August 1984

I read not long ago that the summer of 1984 was one of the great summers for pop music because of the variety of great songs.  Both veteran artists at their peak (Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, Rod Stewart, ... ) and new artists bursting on the scene (Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Corey Hart).   Rock, hard rock, pop, dance, adult R&B, & Prince.  

SiriusXM plays so many of these songs, it's easier to pick out the ones a bit out of place:

Peabo Bryson sounding a bit too a/c, Diana Ross with one of her last hits, Breakin' sounding a bit dated, good old Sergio Mendes....and at #1, a novelty soundtrack song.

As before, despite the fame of these songs, many of these aren't favorites of mine, and a few I still basically hate (state of shock, sexy girl), and a few I never, ever need to hear again, but still, 4 5-stars: Rock Me Tonight, Dancing in the Dark, Jump for my love, Cruel Summer.  I'll take Billy Squier as my favorite.

1 1 GHOSTBUSTERS –•– Ray Parker, Jr. (Arista)-10 (2 Weeks at #1) (1)
2 4 WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT –•– Tina Turner (Capitol)-14 (2)
3 3 STATE OF SHOCK –•– The Jacksons with Mick Jagger (Epic)-8 (3)
4 2 WHEN DOVES CRY –•– Prince (Warner Brothers)-12 (1)
5 6 STUCK ON YOU –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-9 (5)
6 8 I CAN DREAM ABOUT YOU –•– Dan Hartman (MCA)-16 (6)
7 12 MISSING YOU –•– John Waite (EMI-America)-9 (7)
8 5 SAD SONGS (Say So Much) –•– Elton John (Geffen)-11 (5)
9 10 SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT –•– Corey Hart (EMI-America)-13 (9)
10 13 IF EVER YOU’RE IN MY ARMS AGAIN –•– Peabo Bryson (Elektra)-15 (10)

11 9 INFATUATION –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-13 (6)
12 7 DANCING IN THE DARK –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-13 (2)
13 15 PANAMA –•– Van Halen (Warner Brothers)-9 (13)
14 17 ROUND AND ROUND –•– Ratt (Atlantic)-10 (14)
15 20 SHE BOP –•– Cyndi Lauper (Portrait)-5 (15)
16 19 IF THIS IS IT –•– Huey Lewis & The News (Chrysalis)-5 (16)
17 25 THE WARRIOR –•– Scandal Featuring Patty Smyth (Columbia)-8 (17)
18 23 LIGHTS OUT –•– Peter Wolf (EMI-America)-6 (18)
19 22 ROCK ME TONITE –•– Billy Squier (Capitol)-7 (19)
20 24 SEXY GIRL –•– Glenn Frey (MCA)-8 (20)

21 21 SHE’S MINE –•– Steve Perry (Columbia)-8 (21)
22 11 BREAKIN’… THERE’S NO STOPPING US –•– Ollie & Jerry (Polydor)-12 (9)
23 35 LET’S GO CRAZY –•– Prince & The Revolution (Warner Brothers)-3 (23)
24 14 LEGS –•– ZZ Top (Warner Brothers)-14 (8)
25 30 ALL OF YOU –•– Julio Iglesias & Diana Ross (Columbia)-7 (25)
26 27 THE GLAMOROUS LIFE –•– Sheila E. (Warner Brothers)-10 (26)
27 34 DRIVE –•– The Cars (Elektra)-3 (27)
28 33 DYNAMITE –•– Jermaine Jackson (Arista)-5 (28)
29 29 ALIBIS –•– Sergio Mendes (A&M)-13 (29)
30 31 LEAVE A TENDER MOMENT ALONE –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-7 (30)

31 36 WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES –•– Night Ranger (MCA / Camel)-6 (31)
32 37 CRUEL SUMMER –•– Bananarama (London)-5 (32)
33 18 JUMP (For My Love) –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-17 (3)
34 16 EYES WITHOUT A FACE –•– Billy Idol (Chrysalis)-16 (4)
35 40 RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE –•– Eurythmics (RCA)-5 (35)
36 43 17 –•– Rick James (Gordy)-6 (36)
37 39 MY, OH MY –•– Slade (CBS Associated)-7 (37)
38 42 TWO SIDES OF LOVE –•– Sammy Hagar (Geffen)-6 (38)
39 47 WE’RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT –•– Twisted Sister (Atlantic)-4 (39)
40 52 COVER ME –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-2 (40)