80s0n8 Big 40 Countdown Schedule

SEP 88

EARLER
Whitney "Where Do Broken"
Rick Astley "Together Forever"
Cheap Trick "The Flame"
Michael Jackson "Dirty Diana"
Richard Marx "Right Here Waiting"

George M "One More Try"
Bobby McFerrin "Don't Worry"
Guns N Roses "Sweet Child"

LATER
UB40 "Red Red Wine"
Def Leppard "Love Bites"
Beach Boys "Kokomo"
Escape Club "Wild Wild West"
Phil Collins "Groovy Kind"
Bon Jovi "Bad Medicine"
Chicago "Look Away"
 
Phil Collins' A Groovy Kind Of Love was a remake of an early 1966 Mindbenders hit which reached #2 in the U.S. and the UK. Eric Stewart sang lead. (Former lead vocalist Wayne Fontana had left the group in October 1965.) The song was written by Carole Bayer Sager and Toni Wine, who also wrote the Mindbenders' follow-up singles Can't Live With You, Can't Live Without You, which reached #28 in the UK in June 1966 but didn't chart in the United States, and Ashes To Ashes, which got to #14 in the UK and #55 in the U.S. in September 1966,

 
"Horrible"? George Michael had three number ones. Whitney Houston had two number ones. Tiffany, Richard Marx, Debbie Gibson and Bobby McFerrin each had a number one. Oh wait. Yeah, 1988 was a horrible year in music. But there was one really good number-one song – and there were two videos for it:



 
1988. Horrible year in music.

1988 was a horrible year in music.
Agreed. But here are the #1s I like:

*****
"The Flame"
"Sweet Child o' Mine"
"Wild, Wild West"

****
"Got My Mind Set on You"
"Need You Tonight"
"Love Bites"
"Bad Medicine"
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn"

***
"Faith"
"The Way You Make Me Feel"
"Man in the Mirror"
"Dirty Diana"
"Hold On to the Nights"
"Roll With It"
"Monkey"
"Kokomo"

15 of 32 chart-toppers are at least okay in my book.
 
September 10th, 1988:

40 30 RICHARD MARX - HOLD ON TO THE NIGHTS
39 25 TERENCE TRENT D’ARBY - SIGN YOUR NAME
38 DE ERASURE - CHAINS OF LOVE
37 DE GLENN FREY - TRUE LOVE
36 DE STEVE WINWOOD - DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT THE NIGHT CAN DO?
35 DE ROD STEWART - FOREVER YOUNG
34 40 BRENDA K. STARR - WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET
33 22 ERIC CARMEN - MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL
32 31 JOHNNY HATES JAZZ - I DON’T WANT TO BE A HERO
31 18 GLORIA ESTEFAN and MIAMI SOUND MACHINE - 1-2-3
30 34 DEBBIE GIBSON - STAYING TOGETHER
29 16 STEVE WINWOOD - ROLL WITH IT
28 36 UB40 - RED RED WINE
27 20 BREATHE - HANDS TO HEAVEN
26 33 INFORMATION SOCIETY - WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND (PURE ENERGY)
25 32 POISON - FALLEN ANGEL
24 11 WHITNEY HOUSTON - LOVE WILL SAVE THE DAY
23 29 BOBBY BROWN - DON’T BE CRUEL
22 19 PAT BENATAR - ALL FIRED UP
21 27 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK - PLEASE DON’T GO GIRL
20 23 REO SPEEDWAGON - HERE WITH ME
19 28 DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE - A NIGHTMARE ON MY STREET
18 26 CHEAP TRICK - DON’T BE CRUEL
17 21 JOAN JETT and the BLACKHEARTS - I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU
16 24 DEF LEPPARD - LOVE BITES
15 05 CHICAGO - I DON’T WANNA LIVE WITHOUT YOUR LOVE
14 17 PETER CETERA - ONE GOOD WOMAN
13 14 RICK ASTLEY - IT WOULD TAKE A STRONG STRONG MAN
12 04 ELTON JOHN - I DON’T WANNA GO ON WITH YOU LIKE THAT
11 12 MICHAEL JACKSON - ANOTHER PART OF ME
10 13 KENNY LOGGINS - NOBODY’S FOOL (Theme from Caddyshack II)
09 15 BOBBY McFERRIN - DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY
08 09 NEW EDITION - IF IT ISN’T LOVE
07 10 TAYLOR DAYNE - I’ll ALWAYS LOVE YOU
06 07 TRACY CHAPMAN - FAST CAR
05 08 VAN HALEN - WHEN IT’S LOVE
04 01 GEORGE MICHAEL - MONKEY
03 06 HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS - PERFECT WORLD
02 03 ROBERT PALMER - SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
01 02 GUNS N’ ROSES - SWEET CHILD O’ MINE
 
Two screw-ups on my part (right artist/wrong song) as indicated by "--"

CORRECT ORDER

Whitney "Where Do Broken" uncharted (4/30)
..
Rick Astley "Together Forever" uncharted (6/18)
..
Michael Jackson "Dirty Diana" uncharted (7/2)

Cheap Trick "The Flame" #68
Richard Marx "Right Here--Holding On To The Nights" #40
Steve Winwood "Roll With It" #29
George Michael "One More--Monkey" #4
Guns N Roses "Sweet Child" #1
Bobby McFerrin "Don't Worry" #9

Def Leppard "Love Bites" #16
UB40 "Red Red Wine" #28
Phil Collins "Groovy Kind" #42
Beach Boys "Kokomo" #78
Escape Club "Wild Wild West" #45
Bon Jovi "Bad Medicine" uncharted (11/19)
Will To Power "Baby/Freebird" #97
Chicago "Look Away" uncharted (12/10)

green: my candidates
white: on my list and the hot 100
brown: on the hot 100 but missing from my list
orange: on my list but not on hot 100
 
Great/good/ok 20

*****
35 DE ROD STEWART - FOREVER YOUNG
27 20 BREATHE - HANDS TO HEAVEN
25 32 POISON - FALLEN ANGEL
23 29 BOBBY BROWN - DON’T BE CRUEL
19 28 DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE - A NIGHTMARE ON MY STREET
17 21 JOAN JETT and the BLACKHEARTS - I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU
06 07 TRACY CHAPMAN - FAST CAR
02 03 ROBERT PALMER - SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
01 02 GUNS N’ ROSES - SWEET CHILD O’ MINE

****
26 33 INFORMATION SOCIETY - WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND (PURE ENERGY)
18 26 CHEAP TRICK - DON’T BE CRUEL
16 24 DEF LEPPARD - LOVE BITES
11 12 MICHAEL JACKSON - ANOTHER PART OF ME

***
40 30 RICHARD MARX - HOLD ON TO THE NIGHTS
36 DE STEVE WINWOOD - DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT THE NIGHT CAN DO?
29 16 STEVE WINWOOD - ROLL WITH IT
22 19 PAT BENATAR - ALL FIRED UP
12 04 ELTON JOHN - I DON’T WANNA GO ON WITH YOU LIKE THAT
05 08 VAN HALEN - WHEN IT’S LOVE
04 01 GEORGE MICHAEL - MONKEY

**
39 25 TERENCE TRENT D’ARBY - SIGN YOUR NAME
38 DE ERASURE - CHAINS OF LOVE
33 22 ERIC CARMEN - MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL
31 18 GLORIA ESTEFAN and MIAMI SOUND MACHINE - 1-2-3
28 36 UB40 - RED RED WINE
14 17 PETER CETERA - ONE GOOD WOMAN
09 15 BOBBY McFERRIN - DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY

*
37 DE GLENN FREY - TRUE LOVE
34 40 BRENDA K. STARR - WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET
32 31 JOHNNY HATES JAZZ - I DON’T WANT TO BE A HERO
30 34 DEBBIE GIBSON - STAYING TOGETHER
24 11 WHITNEY HOUSTON - LOVE WILL SAVE THE DAY
21 27 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK - PLEASE DON’T GO GIRL
20 23 REO SPEEDWAGON - HERE WITH ME
15 05 CHICAGO - I DON’T WANNA LIVE WITHOUT YOUR LOVE
13 14 RICK ASTLEY - IT WOULD TAKE A STRONG STRONG MAN
10 13 KENNY LOGGINS - NOBODY’S FOOL (Theme from Caddyshack II)
08 09 NEW EDITION - IF IT ISN’T LOVE
07 10 TAYLOR DAYNE - I’ll ALWAYS LOVE YOU
03 06 HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS - PERFECT WORLD
 
39 25 TERENCE TRENT D’ARBY - SIGN YOUR NAME
The 'bop shoo wop bop' part in this song makes this bad song even worse.

35 DE ROD STEWART - FOREVER YOUNG
With a kid off at college, this one hits even harder lately.

23 29 BOBBY BROWN - DON’T BE CRUEL
Mark Goodman: "This will eventually reach #1 on the pop chart." No it won't. That would be "My Prerogaladygagakajagoogootive".

22 19 PAT BENATAR - ALL FIRED UP
I've heard this a few times on the VJ over the years. I think this is the first time I've thought "Hey, this is actually alright."

21 27 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK - PLEASE DON’T GO GIRL

849ec66b71f5b46eaaf54fdc6fd56492.jpg


09 15 BOBBY McFERRIN - DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY
I picked this one.

04 01 GEORGE MICHAEL - MONKEY
My friend's old roommate beat me with this one.

01 02 GUNS N’ ROSES - SWEET CHILD O’ MINE
My friend's kid won the whole shabang with this one.

#61 Midnight Oil "The Dead Heart"
#80 Foreigner "Heart Turns To Stone"
#84 Robert Plant "Ship Of Fools"
#94 10,000 Maniacs "What's The Matter Here?"

Better than most of the top 40.

NOTE: ONE WEEK OFF
Won't ever make the top 40
#47 Stevie B "Spring Love"
#48 Vanessa Williams "The Right Stuff"
#50 Dino "Summergirls"
#55 Al B Sure "Off On Your Own"
#57 Cover Girls "Inside Outside"
#59 Keith Sweat "Make It Last Forever"
#61 Midnight Oil "The Dead Heart"
#65 Freddie Jackson "Nice 'N Slow"
#67 Blue Zone UK "Jackie"
#68 Olivia Newton-John "The Rumour"
#70 Paula Abdul "Knocked Out"
#71 Crowded House "Better Be Home Soon"
#72 Will To Power "Say It's Gonna Rain"
#73 Jeffrey Osborne "She's On The Left"
#75 Glenn Medeiros "Long And Lasting Love"
#76 Toni Childs "Don't Walk Away"
#79 Fabulous Thunderbirds "Powerful Stuff"
#80 Foreigner "Heart Turns To Stone"
#82 White Lion "Tell Me"
#83 Stryper "Always There For You"
#84 Robert Plant "Ship Of Fools"
#86 Jane Wiedlin "Inside A Dream"
#90 Book of Love "Pretty Boys And Pretty Girls"
#91 Jets "Sendin' All My Love"
#93 Holly Knight "Heart Don't Fail Me Now"
#94 10,000 Maniacs "What's The Matter Here?"
#100 Run DMC "Mary, Mary"


Five posts about this week's countdown. My VJ posts are becoming a weekly thesis!
 
Sixteen

38 DE ERASURE - CHAINS OF LOVE
35 DE ROD STEWART - FOREVER YOUNG - Meh
29 16 STEVE WINWOOD - ROLL WITH IT
28 36 UB40 - RED RED WINE - Nostalgia
26 33 INFORMATION SOCIETY - WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND (PURE ENERGY)
22 19 PAT BENATAR - ALL FIRED UP
18 26 CHEAP TRICK - DON’T BE CRUEL
17 21 JOAN JETT and the BLACKHEARTS - I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU
16 24 DEF LEPPARD - LOVE BITES
12 04 ELTON JOHN - I DON’T WANNA GO ON WITH YOU LIKE THAT
09 15 BOBBY McFERRIN - DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY - It was great the first week or so, got overplayed to the point of nausea / ruin, and is OK / fun again.
06 07 TRACY CHAPMAN - FAST CAR
05 08 VAN HALEN - WHEN IT’S LOVE - Meh
04 01 GEORGE MICHAEL - MONKEY - Nostalgia
02 03 ROBERT PALMER - SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
01 02 GUNS N’ ROSES - SWEET CHILD O’ MINE
 
Bobby McFerrin's first two singles failed to chart. Here is his duet with Phoebe Snow, released in May 1982. It's a remake of the Miracles' early 1963 top-ten hit You've Really Got A Hold On Me. Spoiler alert: it's bad.



And here is McFerrin's remake of Van Morrison's Moondance. This was released in September 1982. Spoiler alert: it's awful!

 
9 good/ok from 1988:

35 DE ROD STEWART - FOREVER YOUNG
29 16 STEVE WINWOOD - ROLL WITH IT
28 36 UB40 - RED RED WINE
22 19 PAT BENATAR - ALL FIRED UP
17 21 JOAN JETT and the BLACKHEARTS - I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU
16 24 DEF LEPPARD - LOVE BITES
06 07 TRACY CHAPMAN - FAST CAR
02 03 ROBERT PALMER - SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
01 02 GUNS N’ ROSES - SWEET CHILD O’ MINE

Won't ever make the top 40
No surprises.
 
Had to look up a bunch of these. 13.

38 DE ERASURE - CHAINS OF LOVE
36 DE STEVE WINWOOD - DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT THE NIGHT CAN DO?
35 DE ROD STEWART - FOREVER YOUNG
29 16 STEVE WINWOOD - ROLL WITH IT
28 36 UB40 - RED RED WINE
26 33 INFORMATION SOCIETY - WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND (PURE ENERGY)
22 19 PAT BENATAR - ALL FIRED UP
17 21 JOAN JETT and the BLACKHEARTS - I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU
09 15 BOBBY McFERRIN - DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY
06 07 TRACY CHAPMAN - FAST CAR
05 08 VAN HALEN - WHEN IT’S LOVE
02 03 ROBERT PALMER - SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
01 02 GUNS N’ ROSES - SWEET CHILD O’ MINE
 
The guy who makes those 3 minute YouTube videos of the top 40 for each week has done them for up to March 12, 1988 so far (just released a few hours ago). No Cliff Notes VJ video for this week yet but he's a-gettin' there!

3/12/88:

 
I don't think any of my candidates are the right one, but hopefully I'm wrong on that

SEP 1985

EARLIER
Phil Collins "Sussudio"
Duran Duran "A View To A Kill"
Ray Parker Jr "Ghostbusters"
Tears For Fears "Shout"

Huey Lewis "Power Of Love"
Paul Young "Every Time You Go Away"
Dire Straits "Money For Nothing"

LATER
Stevie Wonder "Part Time Lover"
Whitney Houston "Saving All My Love"
Ready For The World "Oh Sheila"
A-Ha "Take On Me"
Jan Hammer "Miami Vice"
 
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