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)