november 1980 — lots to love

I couldn’t believe it...two early 80s countdowns in a row!  And wow, was this another eclectic one.  The country records weren’t just the Kenny Rogers adult contemporary crossovers...this was ordinary Nelson and Jennings and Don Williams country.  And the early new wave of the vapors and devo charted (and then took a pause for 1981) at the same time.

Yacht rock was doing great, so was adult contemporary (holding down the top 2).  Queen refused to leave the top 10 for many more weeks, despite having been at #1 a month ago.

Diana Ross had THREE top 40 hits since “upside down” also refused to drop.  John Lennon was in the last weeks of his life, and despite this jump made anemic climbs in subsequent weeks until after his murder when he hit #1 for 5 weeks.

Being late in the year, all the songs still climbing this week ended up in the 1981 year end countdown, which I listened to live.  All were surprises, since I’d been tracking the charts most of the calendar year.

Despite being so close to when I started listening to pop music in earnest, I’m not sure I’d heard The Rolling Stones, Jackson Browne songs before.  I know I hadn’t heard jimmy hall’s or Randy Meisner’s until this year.

Favorites are many — guilty, lady, stephanie mills, Bruce Springsteen, pointer sisters, real love.  The top:  hungry heart!

1 2 LADY –•– Kenny Rogers (Liberty)-7 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 WOMAN IN LOVE –•– Barbra Streisand (Columbia)-11 (1)
3 5 THE WANDERER –•– Donna Summer (Geffen)-9 (3)
4 4 ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST –•– Queen (Elektra)-14 (1)
5 6 I’M COMING OUT –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-7 (5)
6 7 NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE –•– Stephanie Mills (20th Century)-15 (6)
7 8 MASTER BLASTER (Jammin’) –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-9 (7)
8 3 HE’S SO SHY –•– The Pointer Sisters (Planet)-17 (3)
9 14 MORE THAN I CAN SAY –•– Leo Sayer (Warner Brothers)-8 (9)
10 32 (Just Like) STARTING OVER –•– John Lennon (Geffen)-3 (10)

11 12 DREAMING –•– Cliff Richard (EMI-America)-10 (11)
12 13 LOVELY ONE –•– The Jacksons (Epic)-8 (12)
13 18 YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVIN’ FEELING –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-8 (13)
14 17 WHIP IT –•– Devo (Warner Brothers)-12 (14)
15 15 DREAMER –•– Supertramp (A&M)-9 (15)
16 19 HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT –•– Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)-7 (16)
17 23 LOVE ON THE ROCKS –•– Neil Diamond (Capitol)-3 (17)
18 24 NEVER BE THE SAME –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-6 (18)
19 21 OUT HERE ON MY OWN –•– Irene Cara (RSO)-14 (19)
20 20 ON THE ROAD AGAIN –•– Willie Nelson (Columbia)-11 (20)

21 30 HUNGRY HEART –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-2 (21)
22 22 THAT GIRL COULD SING –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum)-9 (22)
23 25 LET ME BE YOUR ANGEL –•– Stacy Lattisaw (Cotillion)-15 (23)
24 27 WITHOUT YOUR LOVE –•– Roger Daltrey (Polydor)-10 (24)
25 10 UPSIDE DOWN –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-19 (1)
26 26 SHE’S SO COLD –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-8 (26)
27 9 REAL LOVE –•– The Doobie Brothers (Warner Brothers)-11 (5)
28 31 I’M HAPPY THAT LOVE HAS FOUND YOU –•– Jimmy Hall (Epic)-8 (28)
29 43 GUILTY –•– Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb (Columbia)-3 (29)
30 34 THEME FROM “THE DUKES OF HAZZARD” (Good Ol’ Boys) –•– Waylon (RCA)-10 (30)

31 37 DEEP INSIDE MY HEART –•– Randy Meisner (Epic)-5 (31)
32 38 EVERYBODY’S GOT TO LEARN SOMETIME –•– The Korgis (Asylum)-6 (32)
33 11 JESSE –•– Carly Simon (Warner Brothers)-16 (11)
34 39 THIS TIME –•– John Cougar (Riva)-8 (34)
35 55 EVERY WOMAN IN THE WORLD –•– Air Supply (Arista)-4 (35)
36 36 SOMETIMES A FANTASY –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-6 (36)
37 47 IT’S MY TURN –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-4 (37)
38 42 TURNING JAPANESE –•– The Vapors (United Artists / Liberty)-8 (38)
39 41 IF YOU SHOULD SAIL –•– Nielsen / Pearson (Capitol)-10 (39)
40 45 I BELIEVE IN YOU –•– Don Williams (MCA)-8 (40)

November 1981 — pushing the limits

Another eclectic early 80's countdown from the first year I seriously listened to the charts.  As I’ve noted before, 1981 had strong elements of jazz, pop, country, TV themes, instrumentals, adult contemporary, rock, and R&B.  What made this particular chart notable were a couple extremes in that department.

One was the inimitable "Super Freak" by Rick James, which the DJs described as one the safer, accessible records on the album.  Well, put it up against the Kenny Rogers plaintive “Share your Love with Me” (with Gladys Knight), and it sure doesn’t seem safe.  But the groove is undeniable, which is why it reappeared within a decade on MC Hammer’s iconic “U Can't Touch This”

Another out of place song was by Bob Seger — no ordinary rock song, nor anything like his Americana ballads of 1980...this was a LIVE, rockin' Memphis funk record.  (And the second live record on the countdown, after Billy Joel). And it was WAY up at #5, alongside Sheena Easton!  The Rolling Stones also had their biggest hit of the 80's and for a long time the biggest hit ever on the rock songs chart.  These all helped make the top echelon of the chart not my favorites.

Some notable convergences: Stevie’s Nicks had back to back hits, right next to her bandmate too!  Diana Ross had two in the countdown too, as did Richie, including the Commodores. "Endless Love" was right next to another mega-charter, "Physical" (19 weeks at #1 between them).

A few nostalgia records were charting...The Old Songs, Yesterday’s Songs, Diana Ross’s record...

But looking forward, broadly considered the biggest hit of the 80's, despite only peaking at #9..."Don't Stop Believin'" debuts this week -- it has been downloaded more in the 2000's than any other 80's track, despite being only the 3rd biggest hit off its own album.

First hits:  Quarterflash, Al Jarreau, Chilliwack, James Ingram, and most notably the Go Gos.
Last hit:  Marty Balin of Jefferson Starship.
Favorites (5-star): "Waiting for a Girl Like You," "Super Freak," "Promises in the Dark," "Just Once," and "Endless Love."  

And best song...just once!

1 3 PRIVATE EYES –•– Daryl Hall and John Oates (RCA)-11 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 2 START ME UP –•– The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)-12 (2)
3 1 ARTHUR’S THEME (Best That You Can Do) –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-13 (1)
4 4 FOR YOUR EYES ONLY –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-16 (4)
5 6 TRYIN’ TO LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU –•– Bob Seger (Capitol)-9 (5)
6 8 THE NIGHT OWLS –•– The Little River Band (Capitol)-12 (6)
7 7 HARD TO SAY –•– Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon)-11 (7)
8 9 I’VE DONE EVERYTHING FOR YOU –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-12 (8)
9 11 HERE I AM (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) –•– Air Supply (Arista)-7 (9)
10 15 WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU –•– Foreigner (Atlantic)-5 (10)

11 12 WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL –•– The Four Tops (Casablanca)-13 (11)
12 13 THE THEME FROM “HILL STREET BLUES” –•– Mike Post (Featuring Larry Carlton)-12 (12)
13 5 ENDLESS LOVE –•– Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (Motown)-18 (1)
14 23 PHYSICAL –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-6 (14)
15 17 WE’RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER –•– Al Jarreau (Warner Brothers)-15 (15)
16 20 OH NO –•– The Commodores (Motown)-7 (16)
17 18 SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-9 (17)
18 19 JUST ONCE –•– Quincy Jones Featuring James Ingram (A&M)-13 (18)
19 21 EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC –•– The Police (A&M)-7 (19)
20 26 THE OLD SONGS –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-5 (20)

21 28 WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE –•– Diana Ross (RCA)-4 (21)
22 10 STEP BY STEP –•– Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra)-16 (5)
23 14 SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME –•– Kenny Rogers (Liberty)-10 (14)
24 16 SUPER FREAK (Part 1) –•– Rick James (Gordy)-14 (16)
25 30 YOUNG TURKS –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-4 (25)
26 22 SHE’S A BAD MAMA JAMA (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) –•– Carl Carlton (20th Century)-12 (22)
27 27 ATLANTA LADY (Something About Your Love) –•– Marty Balin (EMI-America)-8 (27)
28 31 SAUSALITO SUMMERNIGHT –•– Diesel (Regency)-9 (28)
29 36 LET’S GROOVE –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (ARC)-6 (29)
30 55 TROUBLE –•– Lindsey Buckingham (Asylum)-3 (30)

31 50 LEATHER AND LACE –•– Stevie Nicks (with Don Henley) (Modern)-3 (31)
32 24 STOP DRAGGIN’ MY HEART AROUND –•– Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) (Modern)-16 (3)
33 49 HARDEN MY HEART –•– Quarterflash (Geffen)-4 (33)
34 40 MY GIRL (Gone, Gone, Gone) –•– Chilliwack (Millenium)-7 (34)
35 39 OUR LIPS ARE SEALED –•– The Go-Go’s (I.R.S.)-11 (35)
36 41 NO REPLY AT ALL –•– Genesis (Atlantic)-7 (36)
37 42 TAKE MY HEART (You Can Have It If You Want It) –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-4 (37)
38 38 PROMISES IN THE DARK –•– Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)-6 (38)
39 51 THE SWEETEST THING (I’ve Ever Known) –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-4 (39)
40 56 DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ –•– Journey (Columbia)-2 (40)

November 1975 -- the ultimate convergence

Fun countdown this week with lots of huge chart movement, big starts, lots of past and present #1s, and one of the all-time great chart coincidences.

The bottom 10 had 3 future ones as debuts (a record?) --Barry Manilow, Diana Ross, and Oho Players.  Elton John had two previous number ones -- one fully credited (Island Girl) and the preceding #1 "Bad Blood" where he sings prominent, but uncredited, background vocals.  Both Art Garfunkel and Frankie Valli had solo and group hits concurrently.

Paul McCartney had yet another of his top 40 hits I've never heard....Olivia Newton John's was not very familiar either.  K.C. and the Sunshine Band charge to #1, barely holding off Silver Convention, who nearly pulled off the very rare bound to #1 from outside the top 10.

But the big news of the week was Pete Wingfield who was at #18, climbing strongly (which in Billboard's charts parlance is "with a bullet") with "18 with a Bullet."  The lyrics make references to pop records and charts, so the pun was intentional.

Favorites: lots of good songs, I love Music... and the best SOS!

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1 6 THAT’S THE WAY (I Like It) –•– K.C. and the Sunshine Band (T.K.)-5 (1 week at #1) (1)

2 16 FLY, ROBIN, FLY –•– Silver Convention (Midland International)-7 (2)
3 3 WHO LOVES YOU –•– The Four Seasons (Warner Brothers / Curb)-14 (3)
4 1 ISLAND GIRL –•– Elton John (MCA)-7 (1)
5 9 THE WAY I WANT TO TOUCH YOU –•– The Captain and Tennille (A&M)-9 (5)
6 7 THIS WILL BE –•– Natalie Cole (Capitol)-13 (6)
7 8 FEELINGS –•– Morris Albert (RCA)-23 (6)
8 10 LOW RIDER –•– War (United Artists)-10 (8)
9 13 SKY HIGH –•– Jigsaw (Chelsea)-13 (9)
10 21 LET’S DO IT AGAIN –•– The Staple Singers (Curtom)-5 (10)

11 14 NIGHTS ON BROADWAY –•– Bee Gees (RSO)-8 (11)
12 2 LYIN’ EYES –•– Eagles (Asylum)-11 (2)
13 11 THEY JUST CAN’T STOP IT THE (Games People Play) –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-16 (5)
14 4 MIRACLES –•– Jefferson Starship (Grunt)-14 (3)
15 19 MY LITTLE TOWN –•– Simon and Garfunkel (Columbia)-6 (15)
16 5 HEAT WAVE / LOVE IS A ROSE –•– Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)-12 (5)
17 27 SATURDAY NIGHT –•– The Bay City Rollers (Arista)-7 (17)
18 23 EIGHTEEN WITH A BULLET –•– Pete Wingfield (Island)-14 (18)
19 22 I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU –•– Art Garfunkel (Columbia)-14 (19)
20 12 CALYPSO / I’M SORRY –•– John Denver (RCA)-15 (1)

21 25 BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN –•– Willie Nelson (Columbia)-13 (21)
22 26 OPERATOR –•– The Manhattan Transfer (Atlantic)-10 (22)
23 15 SOS –•– Abba (Atlantic)-14 (15)
24 28 I WANT’A DO SOMETHING FREAKY TO YOU –•– Leon Haywood (20th Century)-12 (24)
25 29 OUR DAY WILL COME –•– Frankie Valli (Private Stock)-6 (25)
26 18 DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANNA –•– The People’s Choice (TSOP)-14 (11)
27 36 VENUS AND MARS ROCK SHOW –•– Wings (Capitol)-4 (27)
28 32 SECRET LOVE –•– Freddy Fender (ABC / Dot)-6 (28)
29 24 BAD BLOOD –•– Neil Sedaka (Rocket)-11 (1)
30 37 I LOVE MUSIC (Part 1) –•– The O’Jays (Philadelphia International)-4 (30)

31 17 SOMETHING BETTER TO DO –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-10 (13)
32 40 I’M ON FIRE –•– 5000 Volts (Philips)-6 (32)
33 33 BRAZIL –•– The Ritchie Family (20th Century)-17 (11)
34 51 LOVE ROLLERCOASTER –•– The Ohio Players (Mercury)-2 (34)
35 47 FOX ON THE RUN –•– Sweet (Capitol)-2 (35)
36 44 THE LAST GAME OF THE SEASON (A Blind Man In the Bleachers) –•– David Geddes (Big Tree)-2 (36)
37 58 FOR THE LOVE OF YOU (Parts 1 and 2) –•– The Isley Brothers (T-Neck)-2 (37)
38 48 I WRITE THE SONGS –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-2 (38)
39 53 THEME FROM “MAHOGANY” (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-4 (39)
40 63 COUNTRY BOY (You Got Your Feet In L.A.) –•– Glen Campbell (Capitol)-3 (40)