April 1979 -- disco and other songs

A more recent chart today, not too far before I started listening to music very regularly.  Yet, Casey still started this week with a few records I had no memory of --

I only got to hear about 10 songs (you can't on-demand stream it, unfortunately), but I still got to hear him introduce the first chart hit by the Police..."and the lead singer, Gordon Sumner, goes simply by 'Sting'"  Casey didn't know Sting and his friends would be mainstays on the charts for another 15 years.

Randy Bachman had an unusual chart feat by debuting with a hit by his third group to hit the top 40, Ironhorse.  People like Paul McCartney and Lionel Richie have hit the top 40 in various configurations, but not many hit with three entities I'd call groups.

And ruling at #1 were two of the most memorable songs of the disco era...but it wasn't all disco in the top 40 -- classic rock was well represented, R&B, adult contemporary, yacht rock.  It was a lull for country music, but that would be fixed soon.

1 3 KNOCK ON WOOD –•– Amii Stewart (Ariola America)-13 (1 week at #1) (3)
2 2 I WILL SURVIVE –•– Gloria Gaynor (Polydor)-19 (1)
3 8 HEART OF GLASS –•– Blondie (Chysalis)-10 (3)
4 5 MUSIC BOX DANCER –•– Frank Mills (Polydor)-13 (4)
5 1 WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-14 (1)
6 7 REUNITED –•– Peaches and Herb (Polydor)-6 (6)
7 9 STUMBLIN’ IN –•– Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman (RSO)-13 (7)
8 6 TRAGEDY –•– Bee Gees (RSO)-11 (1)
9 11 I WANT YOUR LOVE –•– Chic (Atlantic)-11 (9)
10 4 SULTANS OF SWING –•– Dire Straits (Warner Brothers)-11 (4)

11 13 GOODNIGHT TONIGHT –•– Wings (Columbia)-4 (11)
12 14 IN THE NAVY –•– The Village People (Casablanca)-6 (12)
13 15 HE’S THE GREATEST DANCER –•– Sister Sledge (Cotillion)-11 (13)
14 17 TAKE ME HOME –•– Cher (Casablanca)-11 (14)
15 16 LIVIN’ IT UP (Friday Night) –•– Bell and James (A&M)-13 (15)
16 20 SHAKE YOUR BODY (Down To the Ground) –•– The Jacksons (Epic)-10 (16)
17 10 LADY –•– The Little River Band (Harvest)-16 (10)
18 21 LOVE IS THE ANSWER –•– England Dan and John Ford Coley (Big Tree)-7 (18)
19 12 I JUST FALL IN LOVE AGAIN –•– Anne Murray (Capitol)-13 (12)
20 22 LOVE BALLAD –•– George Benson (Warner Brothers)-9 (20)

21 23 PRECIOUS LOVE –•– Bob Welch (Capitol)-11 (21)
22 24 BLOW AWAY –•– George Harrison (Dark Horse)-8 (22)
23 25 I GOT MY MIND MADE UP (You Can Get It Girl) –•– Instant Funk (Salsoul)-10 (23)
24 18 SHAKE YOUR GROOVE THING –•– Peaches and Herb (Polydor)-18 (5)
25 28 LOVE TAKES TIME –•– Orleans (Infinity)-5 (25)
26 27 SUPERMAN –•– Herbie Mann (Atlantic)-15 (26)
27 19 DA YA THINK I’M SEXY –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-18 (1)
28 32 DISCO NIGHTS (Rock-Freak) –•– G.Q. (Arista)-6 (28)
29 33 RENEGADE –•– Styx (A&M)-14 (29)
30 26 HEAVEN KNOWS –•– Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams (Casablanca)-15 (4)

31 29 WHAT YOU WON’T DO FOR LOVE –•– Bobby Caldwell (Clouds)-18 (9)
32 40 ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FANTASY –•– Bad Company (Swan Song)-6 (32)
33 35 CRAZY LOVE –•– The Allman Brothers Band (Capricorn)-5 (33)
34 36 ROXANNE –•– The Police (A&M)-9 (34)
35 39 HAPPINESS –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-6 (35)
36 38 ROLLER –•– April Wine (Capitol)-8 (36)
37 — LOVE YOU INSIDE OUT –•– Bee Gees (RSO)-1 (37)
38 50 JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST –•– Randy Vanwarmer (Bearsville)-5 (38)
39 43 SWEET LUI-LOUISE –•– Ironhorse (Scotti Brothers)-6 (39)
40 30 I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S RIGHT –•– Evelyn “Champagne” King (RCA)-16 (23)

April 1987 -- yawn!

I'm beginning to think 1987 was a real down year for music -- the last time I caught a show for this year, I thought the music was all rather bland, uninteresting, and occasionally painfully slow.  Whereas in 1985, it seemed a bunch of veterans were all at their peak, mixed in with some fresh voices, a mere two years later, it seemed like a rut.

In April at least we were stuck with late-album hits by big names:

11 14 WALKING DOWN YOUR STREET –•– Bangles – 10 (11)
12 18 LA ISLA BONITA –•– Madonna – 5 (12)
19 24 WHAT’S GOING ON –•– Cyndi Lauper – 6 (19)
14 4 TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT –•– Genesis – 10 (3) -- the beer commercial
29 15 WHAT YOU GET IS WHAT YOU SEE –•– Tina Turner – 11 (13)
26 13 LET’S WAIT AWHILE –•– Janet Jackson – 14 (2)
37 42 SE LA –•– Lionel Richie – 4 (37) -- a genre-bending bust
35 40 I KNOW WHAT I LIKE –•– Huey Lewis & The News – 3 (35) -- terrible lyrics

Some under-whelming followups to big albums
21 32 HEAT OF THE NIGHT –•– Bryan Adams – 4 (21)
31 38 BIG LOVE –•– Fleetwood Mac – 4 (31)
15 19 STONE LOVE –•– Kool & The Gang – 11 (15)
40 43 THE RIGHT THING –•– Simply Red – 8 (40)
4 7 SIGN O’THE TIMES –•– Prince – 7 (4)

The emergence of a late-80's sound I hated:
28 36 TALK DIRTY TO ME –•– Poison – 6 (28)
7 2 LEAN ON ME –•– Club Nouveau – 10 (1)

Some whoppingly slow songs:
3 5 DON’T DREAM IT’S OVER –•– Crowded House – 14 (3)
24 30 THE LADY IN RED –•– Chris DeBurgh – 10 (24)
      AS WE LAY -- Shirley Murdock

And big hits that seemed too much by-the-numbers to get me very excited, even by artists I generally liked
1 3 I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING FOR ME –•– Aretha Franklin & George Michael – 9 (1)
2 1 NOTHING’S GONNA STOP US NOW –•– Starship – 12 (1)
5 8 MIDNIGHT BLUE –•– Lou Gramm – 12 (5)

Of course, there were some breakout songs / albums
13 23 WITH OR WITHOUT YOU –•– U2 – 5 (13)
33 16 MANDOLIN RAIN –•– Bruce Hornsby & The Range – 14 (4)
6 12 LOOKING FOR A NEW LOVE –•– Jody Watley – 7 (6)
9 6 COME GO WITH ME –•– Expose – 13 (5)

And the ones I just liked:

8 10 THE FINER THINGS –•– Steve Winwood – 11 (8)

39 51 YOU KEEP ME HANGIN’ ON –•– Kim Wilde – 4 (39)

10 17 (I JUST) DIED IN YOUR ARMS –•– Cutting Crew – 7 (10)

Extra fun was that I'd recorded many songs from American Top 40 with Casey himself back in  April1987, which I'm now digitizing.  His knowledge and enthusiasm put the SiriusXM VJs to shame!

April 1985 -- Veterans Rule!

This week on the 80's on 8, it's 1985, and the charts have shaken off the last vestige of awkward country, adult contemporary, and other very dated songs from the early 80's.  The DJs were calling this a golden era at MTV, which might've revealed a bit of a prejudice.  What it was was an era of lots of white male rockers, pre-rap / safe R&B, pre big-hair metal, and a nice smattering of new wave iconic 80's, and the queen of MTV, Madonna and her friend George Michael (then with Wham!)

The biggest throwback was Diana Ross's "Missing You," only a hit due to Marvin Gaye's passing (as was Commodore's "Nightshift") and sounded almost silly next to Animotion's "Obsession," but she also represented a rather stunning list of veteran acts going back to the 60's and early 70s (Mick Jagger, various Eagles, Patti Labelle, Tina Turner, Robert Palmer, Chicago, Led Zeppelin (as part of The Firm), John Fogerty, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton...  Then plenty of mid-70's acts like Bruce Springsteen, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Foreigner, Journey, Commodores, and Phil Collins...

Debuting this week:  Tears for Fears.

Overall, it felt like a remarkably grown-up top 40, most of which did well on MTV (despite the veteran status) and contains many favorites of 80's retrospective stations...unlike the quirky, adult contemporary of the early 80's.  But perhaps a bit bland and uniform.   And the #1 song..."We Are the World" featuring all the biggest veteran acts.

TW LW TITLE Artist – Weeks on Chart (Peak Position)

1 2 WE ARE THE WORLD –•– USA For Africa – 4 (1)
2 1 ONE MORE NIGHT –•– Phil Collins – 10 (1)
3 4 CRAZY FOR YOU –•– Madonna – 7 (3)
4 7 NIGHTSHIFT –•– Commodores – 12 (4)
5 3 MATERIAL GIRL –•– Madonna – 10 (2)
6 8 I’M ON FIRE –•– Bruce Springsteen – 9 (6)
7 9 RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT –•– DeBarge – 9 (7)
8 5 LOVER GIRL –•– Teena Marie – 18 (4)
9 14 OBSESSION –•– Animotion – 12 (9)
10 13 MISSING YOU –•– Diana Ross – 20 (10)

11 18 DON’T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME –•– Simple Minds – 8 (11)
12 19 ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK –•– Murray Head – 8 (12)
13 6 CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING –•– REO Speedwagon – 13 (1)
14 11 SOMEBODY –•– Bryan Adams – 11 (11)
15 20 ALL SHE WANTS TO DO IS DANCE –•– Don Henley – 8 (15)
16 12 JUST ANOTHER NIGHT –•– Mick Jagger – 10 (12)
17 24 SOME LIKE IT HOT –•– The Power Station – 5 (17)
18 21 ALONG COMES A WOMAN –•– Chicago – 8 (18)
19 15 HIGH ON YOU –•– Survivor – 12 (8)
20 10 TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES –•– Julian Lennon – 12 (5)

21 25 THAT WAS YESTERDAY –•– Foreigner – 5 (21)
22 28 SMOOTH OPERATOR –•– Sade – 7 (22)
23 17 THE HEAT IS ON –•– Glenn Frey – 19 (2)
24 16 PRIVATE DANCER –•– Tina Turner – 13 (7)
25 36 DON’T COME AROUND HERE NO MORE –•– Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – 5 (25)
26 32 SOME THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT UNSAID –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates – 5 (26)
27 34 ROCK AND ROLL GIRLS –•– John Fogerty – 5 (27)
28 29 RADIOACTIVE –•– The Firm – 10 (28)
29 35 NEW ATTITUDE –•– Patti Labelle – 9 (29)
30 38 EVERYTHING SHE WANTS –•– Wham! – 4 (30)

31 37 FOREVER MAN –•– Eric Clapton – 6 (31)
32 22 KEEPIN’ THE FAITH –•– Billy Joel – 12 (18)
33 30 LUCKY –•– The Greg Kihn Band – 9 (30)
34 43 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD –•– Tears For Fears – 5 (34)
35 27 CARELESS WHISPER –•– Wham! Featuring George Michael – 17 (1)
36 42 THE BIRD –•– The Time – 8 (36)
37 41 VOX HUMANA –•– Kenny Loggins – 4 (37)
38 44 SUDDENLY –•– Billy Ocean – 4 (38)
39 52 AXEL F –•– Harold Faltermeyer – 3 (39)
40 23 ONLY THE YOUNG –•– Journey – 12 (9)

April 1981 -- where I began

Listening to the 80's on 8 replay from April 1981, it was a particularly interesting flashback as back then was the first Top 40 program I wrote down, a habit I kept for about 3 years.  My practice was to literally write it out every four weeks, then fill in the subsequent weeks with reference to those.

Some say your favorite music of your life is when you're 13, and to this day, this is an amazing countdown of songs.  Funny though, my least favorite songs then were very near the top -- I had no interest in 1981's Blondie, and there was "Rapture" at #1.  Don McLean's "Crying" is an incredibly slow song, that took years to appreciate. 

Climbing were my top 2 songs of the year, Steve Winwood's "While You See a Chance" and Smokey Robinson's "Being With You."  Overall, it was a wonderful mix of country, pop, R&B, adult contemporary, rock, jazz, soundtracks, old timers and first timers and an out-of-proprtion number of 5-star ITunes songs.   R&B/Dance was at a low spot in 1981, but still I've always liked the songs here by Donna Summer, Yarbrough & Peoples, and especially The Whispers "It's a Love Thing."

First timers in this countdown:  Franke & the Knockouts, Juice Newton, and Loverboy.

1 1 RAPTURE –•– Blondie (Chrysalis)-10 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 WOMAN –•– John Lennon (Geffen)-12 (2)
3 3 THE BEST OF TIMES –•– Styx (A&M)-11 (3)
4 9 KISS ON MY LIST –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-11 (4)
5 5 CRYING –•– Don McLean (Millenium)-11 (5)
6 6 HELLO AGAIN –•– Neil Diamond (Capitol)-10 (6)
7 8 JUST THE TWO OF US –•– Grover Washington Jr. (with Bill Withers) (Elektra)-8 (7)
8 4 KEEP ON LOVING YOU –•– REO Speedwagon (Epic)-19 (1)
9 11 WHILE YOU SEE A CHANCE –•– Steve Winwood (Island)-9 (9)
10 10 WHAT KIND OF FOOL –•– Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb (Columbia)-10 (10)

11 14 MORNING TRAIN (Nine To Five) –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-8 (11)
12 13 DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME –•– The Police (A&M)-9 (12)
13 16 I CAN’T STAND IT –•– Eric Clapton and His Band (RSO)-6 (13)
14 12 THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL –•– Abba (Atlantic)-20 (8)
15 18 ANGEL OF THE MORNING –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-7 (15)
16 7 9 TO 5 –•– Dolly Parton (RCA)-19 (1)
17 17 CELEBRATION –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-24 (1)
18 23 HER TOWN TOO –•– James Taylor and J.D. Souther (Columbia)-4 (18)
19 21 SOMEBODY’S KNOCKIN’ –•– Terri Gibbs (MCA)-12 (19)
20 27 BEING WITH YOU –•– Smokey Robinson (Tamla)-8 (20)

21 25 DON’T STOP THE MUSIC –•– Yarbrough and Peoples (Mercury)-9 (21)
22 22 PRECIOUS TO ME –•– Phil Seymour (Boardwalk)-11 (22)
23 15 I LOVE A RAINY NIGHT –•– Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra)-22 (1)
24 20 A LITTLE IN LOVE –•– Cliff Richard (EMI-America)-17 (17)
25 29 JUST BETWEEN YOU AND ME –•– April Wine (Capitol)-9 (25)
26 30 AIN’T EVEN DONE WITH THE NIGHT –•– John Cougar (Riva)-10 (26)
27 32 TAKE IT ON THE RUN –•– REO Speedwagon (Epic)-3 (27)
28 34 TIME OUT OF MIND –•– Steely Dan (MCA)-4 (28)
29 33 TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS –•– Styx (A&M)-3 (29)
30 24 TREAT ME RIGHT –•– Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)-12 (18)

31 37 SWEETHEART –•– Frankie and the Knockouts (Millenium)-5 (31)
32 59 LIVING INSIDE MYSELF –•– Gino Vannelli (Arista)-3 (32)
33 36 IT’S A LOVE THING –•– The Whispers (Solar)-8 (33)
34 19 HEARTS ON FIRE –•– Randy Meisner (Epic)-11 (19)
35 48 YOU BETTER YOU BET –•– The Who (Warner Brothers)-3 (35)
36 39 HOW ‘BOUT US –•– Champaign (Columbia)-8 (36)
37 38 TURN ME LOOSE –•– Loverboy (Columbia)-10 (37)
38 41 I LOVE YOU –•– The Climax Blues Band (Warner Brothers)-7 (38)
39 42 THE PARTY’S OVER (Hopelessly In Love) –•– Journey (Columbia)-6 (39)
40 40 WHO DO YOU THINK YOU’RE FOOLIN’ –•– Donna Summer (Geffen)-7 (40)