80s0n8 Big 40 Countdown Schedule

I had a few more tunes on my Good list.
I'm betting that I like Cutting Crew and Crowded house better than you do. (Not that it's a competition or anything.) I dig the production and guitar tones from those guys. I also still like the Pseudo Echo track. I like the 80s energy that they gave it.
 
sadchild said:
Some more "I Can't Believe It's Not (Butter) Top 40!" songs
Click to expand...

Below are the ones I am surprised about.

Clash "Should I Stay Or Should I Go"
Lindsey Buckingham "Holiday Road"
U2 "New Year's Day"
Wall Of Voodoo "Mexican Radio"
Weather Girls "It's Raining Men" (I am not complaining. I wish it had never made top 100 so we could never hear it again.)
ZZ Top "Sharp Dressed Man"
John Fogerty "Centerfield"
Oingo Boingo "Weird Science"
Talking Heads "And She Was"
 
Day-in Day-out - David Bowie... even through all the years of listening to lots of music and following these 80's charts, I have no recollection of this song. I don't even remember seeing the song title before.
 
@HecticArt Yeah I'm lukewarm on Cutting Crew and Crowded House. Their hits end up on my okay list generally. A friend of mine had that CC album in '87 and aside from thinking the 3 hits were okay, I couldn't get into it no matter how much he played it.

@Aaron I don't think I heard any Never Let Me Down tracks either until 1990 when a friend of mine played his cassette of the album. Personally I don't need to hear any '83-'89 Bowie ever again.
 
1989

40. ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY - GREAT WHITE
39. DOWN BOYS - WARRANT
38. SEND ME AN ANGEL '89 - REAL LIFE
37. LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME - BON JOVI
36. MY BRAVE FACE - PAUL MCCARTNEY
35. SO ALIVE - LOVE AND ROCKETS
34. WHO DO YOU GIVE YOUR LOVE TO - MICHAEL MORALES
33. EVERLASTING LOVE - HOWARD JONES
32. REAL LOVE - JODY WATLEY
31. BE WITH YOU - THE BANGLES
30. CRAZY ABOUT HER - ROD STEWART
29. ROOMS ON FIRE - STEVIE NICKS
28. CUDDLY TOY (FEEL FOR ME) - ROACHFORD
27. INTO THE NIGHT - BENNY MARDONES
26. TOY SOLDIERS - MARTIKA
25. THE DOCTOR - DOOBIE BROTHERS
24. EXPRESS YOURSELF - MADONNA
23. VERONICA - ELVIS COSTELLO
22. WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW - EXPOSE
21. COMING HOME - CINDERELLA
20. FOREVER YOUR GIRL - PAULA ABDUL
19. SOLDIERS OF LOVE - DONNY OSMOND
18. I WON'T BACK DOWN - TOM PETTY
17. IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - SIMPLY RED
16. WHERE ARE YOU KNOW - JIMMY HARNEN WITH SYNCH
15. POP SINGER - JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP
14. PATIENCE - GUNS N' ROSES
13. I DROVE ALL NIGHT - CYNDI LAUPER
12. MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY - NATALIE COLE
11. ROCK ON - MICHAEL DAMIAN
10. CRY - WATERFRONT
9. THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL - DONNA SUMMER
8. CLOSE MY EYES FOREVER - LITA FORD WITH OZZY OSBOURNE
7. GOOD THING - FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS
6. BABY DON'T FORGET MY NUMBER - MILLI VANILLI
5. BUFFALO DANCE - NENAH CHERRY
4. SATISFIED - RICHARD MARX
3. EVERY LITTLE STEP - BOBBY BROWN
2. WIND BENEATH MY WINGS - BETTE MIDLER
1. I'LL BE LOVING YOU (FOREVER) - NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
 
Good 15
Okay 12
Bad 13

Quite good for a late 80s countdown

27. INTO THE NIGHT - BENNY MARDONES
16. WHERE ARE YOU NOW - JIMMY HARNEN WITH SYNCH

After hearing "Where Are You Now", I wanted to learn more about the song. I ended up learning so much, I wrote a bio of Jimmy Harnen on genius.com. Short version: Jimmy grabbed a few friends and recorded this song and one more. Then on whim, he called a radio station that was promoting a local Bon Jovi concert and offered to be the opening act. He auditioned for the station's program director and got the gig. The station put the song in rotation. The band sold 15,000 copies of the record independently. Then they got signed and the song went to #77 in 1986. Later in 1988, a company that owned a bunch of radio stations decided to play some older, forgotten minor hits from bands like Sherriff, Benny Mardones and Synch - BAM! Their old songs all re-charted -- but much much higher than previously. Sheriff's song originally peaked at #61, but then re-peaked at #1! Very interesting story!

Full story: Jimmy Harnen Lyrics, Songs, and Albums | Genius

23. VERONICA - ELVIS COSTELLO

I've always loved this song, but recently I read an interview where Costello bashed it. Talking about how he didn't like it anymore and blamed the fact it was a big hit. I still like the song, but that left a sour taste in my mouth.

17. IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - SIMPLY RED

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13. I DROVE ALL NIGHT - CYNDI LAUPER

@semipenguin I remember this one back then and loved it then and still love it now. In fact, I would name it 'the hottest pop song ever recorded'. The lyrics just own me (later I learned two guys wrote it, but it's Cyndi's delivery that makes it work). So much passion! However, I can't stand Celine's version. So un-sexy.

#46 Cure "Fascination Street"
#50 Queen "I Want It All"
#67 Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock "Joy & Pain"
#87 REM "Pop Song 89"
#92 New Order "Round & Round"
#98 10,000 Maniacs "Trouble Me"
#99 Skid Row "Youth Gone Wild"

It is an absolute SIN that these songs didn't break the top 40! All are classics! Aside from Skid Row, I listen to these all the time and have been consistently for decades. I still like the Skid Row, but I just don't think to ever listen to them - however when it does come on I still crank it.

Songs that won't reach the top 40
#46 Cure "Fascination Street"
#50 Queen "I Want It All"
#54 Cult "Fire Woman"
#55 Chicago "We Can Last Forever"
#64 Wang Chung "Praying To A New God"
#65 Kevin Raleigh "Moonlight On Water"
#67 Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock "Joy & Pain"
#72 Whistle "Right Next To Me"
#77 Jacksons "Nothin' (That Compares 2 U)"
#78 Pajama Party "Yo No Se"
#79 Animotion "Calling It Love"
#80 Surface "Closer Than Friends"
#82 Holly Johnson "Love Train"
#86 Swing Out Sister "Waiting Game"
#87 REM "Pop Song 89"
#88 Vanessa Williams "Darlin' I"
#90 Sam Brown "Stop"
#91 TKA "You Are The One"
#92 New Order "Round & Round"
#96 Q-feel "Dancing In Heaven"
#97 Guy "I Like"
#98 10,000 Maniacs "Trouble Me"
#99 Skid Row "Youth Gone Wild"
 
40. ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY - GREAT WHITE

This band was part of my first concert experience, seeing them open for Whitesnake in 1989, on Easter Sunday of all holidays, with my sister and cousin. I remember begging my sister to let me go, and we got tickets at the door, it was a good show!



28. CUDDLY TOY (FEEL FOR ME) - ROACHFORD

WTF?


21. COMING HOME - CINDERELLA

Could we say this year was the last hurrah for hair bands? Guns and Roses had killed off some already, and Nirvana and Grunge was fast approaching. Hell Nirvana released 'Bleach' in 1989 (how old does THAT make you feel?!)

20. FOREVER YOUR GIRL - PAULA ABDUL

One of my many musical crushes during the 80's.


18. I WON'T BACK DOWN - TOM PETTY

This is one of those albums (along with Born in the USA and a few others) that I, at one time or another, owned on every piece of media. Vinyl, Cassette, CD and digital. Kinda funny hearing the 'Side 2' message after 'Running down a dream' on my Apple Music playlist.


13. I DROVE ALL NIGHT - CYNDI LAUPER

I too had no idea that Celine Dion's version was a cover. I always disliked Celine Dion for overdoing every song she ever did, original or not. This version I like though. Cyndi Lauper was underrated as a vocalist.


6. BABY DON'T FORGET MY NUMBER - MILLI VANILLI

Girl you know it's...Girl you know it's...Girl you know it's...Girl you know it's...Girl you know it's....


5. BUFFALO STANCE - NENEH CHERRY

Little known fact, Neneh Cherry is the half-sister of Eagle-Eye Cherry of 'Save Tonight' fame during the 90's. One of the few sibling sets with separate one-hit wonders for each of them.
 
On I Won't Back Down, the backing vocalists – no pun intended – are Jeff Lynne and George Harrison. The song has been recorded by more than 40 other artists, including David Essex, Johnny Cash, Sammy Kershaw, Everclear, Pearl Jam and Reel Big Fish. Here is a version by now-retired MLB outfielder/first baseman Nick Swisher, who recorded it for Believe, a 2011 album of cover songs. Most of the profits went to his charity organization, Swish's Wishes.

 
I DROVE ALL NIGHT

I knew Cyndi's version, but didn't know that Celine did it later.

It was written for Roy Orbison originally and a version was released posthumously in the early 90's. I always liked his version along with Cyndi's version.
 
@Jon

28. CUDDLY TOY (FEEL FOR ME) - ROACHFORD

Totally agree

21. COMING HOME - CINDERELLA

I loved hair bands from '83 to about '86, then they lost me, then they won me back in '89 and that lasted a couple years, then they died. I consider GNR a hair band though. A mix of 'hair band' and 'bar band' anyway.

18. I WON'T BACK DOWN - TOM PETTY
6. BABY DON'T FORGET MY NUMBER - MILLI VANILLI

=)

5. BUFFALO STANCE - NENEH CHERRY

Neneh's technically a two-hit wonder. "Kisses On The Wind" is a top 10 hit.

@Aaron

I DROVE ALL NIGHT

Another song I took interest in, and ended up writing a genius.com bio about.

While this song was originally recorded by Roy Orbison in 1987, it wasn’t released at that time because, according to songwriter Billy Steinberg:

"Roy didn’t have a recording contract at the time and (co-writer) Tom (Kelly) and I didn’t have the wherewithal to do anything with Roy Orbison’s version of the song."

After the massive success of Cyndi Lauper’s 1986 album True Colors, she approached Steinberg & Kelly, resulting in this 1989 version.
 
sadchild said:
I'm not as keen on hearing a guy sing this song. The lines:

I drove all night
Crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep
To make love to you

Girl sings it: sexy as hell
Guy sings it: police involvement
Click to expand...
This.


That song about "She's just 16years old, leave her alone, they say. " is pretty creepy too.
After the age of 17, it just seemed wrong.
 
@HecticArt Yep! That's one of the two songs back on the charts in 1989 thanks to a radio station company digging up old minor hits.

27. INTO THE NIGHT - BENNY MARDONES

It was inspired by a real 16 year old girl who walked in on a songwriting session. Real life creepiness becomes art.

And in she walks, 16 years old, dressed for school in a miniskirt, little stacked heels, adorable, 16-going-on-21. She said, ‘You’ve been up all night?’ and of course it was obvious. I said, ‘Yeah, we have.’ She says, ‘Okay, come on, Zanky,’ and she walks the dog out. When she leaves and goes out the door, my partner goes, ‘Oh, my God.’ I said, ‘Hey, Bob. She’s just 16 years old, leave her alone.’ And literally five minutes later I said, ‘Play that lick again, Bobby.’ So he played the lick and I went (singing), ‘she’s just 16 years old, leave her alone, they say.’
 
1981:

40: THE STROKE - BILLY SQUIER
39: HOW 'BOUT US - CHAMPAIGN
38: ANGEL OF THE MORNING - JUICE NEWTON
37: TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS - STYX
36: STRONGER THAN BEFORE - CAROLE BAYER SAGER
35: JUST THE TWO OF US - GROVER WASHINGTON JR. & BILL WITHERS
34: SWEET BABY - STANLEY CLARKE & GEORGE DUKE
33: QUEEN OF HEARTS - JUICE NEWTON
32: SAY WHAT - JESSE WINCHESTER
31: SEVEN YEAR ACHE - ROSANNE CASH
30: TIME - THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT
29: FOOL IN LOVE WITH YOU - JIM PHOTOGLO
28: STILL RIGHT HERE IN MY HEART - PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE
27: BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY - MANHATTAN TRANSFER
26: GEMINI DREAM - THE MOODY BLUES
25: MODERN GIRL - SHEENA EASTON
24: WINNING - SANTANA
23: ELVIRA - THE OAK RIDGE BOYS
22: I DON'T NEED YOU - KENNY ROGERS
21: NOBODY WINS - ELTON JOHN
20: THE THEME FROM "THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" - JOEY SCARBURY
19: THE WAITING - TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS
18: HEARTS - MARTY BALIN
17: IS IT YOU - LEE RITENOUR
16: SWEET HEART - FRANKE & THE KNOCKOUTS
15: WHAT ARE WE DOIN' IN LOVE - DOTTIE WEST/KENNY ROGERS
14: TAKE IT ON THE RUN - REO SPEEDWAGON
13: LIVING INSIDE MYSELF - GINO VANNELLI
12: I LOVE YOU - THE CLIMAX BLUES BAND
11: THIS LITTLE GIRL - GARY U.S. BONDS
10: JESSIE'S GIRL - RICK SPRINGFIELD
9: YOU MAKE MY DREAMS - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
8: AMERICA - NEIL DIAMOND
7: THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE - AIR SUPPLY
6: BEING WITH YOU - SMOKEY ROBINSON
5: ALL THOSE YEARS AGO - GEORGE HARRISON
4: A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE - RAY PARKER JR. & RAYDIO
3: SUKIYAKI - A TASTE OF HONEY
2: BETTE DAVIS EYES - KIM CARNES
1: STARS ON 45 MEDLEY - STARS ON 45
 
Good 8
Okay 7
Bad 25

36: STRONGER THAN BEFORE - CAROLE BAYER SAGER

Pass the Carol Bayer Aspirin. My wife agreed this is 'awful'.

33: QUEEN OF HEARTS - JUICE NEWTON

Alan Hunter said this was her debut album. Nope, her third.

32: SAY WHAT - JESSE WINCHESTER

Vocal melody is pretty darn close to Stephen Bishop's "On And On"

30: TIME - THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT

My wife yelled down the stairs, "This is terrible. I'm protesting!"

9: YOU MAKE MY DREAMS - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES

When this came on, my son came running into the room and said, "This song!" Then started dancing around wildly.

7: THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE - AIR SUPPLY

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#71 Michael Damien "She Did It"

I did his bio at genius.com. Here's an excerpt:

His first single “She Did It”, a cover of the Eric Carmen song, peaked at #69 in the US and got him an invitation to perform it on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. This performance got him noticed and soon after he landed the role of rocker Danny Romalotti on the soap opera The Young And The Restless.

Won't make the top 40
#45 Dillman Band "Lovin' The Night Away"
#48 Barbra Streisand "Promises"
#53 Chaka Khan "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me"
#54 Robbie Dupree "Brooklyn Girls"
#57 Joe Dolce "Shaddap You Face"
#59 April Wine "Sign Of The Gypsy Queen"
#60 Gap Band "Yearning for Your Love"
#62 Spider "It Didn't Take Long"
#63 38 Special "Fantasy Girl"
#64 Cliff Richard "Give A Little Bit More"
#66 Steve Winwood "Arc Of A Diver"
#69 Dave Edmunds "Almost Saturday Night"
#70 Rush "Tom Sawyer"
#71 Michael Damien "She Did It"
#72 James Taylor "Hard Times"
#75 Producers "What She Does To Me (The Diana Song)"
#78 Eric Clapton "Another Ticket"
#79 Smokey Robinson "You Are Forever"
#80 Change "Paradise"
#81 Loverboy "The Kid Is Hot Tonite"
#82 Dionne Warwick "Some Changes Are for Good"
#83 Randy VanWarmer "Suzi"
#89 Blackfoot "Fly Away"
#95 Terri Gibbs "Rich Man"
#98 Tommy James "You're So Easy To Love"
#99 Phoebe Snow "Mercy Mercy Mercy"
#100 Max Werner "Rain In May"
 
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