Aug 1982 -- the beginning of something new

This was a familiar countdown that I likely listened to back in 1982, and compared to many in the first few years of the 80's, it was not a favorite.   But, if only I'd known what the late 80's were going to bring, I would've relished it more.

Downsides were represented by songs like "Your Imagination" and "Still They Ride" which were late-albums hits for artists I otherwise liked.  It also had songs I liked less up at the top -- none of the top 4 are favorites.

On the other hand, some songs have clearly grown on me with time -- I had no interest in Paperlate,  Early in the Morning, Wasted on the Way, or I am Telling You back then.  I like all of those much more now.

The a/c songs by Air Supply, Leslie Pearl, and Karla Bonoff hadn't aged that well, and they sound downright strange against the MTV-driven new wave sounds of the Human League & Soft Cell, which were a portent of new things that would hit full swing in 1983.  Men at Work was spending their first week in the top 40 as was Billy Idol.

Still, for now, some great country crossover, legit rock, pure a/c, funk,  pop, dance, Broadway showtunes, and the beginnings of MTV mania.  All in one countdown.

Favorites:
(5-star) Hard to Say I'm Sorry, Vacation, Do I Do, Tainted Love
(4-star) Route 101, Early in the Morning, You Should Hear How..., Don't You Want Me, Think I'm in Love, Love's Been a Little Bit Hard, Love Will Turn You Around, Love is in Control, Kids in America

Best song:  Do I Do, thanks to the extended remix I got when I bought Stevie Wonder's Greatest Hits

1 1 EYE OF THE TIGER –•– Survivor (Scotti Brothers)-10 (3 weeks at #1) (1)
2 3 HURTS SO GOOD –•– John Cougar (Riva)-16 (2)
3 5 ABRACADABRA –•– The Steve Miller Band (Capitol)-11 (3)
4 4 HOLD ME –•– Fleetwood Mac (Warner Brothers)-8 (4)
5 6 HARD TO SAY I’M SORRY –•– Chicago (Full Moon)-10 (5)
6 2 ROSANNA –•– Toto (Columbia)-17 (2)
7 8 EVEN THE NIGHTS ARE BETTER –•– Air Supply (Arista)-9 (7)
8 10 KEEP THE FIRE BURNIN’ –•– REO Speedwagon (Epic)-9 (8)
9 9 ONLY THE LONELY –•– The Motels (Capitol)-16 (9)
10 7 DON’T YOU WANT ME –•– The Human League (A&M)-23 (1)

11 13 WASTED ON THE WAY –•– Crosby, Stills and Nash (Atlantic)-7 (11)
12 15 VACATION –•– The Go-Go’s (I.R.S.)-6 (12)
13 11 LET IT WHIP –•– The Dazz Band (Motown)-16 (5)
14 18 TAKE IT AWAY –•– Paul McCartney (Columbia)-5 (14)
15 22 YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU –•– Melissa Manchester (Arista)-12 (15)
16 23 LOVE IS IN CONTROL (Finger On the Trigger) –•– Donna Summer (Geffen)-7 (16)
17 12 TAINTED LOVE –•– Soft Cell (Sire)-30 (8)
18 14 LOVE’S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD ON ME –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-14 (7)
19 20 PERSONALLY –•– Karla Bonoff (Columbia)-15 (19)
20 16 DO I DO –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-11 (13)

21 21 WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-10 (21)
22 26 LOVE WILL TURN YOU AROUND –•– Kenny Rogers (Liberty)-6 (22)
23 27 OUT OF WORK –•– Gary U.S. Bonds (EMI-America)-9 (23)
24 28 THINK I’M IN LOVE –•– Eddie Money (Columbia)-6 (24)
25 29 AMERICAN MUSIC –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-7 (25)
26 30 KIDS IN AMERICA –•– Kim Wilde (EMI-America)-12 (26)
27 42 WHO CAN IT BE NOW –•– Men At Work (Columbia)-5 (27)
28 35 EYE IN THE SKY –•– The Alan Parsons Project (Arista)-6 (28)
29 39 AND I AM TELL YOU I’M NOT GOING –•– Jennifer Holliday (Geffen)-6 (29)
30 32 IF THE LOVE FITS WEAR IT –•– Leslie Pearl (RCA)-12 (30)

31 33 I FOUND SOMEBODY –•– Glenn Frey (Asylum)-10 (31)
32 34 PAPERLATE –•– Genesis (Atlantic)-10 (32)
33 47 JACK AND DIANE –•– John Cougar (Riva)-3 (33)
34 36 YOUR IMAGINATION –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-8 (34)
35 17 CAUGHT UP IN YOU –•– 38 Special (A&M)-15 (10)
36 41 HOT IN THE CITY –•– Billy Idol (Chrysalis)-6 (36)
37 38 LOVE PLUS ONE –•– Haircut One Hundred (Arista)-13 (37)
38 40 ROUTE 101 –•– Herb Alpert (A&M)-7 (38)
39 19 STILL THEY RIDE –•– Journey (Columbia)-12 (19)

40 24 EARLY IN THE MORNING –•– The Gap Band (Total Experience)-12 (24)