80s0n8 Big 40 Countdown Schedule

[sadchild]

Had to blast past the countdown to post this...

APR/MAY 1983

EARLIER
Michael Jackson "Billie Jean"

Spoiler: CANDIDATES

Dexy's "Come On Eileen"
Michael Jackson "Beat It"

LATER
David Bowie "Let's Dance"

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Next week: 1981

 

[scotchandcigar]

23 for 83

(45) 40. GIMME ALL YOUR LOVIN' - ZZ TOP
(49) 37. SHE'S A BEAUTY - THE TUBES
(18) 34. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME - CULTURE CLUB [2]
(16) 33. HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF - DURAN DURAN [3]
(32) 30. SO WRONG - PATRICK SIMMONS - from the great former Doobies' solo album
(33) 28. ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME - NAKED EYES
(28) 22. MORNIN' - JARREAU
(12) 21. SEPARATE WAYS (WORLDS APART) - JOURNEY [8]
(30) 19. TIME (CLOCK OF THE HEART) - CULTURE CLUB
(21) 18. STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART - BRYAN ADAMS
(17) 16. RIO - DURAN DURAN
(19) 15. PHOTOGRAPH - DEF LEPPARD
( 7) 14. BILLY JEAN - MICHAEL JACKSON **
(23) 13. FLASHDANCE ... WHAT A FEELING - IRENE CARA *
(13) 12. EVEN NOW - BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND
(10) 9. LITTLE RED CORVETTE - PRINCE
( 8) 7. SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE - THOMAS DOLBY
( 9) 6. OVERKILL - MEN AT WORK
( 5) 5. DER KOMMISSAR - AFTER THE FIRE
( 2) 4. COME ON EILEEN - DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS **
( 6) 3. LET'S DANCE - DAVID BOWIE *
( 3) 2. JEOPARDY - GREG KIHN BAND
( 1) 1. BEAT IT - MICHAEL JACKSON *

 

[HecticArt]

Twenty one

(45) 40. GIMME ALL YOUR LOVIN' - ZZ TOP
(49) 37. SHE'S A BEAUTY - THE TUBES
(16) 33. HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF - DURAN DURAN [3]
(43) 32. FAMILY MAN - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
(33) 28. ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME - NAKED EYES
(35) 27. DON'T LET IT END - STYX
(31) 23. FAITHFULLY - JOURNEY - Meh
(12) 21. SEPARATE WAYS (WORLDS APART) - JOURNEY [8]
(29) 20. AFFAIR OF THE HEART - RICK SPRINGFIELD
(17) 16. RIO - DURAN DURAN
(19) 15. PHOTOGRAPH - DEF LEPPARD
(23) 13. FLASHDANCE ... WHAT A FEELING - IRENE CARA * - Nostalgia
(10) 9. LITTLE RED CORVETTE - PRINCE
( 4) 8. MR. ROBOTO - STYX [3]
( 8) 7. SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE - THOMAS DOLBY
( 9) 6. OVERKILL - MEN AT WORK
( 5) 5. DER KOMMISSAR - AFTER THE FIRE
( 2) 4. COME ON EILEEN - DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS **
( 6) 3. LET'S DANCE - DAVID BOWIE *
( 3) 2. JEOPARDY - GREG KIHN BAND
( 1) 1. BEAT IT - MICHAEL JACKSON *

 

[sadchild]

Great/good/ok 24

*****
(45) 40. GIMME ALL YOUR LOVIN' - ZZ TOP
(49) 37. SHE'S A BEAUTY - THE TUBES
(16) 33. HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF - DURAN DURAN [3]
(43) 32. FAMILY MAN - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
(33) 28. ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME - NAKED EYES
(17) 16. RIO - DURAN DURAN
(19) 15. PHOTOGRAPH - DEF LEPPARD
( 7) 14. BILLIE JEAN - MICHAEL JACKSON **
(13) 12. EVEN NOW - BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND
(14) 11. SOLITARE - LAURA BRANIGAN
(10) 9. LITTLE RED CORVETTE - PRINCE
( 4) 8. MR. ROBOTO - STYX [3]
( 8) 7. SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE - THOMAS DOLBY
( 9) 6. OVERKILL - MEN AT WORK
( 5) 5. DER KOMMISSAR - AFTER THE FIRE
( 2) 4. COME ON EILEEN - DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS **
( 3) 2. JEOPARDY - GREG KIHN BAND
( 1) 1. BEAT IT - MICHAEL JACKSON *

****
(15) 31. ONE ON ONE - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES [7]
(12) 21. SEPARATE WAYS (WORLDS APART) - JOURNEY [8]
(21) 18. STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART - BRYAN ADAMS
(23) 13. FLASHDANCE ... WHAT A FEELING - IRENE CARA *

***
(27) 25. IT MIGHT BE YOU - STEPHEN BISHOP
(29) 20. AFFAIR OF THE HEART - RICK SPRINGFIELD

**
(36) 39. WHIRLEY GIRL - OXO [28]
(20) 38. YOU ARE - LIONEL RICHIE [4]
(25) 36. WE'VE GOT TONIGHT - KENNY ROGERS & SHEENA EASTON [6]
(42) 35. I COULDN'T SAY NO - ROBERT ELLIS ORRAL WITH CARLENE CARTER
(32) 30. SO WRONG - PATRICK SIMMONS
(34) 29. STRANGER AT MY HOUSE - RONNIE MILSAP
(35) 27. DON'T LET IT END - STYX
(26) 26. SOME KIND OF FRIEND - BARRY MANILOW
(24) 24. WELCOME TO HEARTLIGHT - KENNY LOGGINS
(31) 23. FAITHFULLY - JOURNEY
(28) 22. MORNIN' - JARREAU
(11) 10. I WON'T HOLD YOU BACK - TOTO

*
(18) 34. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME - CULTURE CLUB [2]
(30) 19. TIME (CLOCK OF THE HEART) - CULTURE CLUB
(22) 17. MY LOVE - LIONEL RICHIE
( 6) 3. LET'S DANCE - DAVID BOWIE *

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

1981/05/09
#1s marked with spoilers to anybody wanting to guess.

Repeat Countdown

• 2015/05/09

The Bottom 60:
(99) 100. THE TIDE IS HIGH - BLONDIE **
(--) 90. NEXT TIME YOU'LL KNOW - SISTER SLEDGE
(--) 88. LOVIN' THE NIGHT AWAY - THE DILLMAN BAND
(--) 87. ALMOST SATURDAY NIGHT - DAVE EDMUNDS
(--) 86. YOU'RE SO EASY TO LOVE - TOMMY JAMES
(--) 85. THEME FROM "GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) - JOEY SCARBURY
(--) 82. ARC OF A DIVER - STEVE WINWOOD
(--) 81. MODERN GIRL - SHEENA EASTON
(60) 75. I LOVE A RAINY NIGHT - EDDIE RABBITT **
(54) 72. CELEBRATION - KOOL & THE GANG **
(--) 71. NOBODY WINS - ELTON JOHN
(51) 61. 9 TO 5 - DOLLY PARTON **

This week's drops:
(34) 44. CRYING - DON McLEAN [5]
(33) 42. THE BEST OF TIMES - STYX [3]

The Top 40:
(22) 40. TIME OUT OF MIND - STEELY DAN [22]
(48) 39. AI NO CORRIDA (I-NO-KO-REE-DA) - QUINCY JONES
(42) 38. JESSIE'S GIRL - RICK SPRINGFIELD *
(37) 37. WASN'T THAT A PARTY - THE ROVERS
(38) 36. BLESSED ARE THE BELIEVERS - ANNE MURRAY
(26) 35. KEEP ON LOVIN' YOU - REO SPEEDWAGON **
(16) 34. WOMAN - JOHN LENNON [2]
(14) 33. DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME - THE POLICE [10]
(35) 32. FIND YOUR WAY BACK - JEFFERSON STARSHIP
(40) 31. THIS LITTLE GIRL - GARY U.S. BONDS
(35) 30. SINCE I DON'T HAVE YOU - DON McLEAN
(13) 29. SOMEBODY'S KNOCKIN' - TERRI GIBBS [13]
(30) 28. HOLD ON LOOSELY - 38 SPECIAL
(39) 27. AMERICA - NEIL DIAMOND
(28) 26. LOVE YOU LIKE I NEVER LOVED BEFORE - JOHN O'BANION
(29) 25. WHAT ARE WE DOIN' IN LOVE - DOTTIE WEST WITH KENNY ROGERS
(31) 24. SAY YOU'LL BE MINE - CHRISTOPHER CROSS
(27) 23. I MISSED AGAIN - PHIL COLLINS
(24) 22. I LOVE YOU - CLIMAX BLUES BAND
(32) 21. MEDLEY - STARS ON 45 *
(25) 20. A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE (JUST LIKE YOU DO) - RAY PARKER, JR. & RAYDIO
(23) 19. HOW 'BOUT US - CHAMPAIGN
(21) 18. YOU BETTER YOU BET - THE WHO
(19) 17. AIN'T EVEN DONE WITH THE NIGHT - JOHN COUGAR
(20) 16. SWEETHEART - FRANKIE & THE KNOCKOUTS
( 8) 15. WHILE YOU SEE A CHANCE - STEVE WINWOOD [7]
( 6) 14. RAPTURE - BLONDIE **
(17) 13. WATCHING THE WHEELS - JOHN LENNON
(15) 12. TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS - STYX
(11) 11. HER TOWN TOO - JAMES TAYLOR & J.D. SOUTHER
(10) 10. I CAN'T STAND IT - ERIC CLAPTON
(18) 9. SUKIYAKI - A TASTE OF HONEY
( 9) 8. LIVING INSIDE MYSELF - GINO VANELLI
(12) 7. TAKE IT ON THE RUN - REO SPEEDWAGON
( 5) 6. KISS ON MY LIST - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES **
( 7) 5. BETTE DAVIS EYES - KIM CARNES *
( 4) 4. ANGEL OF THE MORNING - JUICE NEWTON
( 3) 3. BEING WITH YOU - SMOKEY ROBINSON
( 2) 2. JUST THE TWO OF US - GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. WITH BILL WITHERS
( 1) 1. MORNING TRAIN (NINE TO FIVE) - SHEENA EASTON *

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Next week: 1988

 

[HecticArt]

Seventeen, but there are a lot of misfit/oddball songs in the mix.

(42) 38. JESSIE'S GIRL - RICK SPRINGFIELD *
(16) 34. WOMAN - JOHN LENNON [2]
(14) 33. DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME - THE POLICE [10]
(35) 32. FIND YOUR WAY BACK - JEFFERSON STARSHIP
(30) 28. HOLD ON LOOSELY - 38 SPECIAL
(39) 27. AMERICA - NEIL DIAMOND
(27) 23. I MISSED AGAIN - PHIL COLLINS
(21) 18. YOU BETTER YOU BET - THE WHO
( 8) 15. WHILE YOU SEE A CHANCE - STEVE WINWOOD [7]
( 6) 14. RAPTURE - BLONDIE **
(17) 13. WATCHING THE WHEELS - JOHN LENNON
(15) 12. TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS - STYX
(10) 10. I CAN'T STAND IT - ERIC CLAPTON
(18) 9. SUKIYAKI - A TASTE OF HONEY
( 5) 6. KISS ON MY LIST - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES **
( 7) 5. BETTE DAVIS EYES - KIM CARNES *
( 2) 2. JUST THE TWO OF US - GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. WITH BILL WITHERS

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Forgot to do my likes.

27 good/ok from 1981:

(22) 40. TIME OUT OF MIND - STEELY DAN [22]
(42) 38. JESSIE'S GIRL - RICK SPRINGFIELD *
(37) 37. WASN'T THAT A PARTY - THE ROVERS
(26) 35. KEEP ON LOVIN' YOU - REO SPEEDWAGON **
(16) 34. WOMAN - JOHN LENNON [2]
(14) 33. DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME - THE POLICE [10]
(35) 32. FIND YOUR WAY BACK - JEFFERSON STARSHIP
(40) 31. THIS LITTLE GIRL - GARY U.S. BONDS
(13) 29. SOMEBODY'S KNOCKIN' - TERRI GIBBS [13]
(30) 28. HOLD ON LOOSELY - 38 SPECIAL
(39) 27. AMERICA - NEIL DIAMOND
(21) 18. YOU BETTER YOU BET - THE WHO
(19) 17. AIN'T EVEN DONE WITH THE NIGHT - JOHN COUGAR
( 8) 15. WHILE YOU SEE A CHANCE - STEVE WINWOOD [7]
( 6) 14. RAPTURE - BLONDIE **
(17) 13. WATCHING THE WHEELS - JOHN LENNON
(15) 12. TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS - STYX
(11) 11. HER TOWN TOO - JAMES TAYLOR & J.D. SOUTHER
(10) 10. I CAN'T STAND IT - ERIC CLAPTON
( 9) 8. LIVING INSIDE MYSELF - GINO VANELLI
(12) 7. TAKE IT ON THE RUN - REO SPEEDWAGON
( 5) 6. KISS ON MY LIST - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES **
( 7) 5. BETTE DAVIS EYES - KIM CARNES *
( 4) 4. ANGEL OF THE MORNING - JUICE NEWTON
( 3) 3. BEING WITH YOU - SMOKEY ROBINSON
( 2) 2. JUST THE TWO OF US - GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. WITH BILL WITHERS
( 1) 1. MORNING TRAIN (NINE TO FIVE) - SHEENA EASTON *

 

[sadchild]

Great/good/ok 19

*****
-- 38. Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
14 33. The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me
36 32. Jefferson Starship - Find Your Way Back
30 28. .38 Special - Hold On Loosely
39 27. Neil Diamond - America
17 13. John Lennon - Watching The Wheels
15 12. Styx - Too Much Time On My Hands
5 6. Daryl Hall & John Oates - Kiss On My List
7 5. Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
2 2. Grover Washington Jr. with Bill Withers - Just The Two Of Us

****
21 18. The Who - You Better You Bet
8 15. Steve Winwood - While You See A Chance
1 1. Sheena Easton - Morning Train (9 to 5)

***
16 34. John Lennon - Woman
31 24. Christopher Cross - Say You'll Be Mine
27 23. Phil Collins - I Missed Again
6 14. Blondie - Rapture
19 9. A Taste Of Honey - Sukiyaki
3 3. Smokey Robinson - Being With You

**
22 40. Steely Dan - Time Out Of Mind
-- 39. Quincy Jones - Ai No Corrida
26 35. REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You
40 31. Gary U.S. Bonds - This Little Girl
13 29. Terri Gibbs - Somebody's Knockin'
24 22. Climax Blues Band - I Love You
32 21. Stars On 45 - Medley/Intro/Venus...
25 20. Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio - A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)
23 19. Champaign - How 'Bout Us
20 16. Franke & The Knockouts - Sweetheart
10 10. Eric Clapton - I Can't Stand It
9 8. Gino Vannelli - Living Inside Myself
12 7. REO Speedwagon - Take It On The Run
4 4. Juice Newton - Angel Of The Morning

*
37 37. The Rovers - Wasn't That A Party
38 36. Anne Murray - Blessed Are The Believers
35 30. Don McLean - Since I Don't Have You
28 26. John O'Banion - Love You Like I Never Loved Before
29 25. Dottie West & Kenny Rogers - What Are We Doin' In Love
19 17. John Cougar - Ain't Even Done With The Night
11 11. James Taylor & J.D. Souther - Her Town Too

 

[sadchild]

 

[Channel98]

The Rovers' remake of Tom Paxton's Wasn't That A Party reached #3 in Canada in November 1980. For three weeks it was number one on the top 20 of CKLG in Vancouver. The song reached #37 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Top 100 in February 1981 and peaked at #45 on the April 25 1981 Billboard country chart. The band formed in 1963 as the Irish Rovers and took their name from an Irish folk song. From 1980 to 1989 they were known as the Rovers. They are still performing in 2026. Their biggest hit, a 1968 remake of Shel Silverstein's The Unicorn, reached #4 in Canada, #5 in Ireland, #6 on the Cash BoxTop 100 and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

The Rovers' remake of Tom Paxton's Wasn't That A Party reached #3 in Canada in November 1980. For three weeks it was number one on the top 20 of CKLG in Vancouver. The song reached #37 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Top 100 in February 1981 and peaked at #45 on the April 25 1981 Billboard country chart. The band formed in 1963 as the Irish Rovers and took their name from an Irish folk song. From 1980 to 1989 they were known as the Rovers. They are still performing in 2026. Their biggest hit, a 1968 remake of Shel Silverstein's The Unicorn, reached #4 in Canada, #5 in Ireland, #6 on the Cash BoxTop 100 and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

I know them well. My wife and I saw them in 2023 at Casino Rama. Good show. I like "Wasn't That A Party" and "The Unicorn" very much. The former is quite funny.

 

[Channel98]

The Irish Rovers formed in 1963 in Toronto. The founding members were brothers George and Will Millar and their cousin Ian, all from Ballymena, Ireland; Jimmy Ferguson from Belfast, Northern Ireland; and Vic Marcus and Doug Henderson from Toronto. Here is a live performance of Wasn't That A Party from 2025.

 

[scotchandcigar]

22 for 81

(22) 40. TIME OUT OF MIND - STEELY DAN [22]
(42) 38. JESSIE'S GIRL - RICK SPRINGFIELD *
(26) 35. KEEP ON LOVIN' YOU - REO SPEEDWAGON **
(16) 34. WOMAN - JOHN LENNON [2]
(14) 33. DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME - THE POLICE [10]
(35) 32. FIND YOUR WAY BACK - JEFFERSON STARSHIP
(30) 28. HOLD ON LOOSELY - 38 SPECIAL
(27) 23. I MISSED AGAIN - PHIL COLLINS
(21) 18. YOU BETTER YOU BET - THE WHO
(19) 17. AIN'T EVEN DONE WITH THE NIGHT - JOHN COUGAR
( 8) 15. WHILE YOU SEE A CHANCE - STEVE WINWOOD [7]
( 6) 14. RAPTURE - BLONDIE **
(17) 13. WATCHING THE WHEELS - JOHN LENNON
(15) 12. TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS - STYX
(11) 11. HER TOWN TOO - JAMES TAYLOR & J.D. SOUTHER
(10) 10. I CAN'T STAND IT - ERIC CLAPTON
( 9) 8. LIVING INSIDE MYSELF - GINO VANELLI
(12) 7. TAKE IT ON THE RUN - REO SPEEDWAGON
( 5) 6. KISS ON MY LIST - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES **
( 7) 5. BETTE DAVIS EYES - KIM CARNES *
( 4) 4. ANGEL OF THE MORNING - JUICE NEWTON
( 2) 2. JUST THE TWO OF US - GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. WITH BILL WITHERS