December 1984 -- haves and have nots

This was a haves and have-nots chart.  Up and down the chart are a huge number of MTV and overall 80's classics.... yet, there are some interesting groups of other songs:

Ones by popular artists that notably underperformed:  U2 (just before their breakthrough), Ray Parker Jr (coming off Ghostbusters), and most notably Toto, coming off a huge album and eventually having another big hit.

Songs that did well in this climate of huge, iconic songs...yet largely ignored for the past 30 years:  Paul McCartney, Honeydrippers (a very mysterious top 5 hit, even in the year of the veterans!), New Edition, Julian Lennon.

And you may not know the Dan Hartman or Shiela E songs, but I bet you know "I Can Dream About You" and "The Glamourous Life" -- these were the followups...and their last top 40 hits.

Notable first timers: Wham!, New Edition, and Julian Lennon 

And a transition at the top -- the last of 6 number ones for Hall and Oates, the biggest artist of the first half of the 80's, gives way to Madonna, the top artist of the 2nd half.

Favorites: not a great top 10, frankly, but 4's and 5's lower down with all-time classics Run to You and Boys of Summer.

1 3 LIKE A VIRGIN –•– Madonna – 6 (1)

2 2 WILD BOYS –•– Duran Duran – 8 (2)

3 1 OUT OF TOUCH –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates – 13 (1)
4 5 SEA OF LOVE –•– The Honeydrippers – 11 (4)
5 7 COOL IT NOW –•– New Edition – 14 (5)
6 9 WE BELONG –•– Pat Benatar – 9 (6)
7 4 I FEEL FOR YOU –•– Chaka Khan – 16 (3)
8 6 NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS –•– Paul McCartney – 11 (6)
9 14 ALL I NEED –•– Jack Wagner – 10 (9)
10 12 VALOTTE –•– Julian Lennon – 10 (10)

11 8 WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO GO –•– Wham! – 16 (1)
12 16 RUN TO YOU –•– Bryan Adams – 8 (12)
13 10 ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT –•– Cyndi Lauper – 12 (5)
14 15 BORN IN THE U.S.A. –•– Bruce Springsteen – 7 (14)
15 23 YOU’RE THE INSPIRATION –•– Chicago – 6 (15)
16 13 I CAN’T HOLD BACK –•– Survivor – 15 (13)
17 19 DO WHAT YOU DO –•– Jermaine Jackson – 9 (17)
18 11 PENNY LOVER –•– Lionel Richie – 12 (8)
19 24 UNDERSTANDING –•– Bob Seger – 7 (19)
20 22 HELLO AGAIN –•– The Cars – 9 (20)

21 32 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS –•– Foreigner – 3 (21)
22 30 EASY LOVER –•– Philip Bailey & Phil Collins – 5 (22)
23 17 STRUT –•– Sheena Easton – 18 (7)
24 28 CENTIPEDE –•– Rebbie Jackson – 12 (24)
25 27 JAMIE –•– Ray Parker Jr. – 6 (25)
26 18 WALKING ON A THIN LINE –•– Huey Lewis & The News – 10 (18)
27 29 THE BOYS OF SUMMER –•– Don Henley – 7 (27)
28 25 WE ARE THE YOUNG –•– Dan Hartman – 12 (25)
29 20 BETTER BE GOOD TO ME –•– Tina Turner – 15 (5)
30 31 STRANGER IN TOWN –•– Toto – 9 (30)

31 35 LOVER BOY –•– Billy Ocean – 4 (31)
32 42 I WOULD DIE 4 U –•– Prince – 2 (32)
33 38 BRUCE –•– Rick Springfield – 6 (33)
34 34 THE BELLE OF ST. MARK –•– Sheila E. – 9 (34)
35 37 TENDER YEARS –•– John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band – 11 (35)
36 40 LOVE LIGHT IN FLIGHT –•– Stevie Wonder – 4 (36)
37 — CARELESS WHISPER –•– Wham! Featuring George Michael – 1 (37)
38 33 (PRIDE) IN THE NAME OF LOVE –•– U2 – 9 (33)
39 41 FOOLISH HEART –•– Steve Perry – 5 (39)
40 46 NEUTRON DANCE –•– The Pointer Sisters – 5 (40)

December 1971...some undercharting classics

It was a good week on the 1971 countdown.  Casey noted the number of ballads in the top 10, but I didn’t notice any big trends.  Plenty of adult contemporary, R&b, funk, rock, instrumentals, even spoken word records....and some classics.

American pie debuts, passed by Donny Osmond, but we know who wins that one.  Donnie’s brothers also are on, as are David Cassidy and Michael Jackson.  Yes, The Who, and Van Morrison chart with classics that didn’t exactly light up the charts.  Casey also wouldn’t have known that rod stewarts 2 songs would be so popular and he’d have big hits for over 20 more years.

Number one was a surprise, a rather low key song to hit #1 after Cher (who’d hit #1 again in 1999!) and shaft.  I’m not sure I’d ever heard it in it’s entirety before.

My favorite has to be Aretha, oh me, oh me oh my!

1 5 FAMILY AFFAIR –•– Sly and the Family Stone (Epic)-5 (1 week at #1)
2 1 THEME FROM “SHAFT” –•– Isaac Hayes (Enterprise)-8
3 3 BABY I’M-A WANT YOU –•– Bread (Elektra)-7
4 4 HAVE YOU SEE HER –•– The Chi-Lites (Brunswick)-7
5 2 GYPSYS, TRAMPS AND THIEVES –•– Cher (Kapp)-12
6 7 GOT TO BE THERE –•– Michael Jackson (Motown)-6
7 14 AN OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONG –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-4
8 10 DESIDERATA –•– Les Crane (Warner Brothers)-9
9 9 ROCK STEADY / OH ME OH MY (I’m a Fool For You Baby) –•– Aretha Franklin (Atlantic)-6
10 6 IMAGINE –•– John Lennon Plastic Ono Band (Apple)-7

11 12 ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU –•– Sonny and Cher (Kapp)-8
12 13 EVERYBODY’S EVERYTHING –•– Santana (Columbia)-8
13 18 CHERISH –•– David Cassidy (Bell)-5
14 8 PEACE TRAIN –•– Cat Stevens (A&M)-11
15 33 BRAND NEW KEY –•– Melanie (Neighborhood)-6
16 16 TWO DIVIDED BY LOVE –•– The Grass Roots (Dunhill)-9
17 19 A NATURAL MAN –•– Lou Rawls (MGM)-15
18 20 RESPECT YOURSELF –•– The Staple Singers (Stax)-8
19 23 STONES / CRUNCHY GRANOLA SUITE –•– Neil Diamond (Uni)-4
20 25 SCORPIO –•– Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band (Sussex)-6

21 17 EASY LOVING –•– Freddie Hart (Capitol)-16
22 27 WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO –•– Donnie Elbert (All Platinum)-8
23 11 MAGGIE MAY / REASON TO BELIEVE –•– Rod Stewart (Mercury)-21
24 29 THEME FROM “SUMMER OF ’42” –•– Peter Nero (Columbia)-8
25 28 SUPERSTAR (Remember How You Got Where You Are) –•– The Temptations (Gordy)-5
26 15 YO-YO –•– The Osmonds (MGM)-13
27 35 YOU ARE EVERYTHING –•– The Stylistics (Avco)-5
28 30 WILD NIGHT –•– Van Morrison (Warner Brothers)-9
29 22 INNER CITY BLUES (Make Me Wanna Holler) –•– Marvin Gayle (Tamla)-9
30 26 ONE TIN SOLDIER (The Legend Of Billy Jack) –•– Coven (Warner Brothers)-12

31 38 (I Know) I’M LOSING YOU –•– Rod Stewart with Faces (Mercury)-3
32 70 HEY GIRL / I KNEW YOU WHEN –•– Donny Osmond (MGM)-2
33 24 QUESTIONS 67 AND 68 / I’M A MAN –•– Chicago (Columbia)-9
34 69 AMERICAN PIE (Parts 1 and 2) –•– Don McLean (United Artists)-2
35 32 ABSOLUTELY RIGHT –•– The Five Man Electrical Band (Lionel)-8
36 52 SUNSHINE –•– Jonathan Edwards (Capricorn)-4
37 50 AN AMERICAN TRILOGY (Dixie / Battle Hymn Of the Republic / All My Trials) (Medley) –•– Mickey Newbury (Elektra)-5
38 48 BEHIND BLUE EYES –•– The Who (Decca)-5
39 43 I’M A GREEDY MAN (Part 1) –•– James Brown (Polydor)-4
40 45 YOUR MOVE –•– Yes (Atlantic)-11

december 1986 — total dullsville, with some clunkers.

On the road this weekend, I got to hear virtually the entire countdown from 1986.  While it wasn’t loaded with some of the awful 1989 songs, it did have some complete clunkers, strangely enough alongside a couple of of my favorites from the 80s.  But the main feature was how many Meh songs there were, including a couple of #1s.

It started off with a sad goodbye...the last top 40 hit by the Pointer Sisters, and a good song too that deserved better on a weak chart.  Ditto for Carly Simon and Kansas who had comeback records, but it ended up being their last.

The bad number 1s were on either end.  Billy Vera and the Beaters debuted with a plodding, live record...yuck...and Peter Cetera had his 2nd one in a row with just a stinker.  How it ever knocked out the iconic Bon Jovi song, I’ll never know.  I’m also not a fan of Shake You Down...a fine top 20 hit, but how he hit #1 when Freddie Jackson, Jeffrey Osborne, Luther Vandross, and others never did is beyond me.

The blah songs were many...by artists I generally liked...Lionel Richie, Madonna, Kool and the Gang, Robert Palmer, Daryl Hall, Toto, Billy Idol, Survivor, Steve Winwood, Bruce Hornsby, Glass Tiger...and worse yet, most of these made the top 10!

And then there’s the worse than blah of Huey Lewis (who jumped the shark with this one), Robbie Nevil, Bruce Springsteen, Wang Chung (ugh!), and the worst of all, the first pure rap record for Run DMC.  Painful.  You know it trouble when a 25 year old record is blazing for the top 10!

Besides Bon Jovi, this chart was saved by a great Pretenders record, Human League, late album hits by Genesis and Janet, and a resurgent Eddie Money.  Song of the week is definitely Bon Jovi.  Take that Peter Cetera!

1 4 THE NEXT TIME I FALL –•– Peter Cetera & Amy Grant – 12 (1)
2 1 YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME –•– Bon Jovi – 14 (1)
3 5 HIP TO BE SQUARE –•– Huey Lewis & The News – 8 (3)
4 8 THE WAY IT IS –•– Bruce Hornsby & The Range – 12 (4)
5 10 WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN –•– The Bangles – 11 (5)
6 6 WORD UP –•– Cameo – 13 (6)
7 11 EVERYBODY HAVE FUN TONIGHT –•– Wang Chung – 10 (7)
8 2 HUMAN –•– Human League – 13 (1)
9 9 LOVE WILL CONQUER ALL –•– Lionel Richie – 10 (9)
10 12 TO BE A LOVER –•– Billy Idol – 10 (10)

11 16 NOTORIOUS –•– Duran Duran – 6 (11)
12 3 TRUE BLUE –•– Madonna – 10 (3)
13 15 STAND BY ME –•– Ben E. King – 10 (13)
14 7 AMANDA –•– Boston – 11 (1)
15 17 SHAKE YOU DOWN –•– Gregory Abbott – 8 (15)
16 19 DON’T GET ME WRONG –•– Pretenders – 9 (16)
17 21 C’EST LA VIE –•– Robbie Nevil – 9 (17)
18 13 TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT –•– Eddie Money – 17 (4)
19 22 (FOREVER) LIVE AND DIE –•– Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – 11 (19)
20 33 WAR –•– Bruce Springsteen – 3 (20)

21 27 CONTROL –•– Janet Jackson – 6 (21)
22 24 YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU… DON’T YOU? –•– Howard Jones – 8 (22)
23 25 IS THIS LOVE –•– Survivor – 7 (23)
24 14 I’LL BE OVER YOU –•– Toto – 15 (11)
25 26 WILD WILD LIFE –•– Talking Heads – 14 (25)
26 28 LAND OF CONFUSION –•– Genesis – 6 (26)
27 30 LOVE IS FOREVER –•– Billy Ocean – 7 (27)
28 31 VICTORY –•– Kool & The Gang – 6 (28)
29 18 THE RAIN –•– Oran “Juice” Jones – 13 (9)
30 35 THE FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT, I GOTTA WEAR SHADES –•– Timbuk 3 – 7 (30)

31 38 SOMEDAY –•– Glass Tiger – 6 (31)
32 20 FREEDOM OVERSPILL –•– Steve Winwood – 11 (20)
33 36 FOOLISH PRIDE –•– Daryl Hall – 8 (33)
34 40 ALL I WANTED –•– Kansas – 6 (34)
35 39 YOU BE ILLIN’ –•– Run DMC- 7 (35)
36 23 I DIDN’T MEAN TO TURN YOU ON –•– Robert Palmer – 17 (2)
37 45 COMING AROUND AGAIN –•– Carly Simon – 6 (37)
38 50 AT THIS MOMENT –•– Billy Vera & The Beaters – 8 (38)
39 44 FOR TONIGHT –•– Nancy Martinez – 10 (39)
40 42 GOLDMINE –•– The Pointer Sisters – 6 (40)

November 1983 — the crossroads

Nearing the end of 1983, which marked the end of when I was writing down and tracking the top 40 every week.  I kept tabs on the charts for many years afterwards, but not in detail.  And the year ended on a generally good note.  Notable here is the last intersections of very different artists...Barry Manilow shared chart space with Duran Duran.  Air supply and the Fixx charted together.  Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton are next to both billy Joel (reasonable) and quiet riot, representing the big hair bands to come.

Billy Joel was on a resurgence...without a top 10 song from two albums in a row, he became an MTV staple.  Ditto for Pat Benatar and Elton John.  The veterans were figuring this thing out.

Scotland had a big week with sheena Easton, who also made the jump into the mtv era, one hit wonder Big Country, and the police’s song referencing Scotland.

David Bowie charted near peter schilling, who borrowed Major tom and had a big hit.

Final hit for Asia, sadly.  Jackson Browne, Barry?  And yes, the police.

Favorites are many ... lots of 4 star songs, plus the 5-star ain’t nobody, yes, love is a battlefield, Bonnie Tyler.  Award for the week goes to Pat Benatar!



1 1 ALL NIGHT LONG (All Night) –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-11 (3 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 SAY SAY SAY –•– Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (Columbia)-7 (2)
3 3 UPTOWN GIRL –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-10 (3)
4 4 ISLANDS IN THE STREAM –•– Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton (RCA)-14 (1)
5 5 CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE –•– Quiet Riot (Pasha)-11 (5)
6 7 LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD –•– Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)-10 (6)
7 10 SAY IT ISN’T SO –•– Daryl Hall John Oates (RCA)-5 (7)
8 12 HEART AND SOUL –•– Huey Lewis & The News (Chrysalis)-12 (8)
9 14 CRUMBLIN’ DOWN –•– John Cougar Mellencamp (Riva)-7 (9)
10 13 P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-8 (10)

11 17 CHURCH OF THE POISON MIND –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-6 (11)
12 6 TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART –•– Bonnie Tyler (Columbia)-20 (1)
13 9 SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER –•– The Motels (Capitol)-13 (9)
14 24 UNION OF THE SNAKE –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-4 (14)
15 8 ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER –•– The Fixx (MCA)-13 (4)
16 20 WHY ME –•– Irene Cara (Geffen)-6 (16)
17 15 TELEFONE (Long Distance Love Affair) –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-15 (9)
18 11 DELIRIOUS –•– Prince (Warner Brothers)-13 (8)
19 18 TONIGHT, I CELEBRATE MY LOVE –•– Peabo Bryson / Roberta Flack (Capitol)-21 (16)
20 16 MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL –•– Air Supply (Arista)-18 (2)

21 32 TWIST OF FATE –•– Olivia Newton-John (with John Travolta) (MCA)-4 (21)
22 34 SYNCHRONICITY II –•– The Police (A&M)-4 (22)
23 23 SEND HER MY LOVE –•– Journey (Columbia)-10 (23)
24 26 IN A BIG COUNTRY –•– Big Country (Mercury)-6 (24)
25 28 MAJOR TOM (Coming Home) –•– Peter Schilling (Elektra)-10 (25)
26 29 AIN’T NOBODY –•– Rufus & Chaka Khan (Warner Brothers)-9 (26)
27 37 OWNER OF A LONELY HEART –•– Yes (Atlantic)-4 (27)
28 25 TENDER IS THE NIGHT –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum)-10 (25)
29 33 SOULS –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-7 (29)
30 19 MODERN LOVE –•– David Bowie (EMI-America)-11 (14)

31 27 HOW MANY TIMES CAN WE SAY GOODBYE –•– Dionne Warwick & Luther Vandross (Arista)-8 (27)
32 30 MIRROR MAN –•– The Human League (A&M)-9 (30)
33 39 UNDERCOVER OF THE NIGHT –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-3 (33)
34 35 THE SMILE HAS LEFT YOUR EYES –•– Asia (Geffen)-7 (34)
35 38 I GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES –•– Elton John (Geffen)-5 (35)
36 36 JUST GOT LUCKY –•– JoBoxers (RCA)-12 (36)
37 42 BREAK MY STRIDE –•– Matthew Wilder (Private I)-11 (37)
38 53 READ ‘EM AND WEEP –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-2 (38)
39 43 TIME WILL REVEAL –•– DeBarge (Gordy)-7 (39)
40 41 INVISIBLE HANDS –•– Kim Carnes (EMI-America)-7 (40)

november 1980 — lots to love

I couldn’t believe it...two early 80s countdowns in a row!  And wow, was this another eclectic one.  The country records weren’t just the Kenny Rogers adult contemporary crossovers...this was ordinary Nelson and Jennings and Don Williams country.  And the early new wave of the vapors and devo charted (and then took a pause for 1981) at the same time.

Yacht rock was doing great, so was adult contemporary (holding down the top 2).  Queen refused to leave the top 10 for many more weeks, despite having been at #1 a month ago.

Diana Ross had THREE top 40 hits since “upside down” also refused to drop.  John Lennon was in the last weeks of his life, and despite this jump made anemic climbs in subsequent weeks until after his murder when he hit #1 for 5 weeks.

Being late in the year, all the songs still climbing this week ended up in the 1981 year end countdown, which I listened to live.  All were surprises, since I’d been tracking the charts most of the calendar year.

Despite being so close to when I started listening to pop music in earnest, I’m not sure I’d heard The Rolling Stones, Jackson Browne songs before.  I know I hadn’t heard jimmy hall’s or Randy Meisner’s until this year.

Favorites are many — guilty, lady, stephanie mills, Bruce Springsteen, pointer sisters, real love.  The top:  hungry heart!

1 2 LADY –•– Kenny Rogers (Liberty)-7 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 WOMAN IN LOVE –•– Barbra Streisand (Columbia)-11 (1)
3 5 THE WANDERER –•– Donna Summer (Geffen)-9 (3)
4 4 ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST –•– Queen (Elektra)-14 (1)
5 6 I’M COMING OUT –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-7 (5)
6 7 NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE –•– Stephanie Mills (20th Century)-15 (6)
7 8 MASTER BLASTER (Jammin’) –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-9 (7)
8 3 HE’S SO SHY –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-17 (3)
9 14 MORE THAN I CAN SAY –•– Leo Sayer (Warner Brothers)-8 (9)
10 32 (Just Like) STARTING OVER –•– John Lennon (Geffen)-3 (10)

11 12 DREAMING –•– Cliff Richard (EMI-America)-10 (11)
12 13 LOVELY ONE –•– The Jacksons (Epic)-8 (12)
13 18 YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELING –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-8 (13)
14 17 WHIP IT –•– Devo (Warner Brothers)-12 (14)
15 15 DREAMER –•– Supertramp (A&M)-9 (15)
16 19 HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT –•– Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)-7 (16)
17 23 LOVE ON THE ROCKS –•– Neil Diamond (Capitol)-3 (17)
18 24 NEVER BE THE SAME –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-6 (18)
19 21 OUT HERE ON MY OWN –•– Irene Cara (RSO)-14 (19)
20 20 ON THE ROAD AGAIN –•– Willie Nelson (Columbia)-11 (20)

21 30 HUNGRY HEART –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-2 (21)
22 22 THAT GIRL COULD SING –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum)-9 (22)
23 25 LET ME BE YOUR ANGEL –•– Stacy Lattisaw (Cotillion)-15 (23)
24 27 WITHOUT YOUR LOVE –•– Roger Daltrey (Polydor)-10 (24)
25 10 UPSIDE DOWN –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-19 (1)
26 26 SHE’S SO COLD –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-8 (26)
27 9 REAL LOVE –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-11 (5)
28 31 I’M HAPPY THAT LOVE HAS FOUND YOU –•– Jimmy Hall (Epic)-8 (28)
29 43 GUILTY –•– Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb (Columbia)-3 (29)
30 34 THEME FROM “THE DUKES OF HAZZARD” (Good Ol’ Boys) –•– Waylon (RCA)-10 (30)

31 37 DEEP INSIDE MY HEART –•– Randy Meisner (Epic)-5 (31)
32 38 EVERYBODY’S GOT TO LEARN SOMETIME –•– The Korgis (Asylum)-6 (32)
33 11 JESSE –•– Carly Simon (Warner Brothers)-16 (11)
34 39 THIS TIME –•– John Cougar (Riva)-8 (34)
35 55 EVERY WOMAN IN THE WORLD –•– Air Supply (Arista)-4 (35)
36 36 SOMETIMES A FANTASY –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-6 (36)
37 47 IT’S MY TURN –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-4 (37)
38 42 TURNING JAPANESE –•– The Vapors (United Artists / Liberty)-8 (38)
39 41 IF YOU SHOULD SAIL –•– Nielsen / Pearson (Capitol)-10 (39)
40 45 I BELIEVE IN YOU –•– Don Williams (MCA)-8 (40)

November 1981 — pushing the limits

Another eclectic early 80's countdown from the first year I seriously listened to the charts.  As I’ve noted before, 1981 had strong elements of jazz, pop, country, TV themes, instrumentals, adult contemporary, rock, and R&B.  What made this particular chart notable were a couple extremes in that department.

One was the inimitable "Super Freak" by Rick James, which the DJs described as one the safer, accessible records on the album.  Well, put it up against the Kenny Rogers plaintive “Share your Love with Me” (with Gladys Knight), and it sure doesn’t seem safe.  But the groove is undeniable, which is why it reappeared within a decade on MC Hammer’s iconic “U Can't Touch This”

Another out of place song was by Bob Seger — no ordinary rock song, nor anything like his Americana ballads of 1980...this was a LIVE, rockin' Memphis funk record.  (And the second live record on the countdown, after Billy Joel). And it was WAY up at #5, alongside Sheena Easton!  The Rolling Stones also had their biggest hit of the 80's and for a long time the biggest hit ever on the rock songs chart.  These all helped make the top echelon of the chart not my favorites.

Some notable convergences: Stevie’s Nicks had back to back hits, right next to her bandmate too!  Diana Ross had two in the countdown too, as did Richie, including the Commodores. "Endless Love" was right next to another mega-charter, "Physical" (19 weeks at #1 between them).

A few nostalgia records were charting...The Old Songs, Yesterday’s Songs, Diana Ross’s record...

But looking forward, broadly considered the biggest hit of the 80's, despite only peaking at #9..."Don't Stop Believin'" debuts this week -- it has been downloaded more in the 2000's than any other 80's track, despite being only the 3rd biggest hit off its own album.

First hits:  Quarterflash, Al Jarreau, Chilliwack, James Ingram, and most notably the Go Gos.
Last hit:  Marty Balin of Jefferson Starship.
Favorites (5-star): "Waiting for a Girl Like You," "Super Freak," "Promises in the Dark," "Just Once," and "Endless Love."  

And best song...just once!

1 3 PRIVATE EYES –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-11 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 2 START ME UP –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-12 (2)
3 1 ARTHUR’S THEME (Best That You Can Do) –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-13 (1)
4 4 FOR YOUR EYES ONLY –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-16 (4)
5 6 TRYIN’ TO LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU –•– Bob Seger (Capitol)-9 (5)
6 8 THE NIGHT OWLS –•– The Little River Band (Capitol)-12 (6)
7 7 HARD TO SAY –•– Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon)-11 (7)
8 9 I’VE DONE EVERYTHING FOR YOU –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-12 (8)
9 11 HERE I AM (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) –•– Air Supply (Arista)-7 (9)
10 15 WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU –•– Foreigner (Atlantic)-5 (10)

11 12 WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL –•– The Four Tops (Casablanca)-13 (11)
12 13 THE THEME FROM “HILL STREET BLUES” –•– Mike Post (Featuring Larry Carlton)-12 (12)
13 5 ENDLESS LOVE –•– Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (Motown)-18 (1)
14 23 PHYSICAL –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-6 (14)
15 17 WE’RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER –•– Al Jarreau (Warner Brothers)-15 (15)
16 20 OH NO –•– The Commodores (Motown)-7 (16)
17 18 SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-9 (17)
18 19 JUST ONCE –•– Quincy Jones Featuring James Ingram (A&M)-13 (18)
19 21 EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC –•– The Police (A&M)-7 (19)
20 26 THE OLD SONGS –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-5 (20)

21 28 WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE –•– Diana Ross (RCA)-4 (21)
22 10 STEP BY STEP –•– Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra)-16 (5)
23 14 SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME –•– Kenny Rogers (Liberty)-10 (14)
24 16 SUPER FREAK (Part 1) –•– Rick James (Gordy)-14 (16)
25 30 YOUNG TURKS –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-4 (25)
26 22 SHE’S A BAD MAMA JAMA (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) –•– Carl Carlton (20th Century)-12 (22)
27 27 ATLANTA LADY (Something About Your Love) –•– Marty Balin (EMI-America)-8 (27)
28 31 SAUSALITO SUMMERNIGHT –•– Diesel (Regency)-9 (28)
29 36 LET’S GROOVE –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (ARC)-6 (29)
30 55 TROUBLE –•– Lindsey Buckingham (Asylum)-3 (30)

31 50 LEATHER AND LACE –•– Stevie Nicks (with Don Henley) (Modern)-3 (31)
32 24 STOP DRAGGIN’ MY HEART AROUND –•– Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) (Modern)-16 (3)
33 49 HARDEN MY HEART –•– Quarterflash (Geffen)-4 (33)
34 40 MY GIRL (Gone, Gone, Gone) –•– Chilliwack (Millenium)-7 (34)
35 39 OUR LIPS ARE SEALED –•– The Go-Go’s (I.R.S.)-11 (35)
36 41 NO REPLY AT ALL –•– Genesis (Atlantic)-7 (36)
37 42 TAKE MY HEART (You Can Have It If You Want It) –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-4 (37)
38 38 PROMISES IN THE DARK –•– Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)-6 (38)
39 51 THE SWEETEST THING (I’ve Ever Known) –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-4 (39)
40 56 DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ –•– Journey (Columbia)-2 (40)

November 1975 -- the ultimate convergence

Fun countdown this week with lots of huge chart movement, big starts, lots of past and present #1s, and one of the all-time great chart coincidences.

The bottom 10 had 3 future ones as debuts (a record?) --Barry Manilow, Diana Ross, and Oho Players.  Elton John had two previous number ones -- one fully credited (Island Girl) and the preceding #1 "Bad Blood" where he sings prominent, but uncredited, background vocals.  Both Art Garfunkel and Frankie Valli had solo and group hits concurrently.

Paul McCartney had yet another of his top 40 hits I've never heard....Olivia Newton John's was not very familiar either.  K.C. and the Sunshine Band charge to #1, barely holding off Silver Convention, who nearly pulled off the very rare bound to #1 from outside the top 10.

But the big news of the week was Pete Wingfield who was at #18, climbing strongly (which in Billboard's charts parlance is "with a bullet") with "18 with a Bullet."  The lyrics make references to pop records and charts, so the pun was intentional.

Favorites: lots of good songs, I love Music... and the best SOS!

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1 6 THAT’S THE WAY (I Like It) –•– K.C. and the Sunshine Band (T.K.)-5 (1 week at #1) (1)

2 16 FLY, ROBIN, FLY –•– Silver Convention (Midland International)-7 (2)
3 3 WHO LOVES YOU –•– The Four Seasons (Warner Brothers / Curb)-14 (3)
4 1 ISLAND GIRL –•– Elton John (MCA)-7 (1)
5 9 THE WAY I WANT TO TOUCH YOU –•– The Captain and Tennille (A&M)-9 (5)
6 7 THIS WILL BE –•– Natalie Cole (Capitol)-13 (6)
7 8 FEELINGS –•– Morris Albert (RCA)-23 (6)
8 10 LOW RIDER –•– War (United Artists)-10 (8)
9 13 SKY HIGH –•– Jigsaw (Chelsea)-13 (9)
10 21 LET’S DO IT AGAIN –•– The Staple Singers (Curtom)-5 (10)

11 14 NIGHTS ON BROADWAY –•– Bee Gees (RSO)-8 (11)
12 2 LYIN’ EYES –•– Eagles (Asylum)-11 (2)
13 11 THEY JUST CAN’T STOP IT THE (Games People Play) –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-16 (5)
14 4 MIRACLES –•– Jefferson Starship (Grunt)-14 (3)
15 19 MY LITTLE TOWN –•– Simon and Garfunkel (Columbia)-6 (15)
16 5 HEAT WAVE / LOVE IS A ROSE –•– Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)-12 (5)
17 27 SATURDAY NIGHT –•– The Bay City Rollers (Arista)-7 (17)
18 23 EIGHTEEN WITH A BULLET –•– Pete Wingfield (Island)-14 (18)
19 22 I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU –•– Art Garfunkel (Columbia)-14 (19)
20 12 CALYPSO / I’M SORRY –•– John Denver (RCA)-15 (1)

21 25 BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN –•– Willie Nelson (Columbia)-13 (21)
22 26 OPERATOR –•– The Manhattan Transfer (Atlantic)-10 (22)
23 15 SOS –•– Abba (Atlantic)-14 (15)
24 28 I WANT’A DO SOMETHING FREAKY TO YOU –•– Leon Haywood (20th Century)-12 (24)
25 29 OUR DAY WILL COME –•– Frankie Valli (Private Stock)-6 (25)
26 18 DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA –•– The People’s Choice (TSOP)-14 (11)
27 36 VENUS AND MARS ROCK SHOW –•– Wings (Capitol)-4 (27)
28 32 SECRET LOVE –•– Freddy Fender (ABC / Dot)-6 (28)
29 24 BAD BLOOD –•– Neil Sedaka (Rocket)-11 (1)
30 37 I LOVE MUSIC (Part 1) –•– The O’Jays (Philadelphia International)-4 (30)

31 17 SOMETHING BETTER TO DO –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-10 (13)
32 40 I’M ON FIRE –•– 5000 Volts (Philips)-6 (32)
33 33 BRAZIL –•– The Ritchie Family (20th Century)-17 (11)
34 51 LOVE ROLLERCOASTER –•– The Ohio Players (Mercury)-2 (34)
35 47 FOX ON THE RUN –•– Sweet (Capitol)-2 (35)
36 44 THE LAST GAME OF THE SEASON (A Blind Man In the Bleachers) –•– David Geddes (Big Tree)-2 (36)
37 58 FOR THE LOVE OF YOU (Parts 1 and 2) –•– The Isley Brothers (T-Neck)-2 (37)
38 48 I WRITE THE SONGS –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-2 (38)
39 53 THEME FROM “MAHOGANY” (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-4 (39)
40 63 COUNTRY BOY (You Got Your Feet In L.A.) –•– Glen Campbell (Capitol)-3 (40)

October 1982 -- Slow WAY down...change is coming

As I alluded to with my last 1982 write-up, this was a time when change was clearly coming...MTV had launched, and songs were beginning to chart that would define what many people think of MTV 80's music...but those songs were still in the clear minority as the charts still had plenty of  yacht rock, country crossover, and just plain old adult contemporary.

First notes are for a few veteran artists at the end... Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and the Who both had their last top 40 hits.  America (like CSN) was on a resurgence, and they only hit the top 40 one more time, way down in the 30's.  Santana had their last top 40 hit...at least for the next 17 years when they came back with a vengeance.  Neil Diamond would go on to peak at #5 with his "E.T." inspired hit, but that would be his last hit to make even the top 30.

A couple artists had breakthroughs -- John Cougar posted two song, which ended up being his biggest 2 hits of his career, though he was a steady hit maker for another 10 years.  Alan Parsons finally made the top 10.  Lionel Richie was heading for #1 with his first solo hit.

Some lulls were going on -- Kool and the Gang, Linda Ronstadt, and Billy Joel, all of whom had seen much bigger success and would return for more in their next albums.  Air Supply had their first legit flop, after 7 consecutive top 5.  They had one more monster hit coming in a year.

They were among a great many light-rock and other super slow (Newton, Murphey, Cocker) songs throughout the charts which fit well with the post-disco era, but sprinkled in were the MTV favorites -- first hits ever by the Stray Cats, Toni Basil, Flock of Seagulls, poised to hit #1... Men at Work!  All would be overcome by the veterans rush of 1984 (plus Prince, Cyndi and Madonna.) but for now...what a contrast between #9 and #8!

Chart note:  since the last 1982 countdown, Steve Miller was displaced at #1 by Chicago, which had been held at #5 for 4 weeks, an extraordinarily low position to stall for so long and yet to hit #1.  Abracadabra then returned to #1, earning it a place on the top 100 songs of all time according to Billboard, along with Hurts So Good..

Favorites:  Pressure, Truly, Hold On, Gloria (4-star).  Hard to Say I'm Sorry, I Ran (5)-- and the winner is... flock of seagulls!


 1 1 JACK AND DIANE –•– John Cougar (Riva)-14 (4 weeks at #1) (1)

2 2 WHO CAN IT BE NOW –•– Men At Work (Columbia)-16 (2)
3 3 EYE IN THE SKY –•– The Alan Parsons Project (Arista)-17 (3)
4 6 I KEEP FORGETTIN’ (Every Time You’re Near) –•– Michael McDonald (Warner Brothers)-12 (4)
5 11 UP WHERE WE BELONG –•– Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes (Island)-10 (5)
6 9 HEART ATTACK –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-8 (6)
7 7 SOMEBODY’S BABY –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum)-13 (7)
8 8 YOU CAN DO MAGIC –•– America (Capitol)-13 (8)
9 10 I RAN (So Far Away) –•– A Flock Of Seagulls (Jive)-16 (9)
10 5 ABRACADABRA –•– The Steve Miller Band (Capitol)-22 (1)

11 13 BREAK IT TO ME GENTLY –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-10 (11)
12 15 GYPSY –•– Fleetwood Mac (Warner Brothers)-8 (12)
13 18 HEARTLIGHT –•– Neil Diamond (Columbia)-7 (13)
14 17 GLORIA –•– Laura Branigan (Atlantic)-16 (14)
15 16 HOLD ON –•– Santana (Columbia)-11 (15)
16 4 HARD TO SAY I’M SORRY –•– Chicago (Full Moon)-21 (1)
17 20 DON’T FIGHT IT –•– Kenny Loggins with Steve Perry (Columbia)-9 (17)
18 14 EYE OF THE TIGER –•– Survivor (Scotti Brothers)-21 (1)
19 19 WHAT’S FOREVER FOR –•– Michael Murphy (Liberty)-14 (19)
20 22 THE ONE YOU LOVE –•– Glenn Frey (Asylum)-10 (20)

21 21 BIG FUN –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-9 (21)
22 30 LOVE COME DOWN –•– Evelyn King (RCA)-9 (22)
23 27 NEW WORLD MAN –•– Rush (Mercuery)-6 (23)
24 26 YOU DON’T WANT ME ANYMORE –•– Steel Breeze (RCA)-9 (24)
25 25 NOBODY –•– Sylvia (RCA)-9 (25)
26 28 SWEET TIME –•– REO Speedwagon (Epic)-9 (26)
27 34 AMERICAN HEARTBEAT –•– Survivor (Scotti Brothers)-5 (27)
28 32 SOUTHERN CROSS –•– Crosby, Stills and Nash (Atlantic)-6 (28)
29 40 MUSCLES –•– Diana Ross (RCA)-4 (29)
30 33 ATHENA –•– The Who (Warner Brothers)-8 (30)

31 31 YOU DROPPED A BOMB ON ME –•– The Gap Band (Total Experience)-11 (31)
32 35 STEPPIN’ OUT –•– Joe Jackson (A&M)-10 (32)
33 37 PRESSURE –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-5 (33)
34 38 MICKEY –•– Toni Basil (Chrysalis)-8 (34)
35 36 I GET EXCITED –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-7 (35)
36 50 TRULY –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-3 (36)
37 42 LOVE ME TOMORROW –•– Chicago (Full Moon)-5 (37)
38 41 YOUNG LOVE –•– Air Supply (Arista)-6 (38)
39 43 ROCK THIS TOWN –•– The Stray Cats (EMI-America)-6 (39)
40 47 GET CLOSER –•– Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)-4 (40)

October 1974 -- excellent music pushing others down the charts

I got to hear virtually the whole countdown today, and it was a very fun eclectic mix as usual -- early 70's folk and singer-songwriters are still performing well, lots of R&B classics, some funk, bits of country.

The bottom half had lots of songs you'll never hear on 70's-themed radio as they'll focus on the more popular songs by Steppenwolf, the Raspberries, Brownsville Station, Earth Wind and Fire, or Kool and the Gang.  With the last two, they were still getting established, and Casey would never have known they'd each have another 10 years of big hits.

The other big repeated theme was the revolving door of #1s in 1974 -- Preston had the 27th #1 of the year.  And not only did more one-week #1's keep coming in the next few weeks, they were falling from #1 further than any songs previously.  Next week Preston would be at #15, which is still the all-time record for plummet from #1!  Warwick, Wonder, and Lennon would all do the same -- get to #1 then plummet out of the top 10.  Then, just as suddenly it stopped.

The site I get the top 40's from has an explanation: 

Favorites:  Carefree Highway, When Will I see you Again, and the lone 5-star song, "I honestly love you"

1 2 NOTHING FROM NOTHING –•– Billy Preston (A&M)-15 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 3 THEN CAME YOU –•– Dionne Warwick and the Spinners (Atlantic)-13 (2)
3 5 YOU HAVEN’T DONE NOTHIN’ –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-12 (3)
4 1 I HONESTLY LOVE YOU –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-10 (1)
5 15 JAZZMAN –•– Carole King (Ode)-8 (5)
6 7 THE BITCH IS BACK –•– Elton John (MCA)-7 (6)
7 8 NEVER MY LOVE –•– Blue Swede (EMI)-9 (7)
8 10 CAN’T GET ENOUGH –•– Bad Company (Swan Song)-10 (8)
9 11 STEPPIN’ OUT (Gonna Boogie Tonight) –•– Tony Orlando and Dawn (Bell)-9 (9)
10 17 LOVE ME FOR A REASON –•– The Osmonds (MGM)-8 (10)

11 12 STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES –•– Mac Davis (Columbia)-9 (11)
12 14 YOU LITTLE TRUSTMAKER –•– The Tymes (RCA)-10 (12)
13 13 SKIN TIGHT –•– The Ohio Players (Mercury)-7 (13)
14 16 DO IT BABY –•– The Miracles (Tamla)-9 (14)
15 19 SWEET HOME ALABAMA –•– Lynyrd Skynyrd (MCA)-13 (9)
16 20 TIN MAN –•– America (Warner Brothers)-9 (16)
17 22 YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET / FREE WHEELIN’ –•– Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Mercury)-5 (17)
18 24 WHATEVER GETS YOU THRU THE NIGHT –•– John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Nuclear Band (Apple)-4 (18)
19 23 BACK HOME AGAIN –•– John Denver (RCA)-5 (19)
20 26 GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE –•– The Righteous Brothers (Haven)-7 (20)

21 25 LIFE IS A ROCK (But the Radio Rolled Me) –•– Reunion (RCA)-7 (21)
22 28 CAREFREE HIGHWAY –•– Gordon Lightfoot (Reprise)-7 (22)
23 9 EARACHE MY EYE (Featuring Alice Bowie) –•– Cheech and Chong (Ode)-11 (9)
24 30 DO IT (‘Til You’re Satisfied) –•– B.T. Express (Scepter)-4 (24)
25 6 ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT –•– Cat Stevens (A&M)-12 (6)
26 4 BEACH BABY –•– First Class (UK)-14 (4)
27 33 MY MELODY OF LOVE –•– Bobby Vinton (ABC)-5 (27)
28 34 THE NEED TO BE –•– Jim Weatherly (Buddah)-6 (28)
29 29 STRAIGHT SHOOTIN’ WOMAN –•– Steppenwolf (Mums)-7 (29)
30 36 OVERNIGHT SENSATION (Hit Record) –•– The Raspberries (Capitol)-6 (30)

31 31 KINGS OF THE PARTY –•– Brownsville Station (Big Tree)-8 (31)
32 38 EVERLASTING LOVE –•– Carl Carlton (Back Beat)-5 (32)
33 35 DEVOTION –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (Columbia)-4 (33)
34 40 HONEY HONEY –•– Abba (Atlantic)-6 (34)
35 18 CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN –•– The Guess Who (RCA)-14 (6)
36 46 I’VE GOT THE MUSIC IN ME –•– The Kiki Dee Band (Rocket)-6 (36)
37 37 HIGHER PLANE –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-7 (37)
38 45 SECOND AVENUE –•– Garfunkel (Columbia)-5 (38)
39 48 LONGFELLOW SERENADE –•– Neil Diamond (Columbia)-3 (39)
40 72 WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN –•– The Three Degrees (Philadelphia International)-4 (40)

October 1989 -- Wait, I like some of these...

As much as I've ragged on music from the late 80's, I do remember having one mix tape from 1989 that both reflected what was on the radio at the time and yet I also liked it virtually top to bottom.  It must've been from this month, since mixed in with the truly awful were lead singles from big albums that fired up music at the end of the 80's.

Girl groups were doing well, and this week my favorites by Expose, Seduction, and Cover Girls all charted.  I was definitely hit or miss with big-hair rock, but among my favorites in the genre were "18 and Life," "Dr Feelgood" and Aerosmith.

A few veterans had their biggest hits of the era -- Rolling Stones, Cher-- or even their career -- the Cure, the B-52's, even Alice Cooper...and I liked them all!  Some vets had perfectly decent songs, even if they weren't iconic (Tina Turner, Starship)

Some artists were in the middle of long, long runs from the same album, to mixed results (Bobby Brown (OK), Milli Vanilli  & Madonna (good), Abdul (bad), Marx (awful), New Kids (OK and horrible).

Two legit rap records were on the charts, the pop-friendly Bust a Move, and the least pop friendly song of the decade of "Me So Horny" which led to some changes in how American Top 40 and others introduced and played songs.  

And at #1, leading her huge run of hits from Rhythm Nation, Janet Jackson.  

Favorites:  

(4-star) Aerosmith, Poco, Rolling Stones, Motley Crue, the Cure, Seduction, "Girl...you know" 

(5-star) Listen to your Heart, When I looked at him -- winner:  Expose!

1 1 MISS YOU MUCH –•– Janet Jackson – 8 (1)
2 4 LOVE SONG –•– The Cure – 11 (2)
3 6 SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE –•– Tears For Fears – 8 (3)
4 9 LISTEN TO YOUR HEART –•– Roxette – 9 (4)
5 5 MIXED EMOTIONS –•– Rolling Stones – 8 (5)
6 15 COVER GIRL –•– New Kids On The Block – 6 (6)
7 11 LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR –•– Aerosmith – 8 (7)
8 10 IT’S NO CRIME –•– Babyface – 11 (8)
9 7 BUST A MOVE –•– Young M.C. – 13 (7)
10 13 WHEN I LOOKED AT HIM –•– Expose – 10 (10)

11 14 DR. FEELGOOD –•– Motley Crue – 8 (11)
12 2 CHERISH –•– Madonna – 10 (2)
13 17 ROCK WIT’CHA –•– Bobby Brown – 9 (13)
14 3 GIRL I’M GONNA MISS YOU –•– Milli Vanilli – 12 (1)
15 22 WHEN I SEE YOU SMILE –•– Bad English – 6 (15)
16 18 HEALING HANDS –•– Elton John – 9 (16)
17 8 HEAVEN –•– Warrant – 14 (2)
18 12 IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME –•– Cher – 16 (3)
19 21 THE BEST –•– Tina Turner – 8 (19)
20 25 DIDN’T I (BLOW YOUR MIND) –•– New Kids On The Block – 6 (20)

21 26 LOVE SHACK –•– The B-52’s – 8 (21)
22 29 (IT’S JUST) THE WAY THAT YOU LOVE ME –•– Paula Abdul – 10 (22)
23 27 CALL IT LOVE –•– Poco – 9 (23)
24 16 IT’S NOT ENOUGH –•– Starship – 12 (12)
25 30 I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE –•– Martika – 8 (25)
26 41 ANGELIA –•– Richard Marx – 3 (26)
27 35 POISON –•– Alice Cooper – 5 (27)
28 38 BACK TO LIFE –•– Soul II Soul Featuring Caron Wheeler – 5 (28)
29 46 BLAME IT ON THE RAIN –•– Milli Vanilli – 3 (29)
30 19 18 AND LIFE –•– Skid Row – 16 (4)

31 33 GLAMOUR BOYS –•– Living Colour – 9 (31)
32 40 SUNSHINE –•– Dino – 7 (32)
33 37 DON’T SHUT ME OUT –•– Kevin Paige – 10 (33)
34 34 LET GO –•– Sharon Bryant – 10 (34)
35 42 GET ON YOUR FEET –•– Gloria Estefan – 4 (35)
36 24 YOU’RE MY ONE AND ONLY (TRUE LOVE) –•– Seduction – 16 (23)
37 48 ME SO HORNY –•– 2 Live Crew – 7 (37)
38 49 DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES –•– Kix – 7 (38)
39 45 MY HEART SKIPS A BEAT –•– Cover Girls – 7 (39)

40 58 WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE –•– Billy Joel – 2 (40) 

Worst #1's of the 80's

Having now had a year to listen to countdowns from the 70's and 80's on Sirius XM, it's time to join some of the debates about best and worst songs.  I'll start with the easiest one to do...worst #1's of the 1980's.  It's easy because I give all my iTunes songs ratings, I'm only missing a couple 80's #1's in my collection, and only 11 #1's qualified for the lowest 1-star rating.  Just missing the cut-off was Bon Jovi's boring, overly earnest, way too slow, cliche-fest "I'll Be There for You."

I don't mind some cheese, some Yacht Rock, some country, or some disco, so the early 80's were largely safe.  Indeed, of the 77 #1's from the 80's I rated 2-star or below, a whopping 67 are from 1986 or later.  That's a lot of "meh" in 4 years.  I also don't ordinarily hold an artists' otherwise good choices against them when they put out an obviously commercial record (Bob Segar, Starship).  But I have a low toleration for songs that whine or are too slow, especially if it's a remake, and especially (it seems) if it's in a movie!

So, here they are:

10.  Kokomo (from "Cocktail") - The Beach Boys (1988)

Not the worst song ever, but just flat-out annoying.  It's made worse by being so catchy, and if it were just the chorus, it would be off this list.  But the verses have lots of phrases like "off the Florida Keys" that simply seem off-key to me and totally grate.  Given the caliber of the band, it hurts even more.  They had more top 40 hits in the 80's than you can name (5!), and this was the worst by far.

9.  Rock On (from "Dream a Little Dream") - Michael Damien

Here's one of two suffering from mis-placed bravado.  Take a singer with a serious lack of talent or originality, give him a classic 70's song, and have him plod his way through it, and how did this boring song even make the top 20?  It didn't even come from a hit movie.  It's not as embarrassing as the teeny boppers, but for sheer inexplicability combined with awfulness, it makes the list.

8.  If You Don't Know Me By Now - Simply Red (1989)

Just shoot me now.  Beautiful R&B ballad from the 70's that was awfully slow then.  During the pouring molasses period of the late 80's, this fit right in.  Here the verses have some energy and life, but the chorus is painful.  And when a song has an element about time and waiting in it, making the song itself REALLY slow only amplifies the effect!  Oh, and I hate it when artists sing around the tempo of the song and scrunch lots of words into one beat "when I come home a little late at night" (yes, Gloria Estefan!)

7.  Lean On Me - Club Nouveau (1987)

Yet another remake, another disaster.  Bill Withers' version is beautiful and moving.  Put it to a techno-reggae beat, add some out of place "We be jammin"'s, and you have a trainwreck of mixed styles and songs that don't match their tunes.  Terrible.

6.  Groovy Kind Of Love (from "Buster") - Phil Collins (1988)

The most boring #1 of the 80's...Phil was on a long run of hits, most of which I love, and some of his later songs sounded like retreads through a machine (Something Happened on the Way to Heaven...the Cliche song), but this was terrible.  It utterly plodded along in a remake of a fairly upbeat song.  The title featured a fun word, and the original was fun, but when you look up the phrase "suck the life out of" on wikipedia, this record jacket should appear.

5.  I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany (1987)

Debbie Gibson's songs aren't far off this list, and Tiffany's other #1 I can live with "Could've Been," as it was an earnest, original teen ballad.  But in general, the teen queen trend was yet another of the reasons late 80's music was so bad.   Remaking a classic, giving it a ridiculous little drum line, and then the half-growl on "night" -- ugh!  "I Saw Him Standing There" is even worse, but that's another list.

4.  Take My Breath Away (from "Top Gun") - Berlin (1986)

Simple enough...I'd always wished someone would have taken her breath away!  It starts off with an off-key series of notes and goes downhill.  "Watching in slow motion" through this glacial ballad is near torture.  It's the earliest song on this list, and one of MANY movie songs (my only explanation for why they hit #1!)...speaking of...

3.  Batdance (from "Batman")- Prince (1989)

By the end of the 80's and the end of my buying of singles, Prince was by far the biggest artist of the 80's that I'd never purchased ANYTHING by...no CDs, no albums, no singles.  But I recognized his genius, even when I didn't like the songs ("Purple Rain").  This late-80's monstrosity is the exception -- I don't get this one at all, even with the connection to the movie.  It's a mess, changing every minute.  It would've been a 2-star instrumental, but splicing in the weird spoken parts, it's terrible!

2.  Red Red W(h)ine - UB40 (1983 & 1988)

This song was so bad that they released it twice.  Caught up in a bizarre trend of older songs returning to the radio (even after the bands had broken up), this one was at least by a still-existing band (who even went on to another #1).  It was even written by Neil Diamond, whom I generally like (but who's live recording of this song is unlistenable).  The original in 1983 was a plodding, whiny song.  The remake added a rap interlude, and it was a terrible mess.

And at #1...

1.  Hangin' Tough - New Kids On The Block (1989)

The 80's music scene came to a wicked crash in 1989.  Milli Vanilli faked their way to #1, Paula Abdul was making money for singing, and a bunch of teenagers were having #1s, led by this monstrosity that clearly was not aimed at my demographic as a male college student.  Still, this song with the whistles and other stunts, plus utterly mis-placed bravado make this an embarrassment.  A terrible song -- the worst of the 80's!

October 1973 -- Big stars and lots of families

I got to hear the whole countdown this week from October 1973.

It started off interesting with the debut of the first posthumous hit by Jim Croce, who died just a few weeks earlier.  Casey acknowledged this.

What Casey didn't know was that two first-time American groups would become among the most popular of the 80's...the Pointer Sisters and Kool and the Gang.  The sound of both developed a lot over time, especially the Pointers.

Lots of past or future #1's on the countdown this week, including one each by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye, who debuted with a duet.  Roberta Flack debuted with a song which broke her streak of #1's and Grammy winners, when "Jesse" only hit #30.

He told the story of how the DeFranco family was first featured in teen fan magazines before releasing a single.  It ended up being their only top 10, and they were off the charts for good one year later.  Another family band the Osmonds, were almost at the end of their hit making, but little sister Marie was cruising up to #5 with her eventual #1 hit on the country chart, becoming the youngest female to do so.  Hard to believe she's still widely famous 45 years later!

But then again, this was a chart full of famous people, despite no Beatles or Elvis.  In this classics-filled countdown, I was surprised to find Bob Dylan's and the Doobie Brothers songs missed the top 10, as did future Eagle Joe Walsh.

The hit R&B ballad "Love Jones" was parodied by Cheech and Chong, and it was awfully funny!

Another odd charter was "Why Me" by Kris Kristofferson who would eventually hit #16, despite falling this week and one other time.  19 weeks in the top 40 in the end, 38 on the Hot 100, with one of the most explicit Christian songs I remember ever hearing on the chart.  It ended being the #2 song of the year!

And you would think the Allman Brothers would've hit #1, having burst to #2 so quickly and abruptly, but it fell the very next week and never hit #1.  And what Casey didn't know is that Cher would be married to Greg Allman in a couple years...

Favorite:  All I Know

 1 1 HALF-BREED –•– Cher (MCA)-11 (2 weeks at #1)
2 7 RAMBLIN MAN –•– The Allman Brothers Band (Capricorn)-8
3 3 LET’S GET IT ON –•– Marvin Gaye (Tamla)-14
4 5 HIGHER GROUND –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-9
5 8 ANGIE –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-6
6 6 THAT LADY (Part 1) –•– The Isley Brothers (T-Neck)-14
7 2 LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK –•– Paul Simon (with the Dixie Hummingbirds) (Columbia)-11
8 11 MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA –•– Gladys Knight and the Pips (Buddah)-7
9 10 KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ (Part 1) –•– Eddie Kendricks (Tamla)-8
10 4 WE’RE AN AMERICAN BAND –•– Grand Funk (Capitol)-12

11 14 YES WE CAN CAN –•– The Pointer Sisters (Blue Thumb)-9
12 23 HEARTBEAT-IT’S A LOVEBEAT –•– The DeFranco Family Featuring Tony DeFranco (20th Century)-6
13 25 PAPER ROSES –•– Marie Osmond (MGM / Kolob)-5
14 17 FREE RIDE –•– The Edgar Winter Group (Epic)-10
15 15 CHINA GROVE –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-9
16 12 MY MARIA –•– B.W. Stevenson (RCA)-12
17 20 BASKETBALL JONES FEATURING TYRONE SHOELACES –•– Cheech and Chong (Ode)-6
18 9 DELTA DAWN –•– Helen Reddy (Capitol)-17
19 29 ALL I KNOW –•– Garfunkel (Columbia)-5
20 26 KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR –•– Bob Dylan (Columbia)-7

21 13 SAY, HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY SWEET GYSPY ROSE –•– Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando (Bell)-14
22 16 BROTHER LOUIE –•– The Stories (Kama Sutra)-17
23 21 WHY ME –•– Kris Kristofferson (Monument)-28
24 30 ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY –•– Joe Walsh (Dunhill)-10
25 18 TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-20
26 42 SPACE RACE –•– Billy Preston (A&M)-4
27 22 YOU’VE NEVER BEEN THIS FAR BEFORE –•– Conway Twitty (MCA)-10
28 28 GET IT TOGETHER –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-7
29 34 HURTS SO GOOD –•– Millie Jackson (Spring)-6
30 31 IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR –•– Cross Country (Atco)-9

31 41 WE MAY NEVER PASS THIS WAY (Again) –•– Seals and Crofts (Warner Brothers)-4
32 40 FUNKY STUFF –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-6
33 39 SUMMER (The First Time) –•– Bobby Goldsboro (United Artists)-8
34 45 ECSTASY –•– The Ohio Players (Westbound)-10
35 66 YOU’RE A SPECIAL PART OF ME –•– Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye (Motown)-2
36 38 LET ME IN –•– The Osmonds (MGM / Kolob)-6
37 19 THEME FROM “CLEOPATRA JONES” –•– Joe Simon Featuring the Mainstreeters (Spring)-12
38 44 JESSE –•– Roberta Flack (Atlantic)-4
39 33 JIMMY LOVES MARY-ANNE –•– Looking Glass (Epic)-13
40 76 I GOT A NAME –•– Jim Croce (ABC)-

October 1984 -- last blasts and new beginnings -- Wham!

Back to 1984 this week and the interesting nexus between early-80's pop, emerging superstar artists, and as usual for this year, a very large number of veterans.

One veteran with his last top 40 hit was Kenny Rogers, who with "What About Me" had the most popular song by three independent artists in the 80's, and also brought to an end the country-influenced pop/AC that had peaked in 1981.

Also fading out are Laura Branigan (her last top 20), Rick Springfield (ditto), Diana Ross (one big hit after this), Donna Summer (ditto).  Hall and Oates and Sheena Easton are on the wane, but both have substantial hits for a few more years.  Huey Lewis and Prince are well in-stride.

First-timers are well-represented by iconic one-hit wonders Scandal and Shiela E, plus Bananarama (3 top 10's), Billy Ocean (3 #1's), and most of all, Wham! who dominated the charts through the rest of the decade.  Madonna and Cyndi Lauper are still on their first albums, Madonna with her first top 5!

Another trend that was emerging was big-hair rock bands (Def Leppard and Van Halen scored earlier in the year), but this week at least is quite a lull, with only Night Ranger charting.  The quirky 1983-4 music is also almost unrepresented, with only the Fixx on the chart.  

The rest was serious, long-term veterans from the early 70's and even before:  David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner (2x), the Jacksons, Pointer Sisters, Barry Gibb, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Brice Springsteen, Lindsey Buckingham, Chicago....and at #1, 20 years after his first #1, Stevie Wonder!

While that one wasn't a favorite, this week had 3 5-star songs:  Sheila E, Bananarama, and my favorite (which was also a favorite from 1982...re-released in 1984)... "I'm so Excited"

1 2 I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU –•– Stevie Wonder (Motown)-9 (1 Week at #1) (1)
2 1 LET’S GO CRAZY –•– Prince & The Revolution (Warner Brothers)-11 (1)
3 3 DRIVE –•– The Cars (Elektra)-11 (3)
4 6 HARD HABIT TO BREAK –•– Chicago (Full Moon / Warner Brothers)-11 (4)
5 8 LUCKY STAR –•– Madonna (Sire)-8 (5)
6 11 CARIBBEAN QUEEN (No More Love On The Run) –•– Billy Ocean (Jive)-10 (6)
7 4 MISSING YOU –•– John Waite (EMI-America)-17 (1)
8 10 COVER ME –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-10 (8)
9 7 THE GLAMOROUS LIFE –•– Sheila E. (Warner Brothers)-18 (7)
10 5 SHE BOP –•– Cyndi Lauper (Portrait)-13 (3)

11 9 THE WARRIOR –•– Scandal Featuring Patty Smyth (Columbia)-16 (7)
12 16 ON THE DARK SIDE –•– Eddie & The Cruisers / John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band (Scotti Brothers)-18 (12)
13 15 I’M SO EXCITED –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-27 (13)
14 12 CRUEL SUMMER –•– Bananarama (London)-13 (9)
15 13 WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT –•– Tina Turner (Capitol)-22 (1)
16 19 ARE WE OURSELVES? –•– The Fixx (MCA)-9 (16)
17 21 SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-8 (17)
18 28 PURPLE RAIN –•– Prince & The Revolution (Warner Brothers)-2 (18)
19 14 IF THIS IS IT –•– Huey Lewis & The News (Chrysalis)-13 (6)
20 23 BLUE JEAN –•– David Bowie (EMI-America)-5 (20)

21 22 THERE GOES MY BABY –•– Donna Summer (Geffen)-10 (21)
22 25 BOP ‘TIL YOU DROP –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-9 (22)
23 24 GO INSANE –•– Lindsey Buckingham (Elektra)-12 (23)
24 26 SWEPT AWAY –•– Diana Ross (RCA)-7 (24)
25 27 WHO WEARS THESE SHOES? –•– Elton John (Geffen)-6 (25)
26 32 WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO –•– Wham! (Columbia)-6 (26)
27 31 DESERT MOON –•– Dennis DeYoung (A&M)-6 (27)
28 34 BETTER BE GOOD TO ME –•– Tina Turner (Capitol)-5 (28)
29 29 FLESH FOR FANTASY –•– Billy Idol (Chrysalis)-8 (29)
30 33 I FEEL FOR YOU –•– Chaka Khan (Warner Brothers)-6 (30)

31 35 STRUT –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-8 (31)
32 38 OUT OF TOUCH –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA)-3 (32)
33 41 WHAT ABOUT ME? –•– Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes & James Ingram (RCA)-5 (33)
34 17 TORTURE –•– The Jacksons (Epic)-9 (17)
35 49 ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT –•– Cyndi Lauper (Portrait)-2 (35)
36 18 WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES –•– Night Ranger (MCA / Camel)-14 (14)
37 37 SHINE SHINE –•– Barry Gibb (MCA)-7 (37)
38 54 PENNY LOVER –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-2 (38)
39 20 THE LUCKY ONE –•– Laura Branigan (Atlantic)-11 (20)
40 40 THE LAST TIME I MADE LOVE –•– Joyce Kennedy & Jeffrey Osborne (A&M)-9 (40)

September 1986 -- Where have all these songs been?

Normally, I find mid-80's countdowns on SiriusXM to be awfully boring.  Sure, I like music from that time in general, but they're so core to the 80's that many I hear way too much.  So, what a surprise to the countdown this week...I can hardly believe how many songs I've not heard at all since I started listening to 80's on 8, nor to any degree on radio at all since the 80's....and some are awfully big hits.  And a good number are really quite bad!

Reason it's bad: 
1. rip-off songs -- Stacey Q and Regina both defined Madonna-Wannabe.
2. Old songs -- the Beatles "twist and shout" returns to the top 40 after Ferris Bueller; "Earth Angel" from the 1950's back by New Edition, from another movie.
3. Some-artists retreads:  Nu Shooz and Robert Palmer copy their earlier hits
4.  Actors-turned-singers:  Don Johnson and the due at #2
5. Rockers turned balladeers:  Loverboy...ugh!
6. Angry songs:  Simply Red
7. Wow, way too slow songs:  too many to list
8. Songs I've ALWAYS hated:  Berlin, Friends and Lovers, Walk this Way, Don't Forget Me, Missionary Man
9. Songs that have aged poorly:  Dancing on the Ceiling, True Colors, Rumours
10.  Otherwise decent songs I never, ever, ever need to hear again:  Stuck with you, Higher Love, When I think of You, Sweet Freedom (from another movie)
11. General mid 80's boring:  Genesis, Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Gloria Estefan, Journey,

Haven't heard since 1986:  "Press" (which I thought had been about newspapers...) -- McCartney never went higher again.; "Earth Angel", "Love Zone", "Dreamtime" "Point of No Return." "Friends and Lovers"

Still some favorites then that I still like:  All Cried Out, Paranoimia, Take Me Home Tonight (verging on category #10), Human, Papa don't preach
Songs I like better than I did: Billy Joel, Van Halen, "Captain of her heart" (mis-described as 'yacht rock' when it was more sophisti-pop like Swing out Sister or Breathe),

1 1 STUCK WITH YOU –•– Huey Lewis & The News – 9 (1)

2 3 FRIENDS AND LOVERS –•– Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson – 13 (2)
3 2 DANCING ON THE CEILING –•– Lionel Richie – 11 (2)
4 6 WALK THIS WAY –•– Run DMC & Aerosmith- 10 (4)
5 8 DON’T FORGET ME (WHEN I’M GONE) –•– Glass Tiger – 12 (5)
6 9 DREAMTIME –•– Daryl Hall – 9 (6)
7 14 WHEN I THINK OF YOU –•– Janet Jackson – 8 (7)
8 15 TWO OF HEARTS –•– Stacey Q – 12 (8)
9 4 TAKE MY BREATH AWAY –•– Berlin – 15 (1)
10 11 LOVE ZONE –•– Billy Ocean – 10 (10)

11 5 WORDS GET IN THE WAY –•– Miami Sound Machine featuring Gloria Estefan – 16 (5)
12 17 THROWING IT ALL AWAY –•– Genesis – 7 (12)
13 19 TYPICAL MALE –•– Tina Turner – 5 (13)
14 20 HEARTBEAT –•– Don Johnson – 6 (14)
15 10 BABY LOVE –•– Regina – 15 (10)
16 18 MISSIONARY MAN –•– Eurythmics – 10 (16)
17 7 VENUS –•– Bananarama – 14 (1)
18 23 ALL CRIED OUT –•– Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam With Full Force – 10 (18)
19 22 HEAVEN IN YOUR EYES –•– Loverboy – 9 (19)
20 16 THE CAPTAIN OF HER HEART –•– Double – 14 (16)

21 12 HIGHER LOVE –•– Steve Winwood – 16 (1)
22 30 TRUE COLORS –•– Cyndi Lauper – 5 (22)
23 25 TWIST AND SHOUT –•– The Beatles – 8 (23)
24 29 A MATTER OF TRUST –•– Billy Joel – 8 (24)
25 26 LOVE WALKS IN –•– Van Halen – 8 (25)
26 33 I DIDN’T MEAN TO TURN YOU ON –•– Robert Palmer – 7 (26)
27 32 SWEET LOVE –•– Anita Baker – 7 (27)
28 13 SWEET FREEDOM –•– Michael McDonald – 16 (7)
29 34 EARTH ANGEL –•– New Edition – 6 (29)
30 31 MONEY’S TOO TIGHT (TO MENTION) –•– Simply Red – 11 (30)

31 35 POINT OF NO RETURN –•– Nu Shooz – 13 (31)
32 21 PRESS –•– Paul McCartney – 9 (21)
33 28 RUMORS –•– Timex Social Club – 16 (8)
34 37 GIRL CAN’T HELP IT –•– Journey – 5 (34)
35 27 PAPA DON’T PREACH –•– Madonna – 14 (1)
36 51 HUMAN –•– Human League – 3 (36)
37 40 PARANOIMIA –•– Art Of Noise With Max Headroom – 7 (37)
38 46 TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT –•– Eddie Money – 7 (38)
39 48 IN YOUR EYES –•– Peter Gabriel – 5 (39)
40 44 I’LL BE OVER YOU –•– Toto – 5 (40)

September 1970

I heard up to #27 on the chart this week, and I was amazed at how great American Top 40 sounded so early in its run, having only started a few months earlier.  So many jingles, catch-phrases, and expressions were already in show.  The difference shows this early was that he betrayed more of his own personal feelings for various songs.  

Of note, he introduced James Taylor, who recall was not a superstar in 1970...this was his very first week on the chart ever, with a song that would be in the Grammy and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he noted how some songs are borne out of a sense of deep pain and sadness...."Here's James Taylor."  He should not have known what Taylor would become, but apparently he did!

Stevie Wonder came on, and Casey reminded us that Stevie was on his honeymoon, which may explain the message behind "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" -- and that Stevie was only 20!  Wow.

And a third Wow moment was when he introduced Linda Ronstadt, herself still a new artist, saying her song would be on the charts "for a long, long time."  And while it only made #25 on the weekly chart, it's been a radio staple ever since.

Other classics "Lola" "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", a couple Neil Diamond songs, a song called "War" and a band called "War."

When I heard a countdown from this period last year, I heard the debut of "Rubber Duckie" which Casey previewed as a song by an artist who wasn't really alive, or something like that.  Got my brain spinning trying to think whom he could mean!

My favorite:  I'm gonna love this song for a Long, Long Time.

1 1 AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-8 (2 weeks at #1) (#1)
2 2 WAR –•– Edwin Starr (Gordy)-12 (#6)
3 3 LOOKIN’ OUT MY BACK DOOR / LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT –•– Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fantasy)-8 (#2)
4 4 PATCHES –•– Clarence Carter (Atlantic)-11 (#4)
5 5 JULIE, DO YA LOVE ME –•– Bobby Sherman (Metromedia)-9 (#3)
6 12 CRACKLIN’ ROSIE –•– Neil Diamond (Uni)-6 (#7)
7 9 CANDIDA –•– Dawn (Bell)-10 (#5)
8 13 SNOWBIRD –•– Anne Murray (Capitol)-11 (#12)
9 14 (I Know) I’M LOSING YOU –•– Rare Earth (Rare Earth)-9 (#9)
10 6 25 OR 6 TO 4 –•– Chicago (Columbia)-10 (#8)

11 11 DON’T PLAY THAT SONG –•– Aretha Franklin with the Dixie Flyers (Atlantic)-8 (#10)
12 17 GROOVY SITUATION –•– Gene Chandler (Mercury)-12 (#14)
13 20 ALL RIGHT NOW –•– Free (A&M)-7 (#16)
14 15 I (Who Have Nothing) –•– Tom Jones (Parrot)-6 (#11)
15 7 IN THE SUMMERTIME –•– Mungo Jerry (Janus)-12 (#19)
16 18 RUBBER DUCKIE –•– Ernie (Columbia)-7 (#13)
17 8 (They Long To Be) CLOSE TO YOU –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-15 (#54)
18 39 GREEN-EYED LADY –•– Sugarloaf (Liberty)-7 (#36)
19 40 I’LL BE THERE –•– Jackson 5 (Motown)-2 (#15)
20 10 MAKE IT WITH YOU –•– Bread (Elektra)-16 (#52)

21 16 SPILL THE WINE –•– Eric Burdon and War (MGM)-19 (#33)
22 27 NEANDERTHAL MAN –•– Hotlegs (Capitol)-6 (#22)
23 28 JOANNE –•– Michael Nesmith and the First National Band (RCA)-8 (#18)
24 25 IT’S A SHAME –•– The Spinners (V.I.P.)-10 (#17)
25 26 EXPRESS YOURSELF –•– Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (Warner Brothers)-7 (#27)
26 35 INDIANA WANTS ME –•– R. Dean Taylor (Rare Earth)-4 (#25)
27 30 LONG LONG TIME –•– Linda Ronstadt (Capitol)-7 (Not on chart)
28 23 SOLITARY MAN –•– Neil Diamond (Bang)-22 (#34)
29 36 LOLA –•– The Kinks (Reprise)-5 (#31)
30 33 OUT IN THE COUNTRY –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-5 (#21)

31 31 CLOSER TO HOME –•– Grand Funk Railroad (Capitol)-7 (#30)
32 32 PEACE WILL COME (According To Plan) / STOP I DON’T WANNA’ HEAR IT ANYMORE –•– Melanie (Buddah)-6 (#20)
33 34 LOOK WHAT THEY’VE DONE TO MY SONG MA –•– The New Seekers (Elektra)-4 (#29)
34 19 SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED (I’m Yours) –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-14 (Off)
35 37 THAT’S WHERE I WENT WRONG –•– The Poppy Family Featuring Susan Jacks (London)-8 (#26)
36 21 HAND ME DOWN WORLD –•– The Guess Who (RCA)-11 (#32)
37 42 IT’S ONLY MAKE BELEIVE –•– Glen Campbell (Capitol)-4 (#23)
38 45 EL CONDOR PASA –•– Simon and Garfunkel (Columbia)-3 (#24)
39 46 STILL WATER (Love) –•– The Four Tops (Motown)-5 (#28)
40 50 FIRE AND RAIN –•– James Taylor (Warner Brothers)-3 (#45)

September 1983 -- The Fun of the One Hit Wonder

Back to 1983 this week and that quirky time in pop music.  MTV and general trends had almost taken out all country and older style adult contemporary from the chart (Barbra Striesand, Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, ...).  Almost...

Kenny and Dolly are dashing toward the last country flavored #1 or even top 10 for nearly a decade.  Juice Newton has her last hit, which despite being a lead single and not being very country will stall in the low 20's.  Air Supply, with some help from producer Jim Steinman, is crashing the top 10 one last time.

What will eventually fill the gap is the amazing run of veteran artists with the money to put into videos who will define 1984.  For now, you get some iconic one hit wonders in the top 10 like Taco, Michael Sembello, and Men Without Hats... the breakthrough by Eurythmics, a virtual one-hit wonder in Bonnie Tyler.  Further down, Madness, the Fixx, Naked Eyes, Frank Stallone....
2 years later, Michael Jackson would've been gunning for a 4th #1 from Thriller with the amazing "Human Nature," but instead it's held back by quirk and bombast...and I loved it!

And at #1, the beginning of that video-driven, veteran onslaught, Billy Joel.

Favorites:  many, led by Donna Summer, Men without hats, Laura Branigan, and the best:  Bonnie Tyler, one of the few songs I've ever requested on the radio.

1 2 TELL HER ABOUT IT –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-9 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 4 TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART –•– Bonnie Tyler (Columbia)-11 (2)
3 3 THE SAFETY DANCE –•– Men Without Hats (Backstreet)-14 (3)
4 1 MANIAC –•– Michael Sembello (Casablanca)-17 (1)
5 9 MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL –•– Air Supply (Arista)-9 (5)
6 5 SWEET DREAMS (Are Made Of This) –•– The Eurythmics (RCA)-20 (1)
7 7 HUMAN NATURE –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-10 (7)
8 8 PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ –•– Taco (RCA)-14 (4)
9 12 (She’s) SEXY + 17 –•– The Stray Cats (EMI-America)-8 (9)
10 10 DON’T CRY –•– Asia (Geffen)-9 (10)

11 16 KING OF PAIN –•– The Police (A&M)-5 (11)
12 14 FAR FROM OVER –•– Frank Stallone (RSO)-9 (12)
13 17 TRUE –•– Spandau Ballet (Chrysalis)-8 (13)
14 15 PROMISES, PROMISES –•– Naked Eyes (EMI-America)-11 (14)
15 6 EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE –•– The Police (A&M)-17 (1)
16 19 HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU –•– Laura Branigan (Atlantic)-13 (16)
17 26 ISLANDS IN THE STREAM –•– Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton (RCA)-5 (17)
18 11 SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY –•– Donna Summer (Mercury)-18 (3)
19 13 LAWYERS IN LOVE –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum)-12 (13)
20 18 I’LL TUMBLE 4 YA –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-13 (9)

21 29 ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER –•– The Fixx (MCA)-5 (21)
22 23 DEAD GIVEAWAY –•– Shalamar (Solar)-14 (22)
23 28 BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE –•– The Talking Heads (Sire)-9 (23)
24 21 HUMAN TOUCH –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-12 (18)
25 30 TELEFONE (Long Distance Love Affair) –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-6 (25)
26 27 KISS THE BRIDE –•– Elton John (Geffen)-8 (26)
27 20 (Keep Feeling) FASCINATION –•– The Human League (A&M)-18 (8)
28 31 TELL HER NO –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-7 (28)
29 32 BIG LOG –•– Robert Plant (Es Paranza)-8 (29)
30 37 DELIRIOUS –•– Prince (Warner Brothers)-4 (30)

31 34 TONIGHT, I CELEBRATE MY LOVE –•– Peabo Bryson / Roberta Flack (Capitol)-12 (31)
32 25 DON’T YOU GET SO MAD –•– Jeffrey Osborne (A&M)-11 (25)
33 33 LADY LOVE ME (One More Time) –•– George Benson (Warner Brothers)-10 (30)
34 36 DON’T FORGET TO DANCE –•– The Kinks (Arista)-6 (34)
35 40 SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER –•– The Motels (Capitol)-4 (35)
36 39 SITTING AT THE WHEEL –•– The Moody Blues (Threshold)-4 (36)
37 38 IT MUST BE LOVE –•– Madness (Geffen)-6 (37)
38 22 IT’S A MISTAKE –•– Men At Work (Columbia)-13 (6)
39 47 IF ANYONE FALLS –•– Stevie Nicks (Modern)-3 (39)
40 41 COLD BLOODED –•– Rick James (Gordy)-9 (40)

September 1976

I heard the first half or more of this countdown, and yes, even with the dawn of the disco era, Helen Reddy was still in the top 40!  A huge amount of this countdown would be familiar to your average listener of pop music from that time.  You have to dig into the bottom 15 or so to get unusual ones, including a few of the "I can't believe I've never heard that song" entries:

How have I have never heard a top 20 hit by Diana Ross?  Or any top 40 hit by the Beach Boys?  I also didn't know the Paul Davis, Eric Carmen, or Brothers Johnson songs, but they're not as big stars.

Favorites:  no 5-stars in this period of yacht rock and disco, but these were 4-star: You'll Never Find, You Should be Dancing, Heaven Must be missing an angel, She's gone, Shake Your Booty, and a life-long favorite  "Don't Go Breakin' my Heart"

1 3 PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC –•– Wild Cherry (Epic)-14 (1 week at #1) (1)

2 1 (Shake, Shake, Shake) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY –•– K.C. and the Sunshine Band (T.K.)-11 (1)
3 4 I’D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT –•– England Dan and John Ford Coley (Big Tree)-15 (3)
4 5 A FIFTH OF BEETHOVEN –•– Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band (Private Stock)-17 (4)
5 2 YOU’LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE –•– Lou Rawls (Philadelphia International)-16 (2)
6 7 LOWDOWN –•– Boz Scaggs (Columbia)-12 (6)
7 13 DEVIL WOMAN –•– Cliff Richard (Rocket)-12 (7)
8 10 SUMMER –•– War (United Artists)-11 (8)
9 11 IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW –•– Chicago (Columbia)-6 (9)
10 6 YOU SHOULD BE DANCING –•– Bee Gees (RSO)-12 (1)

11 12 SAY YOU LOVE ME –•– Fleetwood Mac (Reprise)-12 (11)
12 14 WITH YOUR LOVE –•– Jefferson Starship (Grunt)-9 (12)
13 26 DISCO DUCK (Part 1) –•– Rick Dees and His Cast Of Idiots (RSO)-6 (13)
14 9 DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART –•– Elton John and Kiki Dee (Rocket)-12 (1)
15 17 A LITTLE BIT MORE –•– Dr. Hook (Capitol)-14 (15)
16 18 STILL THE ONE –•– Orleans (Asylum)-8 (16)
17 19 GETAWAY –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (Columbia)-10 (17)
18 20 WHO’D SHE COO? –•– The Ohio Players (Mercury)-13 (18)
19 21 WHAM BAM SHANG-A-LANG –•– Silver (Arista)-14 (19)
20 22 SHE’S GONE –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (Atlantic)-17 (20)

21 25 THAT’LL BE THE DAY –•– Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)-5 (21)
22 23 SHOWER THE PEOPLE –•– James Taylor (Warner Brothers)-12 (22)
23 27 ROCK’N ME –•– The Steve Miller Band (Capitol)-6 (23)
24 8 LET ‘EM IN –•– Wings (Capitol)-12 (3)
25 15 HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL (Part 1) –•– Tavares (Capitol)-16 (15)
26 31 MAGIC MAN –•– Heart (Mushroom)-10 (26)
27 28 STREET SINGIN’ –•– Lady Flash (RSO)-10 (27)
28 30 ONE LOVE IN MY LIFETIME –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-7 (28)
29 16 THIS MASQUERADE –•– George Benson (Warner Brothers)-15 (10)
30 24 BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY –•– Peter Frampton (A&M)-13 (12)

31 38 (Don’t Fear) THE REAPER –•– Blue Oyster Cult (Columbia)-8 (31)
32 29 I CAN’T HEAR YOU NO MORE / MUSIC IS MY LIFE –•– Helen Reddy (Capitol)-7 (29)
33 35 DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-7 (33)
34 34 KISS AND SAY GOODBYE –•– The Manhattans (Columbia)-23 (1)
35 54 I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU –•– The Bay City Rollers (Arista)-3 (35)
36 40 SUPERSTAR –•– Paul Davis (Bang)-7 (36)
37 39 (The System Of) DOCTOR TARR AND PROFESSOR FETHER –•– The Alan Parsons Project (20th Century)-9 (37)
38 42 GET THE FUNK OUT MA FACE –•– The Brothers Johnson (A&M)-6 (38)
39 50 IT’S O.K. –•– The Beach Boys (Brother)-5 (39)
40 43 SUNRISE –•– Eric Carmen (Arista)-6 (40)