September 1980 -- awesome mix, and the end of disco

Another great 1980 countdown on Sirius XM 80's on 8!  All the usual trends continue -- mix of a/c, pop, jazz, country, R&B, disco, rock, country rock -- hardly a song I don't like.  3 songs from "Xanadu," leading to a repeat of earlier in the year with a songs by two artists (Olivia Newton John, ELO) charting at the same time as a solo hit by each (before it was Kim Carnes & Kenny Rogers). 

Kenny Loggins began his assault of 80's soundtrack songs.  Two charting hits by Billy Joel (normal) & Boz Scaggs...very unusual for a non-superstar artist.

I started listening to pop music in earnest in early 1981, and the top 40 in particular by April.  Yet, until I started listening to this countdown, I had never heard Fred Knoblock, Robert John (both of which seem especially out of place), or Natalie Cole's songs before.  Cole's is most surprising as it charted high, and she was and would continue to be a significant charting artist.

Doobie Brothers' "Real Love" debuted in the Hot 100 all the way at #40...but only reached #7 ultimately.  A few steps behind, Barbra Striesand debuted with the future #1 "Woman in Love"

Benny Mardones peaks at #11 this week (with his very awkward song), but not for lack of trying...it will return in 1989 and make another run to the top 20.

And at #1, a late entry in the disco era, "Upside Down" by Diana Ross.

5 star songs:  All out of Love, Take Your Time, Let Me Love Open the Door, and "Sailing" -- my favorite of the week.

1 2 UPSIDE DOWN –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-9 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 SAILING –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-13 (1)
3 4 EMOTIONAL RESCUE –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-10 (3)
4 7 ALL OUT OF LOVE –•– Air Supply (Arista)-13 (4)
5 6 FAME –•– Irene Cara (RSO)-13 (5)
6 3 MAGIC –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-16 (1)
7 8 GIVE ME THE NIGHT –•– George Benson (Warner Brothers / Qwest)-10 (7)
8 5 TAKE YOUR TIME (Do It Right) (Part 1) –•– The S.O.S. Band (Tabu)-15 (3)
9 11 LATE IN THE EVENING –•– Paul Simon (Warner Brothers)-5 (9)
10 13 LOOKIN’ FOR LOVE –•– Johnny Lee (Full Moon)-9 (10)

11 12 INTO THE NIGHT –•– Benny Mardones (Polydor)-13 (11)
12 9 LET MY LOVE OPEN THE DOOR –•– Pete Townsend (Atco)-13 (9)
13 16 DRIVIN’ MY LIFE AWAY –•– Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra)-12 (13)
14 10 MORE LOVE –•– Kim Carnes (EMI-America)-15 (10)
15 14 IT’S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-16 (1)
16 26 ONE IN A MILLION YOU –•– Larry Graham (Warner Brothers)-11 (16)
17 19 YOU’RE THE ONLY WOMAN (You & I) –•– Ambrosia (Warner Brothers)-9 (17)
18 22 YOU’LL ACCOMP’NY ME –•– Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (Capitol)-7 (18)
19 21 BOULEVARD –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum)-10 (19)
20 20 OLD-FASHION LOVE –•– The Commodores (Motown)-12 (20)

21 23 ALL OVER THE WORLD –•– The Electric Light Orchestra (MCA)-6 (21)
22 24 HOT ROD HEARTS –•– Robbie Dupree (Elektra)-8 (22)
23 28 ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST –•– Queen (Elektra)-4 (23)
24 30 DON’T ASK ME WHY –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-6 (24)
25 29 SOMEONE THAT I USED TO LOVE –•– Natalie Cole (Capitol)-12 (25)
26 31 XANADU –•– Olivia Newton-John / The Electric Light Orchestra (MCA)-5 (26)
27 32 I’M ALRIGHT –•– Kenny Loggins (Columbia)-9 (27)
28 15 TAKE A LITTLE RHYTHM –•– Ali Thomson (A&M)-13 (15)
29 36 JESSE –•– Carly Simon (Warner Brothers)-6 (29)
30 37 NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE –•– Stephanie Mills (20th Century)-5 (30)

31 34 HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-8 (31)
32 35 HEY THERE LONELY GIRL –•– Robert John (EMI-America)-8 (32)
33 39 HE’S SO SHY –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-7 (33)
34 17 JOJO –•– Boz Scaggs (Columbia)-13 (17)
35 18 WHY NOT ME –•– Fred Knoblock (Scotti Brothers)-11 (18)
36 25 MAKE A LITTLE MAGIC –•– The Dirt Band (United Artists)-12 (25)
37 40 YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO KEEP YOUR LOVE FOR ME –•– Jermaine Jackson (Motown)-9 (37)
38 43 NO NIGHT SO LONG –•– Dionne Warwick (Arista)-7 (38)
39 45 LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO ME –•– Boz Scaggs (Columbia)-3 (39)
40 — REAL LOVE –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-1 (40)