80s0n8 Big 40 Countdown Schedule

sadchild said:
It's interesting that in 80/81/82 there's a lot of big country hits in the top 40, but around 83/84 it drops markedly. Those same country artists rarely made the 40 for the rest of the decade whereas before they were all over it. I believe that's the "MTV effect", causing a shift in pop music.
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I think the same occurred with music from the UK. MTV was a huge driver in pushing songs into the 40 in the half of the 80s. I saw the latter part of the 80s with many popular UK tracks relegated to the bottom half of the chart. MTV shifted focus and didn't focus on British acts as much.
sadchild said:
I wonder if any have since? Bryan Adams once sang, "the kids wanna rock". Not anymore they don't. They want trap-pop with mumbling rappers, proud sluts, and warped beats with off-time synthetic hi-hats :/
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It's a shame. A lot has changed with popular music and not for the better.
 
scotchandcigar said:
I think rock topping the top 40 during the grunge era was the exception, not the rule. Most of the 80s was led by dance songs, so even then it was rare to have a rock song up there.
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I would agree that there were a lot of up-tempo pop songs, but I usually see the big club hits outside of the 40. The UK was much more focused on dance music. They had several early Chicago house records on their charts. Many of those records were only played in clubs in the US.

scotchandcigar said:
The Billboard pop charts are a product of the same entertainment fracturing we see elsewhere. The preteens who determine the rankings aren't going to abandon Lil Nas X or Taylor Swift for the Black Keys.
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I completely agree. The pop engine caters to drivel.

scotchandcigar said:
There was a time when we had no choice but to all listen to the same music. Not any more.
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Very true. Radio ruled the roost back then. There were times when songs got great video airplay, but weren't played on the radio which resulted in not having a hit.
 
Channel98 said:
On this week's Hot 100, five songs debuted in the top ten: Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo (#1), my.life by J. Cole, 21 Savage & Morray (#2), amari by J. Cole (#5), pride.is.the.devil by J. Cole & Lil Baby (#7) and 95.south by J. Cole (#8). J. Cole obviously loves periods and hates capital l;etters – and he has 12 songs in the top 40! But it's a refreshing change from the past five years when almost every song in the top 40 was by Drake.
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It's a shame this is the predominant formula: One artist + one person as a guest. We don't see many duos, girl groups, boys groups, etc. anymore and god forbid there's an actual band playing instruments. I would think the public would want more options, but they seem content listening to the same type of songs over and over.
 
sadchild said:
It's interesting that in 80/81/82 there's a lot of big country hits in the top 40, but around 83/84 it drops markedly. Those same country artists rarely made the 40 for the rest of the decade whereas before they were all over it. I believe that's the "MTV effect", causing a shift in pop music.
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I think that era did a lot to compartmentalize music into individual categories. Once they realized they could market to specific genres, they went all in. Now that CD sales are tanking, they are looking for the crossovers to expand their audience again and siphon cash from other audiences.
 
Best guesses for the wasteland of ATE - E - ATE

George Michael "Faith" (87/88)
Whitney "So Emotional"
George Harrison "Got My Mind Set"
INXS "Need You Tonight"
Michael Jackson "The Way You Make"
Tiffany "Could've Been"
George Michael "Father Figure"
Rick Astley "Never Gonna Give"
Michael Jackson "Man In The Mirror"
Terence Trent D'Arby "Wishing Well"

Debbie Gibson "Foolish Beat"
George Michael "One More Try"
Rick Astley "Together Forever"
Whitney "Where Do Broken Hearts Go”

Cheap Trick "The Flame"
Michael Jackson "Dirty Diana"
Steve Winwood "Roll With It"
George Michael "Monkey"
Guns N Roses "Sweet Child O Mine"
Bobby McFerrin "Don't Worry"
UB40 "Red Red Wine"
Phil Collins "Groovy Kind Of Love"
Bon Jovi "Bad Medicine"
Escape Club "Wild Wild West"
Beach Boys "Kokomo"
Will To Power "Baby/Freebird"
Chicago "Look Away"
Poison "Every Rose"(88/89)

That's a lot of chart-toppers, but I feel like I'm still missing a dozen more.

Staying out of this thread until I've listened.....
 
Wow I only missed five for the year in that list

Expose "Seasons Change" uncharted (earlier)
Billy Ocean "Get Outta My Dreams" #66
Gloria Estafan "Anything For You" #10
Richard Marx "Hold On To The Nights" #41
Def Leppard "Love Bites" uncharted (later)
 
6/5/88

40. TALL COOL ONE - ROBERT PLANT
39. I'M STILL SEARCHING - GLASS TIGER
38. LOST IN YOU - ROD STEWART
37. PINK CADILLAC - NATALIE COLE
36. WHEN WE KISS - BARDEUX
35. DA' BUTT - E.U.
34. ANGEL - AEROSMITH
33. MY GIRL - SUAVE
32. WISHING WELL - TERRENCE TRENT D'ARBY
31. UNDER THE MILKY WAY - THE CHURCH
30. NEW SENSATION - INXS
29. BEDS ARE BURNING - MIDNIGHT OIL
28. ELECTRIC BLUE - ICEHOUSE
27. POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME - DEF LEPPARD
26. MERCEDES BOY - PEBBLES
25. DREAMING - O.M.D.
24. STRANGE BUT TRUE - TIMES TWO
23. NOTHIN' BUT A GOOD TIME - POISON
22. NITE AND DAY - AL B. SURE
21. TWO OCCASIONS - THE DEELE
20. KISS ME DEADLY - LITA FORD
19. THE FLAME - CHEAP TRICK
18. I STILL BELIEVE - BRENDA K. STARR
17. ALWAYS ON MY MIND - PET SHOP BOYS
16. WE ALL SLEEP ALONE - CHER
15. ALPHABET ST. - PRINCE
14. THE VALLEY ROAD - BRUCE HORNSBY & THE RANGE
13. WAIT - WHITE LION
12. DIRTY DIANA - MICHAEL JACKSON
11. CIRCLE IN THE SAND - BELINDA CARLISLE
10. ANYTHING FOR YOU - GLORIA ESTEFAN
9. MAKE IT REAL - THE JETS
8. I DON'T WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU - FOREIGNER
7. FOOLISH BEAT - DEBBIE GIBSON
6. PIANO IN THE DARK - BRENDA RUSSELL W/ JOE ESPOSITO
5. TOGETHER FOREVER - RICK ASTLEY
4. EVERYTHING YOUR HEART DESIRES - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
3. NAUGHTY GIRLS NEED LOVE TOO - SAMANTHA FOX
2. SHATTERED DREAMS - JOHNNY HATES JAZZ
1. ONE MORE TRY - GEORGE MICHAEL
 
Fred Datchler, the father of Johnny Hates Jazz lead singer/keyboardist Clark Datchler, was a jazz saxophonist. Clark told Smash Hits magazine, "He was very successful. He was in two groups, one called the Polka Dots and the other called the Star Gazers. My dad likes free-form jazz. It drives me mad." Thus the group's name. In late 1988, Clark left Johnny Hates Jazz for a solo career. The group broke up three years later but reunited in 2009 with Clark as lead singer. Here is a live performance of Shattered Dreams from 2019:

 
Good 14
Okay 5
Bad 21

Heard this exact countdown last year. My number of good's went up 3 in that time. This surprises me. And 14 is alarmingly high for an '88 countdown.

36. WHEN WE KISS - BARDEUX

This is just as atrociously bad as it was last year. Everything about it sounds awful. It shouldn't have even made the bottom of the Bubbling Under.

29. BEDS ARE BURNING - MIDNIGHT OIL

My son said "this sounds like the Love Shack guy".

15. ALPHABET ST. - PRINCE

This is just as atrociously bad...

9. MAKE IT REAL - THE JETS

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5. TOGETHER FOREVER - RICK ASTLEY

My guess. Last year I picked #19 Cheap Trick, so at least I improved.

1. ONE MORE TRY - GEORGE MICHAEL

At least one of the others picked this one.

Will never make the top 40
#46 Nu Shooz "Should I Say Yes?"
#59 Elisa Fiorillo "Forgive Me For Dreaming"
#60 Jody Watley "Most of All"
#62 Kool Moe Dee "Wild, Wild West"
#63 John Mellencamp "Rooty Toot Toot"
#65 Depeche Mode "Route 66/Behind The Wheel"
#67 Sweet Sensation "Take It While It's Hot"
#68 10,000 Maniacs "Like The Weather"
#73 Henry Lee Summer "Darlin' Danielle Don't"
#77 New Order "Blue Monday 1988"
#78 Eurythmics "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart"
#79 Tony Toni Tone "Little Walter"
#80 Julio Iglesias/Stevie Wonder "My Love"
#81 Keith Sweat "Something Just Ain't Right"
#84 Wet Wet Wet "Wishing I Was Lucky"
#85 Stevie B "Dreamin' Of Love"
#87 Michael Bolton "Wait on Love"
#89 Scorpions "Rhythm of Love"
#90 Jesse Johnson "Love Struck"
#92 Smithereens "Only a Memory"
#94 Stevie Wonder/Michael Jackson "Get It"
#96 David Lee Roth "Stand Up"
#97 Underworld "Underneath The Radar"
#99 Lonzo And World Class Wreckin Kru "Turn Off The Lights"
 
sadchild said:
36. WHEN WE KISS - BARDEUX

This is just as atrociously bad as it was last year. Everything about it sounds awful. It shouldn't have even made the bottom of the Bubbling Under.
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The extended 1-900 commercial is back!

sadchild said:
29. BEDS ARE BURNING - MIDNIGHT OIL

My son said "this sounds like the Love Shack guy".
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MTV played the heck out of this video.

sadchild said:
15. ALPHABET ST. - PRINCE

This is just as atrociously bad...
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I was a Prince fan so I wasn't bothered too much by this one. I remember hearing the extended version on the bus headed to Summer school. It featured Cat who first danced on Star Search.

sadchild said:
#59 Elisa Fiorillo "Forgive Me For Dreaming"
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Just an awful singer.

sadchild said:
#60 Jody Watley "Most of All"
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I thought this made the 40. It fit with the music she was releasing at that time.

sadchild said:
#62 Kool Moe Dee "Wild, Wild West"
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I loved this video, but I remember it more from BET.

sadchild said:
#68 10,000 Maniacs "Like The Weather"
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VH-1 played this video constantly.

sadchild said:
#79 Tony Toni Tone "Little Walter"
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I mentioned this one last year (R&B #1).

sadchild said:
#80 Julio Iglesias/Stevie Wonder "My Love"
#94 Steve Wonder/Michael Jackson "Get it"
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Two flops for Stevie.

sadchild said:
#84 Wet Wet Wet "Wishing I Was Lucky"
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I heard this on a UK 80s station for the first time and really liked it. There are two videos for the song. I didn't understand why there was a US version. The UK version was fine.

sadchild said:
#99 Lonzo And World Class Wreckin Kru "Turn Off The Lights"
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This group contained members of NWA (before the switch to rap) and Michel'le sang on the track.
 
sadchild said:
6/5/88

This should be interesting, because at this point I wasn't listening to Top 40 radio at all. So this era is kind of a hole in my knowledge of this kinda stuff.

39. I'M STILL SEARCHING - GLASS TIGER

This kicks off this week's "Pretty Sure I've Never Heard This" list. I don't think I knew they had any hits after their debut album. Listening to this now, it could just as easily be a Kenny Loggins track. And I mean that neither as a dig nor a salute.
36. WHEN WE KISS - BARDEUX

What the hell is this? What an absolute nothing of a song. It literally sounds like a crappy demo that should have never been recorded, let alone make the Top 40. This kinda thing is why I wasn't listening to the radio much at this point.
34. ANGEL - AEROSMITH

I'm not a big Aerosmith guy to begin with, but I recognize how good they were in the 70's even if I wasn't much of a fan. But their stuff from "Permanent Vacation" on is mostly straight-up garbage.
33. MY GIRL - SUAVE

Never heard this before, either. Not as bad as Bardeux, because the song itself holds up. But this is another one that just sounds like someone fucking around in their dorm room with a Casio keyboard. And the version I'm listening to on YouTube sounds like it's coming from a speaker that was run over by a Yugo, & then placed in a drawerful of socks.

32. WISHING WELL - TERRENCE TRENT D'ARBY

Talent Alert! Look - it's someone with actual skills! ( even if he was a bit of a nutcase...most talented people are )
31. UNDER THE MILKY WAY - THE CHURCH
30. NEW SENSATION - INXS
29. BEDS ARE BURNING - MIDNIGHT OIL
28. ELECTRIC BLUE - ICEHOUSE

Here we go...4 songs I actually like! I've owned that Church album on every format imaginable. And I need to find a solid Icehouse "greatest hits" CD.

27. POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME - DEF LEPPARD

And one I don't! I know they sold 80 bajillion records at this point. But I like the first 2 albums, & some of "Pyromania". After that, most of it is mediocre songs that sound like they're being performed by robots. ( the drummer gets a pass, it's not his fault he had to use an electronic kit )

26. MERCEDES BOY - PEBBLES

"Man...the PMRC's breathing down everybody's back. How can we sneak this song about Pebbles puss out there?"
"Guys...hear me out. Her puss is a CAR."

25. DREAMING - O.M.D.

I always forget how many legit US hits these guys had.

24. STRANGE BUT TRUE - TIMES TWO

Another one I've never heard. Dated, but not terrible. There's some actual craftsmanship going on here. ( Googles ) One of the 2 guys is named Johnny Dollar. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAFUCKITIMAFAN

23. NOTHIN' BUT A GOOD TIME - POISON

Poison was a solid singles band who knew EXACTLY what they were. Nothing wrong with that. Docked points for stealing KIX's stage show, though.
22. NITE AND DAY - AL B. SURE

WHERE THE FUCK IS THE EXCLAIMATION POINT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?

21. TWO OCCASIONS - THE DEELE

I thought this was gonna be another "never heard it", but I know this song. Video's gloriously cheezy, & worth a look.

20. KISS ME DEADLY - LITA FORD

I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I have NEVER understood the appeal of this song. Generic as fuck, & it doesn't "rock" at all. It could have only been a hit in the morass of the late 80's.

19. THE FLAME - CHEAP TRICK

As they're one of my all-time favorite bands ( new album's real good, guys ), it was nice to see them having hits again. Would've been nicer if it hadn't been a so-so song thrust upon them by their record label.
18. I STILL BELIEVE - BRENDA K. STARR

So much of the stuff on this chart sounds like stuff you would hear on "Star Search".

15. ALPHABET ST. - PRINCE

Is this from "Sesame Street"? Not...uh...his finest work, song or video-wise.
14. THE VALLEY ROAD - BRUCE HORNSBY & THE RANGE

MIDDLE AGED WHITE FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!! WE DIDN'T FORGET YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

13. WAIT - WHITE LION

Always thought this was a good pop/rock tune.

12. DIRTY DIANA - MICHAEL JACKSON

Not...uh...his finest work, song or video-wise.

11. CIRCLE IN THE SAND - BELINDA CARLISLE

Like her stuff in the Go-Go's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more, but this is a good song.

6. PIANO IN THE DARK - BRENDA RUSSELL W/ JOE ESPOSITO

Piano in the bleccccccccch.

Overally, this wasn't as bad as I expected. Too many generic tunes, but I figured there would be more of 'em. And I'd actually heard all of 'em before aside from 4 or 5.
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seasalt43 said:
Two flops for Stevie.
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You'd think any Stevie/Jacko collabs woulda debuted in the top 40 just because they were both so hot at the time, but that one and "Just Good Friends" from Bad went nowhere.
It literally sounds like a crappy demo that should have never been recorded
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Totally agree
their stuff from "Permanent Vacation" on is mostly straight-up garbage.
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Totally disagree. Well, thinking about it, I loved it back then (Angel is too saccharine but the rest was great). However, I will say it hasn't aged as well as I thought it should have, but I still like it.

another one that just sounds like someone fucking around in their dorm room with a Casio keyboard
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Totally agree
I like the first 2 albums, & some of "Pyromania". After that, most of it is mediocre songs
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Totally disagree. Though I will say Def Lep was one of my favs as a teen but by the mid-90s I barely listened to them anymore. I loved Pyro start to finish as a teen. Hysteria .... well ... I loved it from 87 up until the big music shift of 91/92. When Adrenalize dropped in 92, I was shocked at how little I cared, and how cheesy and overproduced the songs felt. And that retroactively made Hysteria sound overproduced. But, decades later, I appreciate Hysteria the same way I appreciate Permanent Vacation. Good, but not as great as I used to think they were.

So much of the stuff on this chart sounds like stuff you would hear on "Star Search".
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Totally agree! This comment hits the nail on the head
 
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