This Week's Lost '80s Classic

[briguy52748]

Since I've tried it as a longshot extra on regular AT40 programs, and by joe they've never played it, my lost extra for Nov. 15, 1986, was at No. 1 this week on the Hot Country Singles chart.

By two stars who cut their teeth in pop music, although the female half had several country hits before, and actually had three No. l hits -- "Paper Roses" (also No. 5 pop) from 1973, "Meet Me in Montana" (with Dan Seals) in 1985, and earlier in 1986, "There's No Stopping Your Heart" (a very MOR song that surprisingly never crossed over to the pop or even AC side).

The male half is best known for pop ballads as "Ride 'Em Cowboy," "I Go Crazy," "Sweet Life," "Cool Night" and "'65 Love Affair." He was now charting country, and a year later, actually early 1988, would later have a second No. 1 hit as part of a guest trio, joining Paul Overstreet and headliner Tanya Tucker on "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love."

For now, the lost extra is ... drumroll please ... :

* "You're Still New to Me" -- Marie Osmond and Paul Davis.

Brian

[1finemrg]

This band was an offshoot of Deep Purple, and the last of their 3 Hot 100 45s was in the 4th of a 10 week chart run that would see it peak at #60. A great song aimed at the American market featuring the vocals of Joe Lynn Turner.

Street Of Dreams - Rainbow

[1finemrg]

Enjoy your country take on things briguy!

[pgfromwp]

Offering a lost classic from 11/26/83, which failed to crack Billboard's top 40. It's an interesting tune from a long standing British band:

"Blue World" - Moody Blues

[1finemrg]

This lost classic from December 1, 1984 was the fourth single from their signature "MCMLXXXIV" album, and the last 45 from the David Lee Roth era. It peaked at #56 during its 7 week chart run. Featuring their typically family-friendly video done in good taste???

Hot For Teacher - Van Halen

[pgfromwp]

Offering a lost classic from 12/01/84, which failed to crack Billboard's top 40. It's a "catchy" tune from the Rebel Yell album:

"Catch My Fall" - Billy Idol

[kchkwong]

Offering one from 12/1/84:

Big In Japan - Alphaville
www.youtube.com/watch?v=648evy0bA2k

[Mike]

Nov 25, 2013 5:37:12 GMT -5 1finemrg said:

This lost classic from December 1, 1984 was the fourth single from their signature "MCMLXXXIV" album, and the last 45 from the David Lee Roth era. It peaked at #56 during its 7 week chart run. Featuring their typically family-friendly video done in good taste???

Hot For Teacher - Van Halen

Lost? Not if you tune in to Classic Rock radio.

[1finemrg]

This December 6, 1980 lost classic was at the end of its 8 week chart run, having peaked at #66. If I remember the story correctly, the record label (Ovation) was in the process of going bankrupt which could have hampered the promotion of this overlooked song.

Brite Eyes – Robbin Thompson Band

[dukelightning]

^Good song. You know that should be another thread topic. Singles that were hampered by record label issues likely costing them a top 40 appearance. In the 70s and 80s alone, there has to be dozens of such records. Some intentional like Diana Ross' "I Thought it Took a Little Time" in 1976 and some not like the above song.

[1finemrg]

Dec 2, 2013 8:59:02 GMT -5 dukelightning said:

^Good song. You know that should be another thread topic. Singles that were hampered by record label issues likely costing them a top 40 appearance. In the 70s and 80s alone, there has to be dozens of such records. Some intentional like Diana Ross' "I Thought it Took a Little Time" in 1976 and some not like the above song.

Infinity records was another label about a year prior that suffered from the same fate. They started having success in the late 70s with Top 40 acts like Orleans (Love Takes Time), Spyro Gyra, Hot Chocolate and New England. Then they hit #1 with Rupert Holmes' "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)". They failed and were absorbed by their parent company MCA during the Rupert Holmes chart run! The follow up "Him" was released on MCA.

The reason? According to Wikipedia, the pope made them do it...

In October 1979, Infinity released Pope John Paul II Sings at the Festival of Sacrosong, an album of speeches and songs sung by Pope John Paul II in his native Polish. Due to the tremendous popularity of the new Pope, Infinity thought the record would be a major hit. The company paid a substantial fee (which went to charity) to the Catholic Church to obtain exclusive rights to the recording. The album briefly peaked at #126 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, however, it received poor reviews and was quickly seen as a colossal failure. Most of the one million advance copies of the John Paul II album were returned unsold to the label, producing a huge financial loss. MCA pulled the plug on Infinity Records in November 1979, and the Infinity catalog was immediately absorbed by the parent company. Rupert Holmes and Spyro Gyra were the only Infinity acts to be retained by MCA, and most of the label's catalog went out of print.

Too bad because Orleans follow up single to Love Takes Time" was a beautiful ballad that failed to chart. It was released in the late summer of 1979.

Unfortunately, the link is a live performance form 2008.

Forever - Orleans

[1finemrg]

Although it wasn't one of their six top 40 singles, this was their first charting 45 and my favorite from this London based band. It was in the seventh of a 8 week chart run having peaked at #76.

Stand Or Fall - Fixx

[pgfromwp]

Offering a lost classic from 12/11/82, which failed to reach Billboard's top 40 (it actually bubbled under the hot 100 on that chart date). It's a soulful rendition of the first top 40 solo ht by Michael Jackson, in fall 1971:

"Got to Be There" - Chaka Khan

[1finemrg]

Although he was doing quite well as the lead singer in Van Halen at the time, this was his last Hot 100 solo single. This lost classic from December 19, 1987 was nearing the end of its 13 week chart run, having peaked at #82.

Eagles Fly - Sammy Hagar

[seminolefan]

My pick for this week's lost 80s classic, a song that was peaking at #60:

Earth, Wind & Fire - System Of Survival