June 1987 -- not bad

Not the most exciting top 40 today -- Whitney and Heart lead the way with huge lead singles from albums that followed huge hits.  Genesis has a 5th top 5 song from "Invisible touch" solidifying Phil Collins' hold on the charts that lasted until 1992.

Girl Groups have emerged and will continue through the 80's -- Expose' as the most successful, but also  company B.

Kenny G takes a rare instrumental into the top 10, especially not being from a soundtrack.  He subsequently appeared on every aspiring A/C artist's songs through the decade.  It replaces the incredibly slow "Lady In Red."Oddest entry -- country band Restless Heart is in the top 40 with an a/c crossover, the first in a few years.  G joins Herb Alpert, so very odd to have two jazz artists in the top 10.  "Diamonds" hit #1 on the R&B chart partly due to Janet Jackson singing uncredited vocals -- she was uncredited on the record, but the R&B chart listed her the week it hit #1.

Favorite songs "Alone", "Heart and Soul" "Soul City" "Every Little Kiss"

1 3 HEAD TO TOE –•– Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam – 11 (1)
2 1 ALWAYS –•– Atlantic Starr – 13 (1)
3 5 I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME) –•– Whitney Houston – 6 (3)
4 4 IN TOO DEEP –•– Genesis – 9 (4)
5 8 DIAMONDS –•– Herb Alpert – 11 (5)
6 12 ALONE –•– Heart – 6 (6)
7 7 WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE –•– Bon Jovi – 11 (7)
8 2 YOU KEEP ME HANGIN’ ON –•– Kim Wilde – 13 (1)
9 13 SONGBIRD –•– Kenny G – 12 (9)
10 10 JUST TO SEE HER –•– Smokey Robinson – 13 (10)

11 11 MEET ME HALF WAY –•– Kenny Loggins – 16 (11)
12 19 SHAKEDOWN –•– Bob Seger – 5 (12)
13 14 LESSONS IN LOVE –•– Level 42 – 12 (13)
14 16 DON’T DISTURB THIS GROOVE –•– The System – 11 (14)
15 6 THE LADY IN RED –•– Chris DeBurgh – 19 (3)
16 22 POINT OF NO RETURN –•– Expose – 7 (16)
17 23 SOMETHING SO STRONG –•– Crowded House – 8 (17)
18 20 JAMMIN’ ME –•– Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – 9 (18)
19 28 FUNKYTOWN –•– Pseudo Echo – 6 (19)
20 9 WITH OR WITHOUT YOU –•– U2 – 14 (1)

21 26 EVERY LITTLE KISS –•– Bruce Hornsby & The Range – 15 (21)
22 21 FASCINATED –•– Company B – 14 (21)
23 31 SWEET SIXTEEN –•– Billy Idol – 9 (23)
24 15 NOTHING’S GONNA CHANGE MY LOVE –•– Glenn Medeiros – 19 (12)
25 30 ENDLESS NIGHTS –•– Eddie Money – 11 (25)
26 35 GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS –•– Motley Crue – 4 (26)
27 34 HEART AND SOUL –•– T’Pau – 8 (27)
28 40 RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU –•– Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – 4 (28)
29 36 SOUL CITY –•– Partland Brothers – 8 (29)
30 37 ROCK THE NIGHT –•– Europe – 8 (30)

31 17 RIGHT ON TRACK –•– Breakfast Club – 15 (7)
32 39 KISS HIM GOODBYE –•– The Nylons – 6 (32)
33 33 I’LL STILL BE LOVING YOU –•– Restless Heart – 11 (33)
34 41 I’D STILL SAY YES –•– Klymaxx – 8 (34)
35 43 THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE –•– Janet Jackson – 5 (35)
36 47 I WANT YOUR SEX –•– George Michael – 3 (36)
37 18 BIG LOVE –•– Fleetwood Mac – 13 (5)
38 51 I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR –•– U2 – 2 (38)
39 44 HAPPY –•– Surface – 5 (39)
40 27 LOOKING FOR A NEW LOVE –•– Jody Watley – 16 (2)

June 1981 -- Big Debuts

Another eclectic early 80's countdown, full of songs I love, but notable this week were the huge chart moves.

The top 20 was pretty quiet, with "Medley" poised to interrupt Kim Carnes next week.  But at #24 is the debut hit by Jefferson Starship alum, Marty Balin.  It only made it ultimately to #8 and has stayed an upper tier favorite for me.  Newcomer Joey Scarbury makes a big splash with the the theme from the Greatest American Hero, ultimately hitting #2.  Kenny Rogers debuts in the Hot 100 way up in the top 40 with his debut release from the "I Don't Need You" album.  Gemini Dream even makes a huge move.

Tiny mover?  Future #1 "Jessie's Girl"!

Unusual in the top 40 this week were a lot of jazz-influenced artists, led by Grover Washington Jr, but including Lee Ritenour and the Clarke/Duke project.  All are enduring favorites of that year. 

True country is represented by the Oak Ridge Boys (which hit #1 on the Cashbox pop charts)

My 5-star songs:  Gemini Dreams, Bette Davis Eyes, Being with You (which the DJs explained was written for Kim Carnes...and I'd never noticed how it sounds like "More Love") , Sweetheart, I Love You, Take it On the Run, What are we doing in love, but hardly a bad song in the top 40

1 1 BETTE DAVIS EYES –•– Kim Carnes (EMI-America)-12 (5 weeks at #1) (1)

2 3 MEDLEY: INTRO VENUS/SUGAR SUGAR/NO REPLY/I’LL BE BACK/DRIVE MY CAR/DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET/WE CAN WORK IT OUT/I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER/NOWHERE MAN/YOU’RE GOING TO LOSE THAT GIRL/STARS ON 45 –•– Stars On 45 (Radio Records)-10 (2)
3 4 SUKIYAKI –•– A Taste Of Honey (Capitol)-15 (3)
4 2 BEING WITH YOU –•– Smokey Robinson (Tamla)-18 (2)
5 7 A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE (Just Like You Do) –•– Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio (Arista)-15 (5)
6 6 LIVING INSIDE MYSELF –•– Gino Vannelli (Arista)-13 (6)
7 11 ALL THOSE YEARS AGO –•– George Harrison (Dark Horse)-4 (7)
8 9 AMERICA –•– Neil Diamond (Capitol)-8 (8)
9 5 TAKE IT ON THE RUN –•– REO Speedwagon (Epic)-13 (5)
10 10 SWEETHEART –•– Frankie and the Knockouts (Millenium)-15 (10)

11 8 JUST THE TWO OF US –•– Grover Washington Jr. (with Bill Withers) (Elektra)-18 (2)
12 14 THIS LITTLE GIRL –•– Gary U.S. Bonds (EMI-America)-8 (12)
13 13 I LOVE YOU –•– The Climax Blues Band (Warner Brothers)-17 (13)
14 20 THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE –•– Air Supply (Arista)-5 (14)
15 16 WHAT ARE WE DOIN’ IN LOVE –•– Dottie West (with Kenny Rogers) (Liberty)-12 (15)
16 12 HOW ‘BOUT US –•– Champaign (Columbia)-18 (12)
17 19 YOU MAKE MY DREAMS –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-7 (17)
18 15 TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS –•– Styx (A&M)-13 (9)
19 21 THE WAITING –•– Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Backstreet)-7 (19)
20 22 JESSIE’S GIRL –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-12 (20)

21 24 IS IT YOU –•– Lee Ritenour (with Eric Tagg) (Elektra)-8 (21)
22 18 ANGEL OF THE MORNING –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-17 (4)
23 27 NOBODY WINS –•– Elton John (Geffen)-6 (23)
24 43 HEARTS –•– Marty Balin (EMI-America)-4 (24)
25 17 WATCHING THE WHEELS –•– John Lennon (Geffen)-12 (10)
26 29 WINNING –•– Santana (Columbia)-10 (26)
27 44 THEME FROM “GREATEST AMERICAN HERO” (Believe It Or Not) –•– Joey Scarbury (Elektra)-6 (27)
28 40 ELVIRA –•– The Oak Ridge Boys (MCA)-5 (28)
29 37 MODERN GIRL –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-6 (29)
30 32 STILL RIGHT HERE IN MY HEART –•– The Pure Prairie League (Casablanca)-9 (30)

31 34 FOOL IN LOVE WITH YOU –•– Jim Photoglo (20th Century)-9 (31)
32 35 SAY WHAT –•– Jesse Winchester (Bearsville)-8 (32)
33 — I DON’T NEED YOU –•– Kenny Rogers (Liberty)-1 (33)
34 47 BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY –•– The Manhattan Transfer (Atlantic)-4 (34)
35 38 TIME –•– The Alan Parsons Project (Arista)-9 (35)
36 42 SEVEN YEAR ACHE –•– Rosanne Cash (Columbia)-8 (36)
37 66 GEMINI DREAM –•– The Moody Blues (Threshold)-2 (37)
38 45 SWEET BABY –•– Stanley Clarke/George Duke (Epic)-7 (38)
39 39 I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF –•– Billy and the Beaters (Alfa)-8 (39)
40 50 STRONGER THAN BEFORE –•– Carole Bayer Sager (Boardwalk)-5 (40)

June 1984 -- veterans day

My total love affair with the charts was on the wain by 1984 -- I lived in a new city, and the MTV factor took a lot of the variety out of the charts, while emphasizing movie soundtracks.  Lots of "Meh" this week.  Meanwhile, the funny quirky one-hit wonders from early MTV are virtually gone (Style Council and Icicle Works are in the lower reaches) -- this is a chart full of long established artists and those who would go on to have long careers (Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and Billy Idol, even Howard Jones).  You can get a legit greatest hits album for almost everyone here.

Chart oddities are the last week in the top 10 for a country artist for the next 8 years, with the still unbelievable Willie Nelson / Julio Iglesias duet.  Irene Cara has the very dated "Breakdance" in the top 10.

Bruce Springsteen's bounding up the charts with his first of 7 top 10's from "Born in the USA,"

Favorites:  Against All Odds, Jump, Borderline

1 1 LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY –•– Deniece Williams (Columbia)-9 (2 Weeks at #1) (1)
2 3 TIME AFTER TIME –•– Cyndi Lauper (Portrait)-8 (2)
3 2 HELLO –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-15 (1)
4 5 OH SHERRIE –•– Steve Perry (Columbia)-9 (4)
5 7 THE REFLEX –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-7 (5)
6 8 SISTER CHRISTIAN –•– Night Ranger (MCA / Camel)-13 (6)
7 4 AGAINST ALL ODDS (Take A Look At Me Now) –•– Phil Collins (Atlantic)-15 (1)
8 13 THE HEART OF ROCK ‘N ROLL –•– Huey Lewis & The News (Chrysalis)-7 (8)
9 9 BREAKDANCE –•– Irene Cara (Geffen)-11 (9)
10 6 TO ALL THE GIRLS I’VE LOVED BEFORE –•– Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson (Columbia)-14 (5)

11 19 SELF CONTROL –•– Laura Branigan (Atlantic)-8 (11)
12 18 BORDERLINE –•– Madonna (Sire)-13 (12)
13 16 I’LL WAIT –•– Van Halen (Warner Brothers)-8 (13)
14 22 JUMP (For My Love) –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-6 (14)
15 14 THE LONGEST TIME –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-11 (14)
16 20 IT’S A MIRACLE –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-4 (16)
17 17 DANCING IN THE SHEETS –•– Shalamar (Columbia)-12 (17)
18 36 DANCING IN THE DARK –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-2 (18)
19 11 HEAD OVER HEELS –•– The Go-Go’s (I.R.S.)-12 (11)
20 24 YOU CAN’T GET WHAT YOU WANT (Til You Know What You Want) –•– Joe Jackson (A&M)-7 (20)

21 12 YOU MIGHT THINK –•– The Cars (Elektra)-13 (7)
22 29 ALMOST PARADISE –•– Mike Reno & Ann Wilson (Columbia)-4 (22)
23 33 EYES WITHOUT A FACE –•– Billy Idol (Chrysalis)-5 (23)
24 10 HOLD ME NOW –•– Thompson Twins (Arista)-17 (3)
25 27 RUN, RUNAWAY –•– Slade (CBS Associated)-9 (25)
26 28 STAY THE NIGHT –•– Chicago (Full Moon / Warner Brothers)-5 (26)
27 30 WHO’S THAT GIRL –•– Eurythmics (RCA)-5 (27)
28 15 LOVE SOMEBODY –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-13 (5)
29 34 MODERN DAY DELILAH –•– Van Stephenson (MCA)-7 (29)
30 32 MY EVER CHANGING MOODS –•– Style Council (Geffen)-9 (30)

31 25 ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE –•– Scorpions (Mercury)-11 (25)
32 39 MAGIC –•– The Cars (Elektra)-3 (32)
33 38 DANCE HALL DAYS –•– Wang Chung (Geffen)-7 (33)
34 35 LOVE WILL SHOW US HOW –•– Christine McVie (Warner Brothers)-6 (34)
35 47 INFATUATION –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-2 (35)
36 50 LEGS –•– ZZ Top (Warner Brothers)-3 (36)
37 42 WHAT IS LOVE –•– Howard Jones (Elektra)-7 (37)
38 40 WHISPER TO A SCREAM (Birds Fly) –•– Icicle Works (Arista)-7 (38)
39 43 I CAN DREAM ABOUT YOU –•– Dan Hartman (MCA)-5 (39)
40 41 MUSIC TIME –•– Styx (A&M)-5 (40)