did, as Rockwell's next hit, "Obscene Phone Caller" only got as high as #35. Anyway, I liked this song, as well as Jackson's other song in this week's countdown. 1: FOOTLOOSE - KENNY LOGGINS (4) - The leadoff single and title song from one of the biggest movies of the year. Of course, I preferred his other song from the movie, which would hit the chart that summer. This song wasn't bad either, though it was quite overplayed.
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Post by mrjukebox on Mar 30, 2024 10:51:09 GMT -5
Hervard-I detected a slight error in your critique of "I Want A New Drug"-It never got to # 1.
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Post by OnWithTheCountdown on Mar 30, 2024 18:48:00 GMT -5
Hervard-I detected a slight error in your critique of "I Want A New Drug"-It never got to # 1. Actually, it's not so much an error...if one knows the story behind the song. Think "Ghostbusters".
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Post by Hervard on Apr 5, 2024 13:48:54 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 70s - April 6, 2024
This week's presentation - April 8, 1978
Droppers: IT'S YOU THAT I NEED - ENCHANTMENT (33) - This song was pretty much your run-of-the-mill late-70s slow jam. It was pretty good, but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE - THE BEE GEES (32) - This song's chart run was very odd at the end - first of all, it took a heavy fall from 15 to 35. The week after that, it managed to climb back up two spots and then up one more last week. Seems like kind of chart manipulation was in place (but that seemed to be very common with the RSO label back then). This was likely so all six Saturday Night Fever singles could be on the chart at the same time. Well, anyway, this was my favorite of the Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever hits. The song's run in the Top 40 was done, but what a run it had! 26 weeks, and 17 of them in the Top Ten, the latter of which was an AT40 record that endured for 14 years. DANCE, DANCE, DANCE (YOWSAH YOWSAH YOWSAH) - CHIC (31) - Meh, no huge loss, as I am not a fan of this one, mostly since it is quite repetitive. I preferred other songs from them, especially "I Want Your Love" from the following year. HOT LEGS - ROD STEWART (28) - Meh, this song was OK, but it was easily my least favorite of his three 1978 hits. SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH - DAN HILL (26) - This man seemed destined to be a one-hit wonder, a title he held for nearly ten years, but the day was saved in the late summer of 1987, when his duet with Vonda Shepard "Can't We Try" came along and broke the curse. I preferred that song, as well as a few other Dan Hill songs, over this one, but it still is a good one.
40: BABY HOLD ON – EDDIE MONEY (debut) - The Money Man's breakthrough hit here. The song didn't quite hit the Top Ten, but gets a significant amount of recurrent airplay. A great song indeed - one of my favorites from him! 39: JUST THE WAY YOU ARE – BILLY JOEL (16) - The first of four releases from one of The Stranger, one of Joel's best singles albums ever. I liked all four of the songs and, though "She's Always A Woman" was my favorite of those, the others, including this one, were great as well. Did they ever play the full album version of the song during its chart run? (I'm fairly sure I remember them playing that one as a LDD at least once - the 1984 show from two weeks ago is the one I remember). 38: FANTASY – EARTH, WIND & FIRE (40) - Hmm, I have mixed feelings about this song. You see, I do like it a lot, but back in May of 2017, I was going through some real stressful times and on one of those days, this song, for some reason, kept playing in my head (might have heard it on the AT40 iHeartRadio site). I haven't heard it but a time or two since then, so I need to learn to disassociate this song from said stressful era. Is it me, or was this one mercilessly edited this week? 37: THIS TIME I’M IN IT FOR LOVE - PLAYER (39) - Their second of their three Top 40 hits, and the second biggest as well, peaking at #10. It wasn't bad, but I preferred "Baby Come Back". 36: TWO DOORS DOWN – DOLLY PARTON (debut) - The follow-up to what is possibly my favorite song from her, "Here You Come Again". This song, on the other hand, isn't anything special IMO. Not sure why; it just never did anything for me. 35: BOOGIE SHOWS – K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND (35) - Given the fact that this was from an immensely popular soundtrack, as well as who sang it, I'm surprised that this song didn't get any higher than #35. Not that I mind, as I was never a huge fan of this song - mediocre at best. 34: FOOLING YOURSELF - STYX (38) - The instrumental intro to this song was used for LaPorte High School's exclusive radio show "Slicer News & Views" (aired on our local station on Sunday afternoons back in the day). When I took radio class in my sophomore year, my voice was heard a few times introducing that very program! As for this song, well, it wasn't one of their biggest hits ever, but it was definitely a popular album rock hit. I liked it. 33: THE CIRCLE IS SMALL – GORDON LIGHTFOOT (34) - The last Top 40 hit for this great Canadian folk singer that I was lucky enough to see in concert back in 2013 - from practically in the front row, no less. Definitely one of his best, and quite underrated. However, Lightfoot had already had his day in the sun back in the early and mid-70s. Had he released this around 1974 or so, it might have hit the Top Ten. 32: I’M GONNA TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING - RUBICON (debut) - I don't remember hearing this song at all back in 1978, but have heard it many times since, mainly on my Barry Scott's Lost 45s CD. It's a great song! 31: FALLING – LEBLANC & CARR (13) - Their only Top 40 hit. The song peaked at #13, but spent over a half a year on the Hot 100, an unusually long term for a song that never hit the Top Ten. I liked this song a lot - too bad it didn't have a little more oomph in it so it would have hit the Top Ten. 30: YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT – JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (debut) - Saturday Night Fever had just about run its course (although there were still five songs from the movie soundtrack on the chart this week) and John Travolta's new movie, Grease (which also starred his duet partner on this song), was slated for release in two months, but the first song from the movie debuted on the chart well ahead of time. The first of two duets from Grease that they charted with, as well as one of two #1 hits from the soundtrack (the title track, which hit the chart that summer, was the other). I like both duets about the same - it depends on my mood at the time. Regardless, both are great songs. 29: DISCO INFERNO - TRAMMPS (37) - Burn, baby burn! Here is one of said five charting songs from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. For a disco song, this was actually not bad. One of seven hits from the Saturday Night Fever that hit the charts. That has to be some kind of record. 28: I GO CRAZY – PAUL DAVIS (7) - Wow, big drop there! Kind of surprising, as the song took its sweet time climbing to its peak of #7. Casey mentioned that if it managed to hold onto the Hot 100 for seven more weeks, it would set a longevity record. However, you could hear a hint of doubt in his voice, as such a large drop as this would make that seem unlikely. But it indeed managed to hang on for 40 weeks! 27: IMAGINARY LOVER – ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION (36) - Amazing how speeding up this song a bit turns it into a different artist No, seriously, I like most of ARS' Top 40 hits, this one included. OPTIONAL EXTRA: MORE THAN A WOMAN - TAVARES - Of course, the Bee Gees version of this song was the more well-known one and is the one that gets virtually all the recurrent airplay on oldies stations. The release of that version was cancelled to give this one a chance (although some people suspect that it was to keep the Bee Gees' streak of #1 hits intact, but that's another story for another time). This was a good song, but I preferred the Bee Gees' version which, despite no single availability, did peak at #21 on the R&R chart in May. 26: THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND – ANDREW GOLD (27) - He didn't quite match the chart success of "Lonely Boy" with this one, but the song did become quite popular in the LDD department, until the mid-80s, when other songs like "That's What Friends Are For" came along and stole its thunder. As for Gold's two Top 40 hits - well, I liked them so much that I'm undecided on which song I preferred! 25: FEELS SO GOOD – CHUCK MANGIONE (29) - The first of two hits he placed on the Top 40 (and the last one was heard on a recent 1980 show). Kind of a similar situation with Andrew Gold, as I'm not sure which of the two I preferred, but both are great songs, IMO! 24: LADY LOVE – LOU RAWLS (25) - He may have had more than two Top 40 hits, but this and "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" are the only two songs that I've heard from him (that I know of, anyway). And, yes, both are great songs IMO and I'm unsure which is my favorite of the two. 23: BEFORE MY HEART FINDS OUT – GENE COTTON (24) - Wow, if the version of the song they played this week was any shorter, it would be considered a drop piece. Only two and a half minutes long in the first place, they cut out the first chorus and second verse, making for a song that couldn't have been much more than a minute long. Anyway, this was a great song about a love affair that was ending and him advising her to make a clean break for it. 22: SWEET TALKIN' WOMAN – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (23) - Definitely a similarity between this and "Do You Believe In Love" by Huey Lewis & The News, which wasn't coincidence, as Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Shania Twain's ex, wrote the Huey Lewis songs, and both Robert and Shania are big fans of Electric Light Orchestra fans, and also that the main inspiration for "Do You Believe In Love" was this song. When comparing them, they both sound similar in structure! Anyway, this was definitely one of my personal faves from them and one I remember quite well from its chart run. 21: WHICH WAY IS UP - STARGARD (21) - Why, it's the only way, according to songwriters George Jackson and Johnny Henderson. But seriously, this was pretty much your typical late-70s R&B disco, and I think we all know all too well my general opinion on that... 20: FLASHLIGHT - PARLIAMENT (22) - More R&B disco here. However, this was the only song in this week's Top 20 that I didn't particularly care for. 19: COUNT ON ME – JEFFERSON STARSHIP (30) - This would be their first Top Ten hit in nearly three years. Marty Balin was still singing lead at this point, and this is my favorite song of theirs with him on lead. 18: ALWAYS & FOREVER - HEATWAVE (19) - One of the best love songs of all time, and by far my favorite of their three hits (the other two were disco songs that sounded very much alike). 17: WITH A LITTLE LUCK - WINGS (debut) - They generally showed no mercy editing this song (which is understandable, as the song was nearly six minutes in playing time) and this week was no exception. Casey mentioned that this was the highest debuting song of the 1970s, but that was not true, as about five other songs since July, 1970 had debuted higher - such as “Shaft” by Isaac Hayes, which debuted at #9 in 1971). Anyway, this was definitely one of Wings' all-time best hits, IMO. 16: GOODBYE GIRL – DAVID GATES (22) - The theme song from the Richard Dreyfuss movie of the same title. This was IMO just as great as many of his other songs that he did with Bread. 15: RUNNIN’ ON EMPTY – JACKSON BROWNE (18) - Given its early chart action, this song looked to be Top Ten bound, but unfortunately, the song just barely missed, peaking at #11. Too bad, as it was definitely one of my favorite Jackson Browne songs and one I remember quite well from back in the day. 14: EBONY EYES – BOB WELCH (17) - This is one of few songs that mentions the title only in the bridge and not any other time in the song. Of Welch's two Top 40 hits, I preferred "Sentimental Lady", but this one was a good one as well. OPTIONAL EXTRA: EVERY KINDA PEOPLE - ROBERT PALMER - Here is a song that charted twice - first in 1978, then, I believe, a slightly remixed version was released in 1992 (though that one was more of an AC hit than pop). Considering I'm not a big Robert Palmer fan, this one was actually pretty good. 13: THE CLOSER I GET TO YOU – ROBERTA FLACK & DONNY HATHAWY (19) - The last of three duets between these two. This was the biggest of their collaborations, making it to #2 on the charts in May. It is also my favorite of the two songs I've heard from them (as I have yet to hear their version of the Carole King song - maybe I'll hop on over to YouTube and check it out). 12: WE’LL NEVER HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE – ENGLAND DAN & JOHN FORD COLEY (14) - This song had an unusually short chart run for a song that hit the Top Ten - not sure why it zipped up and down the chart so fast - perhaps because it sounded so much like "Goodbye Girl"? Anyway, they had a handful of hits on the chart and all of them were great songs. 11: OUR LOVE – NATALIE COLE (12) - Her last Top Ten hit before she went on a hiatus that lasted for the better part of the 1980s, when she ran into many personal problems, including drug addiction. This was one of her best hits of the 1970s. 10: JACK & JILL - RAYDIO (11) - This song contains one of the funniest misheard lyric near the end ("He got down on his right knee", which is sometimes heard as "he got down on his Granny", which was edited out this week - perhaps for that very reason). As for the song itself, it's a great one - possibly my favorite songs from him/them. 9: THUNDER ISLAND – JAY FERGUSON (9) - The first of two Top 40 hits by this man from the San Ferdinando Valley. I'm sure I've heard his other hit, "Shakedown Cruise" before (several times on the AT40 shows), but can't remember how it goes. This was a good song that I vaguely remember hearing back in the day. 8: LOVE IS THICKER THAN WATER - ANDY GIBB (8) - The first of three #1 songs in a row for Gibb. It wasn't quite as good as "I Just Want To Be Your Everything", but I prefer it over "Shadow Dancing". 7: DUST IN THE WIND - KANSAS (10) - A song with a vaguely haunting melody. It was another great song that I remember quite well! 6: EMOTION – SAMANTHA SANG (5) - This was her only Top 40 hit, and I have a feeling that the fact that the Bee Gees had a hand in this one (especially Barry Gibb's backing vocal) was instrumental in how well it did. It was a good song. 5: IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU – YVONNE ELLIMAN (6) - This song was definitely on its way to #1 - of course I'm sure that the fact that it was from a hot movie soundtrack had something to do with that, but the song did have its own merits. It was possibly my favorite song on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, and easily my favorite song from Yvonne. 4: CAN’T SMILE WITHOUT YOU – BARRY MANILOW (4) - This song looked to be heading for #1 (I seem to remember that, at one point, Casey said something to that effect), but it was not to be - basically, during the winter and spring of 1978, if you weren't the Bee Gees or involved with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (or at least on the RSO label), you were pretty much SOL as far as hitting the top was concerned. But it did get as high as #3, which is great too. As for the song, it was a good one - became the subject of at least two touching LDDs a few years later. 3: LAY DOWN SALLY – ERIC CLAPTON (3) - One of several Top 40 hit by Clapton featuring Marcy Levy (the co-writer of this song) on backup vocals. It was a good song, though I prefer several other songs by him. But hey, as long as it isn’t the miserably depressing "Tears In Heaven"... OPTIONAL EXTRA: IT'S A HEARTACHE - BONNIE TYLER - Some people call her a "female Rod Stewart", since both have similarly raspy voices. This was a really good song, though I preferred “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”. 2: STAYIN’ ALIVE – THE BEE GEES (2) - The first of two songs from them on this week's chart (but they were involved with quite a few others). This was my favorite song of theirs on the chart, but my favorite from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack would be "How Deep Is Your Love". 1: NIGHT FEVER – THE BEE GEES (1) - As I mentioned earlier, the top 19 doesn’t contain a single song that I dislike (and actually, "Flashlight" isn't quite as bad as I used to think). This song set a record by becoming the fifth consecutive #1 song for the RSO record label - a record that would be further secured in May when "If I Can't Have You", also on the RSO label, topped the chart). Moreover, I seem to remember that RSO became the label with the most #1s (or at least weeks at #1 - perhaps both) in a calendar year. As for my opinion of the two above songs, I preferred the Bee Gees' other two SNF hits over this song, which was still a pretty good one as well.
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Post by Hervard on Apr 5, 2024 13:49:06 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - April 6, 2024
This week's presentation - April 3, 1982
Droppers: TELL ME TOMORROW - SMOKEY ROBINSON (38) - At this point, Smokey Robinson was in second place, behind Frank Sinatra, for the most consecutive years with at least one Hot 100 hit. This was his 24th consecutive year and, although he would continue the streak for another year (when he charted with "Blame It On Love"), he didn't quite match the record, as he was absent from the Hot 100 for three years before his 1987 comeback. As for my opinion of this song, it was a good one - was an R&B slow jam with a touch of smooth jazz. THROUGH THE YEARS - KENNY ROGERS (37) - This may not have been one of his biggest chart hits, but it sure became popular in the LDD department! Between early 1982 and the last show of 1987, it was requested as a dedication 17 times! I can see why, as it is a great song! WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - ABBA (36) - This would be the final Top 40 hit from them (two members from the band would go on to have solo hits the following year). This song wasn't bad, but definitely not one of their best hits. DADDY'S HOME - CLIFF RICHARD (34) - Cover version of the classic Shep & The Limelights. Of the three versions I've heard, I think I liked Jermaine Jackson's 1973 version the best. This one was a good one as well.
LW#3: WE GOT THE BEAT – THE GO-GO’S LW#2: OPEN ARMS – JOURNEY LW#1: I LOVE ROCK N’ ROLL – JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS 40: GET DOWN ON IT – KOOL & THE GANG (debut) - I didn't care too much for any of their hits from 1982 (except for "Just Take My Heart", but that was more of a 1981 hit, even though it did spill over into 1982). I wasn't a fan of this one, for some reason. 39: POP GOES THE MOVIES PART 1 - MECO (debut) - One of many movie songs that charted for Meco (or, in this case, song associated with movies, as this was a medley of a random selection of different songs from the silver screen. I thought this was pretty good, although I didn't recognize all the songs (enough to connect them with their respective movies, that is). 38: JUST CAN’T WIN ‘EM ALL – STEVIE WOODS (39) - This song sounded a little out of place for 1982 - sound more like something from the late 70s, but it was a good one, IMO. Too bad it climbed no higher than #38. 37: THEME FROM MAGNUM P.I. – MIKE POST (debut) - Meco excelled at movie songs while Mike Post did so at TV show themes, like this one. I liked this one, but preferred a few others, like the "Hill Street Blues" theme, and "Theme from LA Law", the latter of which was a Top 20 AC hit six years later. 36: TAKE IT EASY ON ME – THE LITTLE RIVER BAND (33) - This song was their sixth Top Ten hit. It would also be their last, though two of their hits after this didn't miss the by much. This was one of my favorites from them, though my absolute favorite was "Lady". 35: LEADER OF THE BAND – DAN FOGELBERG (32) - One of Fogelberg's story songs that he's famous for. I never used to like this song very much during its chart run, but it has since grown on me - a great song indeed! 34: SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD – THE POLICE (31) - There are spirits eating your cereal? Well, ignore them and get yourself another bowl. But seriously, I did like this song a lot. 33: MIRROR, MIRROR – DIANA ROSS (22) - This song was co-written by Michael Sembello, of "Maniac" fame, and he offered it to the Pointer Sisters, who rejected it since it was, in their words, "a hokey nursery rhyme". I myself was never a huge fan of the song. 32: I’VE NEVER BEEN TO ME - CHARLENE (40) - I guess you could call this one a guilty pleasure, as I like this song, but know many who hate it with a passion - especially the spoken word bridge. I can see why that would be gag-inducing to some, but I personally don't mind it. OPTIONAL EXTRA: EBONY AND IVORY - PAUL McCARTNEY & STEVIE WONDER - This song was gearing up to make a spectacular debut on the Hot 100, coming in way up at #29. The song would spend seven weeks at #1 and ranked among the Top Five of that year. Back in the day, I hated this song, because, every time you turned on the radio, there it was. I was burned out on it for quite awhile, but have learned to start liking it better over the past few years. It's a great song with a great message! 31: TONIGHT I’M YOURS – ROD STEWART (20) - This song definitely sounds a lot like "Young Turks", although I prefer the latter. This one is pretty good, too, but not his best by any means. 30: DID IT IN A MINUTE – DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (debut) - One of several Top Ten songs from them that radio all but ignores anymore, which is a shame, as this was one of their best hits ever! 29: SHAKE IT UP – THE CARS (13) - The first Top Ten hit for this band from Boston (even though they'd been charting for over three years). In fact, all points totaled, this was possibly the Cars' biggest hit ever. However, for some reason, I never really got into this one. 28: BABY MAKES HER BLUE JEANS TALK – DR. HOOK (35) - This band had been hitting the charts for almost exactly ten years at this point but, unfortunately, this would be their final Top 40 hit. LDD: YOU NEEDED ME – ANNE MURRAY 27: ON THE WAY TO THE SKY – NEIL DIAMOND (27) - This was the second of three Top 40 hits from the album of the same title. I personally prefer the first hit, "Yesterday's Songs". This one was a little dull. 26: JUKE BOX HERO - FOREIGNER (30) - The follow up to the infamous Wf*gLY. I actually preferred the latter, as overplayed as it was, since I was never a huge fan of this one. 4 was indeed one of their most successful albums, but none of its singles were among my favorites from them. 25: GOIN’ DOWN – GREG GUIDRY (29) - One of several one-hit wonders on this week's chart. The only thing is, we know that it's going to stay that way, as Mr. Guidry is no longer with us. Great song, though! 24: 867-5309/JENNY – TOMMY TUTONE (28) - I wonder if anyone still has this phone number, and if they're still receiving nuisance calls from people asking for Jenny? A friend of mine knows someone who had that number and, yes, they had that prank phone call. When the caller asked if Jenny was there, the guy said, "Yeah, this is her father, Officer Nelson from the Kansas State Police." The caller hung up right away. Anyway, this was a good song. 23: MY GUY – SISTER SLEDGE (25) - This song was written by Smokey Robinson who himself was in the Top 40 during the past few weeks with "Tell Me Tomorrow" (which he did not write BTW), and, of course, was a #1 hit for Mary Wells 1964. This was a very good cover and I'm not sure which of the two I prefer. 22: BOBBIE SUE – THE OAK RIDGE BOYS (12) - Their first Top 40 hit, "Elvira" was barf-inducing, IMO. This song was actually pretty good, though. OPTIONAL EXTRA: GENIUS OF LOVE - THE TOM TOM CLUB - Mariah Carey was apparently a fan of this song, for she sampled it in her 1995 hit "Fantasy". I, on the other hand, didn't care for this song at all. 21: NOBODY SAID IT WAS EASY – LE ROUX (26) - Another one hit wonder here, although there are at least two acts who are phonetically identical - a Christian band from Nashville that were active early in this century and an English synthpop act who charted ten years ago with "Bulletproof". This was a great song - one I've heard many times on my Barry Scott's Lost 45's CD. 20: FIND ANOTHER FOOL - QUARTERFLASH (24) - Of their three Top 40 hits, this would probably be my least favorite. Still, not too bad - sounds a little like Pat Benatar. 19: CENTERFOLD - THE J. GEILS BAND (7) - This song had recently spent six weeks at #1, and deservedly so, as it was by far their best hit ever! An overplayed song that has held up nevertheless. EXTRA: LOVE ME DO – THE BEATLES - One of many, many #1 hits by the Beatles. However, it's one of my least favorites from them for some reason (though John Lennon's harmonica work in the song is very good!) 18: ’65 LOVE AFFAIR – PAUL DAVIS (23) - This song has that malt shop era sound to it (the title was originally "'55 Love Affair", they moved it up a decade so it wouldn't sound so "geezerly"). This was a great song - Davis' highest peaking hit and one of his all time best, IMO. 17: ONE HUNDRED WAYS – QUINCY JONES FEATURING JAMES INGRAM (21) - The third Top 40 hit from The Dude and the second to feature James Ingram on lead vocals. This was a great song - definitely my favorite of the three. 16: TAKE OFF – BOB & DOUG McKENZIE (16) - My older brother was a big fan of this comedy duo back in the mid-80s - he and a buddy even did a skit for a talent show back in 1984 - was pretty funny, as was this song. Geddy Lee, of Rush, did a great job singing the chorus 15: (OH) PRETTY WOMAN – VAN HALEN (17) - Of their three Top 40 hits up to this point, two were cover versions. This, of course, was a remake of Roy Orbison's #1 hit from 1964. This was a good rendition, but nothing compares to the original. 14: EDGE OF SEVENTEEN – STEVIE NICKS (19) - The third single from Nicks' first solo album, and, though it wasn't the highest peaking song from that album, it seems to be the one that gets the most recurrent airplay. I preferred "Leather And Lace", but this one was a good one as well. 13: SHOULD I DO IT – THE POINTER SISTERS (15) - They definitely had a retro sound in 1982, as both this song and "American Music" had a sixties sound to them. This was possibly my favorite of their hits that year. 12: DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE – HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS (18) - Ah, the song that kicked off the career of possibly THE biggest group/band of the 1980s! It was indeed a great song - one that pops up every now and then on oldies stations. OPTIONAL EXTRA: ALWAYS ON MY MIND - WILLIE NELSON - As I've said before, my favorite version of this song would be the Pet Shop Boys techno cover from 1988, but I do like this better than the two other versions that Casey played in a medley during the time the Pet Shop Boys version was charting - by Elvis Presley and Brenda Lee, IIRC. 11: SWEET DREAMS – AIR SUPPLY (5) - Definitely one of the biggest new acts of the 1980s (though most of their chart hits were in the early half of the decade). I liked most of their Top 40 hits, but this was one of my least favorites. 10: KEY LARGO – BERTIE HIGGINS (13) - This was Higgins' only Top 40 hit, but it definitely got quite a lot of mileage on the charts, spending 18 weeks in the Top 40. I liked it - and as I recall I also liked "Just Another Day In Paradise", which just missed the Top 40 later on in 1982. 9: PAC-MAN FEVER – BUCKNER AND GARCIA (9) - Interesting story about the Pac Man products, like t-shirts, caps, and pajamas, to name a few. But Casey made a mistake when he was talking about the cartoons in Ms. Pac Man. He said that in the first one, they meet and chase each other around. Um, no, he’s mixing the first two. They chase each other in the second cartoon, which Casey said was about them getting married. Not quite; that cartoon doesn’t even exist (though it would seem logical). At least he got the third one right, about Mr and Ms. Pac Man becoming parents. As for this song - well, I've mentioned numerous times that I drove my Dad and brother up the wall by playing this album ad nauseum. I'm surprised that my Dad didn't hide the record when I wasn't looking. As for the song, it was definitely my theme, as I was obsessed with Pac Man back in the day. 8: DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS – RICK SPRINGFIELD (14) - Rick had one number one each on Billboard and the Radio & Records chart - only with different songs. "Jessie's Girl" was Rick's #1 on the Hot 100, but this was his song that topped the R&R chart, where it spent five weeks at #1. Both songs are among my favorite songs from Mr. Springfield. 7: FREEZE-FRAME – THE J. GEILS BAND (10) - They had recently come off of a six-week stay at #1 with "Centerfold". I wonder if this song would have spent more weeks on top had they held off a few weeks on the release of this song? Well, anyway, I wasn't a huge fan of this song; I preferred said #1, coming up in the Top Ten. LDD: PRECIOUS TO ME – PHIL SEYMOUR - He first appeared in the Top 40 as part of the Dwight Twilley Band in 1975, and six years later, he made the Top 40 with his first and only solo hit. I first heard this song on American Top 40 Flashback in March, 2001 and instantly loved it. IMO, the song was quite underrated, as it only got as high as #22. Nevertheless, I have heard this song many times, as it is on my Barry Scott's Lost 45s CD that I got for Christmas in 2002 and have listened to so much that I'm surprised I haven't worn it out, LOL! 6: CHARIOTS OF FIRE - VANGELIS (8) - This song was on its way to setting a record for the longest climb to the top, eclipsing the 21-week record shared by Nick Gilder, with "Hot Child In The City" and Robert John, with "Sad Eyes" by one week. Glad this one made it to the top, because it was a great one - one of my favorite instrumentals of all time! 5: MAKE A MOVE ON ME – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (6) - With the moves this song was making on the chart, this definitely looked like another #1 song for Olivia. Hard to believe that this was all the higher the song climbed. No matter; Olivia set a record with this song, becoming the female singer with the longest streak of years in the Top 40. This marked her tenth year (and the streak would extend to 13 in 1985). I believe that Madonna is the one who eventually broke the streak, but I could be wrong. 4: THAT GIRL – STEVIE WONDER (4) - This was a huge hit on the R&B chart, spending nine weeks on top there. It also looked like it might hit #1 on the Hot 100 at first, with how fast it was climbing the chart, but it ran out of steam before getting there (but, of course, he did end up hitting #1 in May with his duet with Paul McCartney). I liked this, but preferred several other songs from him (including his third hit from Musiquarium, "Ribbon In The Sky" which didn't quite make the Top 40). 3: WE GOT THE BEAT – THE GO-GO’S (3) - I generally liked the Go-Go's, but this was an exception - definitely my least favorite song from them. OPTIONAL EXTRA: HANG FIRE - THE ROLLING STONES - Interesting that all four of this week's Optional Extras would debut on the chart the following week (of course, there were quite a few of those to choose from - eight to be exact). This was the third of four Top 40 hits from Tattoo You, their biggest album ever (in terms of weeks at #1). The song was OK, but far from being their best. 2: OPEN ARMS - JOURNEY (2) - As this was in its last of seven weeks atop the Radio & Records chart, it held for a sixth and also final week at its peak on the Hot 100 in the runner-up position. This used to be one of my favorites from Journey (I even bought the 45), then overplay significantly dimmed my fascination for it, but over the past few years, I've found myself liking it again. 1: I LOVE ROCK N’ ROLL – JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS (1) - This song marked the first time a band led by a woman hit #1. This ended up being one of the biggest hits of 1982, and my favorite of all three of her 1982 hits. This is another one of those songs that despite overplay, has held up quite well.
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Post by Hervard on Apr 5, 2024 13:49:17 GMT -5
American Top 40: The 80s - April 6, 2024
This week's presentation - April 6, 1985
I have fond memories of this show - I was listening to it after church when it was aired as an AT40 Flashback in 2001 while playing Donkey Kong Land-2 on my GameBoy Color (in fact, I remember that I was stuck on one of the wasp hive levels for awhile). Then, after the show was over, since it was in the upper-70s and sunny outside, I went for a drive up in Michigan and had fun getting myself lost (as I was unfamiliar with the roads up there at the time). I created a breach in male etiquette and actually stopped at a convenience store to ask for directions. Fortunately, I found out I was just a few blocks from an interstate highway (I-94), which would take ne back to LaPorte County. No driving this week, as it's a little chilly outside. Well, without further ado, here is my commentary for this show:
Droppers: SECOND NATURE - DAN HARTMAN (39) - The movie Streets Of Fire brought him back to the charts the year before with what became his biggest hit ever, "I Can Dream About You". This song, however, couldn't push past #39, which is too bad, because it was a great song IMO. MISLED - KOOL & THE GANG (36) - They were in the midst of a streak of songs with one-word titles (in fact, didn't they hold the record for that?). Anyway, I liked all three of their Top Ten hits from the Emergency album, although my favorite of those was "Fresh". I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS - FOREIGNER (35) - They finally had their very first #1 song, about three years after coming ever so close with Wf*gLY, which, as we know all too well, spent ten frustrating weeks at #2 (and, incidentally, is one of the LDD songs on this week's show). Of those two, I preferred this one, which featured Jennifer Holliday, Tom Bailey (of the Thompson Twins) and the New Jersey Mass Choir on backing vocals. THIS IS NOT AMERICA - DAVID BOWIE/PAT METHENY GROUP (32) - This was the theme from the spy drama film The Falcon And The Snowman. I've never seen the film, since that genre isn't really my cup of tea, but I do remember this song, though I never really heard it outside of countdown shows. This song, which peaked at #32 over the past two weeks, was pretty good, though not quite as good as Bowie's hits from two years later).
40: WHY CAN'T I HAVE YOU - THE CARS (33) - The first four singles from Heartbeat City made it into the Top 20, but, now that just about all fans of the Cars had the album (I imagine many got it as a Christmas gift), this was all the further the song got. I liked the song, but it definitely was not their best. 39: CALIFORNIA GIRLS - DAVID LEE ROTH (23) - About a month before, this song matched the #3 peak of the original by the Beach Boys just 20 years before. Based on the big move to third place, it looked like he might top that peak the following week but, in fact, the song started dropping the following week. Anyway, I liked this song - even slightly better than the original. 38: EVERYTHING SHE WANTS - WHAM (debut) - This was not only their third hit in a row, but their third #1 as well. This was my favorite of those. 37: FOREVER MAN - ERIC CLAPTON (40) - This song was a #1 Album Rock hit, but here on the Top 40 chart, the song only got up to #26. It was a pretty good song - one I remember hearing from time to time during the spring of 1985 36: DON'T COME AROUND HERE NO MORE - TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (debut) - Meh, I was never a huge fan of this song. I preferred his early-80s hits. 35: NEW ATTITUDE - PATTI LABELLE (debut) - A great and very positive sounding song that reminds me of the revelation I had back in June, 2009 about developing a more positive attitude than I'd had previously. There is still room for improvement, but I've been told by several people that they've noticed the change. 34: ROCK AND ROLL GIRLS - JOHN FOGERTY (debut) - Once the lead singer of Creedence Clearwater Revival, he was on his own at this point, and doing quite well. The first two songs from Centerfield hit the Top 20, including this one. I preferred the title track, which I'm surprised never hit the Top 40 (could have to do with the fact that it was the flipside to this song). 33: SAVE A PRAYER - DURAN DURAN (22) - It seems that more often than not, they either cut out the second verse of this song, or linked verses one and two together, and this week was no exception (they did the former). That's too bad, because I really liked this song - one of my favorite Duran Duran songs of all time. 32: SOME THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT UNSAID - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (37) - Their Big Bam Boom album was their third in a row to be certified multi-platinum. This was the third single from it, and it would peak at #18. I'm thinking it might have peaked higher had it been released a few years earlier, as it sort of had an early-80s sound to it (in fact, the choruses reminded me a little of the verses of "Even The Nights Are Better" by Air Supply). I thought it was a good song. 31: TAKE ME WITH U - PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION W/APOLLONIA (25) - This was the fifth release from Purple Rain and the first song from the soundtrack to miss the Top Ten, which was really no big surprise, as the soundtrack sold millions of copies, so that means that most Prince fans had the soundtrack and, hence, there was no point in buying the single. I thought that this was a great song. 30: LUCKY - GREG KIHN (34) - He had two Top 20 hits with his band, but couldn't seem to cut it as a solo artist, as this, his only solo Top 40 hit, barely made it into the Top 30. It was a pretty good song, but I preferred "Jeopardy". 29: RADIOACTIVE - THE FIRM (31) - The only Top 40 hit for this British supergroup, consisting of members of various bands such as Led Zeppelin, Bad Company and Manfred Mann. The song was OK, but I wasn't a huge fan. OPTIONAL EXTRA: I WANNA HEAR IT FROM YOUR LIPS - ERIC CARMEN - Of course, Mr. Carmen passed away about a month ago, This was his first Top 40 hit in a little over six years, though it definitely wasn't one of his biggest hits. Fortunately, his chart career wasn't quite over yet, as 1988 ended up being one of his biggest years. As for this song, it wasn't bad, but definitely not one of my favorite songs from him. 28: SMOOTH OPERATOR - SADE (38) - Their debut hit, which became one of their biggest, peaking at #5 in May. It wasn't one of my favorites back in the day, but now I think it's a great one! 27: CARELESS WHISPER - WHAM (17) - We all know that I used to like this song, but my fascination for this song dimmed significantly when a girl that I was hoping to dance with at a middle school dance got back together with her boyfriend and basically threw me under a bus. Fortunately, that happened when this song was on its way down the chart. Another good thing is that, the following Monday morning, I got to see the girl get paddled after a teacher heard her cussing me out just for saying hi to her. Ah, the joys of karma! LDD: WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU - FOREIGNER - We still got to hear a Foreigner ballad on this week's show - as their recent #1 song stepped off the chart, their other slow song (up to this point, anyway) happened to be one of this week's LDDs. As mentioned earlier, I preferred said #1 song. 26: RELAX - FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD (20) - THIS terrible song was UK's #1 song of 1984? *GROIN* 25: THAT WAS YESTERDAY - FOREIGNER (29) - Wow, rather poor placement of this week's LDDs. I wonder if they were supposed to be the other way around (as the one in Hour 4 is also put two places removed from another song by the same artist). Well, anyway, this song was nicely progressing up the chart, looking like it might be another Top Ten. However, the song fell short, peaking at #12. It did hit the Top Ten on the R&R chart and was played regularly on the stations I listened to (especially U93, which played it well into the summer). It was easily my favorite of their two 1985 hits, as well as possibly my favorite song from them of all time! 24: SOME LIKE IT HOT - THE POWER STATION (30) - One of several Duran Duran side projects. This song was OK, but I generally preferred Duran Duran, including their hit on this week's chart 23: ONLY THE YOUNG - JOURNEY (16) - Their first Top Ten hit since "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" exactly two years before (although lead singer Steve Perry had a Top Ten hit in the year between). From the Vision Quest soundtrack, this song had peaked at #9 the week before. It was a good song, but not quite my favorite song from them. 22: KEEPING THE FAITH - BILLY JOEL (21) - Many people thought he was done putting out hits from An Innocent Man, as it had been awhile since the last single, "Leave A Tender Moment Alone" had charted, and it only got as high as #27. But he surprised everybody by releasing a sixth single, and it proved to be worthwhile, as it was a Top 20 hit. It was a good song, but I preferred many others from them, including a few from said album. 21: ALONG COMES A WOMAN - CHICAGO (26) - A landmark single for them, as this was their last Top 40 hit before Peter Cetera left the band for a solo career. It was a pretty good song, though I preferred several others from them. 20: ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS DANCE - DON HENLEY (24) - The second release from Building The Perfect Beast. It's my least favorite of the singles, however - for some reason, this song never did much for me. OPTIONAL EXTRA: ONE LONELY NIGHT - REO SPEEDWAGON - They had a big #1 earlier in the year (one of my personal faves by them, might I add). I figured that this song, their second hit from Wheels Are Turnin' (as well as another personal favorite) would hit the Top Ten, but it only got as high as #19 (which isn't bad either). Their biggest pop success was definitely in 1981, with Hi Infidelity. 19: ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK - MURRAY HEAD (27) - As usual, this song started out with the classical prelude, which I liked. The song itself is pretty good too, although it was quite overplayed back in the day! They usually edited this one (heavily at times), but they seemed to play the song intact. 18: DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) - SIMPLE MINDS (28) - Their first four hits sounded very much alike, IMO. This was my least favorite of the four (probably since it was way overplayed). I do like the movie from which it came, The Breakfast Club. 17: THE HEAT IS ON - GLENN FREY (11) - The highest peaking song from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, peaking at #2 two weeks before. It was not bad, but I generally preferred him with the Eagles. 16: PRIVATE DANCER - TINA TURNER (7) - She was definitely hotter than ever at this point, as this, the title track from her current album, had recently become her third consecutive Top Ten hit. It was a good one - not sure which of the Private Dancer singles I prefer. 15: HIGH ON YOU - SURVIVOR (8) - They were in the midst of their second wave of popularity. Their first, in the early-80s, had yielded them three Top 40 hits, including their monster #1 smash "Eye Of The Tiger". After being absent from the Top 40 for two years, they were back with their album Vital Signs, which yielded them three Top 20 hits. I liked this one, but preferred the other two, especially "I Can't Hold Back", which remains one of my favorite songs from them of all time! 14: OBSESSION - ANIMOTION (19) - Their first of three Top 40 hits from this technopop band from Los Angeles. It was their biggest hit and I thought it was a decent song, but I preferred their other Top Ten hit, "Room To Move", from 1989. 13: MISSING YOU - DIANA ROSS (15) - The first of two tributes to the late Marvin Gaye, who had an even 40 Top 40 hits, 24 of them during the "Beatle Years", making him the biggest solo artist of that era. This was my favorite of the two tributes. 12: JUST ANOTHER NIGHT - MICK JAGGER (15) - Of course, he had been singing lead with the Rolling Stones (who were still together and not done hitting the charts), but he had a few solo hits, including this, which was his biggest hit on his own (his biggest was the aforementioned "Dancing In The Street" with David Bowie). 11: SOMEBODY - BRYAN ADAMS (13) - He definitely got quite a lot of mileage out of his Reckless album - the six singles released from it kept him on the chart for most of 1985, and this was the second of them. I liked this song, but preferred a few others from him, including a few from the same album. 10: TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES - JULIAN LENNON (6) - Well, then is it early enough for helloes? No, seriously, this was pretty good, but possibly my least favorite of his singles. OPTIONAL EXTRA: FRESH - KOOL & THE GANG - This was the second of four hits from the album Emergency (in fact, three of them hit the Top Ten - ironically, the only one that did not was the title track). This was my favorite of that album's singles. 9: RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT - DEBARGE (18) - This song turned out to be their biggest hit ever, getting as high as #3 back in May. It was a good one, but I preferred their next hit, "Who's Holding Donna Now", which turned out to be their second best hit, peaking at #6 that summer. 8: I'M ON FIRE - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (14) - He was still cranking out hit after hit from his Born In The USA album. This was the fourth one, which would peak at #6 the following week. It was a great song - one of my favorites from Born In The USA. 7: NIGHTSHIFT - COMMODORES (10) - The second of the two Marvin Gaye tributes on the chart this week, only this one also paid homage to Jackie Wilson, another R&B great who had also passed away in 1984. This song was OK, but the Commodores were just not the same without Lionel Richie. 6: CAN'T FIGHT THIS FEELING - REO SPEEDWAGON (3) - Here's a band whose power ballads seemed to be favored by the Top 40 audience, as their three Top Five hits were all such songs. This song, which was one of my all-time faves from them, had just come off of a three-week run at #1, though, with more weeks in the Top Ten and Top 40, their 1981 hit #1 "Keep On Lovin' You", which spent a single week at #1, was their biggest hit (of course, inasmuch as the charts did not move as fast in 1981 as they did in 1985, that may not be a fair comparison). LDD: STILL - COMMODORES - As mentioned earlier, this song was placed just two songs after their current hit "Nightshift" (although, in this case, it was with two different lead singers, as Lionel Richie hadn't yet left the band when this song was recorded). Anyway, this song used to get a "No. Just No" (a comment that I seldom use anymore), but now I like it better than I used to. Not sure how appropriate this is for the dedication, as it was from a woman to her husband, who she was happily married to, while the lyrics to "Still" imply that the relationship is coming to an end. 5: LOVERGIRL - TEENA MARIE (4) - Often regarded as a one-hit wonder, "Lovergirl" was actually Teena's second hit. Her first, "I Need Your Loving", peaked at #37 in early 1981. This song fared much better, reaching its peak this week at #4. This song is pretty good, though I do remember disliking this song during its chart run. 4: CRAZY FOR YOU - MADONNA (9) - This song was the biggest mover on the chart over the past two weeks and made a good-sized jump this week, so it was no surprise that this song hit #1. In fact, as we all know, this song turned out to be the top song of 1985, according to Radio & Records, and deservedly so, as it was a great song! 3: MATERIAL GIRL - MADONNA (2) - This marked the first time since the summer of 1979 that the same artist had two songs in the Top Five at the same time. This was at #1 on the R&R chart the week before, and it was looking like it may do the same on the Hot 100, but it had to settle for second place, as another song leapfrogged over it and still another song pushed it back a spot this week. This was my least favorite of her 1985 hits, but it was still a good one. OPTIONAL EXTRA: JUST A GIGOLO/I AIN'T GOT NOBODY - DAVID LEE ROTH - His second hit from Crazy From The Heat, a mini-album containing four songs, all of them cover versions of older hits. 2; WE ARE THE WORLD - USA FOR AFRICA (5) - At the beginning of the show, after Casey recapped the previous week's Top Three, he mentioned the big jump to #5 that this took and implied that it could hit #1 this week, like I'm sure many people thought it would (in fact, as fast as it was selling and with all the airplay it was receiving, I was surprised that it did not). I'm sure it didn't miss by much, though. Anyway, it was a good song for a great cause. 1: ONE MORE NIGHT - PHIL COLLINS (1) - This was the song that denied Madonna from having her second #1 hit (no matter, in addition to the one she had about a month later, she would have many more in years to come). This was is also the song that was strong enough to prevent "We Are The World" from hitting #1 this week, a week after denying a huge artist like Madonna the top spot, so it was apparently a very powerful hit!
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Post by mrjukebox on Apr 5, 2024 14:02:45 GMT -5
"Ebony & Ivory" is one of the OE's from this week's A show 4/3/82-At the time of its popularity,"Ebony & Ivory" was satirized on "Saturday Night Live" by Joe Piscopo & Eddie Murphy as Frank Sinatra & Stevie Wonder respectively-That was hilarious!
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