February 1988 -- The Good, the Bad, and the Boring

We're entering that dreadful period at the end of the 80's, and the DJs even acknowledged it today. Some highlights, as in any countdown, but I did an unusual amount of skipping through the today.

On the boring side, check out all the middle-of-the-road stuff...especially in the top 10:  Paul Carrack, Foreigner (long past peak), Eric Carmen.  Throw in an actor (Patrick Swayze) and you've got it complete....but add in Richard Marx who was considered cool back then and Michael Bolton talented.  Yawn!

Some otherwise good artists had some snoozers here too -- Gloria Estefan beginning a long string of very similar ballads, Bangles had a mystery hit, Fleetwood Mac (Zzzz), and Sting's snoozer was even a major award nominee.

On the bad side was a string from #33 up to #29.  Rocket 2 U was embarrassing, as was Billy Ocean.  Plus Debbie Gibson and Tiffany were very popular.

On the plus side, this was the time for a big breakout for Cher and Def Leppard, David Lee Roth had a solid followup, and Rick Astley hits the top 10.  George Michael and Michael Jackson were in the middle of record-setting runs with their albums.   Two iconic hip hop records were breaking through (which generated momentum for changing the pop charts!) -- Salt n' Pepa and MARRS.  R&B Icon Keith Sweat had his first top 40 hit, and legend Gladys Knight had her last.

And at #1, Expose, in their only week ever atop the chart despite 7 top 10s in a row.  Not my favorite of theirs, but a solid ballad.

Unheralded favorite:  Twilight World, the 2nd and last top 40 hit by Swing Out Sister, but Top song of the week -- Cher's triumphal comeback, "I Found Someone," despite being written and produced by Michael Bolton!

1 2 SEASONS CHANGE –•– Expose – 13 (1)
2 5 WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS? –•– Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield – 11 (2)
3 1 COULD’VE BEEN –•– Tiffany – 13 (1)
4 12 FATHER FIGURE –•– George Michael – 6 (4)
5 4 HUNGRY EYES –•– Eric Carmen – 16 (4)
6 8 SAY YOU WILL –•– Foreigner – 12 (6)
7 10 SHE’S LIKE THE WIND –•– Patrick Swayze Featuring Wendy Fraser – 10 (7)
8 11 NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP –•– Rick Astley – 10 (8)
9 9 DON’T SHED A TEAR –•– Paul Carrack – 15 (9)
10 3 I WANT TO BE YOUR MAN –•– Roger – 15 (3)

11 16 CAN’T STAY AWAY FROM YOU –•– Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – 14 (11)
12 18 I GET WEAK –•– Belinda Carlisle – 6 (12)
13 17 PUMP UP THE VOLUME –•– M/A/R/R/S – 13 (13)
14 6 NEED YOU TONIGHT –•– INXS – 18 (1)
15 7 HAZY SHADE OF WINTER –•– The Bangles – 15 (2)
16 19 I FOUND SOMEONE –•– Cher – 14 (16)
17 14 EVERYWHERE –•– Fleetwood Mac – 13 (14)
18 23 JUST LIKE PARADISE –•– David Lee Roth – 6 (18)
19 21 PUSH IT –•– Salt-N-Pepa – 14 (19)
20 26 ENDLESS SUMMER NIGHTS –•– Richard Marx – 5 (20)

21 13 TUNNEL OF LOVE –•– Bruce Springsteen – 12 (9)
22 27 LOVE OVERBOARD –•– Gladys Knight & The Pips – 7 (22)
23 15 I LIVE FOR YOUR LOVE –•– Natalie Cole – 16 (13)
24 33 OUT OF THE BLUE –•– Debbie Gibson – 4 (24)
25 31 BE STILL MY BEATING HEART –•– Sting – 6 (25)
26 34 I WANT HER –•– Keith Sweat – 6 (26)
27 36 MAN IN THE MIRROR –•– Michael Jackson – 3 (27)
28 35 HYSTERIA –•– Def Leppard – 5 (28)
29 30 BECAUSE OF YOU –•– The Cover Girls – 13 (29)
30 20 POP GOES THE WORLD –•– Men Without Hats – 17 (20)

31 37 (SITTIN’ ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY –•– Michael Bolton – 5 (31)
32 40 ROCKET 2 YOU –•– The Jets – 5 (32)
33 32 853-5937 –•– Squeeze – 10 (32)
34 42 TWILIGHT WORLD –•– Swing Out Sister – 10 (34)
35 49 GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR –•– Billy Ocean – 2 (35)
36 25 GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU –•– George Harrison – 18 (1)
37 24 THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL –•– Michael Jackson – 14 (1)
38 22 I COULD NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR MAN –•– Prince – 15 (10)
39 28 TELL IT TO MY HEART –•– Taylor Dayne – 20 (7)
40 41 LIVE MY LIFE –•– Boy George – 9 (40)

February 1983 -- a whole new cast & slow movers

We're nearing the end of the early 80's, leading to a fascinating crossover of styles.  Country crossover will be gone by year's end, but for now, mainstays of Eddie Rabbitt, Crystal Gayle, Kenny Rogers, and Juice Newton are still doing well.  And Bob Seger's huge hit was basically a country ballad.

Yacht Rock is hanging in there with Kenny Loggins, Little River Band, Christopher Cross, and Toto.

Jazz influenced songs are gone, and this year is the last real hurrah for the easy listening of Air Supply, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, and Barbra Striesand.

Meanwhile, the new cast of artists who would come to define the 80's are making huge marks.  Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Don Henley, and Phil Collins aren't new...but are on the leading edge of a huge breakout.  Culture Club and Duran Duran have their first of many hits each.  Men at Work and the Stray Cats are a few months ahead of them, though won't last as long. 

And check out the one (or few) hit wonders:  Musical Youth, Adam Ant, The Clash, Golden Earring, Saga, Joe Jackson, Flock of Seagulls.  Quite a list.  Coming soon:  ABC, Bryan Adams, Def Leppard

Among the slow movers, Moving Pictures crept and crept their way to #29.  Golden Earring crawled all the way to #10 somehow.  Frida took 15 weeks to make the top 40, yet hit #13, and at #2 (#1 next week) were Patti Austin and James Ingram, boosted by play on General Hospital, in one of the slowest climbs ever to #1.

Like in 1981, there are many favorites here

5 star:  Donna Summer, Billie Jean, Phil Collins, and Separate Ways (favorite of the year!)
4-star: The clash, Duran Duran, Patti Austin, The Flock, Sammy Hagar, Juice Newton, Lionel Richie, Tom Petty, Moving Pictures, Saga,


1 2 DOWN UNDER –•– Men At Work (Columbia)-15 (4 weeks at #1) (1)
2 4 BABY, COME TO ME –•– Patti Austin with James Ingram (Qwest)-22 (2)
3 3 SEXUAL HEALING –•– Marvin Gaye (Columbia)-16 (3)
4 5 SHAME ON THE MOON –•– Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (Capitol)-9 (4)
5 1 AFRICA –•– Toto (Columbia)-16 (1)
6 6 MANEATER –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA)-18 (1)
7 9 YOU AND I –•– Eddie Rabbitt with Crystal Gayle (Elektra)-19 (7)
8 8 ROCK THE CASBAH –•– The Clash (Epic)-20 (8)
9 12 STRAY CAT STRUT –•– The Stray Cats (EMI-America)-8 (9)
10 10 YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE –•– Phil Collins (Atlantic)-15 (10)

11 11 THE OTHER GUY –•– The Little River Band (Capitol)-13 (11)
12 13 GOODY TWO SHOES –•– Adam Ant (Epic)-14 (12)
13 14 PASS THE DUTCHIE –•– Musical Youth (MCA)-10 (13)
14 18 YOUR LOVE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY –•– Sammy Hagar (Geffen)-10 (14)
15 15 HEART TO HEART –•– Kenny Loggins (Columbia)-12 (15)
16 19 ALL RIGHT –•– Christopher Cross (Warner Brothers)-4 (16)
17 17 ALLENTOWN –•– Billy Joel (Columbia)-12 (17)
18 21 DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-11 (18)
19 22 HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF –•– Duran Duran (Harvest)-8 (19)
20 20 YOU GOT LUCKY –•– Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Backstreet)-14 (20)

21 24 YOU ARE –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-5 (21)
22 26 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG –•– The Pretenders (Sire)-10 (22)
23 27 BILLIE JEAN –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-4 (23)
24 28 WE’VE GOT TONIGHT –•– Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton (Liberty)-3 (24)
25 25 HEART OF THE NIGHT –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-12 (25)
26 33 TWILIGHT ZONE –•– Golden Earring (21 Records)-12 (26)
27 36 SEPERATE WAYS (Worlds Apart) –•– Journey (Columbia)-2 (27)
28 37 ONE ON ONE –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates (RCA)-3 (28)
29 30 WHAT ABOUT ME –•– Moving Pictures (Network)-22 (29)
30 31 SPACE AGE LOVE SONG –•– A Flock Of Seagulls (Jive)-14 (30)

31 34 ON THE LOOSE –•– Saga (Portrait)-11 (31)
32 7 DIRTY LAUNDRY –•– Don Henley (Asylum)-16 (3)
33 39 BREAKING US IN TWO –•– Joe Jackson (A&M)-5 (33)
34 16 THE GIRL IS MINE –•– Michael Jackson / Paul McCartney (Epic)-15 (2)
35 42 FALL IN LOVE WITH ME –•– Earth, Wind & Fire (Columbia)-4 (35)
36 41 I KNOW THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON –•– Frida (Atlantic)-15 (36)
37 38 I KNEW YOU WHEN –•– Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)-10 (37)
38 43 THE CLAPPING SONG –•– Pia Zadora (Elektra)-10 (38)
39 40 THE WOMAN IN ME –•– Donna Summer (Geffen)-9 (39)
40 — MR. ROBOTO –•– Styx (A&M)-1 (40)

When Michael Didn't Help

The following are song that despite having Michael Jackson on them during the 1980's, really underperformed, just proving that having the top star of the 80's on your record doesn't guarantee success.  I'm going in order of surprise.

"Save Me" (#71, 1980) -- English singer songwriter Dave Mason, most famous for "We Just Disagree" and in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of Traffic, released this song in 1980 at the peak of "Off the Wall."  The song almost defines yacht rock...but then you hear MJ coming in the background, just where you'd expect Michael McDonald!  Didn't work....surprising that MJ was on it, but not surprised at the low charting. 

"Get It" (#80, 1988) -- American icon Stevie Wonder had had an incredible run of pop chart success that ran out of gas in 1987.  The lead single from Characters, "Skeletons" only made #19 (following 10 years of lead singles all making the top 10, many #1).  Following this funky song with a ballad, "You Will Know" completely missed the top 40.  So, for round three, he pulled out the duet with MJ.  perfectly servicable, middle of the road song, but it was too late.

"Heartbreak Hotel" (#22, 1981) -- this song by the Jacksons came hot on the heels of Michael's breakthrough with "Off the Wall" in 1979.  By the end of 1980, he'd scored 4 top 10's from that album, yet the late 1980's Jackson album "Triumph" scored only 2 top 40 hits, both of which missed the top 10.  "Lovely one" was a bit formulaic, but "Heartbreak Hotel" was very interesting and reminiscent of the title track to "Thriller" which would be recorded only 2 years later, though charting top 5 in 1984 due to the album's long run.  Fun fact: when MJ bought the rights to Elvis' catalog, he retroactively (and awkwardly) re-named the song "This Place Hotel"

"Eaten Alive" (#77, 1985)  I'm calling this Diana Ross song bombing a surprise, even though her career was on the downturn by this point in the 80's after a white-hot start.  She had had a top 10 hit earlier in the year (granted, a commemoration ballad for Marvin Gaye in "Missing You"), and this was the lead single, produced by Michael Jackson with him on background vocals.  I thought it was an awesome record at the time and could not believe with their combined star power that it stalled at #77.  The follow-up, the midtempo "Chain Reaction" didn't do much better in the U.S. but was a #1 in the UK!

February 1981 -- Peak Country & Awesome Tracks

By Feb 1981, disco had officially died, new wave was taking a break, and the British new wave hadn't arrived yet.  In this gap, an amazing amount of adult contemporary and country music was on the charts, alongside a healthy dose of real rock records, yacht rock, and solid R&B.

Country crossover was so popular that Don McLean and the Eagles joined the bandwagon.  Joining them were Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and Eddie Rabbitt (all #1 pop hits); Ronnie Milsap and Fred Knoblock.  The DJs even called the Stevie Wonder record an imitation of a country ballad, which I'd never considered.

"Heartbreak Hotel" was noted as being weird...but my first thought was that it sounded like the title track from "Thriller."  "Lady" was called "moody" which I'd also never thought about, but he was right.

Even with all the rock records, one stands out -- Back in Black, debatably the hardest rock songs to make the top 40 in the decade...and there it sits with 2 Neil Diamond records, Barry Manilow, Barbra Striesand and Abba.

And while I've never calculated it, this may be the top 40 with the most 5-star songs for me, eight!

Guilty, it's my turn, reo speedwagon, hello again, lady, a little in love, smokey mountain rain, and same auld lang syne.  And another 11 four-star songs. 

Back in 1981, I would've put Tierra as a clear 5-star, but I don't care for it so much anymore.  Ah Leah's down a bit too.  By contrast, I would've put Blondie, Heart, McLean, the Police, and ac/dc as among the worst songs of the year....but they've all climbed, especially Blondie.

Top song is hard to pick, but I'm going with Sir Cliff Richard.

1 3 CELEBRATION –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-16 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 THE TIDE IS HIGH –•– Blondie (Chrysalis)-13 (1)
3 4 I LOVE A RAINY NIGHT –•– Eddie Rabbitt (Elektra)-14 (3)
4 8 9 TO 5 –•– Dolly Parton (RCA)-11 (4)
5 6 PASSION –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers)-12 (5)
6 2 (Just Like) STARTING OVER –•– John Lennon (Geffen)-15 (1)
7 5 EVERY WOMAN IN THE WORLD –•– Air Supply (Arista)-16 (5)
8 17 WOMAN –•– John Lennon (Geffen)-4 (8)
9 9 IT’S MY TURN –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-16 (9)
10 11 GIVING IT UP FOR YOUR LOVE –•– Delbert McClinton (Capitol)-10 (10)

11 12 HEY NINETEEN –•– Steely Dan (MCA)-11 (11)
12 14 SAME OLD LANG SYNE –•– Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon)-9 (12)
13 19 KEEP ON LOVING YOU –•– REO Speedwagon (Epic)-11 (13)
14 16 MISS SUN –•– Boz Scaggs (with Lisa Dal Bello) (Columbia)-11 (14)
15 7 LOVE ON THE ROCKS –•– Neil Diamond (Capitol)-15 (2)
16 18 THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL –•– Abba (Atlantic)-12 (16)
17 22 THE BEST OF TIMES –•– Styx (A&M)-3 (17)
18 21 I AIN’T GONNA STAND FOR IT –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-9 (18)
19 20 TOGETHER –•– Tierra (Boardwalk)-14 (19)
20 27 CRYING –•– Don McLean (Millenium)-3 (20)

21 23 SEVEN BRIDGES ROAD –•– The Eagles (Asylum)-8 (21)
22 13 GUILTY –•– Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb (Columbia)-15 (3)
23 25 HEARTBREAK HOTEL –•– The Jacksons (Epic)-10 (23)
24 28 A LITTLE IN LOVE –•– Cliff Richard (EMI-America)-9 (24)
25 32 HELLO AGAIN –•– Neil Diamond (Capitol)-2 (25)
26 10 I MADE IT THROUGH THE RAIN –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-12 (10)
27 31 SMOKY MOUNTAIN RAIN –•– Ronnie Milsap (RCA)-11 (27)
28 29 KILLIN’ TIME –•– Fred Knoblock and Susan Anton (Scotti Brothers)-12 (28)
29 34 GAMES PEOPLE PLAY –•– The Alan Parsons Project (Arista)-10 (29)
30 36 TREAT ME RIGHT –•– Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)-4 (30)

31 15 TIME IS TIME –•– Andy Gibb (RSO)-12 (15)
32 24 HUNGRY HEART –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-14 (5)
33 33 HE CAN’T LOVE YOU –•– The Michael Stanley Band (EMI-America)-12 (33)
34 26 DE DO DO DO, DE DA DA DA –•– The Police (A&M)-16 (10)
35 30 TELL IT LIKE IT IS –•– Heart (Epic)-12 (8)
36 35 LADY –•– Kenny Rogers (Liberty)-19 (1)
37 50 HEARTS ON FIRE –•– Randy Meisner (Epic)-3 (37)
38 44 AH LEAH –•– Donnie Iris (MCA)-9 (38)
39 39 WHO’S MAKING LOVE –•– The Blues Brothers (Atlantic)-8 (39)

40 45 BACK IN BLACK –•– AC/DC (Atlantic)-6 (40)

 

"Girls" songs

Playing one of my favorite apps, 94%, which is like Family Feud, it asked for songs featuring "Girl(s)" in the title.  Perhaps I know too many, but I did poorly, only getting "Girls, Girls, Girls" and "California Girls" intentionally and finally teh top answer (below).  As often happens in the game, I got a couple accidentally, "My Girl" and "Girls." 

I used my ITunes directory to come up with "Uptown Girl" (but it didn't have "Material girl!") and "Big Girls Don't Cry" -- and I'm still shocked at #1 was "Girls Just Want to have fun" way ahead of the others/

For the record, my favorite Girl songs are:

Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry
Nine Days - Absolutely (the story of a Girl)
Foreigner - Waiting for a Girl Like You
Heart - There's the Girl
Chi-Lites - Oh Girl
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls

Gary U.S. Bonds - This Little Girl

The Four Tops  - When She Was My Girl

One Direction - Steal My Girl
The O'Jays - Use Ta Be My Girl

February 1971 -- Family Acts rule!

Interesting early-70's chart this week.  

You'll see some very familiar Motown artists, with Smokey Robinson logging their biggest hit ever, Diana Ross and her former bandmates account for 3 songs, including one with the four tops.   The Jackson Five return to the chart next week.

No spoken word or comedy records this week, but there's Judy Collins with Amazing grace representing the explicitly religious records that dotted early 70's charts.

Elvis charted, and didn't sound too out of place.

Perry Como sounded stranger -- this 50's style easy listening record was his last top 10.  Hard to imagine any station playing it very close to the Led Zeppelin record 3 spots down!

One major family act was falling -- Partridge Family with their huge debut hit...and the Osmonds were following -- they'll be #1 in 2 weeks.  Both were on Casey's top 40 songs of the 70's that he played a few weeks ago.

At this point, Barbra Striesand had not hit #1, but what a decade she had to come.  Ditto for the Bee Gees (whom Casey noted sounded like the Beatles...and he was right!).  Elton John as well -- this was his first of a record string of years with a top 40 hit, stretching into the late 90's.  Chicago would hit #1 as late as 1989.  I expect Casey would've been most shocked to learn that Santana would hit #1 last of everyone on this chart in 2000!

And at #1, the rather silly Dawn song, first of many for them.  Casey was clearly in a sober mood this week as he gave a serious introduction to even this song!

Favorite:  "Your Song" closely followed by "If You Could Read My Mind" 

1 1 KNOCK THREE TIMES –•– Dawn (Bell)-11 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 MY SWEET LORD / ISN’T IT A PITY –•– George Harrison (Apple)-10 (1)
3 4 LONELY DAYS –•– The Bee Gees (Atco)-9 (3)
4 3 ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER –•– The 5th Dimension (Bell)-15 (2)
5 9 ROSE GARDEN –•– Lynn Anderson (Columbia)-10 (5)
6 7 GROOVE ME –•– King Floyd (Chimneyville)-15 (6)
7 16 I HEAR YOU KNOCKING –•– Dave Edmunds (MAM)-6 (7)
8 8 YOUR SONG –•– Elton John (Uni)-10 (8)
9 34 ONE BAD APPLE –•– The Osmonds (MGM)-5 (9)
10 6 STONEY END –•– Barbra Streisand (Columbia)-14 (6)

11 13 IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN –•– Gladys Knight and the Pips (Soul)-10 (11)
12 5 BLACK MAGIC WOMAN –•– Santana (Columbia)-12 (4)
13 10 IT’S IMPOSSIBLE –•– Perry Como (RCA)-12 (10)
14 15 LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH –•– Stephen Stills (Atlantic)-8 (14)
15 11 I THINK I LOVE YOU –•– The Partridge Family (Starring Shirley Jones and Featuring David Cassidy) (Bell)-17 (1)
16 18 IMMIGRANT SONG –•– Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)-11 (16)
17 23 BORN TO WANDER –•– Rare Earth (Rare Earth)-8 (17)
18 31 MR. BOJANGLES –•– The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (Liberty)-11 (18)
19 21 REMEMBER ME –•– Diana Ross (Motown)-6 (19)
20 22 WE GOTTA GET YOU A WOMAN –•– Runt (Todd Rundgren) (Ampex)-12 (20)

21 12 STONED LOVE –•– The Supremes (Motown)-13 (7)
22 24 I REALLY DON’T WANT TO KNOW / THERE GOES MY EVERYTHING –•– Elvis Presley (RCA)-6 (22)
23 20 FOR THE GOOD TIMES –•– Ray Price (Columbia)-23 (11)
24 19 DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS –•– Chicago (Columbia)-13 (7)
25 32 WATCHING SCOTTY GROW –•– Bobby Goldsboro (United Artists)-6 (25)
26 30 AMAZING GRACE –•– Judy Collins (Elektra)-8 (26)
27 25 PAY TO THE PIPER –•– The Chairmen Of the Board (Invictus)-12 (13)
28 36 IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND –•– Gordon Lightfoot (Reprise)-6 (28)
29 14 RIVER DEEP-MOUNTAIN HIGH –•– The Supremes and the Four Tops (Motown)-10 (14)
30 28 ONE MAN BAND –•– Three Dog Night (Dunhill)-11 (19)

31 33 AMOS MOSES –•– Jerry Reed (RCA)-14 (31)
32 29 DOMINO –•– Van Morrison (Warner Brothers)-12 (9)
33 44 LET YOUR LOVE GO –•– Bread (Elektra)-5 (33)
34 27 GAMES –•– Redeye (Pentagram)-13 (27)
35 35 GET UP, GET INTO IT, GET INVOLVED (Part 1) –•– James Brown (King)-5 (35)
36 40 (Do the) PUSH AND PULL (Part 1) –•– Rufus Thomas (Stax)-7 (36)
37 45 1900 YESTERDAY –•– Liz Damon’s Orient Express (White Whale)-6 (37)
38 17 THE TEARS OF A CLOWN –•– Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Tamla)-15 (1)
39 39 PRECIOUS PRECIOUS –•– Jackie Moore (Atlantic)-9 (39)
40 41 SOMEBODY’S WATCHING YOU –•– Little Sister (Stone Flower)-8 (40)

February 1989 -- a good start to a tough year

1989 is far from my favorite year for music in the 80's, but this was not a bad countdown today.  Starting at the top, we had back to back 5-star #1s!  Very rare this late in the decade. Sheriff's song was another of the random re-releases that did well in the late 80s, but bedeviled record companies, especially if the band had already broken up -- yes, they sold records, but no albums or concerts.  I have a vague memory of hearing it in 1983, and as a pop-rock ballad goes, it's as good as it gets.  

This year would be marked by many albums with many hits each -- it became normal to have 4 top 10's from an album, which was unheard of in 1978 when Rumours by Fleetwood Mac did just that.  This feat would be repeated in 1989 by Bobby Brown, NKOTB, Paula Abdul, Milli Vanilli (if only Casey knew), Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard, plus others not on this week's chart -- and the first four were all with their debut releases!

Producers ruled -- Stock Aitken Waterman hit big with "Venus" in 1986, then followed with all of Rick Astleys hits, plus Donna Summer in 1989.  LA Reid owned this chart, producing -- Sheena Easton (her last hit), Bobby Brown, Karyn White, and the Boys.  

And check out the veterans in the first 10 -- all had a hit record in 1970:  Rod Stewart, Al Green, Michael Jackson, Chicago.

Preview the misery that was to become 1989:  NKOTB, Debbie Gibson, and Mike + the Mechanics.  But for now, barring White Lion, this was a respectable top 10 -- led by my favorite:  Sheriff, with also rans Phil Collins, Anita Baker, and Erasure.

1 2 WHEN I’M WITH YOU –•– Sheriff – 18 (1)
2 6 STRAIGHT UP –•– Paula Abdul – 10 (2)
3 5 WHEN THE CHILDREN CRY –•– White Lion – 14 (3)
4 7 BORN TO BE MY BABY –•– Bon Jovi – 11 (4)
5 9 WILD THING –•– Tone Loc – 10 (5)
6 3 ARMAGEDDON IT –•– Def Leppard – 12 (3)
7 8 THE WAY YOU LOVE ME –•– Karyn White – 17 (7)
8 4 DON’T RUSH ME –•– Taylor Dayne – 14 (2)
9 10 ALL THIS TIME –•– Tiffany – 14 (9)
10 1 TWO HEARTS –•– Phil Collins – 12 (1)

11 13 I WANNA HAVE SOME FUN –•– Samantha Fox – 13 (11)
12 14 THE LOVER IN ME –•– Sheena Easton – 14 (12)
13 11 HOLDING ON –•– Steve Winwood – 11 (11)
14 18 SHE WANTS TO DANCE WITH ME –•– Rick Astley – 8 (14)
15 19 WALKING AWAY –•– Information Society – 11 (15)
16 20 WHAT I AM –•– Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians – 11 (16)
17 23 ANGEL OF HARLEM –•– U2 – 8 (17)
18 25 YOU GOT IT (THE RIGHT STUFF) –•– New Kids On The Block – 12 (18)
19 24 DIAL MY HEART –•– The Boys – 9 (19)
20 26 SURRENDER TO ME –•– Ann Wilson & Robin Zander – 7 (20)

21 30 LOST IN YOUR EYES –•– Debbie Gibson – 3 (21)
22 12 MY PREROGATIVE –•– Bobby Brown – 16 (1)
23 27 A LITTLE RESPECT –•– Erasure – 9 (23)
24 16 EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN –•– Poison – 15 (1)
25 29 THE LIVING YEARS –•– Mike & The Mechanics – 5 (25)
26 32 ALL SHE WANTS IS –•– Duran Duran – 7 (26)
27 37 RONI –•– Bobby Brown – 5 (27)
28 28 SHAKE FOR THE SHEIK –•– Escape Club – 9 (28)
29 36 PARADISE CITY –•– Guns N’ Roses – 4 (29)
30 21 LITTLE LIAR –•– Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – 15 (19)

31 15 SMOOTH CRIMINAL –•– Michael Jackson – 13 (7)
32 33 MY HEART CAN’T TELL YOU NO –•– Rod Stewart – 9 (32)
33 17 PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART –•– Annie Lennox & Al Green – 14 (9)
34 40 DON’T TELL ME LIES –•– Breathe – 4 (34)
35 22 I REMEMBER HOLDING YOU –•– Boys Club – 16 (8)
36 46 GIRL YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE –•– Milli Vanilli – 5 (36)
37 44 I BEG YOUR PARDON –•– Kon Kan – 7 (37)
38 41 IT’S NO SECRET –•– Kylie Minoque – 9 (38)
39 47 YOU’RE NOT ALONE –•– Chicago – 3 (39)
40 49 JUST BECAUSE –•– Anita Baker – 3 (40)