September 1983 -- The Fun of the One Hit Wonder

Back to 1983 this week and that quirky time in pop music.  MTV and general trends had almost taken out all country and older style adult contemporary from the chart (Barbra Striesand, Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, ...).  Almost...

Kenny and Dolly are dashing toward the last country flavored #1 or even top 10 for nearly a decade.  Juice Newton has her last hit, which despite being a lead single and not being very country will stall in the low 20's.  Air Supply, with some help from producer Jim Steinman, is crashing the top 10 one last time.

What will eventually fill the gap is the amazing run of veteran artists with the money to put into videos who will define 1984.  For now, you get some iconic one hit wonders in the top 10 like Taco, Michael Sembello, and Men Without Hats... the breakthrough by Eurythmics, a virtual one-hit wonder in Bonnie Tyler.  Further down, Madness, the Fixx, Naked Eyes, Frank Stallone....
2 years later, Michael Jackson would've been gunning for a 4th #1 from Thriller with the amazing "Human Nature," but instead it's held back by quirk and bombast...and I loved it!

And at #1, the beginning of that video-driven, veteran onslaught, Billy Joel.

Favorites:  many, led by Donna Summer, Men without hats, Laura Branigan, and the best:  Bonnie Tyler, one of the few songs I've ever requested on the radio.

1 2 TELL HER ABOUT IT –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-9 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 4 TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART –•– Bonnie Tyler (Columbia)-11 (2)
3 3 THE SAFETY DANCE –•– Men Without Hats (Backstreet)-14 (3)
4 1 MANIAC –•– Michael Sembello (Casablanca)-17 (1)
5 9 MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL –•– Air Supply (Arista)-9 (5)
6 5 SWEET DREAMS (Are Made Of This) –•– The Eurythmics (RCA)-20 (1)
7 7 HUMAN NATURE –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-10 (7)
8 8 PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ –•– Taco (RCA)-14 (4)
9 12 (She’s) SEXY + 17 –•– The Stray Cats (EMI-America)-8 (9)
10 10 DON’T CRY –•– Asia (Geffen)-9 (10)

11 16 KING OF PAIN –•– The Police (A&M)-5 (11)
12 14 FAR FROM OVER –•– Frank Stallone (RSO)-9 (12)
13 17 TRUE –•– Spandau Ballet (Chrysalis)-8 (13)
14 15 PROMISES, PROMISES –•– Naked Eyes (EMI-America)-11 (14)
15 6 EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE –•– The Police (A&M)-17 (1)
16 19 HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU –•– Laura Branigan (Atlantic)-13 (16)
17 26 ISLANDS IN THE STREAM –•– Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton (RCA)-5 (17)
18 11 SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY –•– Donna Summer (Mercury)-18 (3)
19 13 LAWYERS IN LOVE –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum)-12 (13)
20 18 I’LL TUMBLE 4 YA –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-13 (9)

21 29 ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER –•– The Fixx (MCA)-5 (21)
22 23 DEAD GIVEAWAY –•– Shalamar (Solar)-14 (22)
23 28 BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE –•– The Talking Heads (Sire)-9 (23)
24 21 HUMAN TOUCH –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-12 (18)
25 30 TELEFONE (Long Distance Love Affair) –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-6 (25)
26 27 KISS THE BRIDE –•– Elton John (Geffen)-8 (26)
27 20 (Keep Feeling) FASCINATION –•– The Human League (A&M)-18 (8)
28 31 TELL HER NO –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-7 (28)
29 32 BIG LOG –•– Robert Plant (Es Paranza)-8 (29)
30 37 DELIRIOUS –•– Prince (Warner Brothers)-4 (30)

31 34 TONIGHT, I CELEBRATE MY LOVE –•– Peabo Bryson / Roberta Flack (Capitol)-12 (31)
32 25 DON’T YOU GET SO MAD –•– Jeffrey Osborne (A&M)-11 (25)
33 33 LADY LOVE ME (One More Time) –•– George Benson (Warner Brothers)-10 (30)
34 36 DON’T FORGET TO DANCE –•– The Kinks (Arista)-6 (34)
35 40 SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER –•– The Motels (Capitol)-4 (35)
36 39 SITTING AT THE WHEEL –•– The Moody Blues (Threshold)-4 (36)
37 38 IT MUST BE LOVE –•– Madness (Geffen)-6 (37)
38 22 IT’S A MISTAKE –•– Men At Work (Columbia)-13 (6)
39 47 IF ANYONE FALLS –•– Stevie Nicks (Modern)-3 (39)
40 41 COLD BLOODED –•– Rick James (Gordy)-9 (40)