The great Eighties countdown week two

Welcome back, my friends, to my countdown of favorite tunes from the eighties.  We're a long way from the big time, so let's get busy!

280- All those Years Ago, George Harrison, 1981, #2.  A tribute to John Lennon, who we all liked after he was dead.

279- Over The Mountain, Ozzy Osbourne, 1982, #38 Mainstream charts.  I was alway conflicted over listening to the "evil" Ozzy back then.  But the line "Don't need no astrology, it's inside of you and me"  appealed to me.

278- Pride (In The Name Of Love), U2, 1984, #33 and #2 mainstream.  The second of three for U2 on the countdown is their tribute to Martin Luther King.

277- We Didin't Start The Fire, Billy Joel, 1989, #1.  The only BJ album I ever owned was Storm Front.  And despite the novelty of this song (as novelties don't usually hit big with me), it was a good strong lp.

276-  Everybody Wants You, Billy Squier, 1982, #32 and #1 mainstream.  The world loved The Stroke.  We loved all the rest.  One of 3 for Mr. Squier in the countdown.

275- Waiting On A Friend, Rolling Stones, 1981, # 13.  Just a nice, relaxing tune from Mick and the boys. One of four for the Stones.

274- Would I Lie To You, Eurythmics, 1985, #5.  If you'd have told me after I first watched the video to Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This that I would ever like anything by a chick with a red crew-cut, I'd have been both skeptical and wrong.  In fact, we'll see them once more later on.

273-  Roam, B52s, 1989, #3.  Another one that actually snuck in from 1990, but the album, Cosmic Thing, came out in 1989, so it's all good.  They'll be back again as well.

272- Let My Love Open The Door, Pete Townshend, 1980, #9.  The Who's lead guitar hit from his solo lp Empty Glass.

271- Hey Nineteen, Steely Dan, 1980, #10.  From the lp Gaucho.  This is what you get picking up younger women.  One of two from Becker and Fagen on the list.

270- Roll Me Away, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, 1983, #27.  The Distance was one of Bob's Best albums, and this was one of his best tunes on it.  He'll be back two more times.

269- Who Can It Be Now, Men At Work, 1981, #1.  I always thought these guys were one of the best things to come from Australia.

268- Crazy Train, Ozzie Osbourne, 1988, #106, and #9 mainstream.  Hey, there's ol' Oz again!  The second of two times today, and second of three on the list.

267- If You're Gonna Play In Texas, Alabama, 1984, #1 country.  I never cared much for their ballads that crossed over to pop, but let 'em break the fiddle out, and I'm there.

266- In Your Letter, REO Speedwagon, 1981, #20.  Like everyone else back then, we played the crap out of High Infidelity. one of two on the countdown.

265- Darlington County, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, 1984, unreleased.  You knew we had to have some lp cuts on the list, and here's the first, from Born In The USA.

264- Here Comes The Rain Again, Eurythmics, 1984, #4.  Here come the Eurythmics again, with their other song on the countdown.

263- Union Man, Neil Young, 1980, unreleased.  I even had a hard time figuring out which album this was on. (Answer- Hawks And Doves.)

262- Four Little Diamonds, Electric Light Orchestra, 1983, #86.  So you thought you were rid of ELO, did ya?  Well, Did ya?  From Secret Messages, one of six in the countdown.

261- Eminence Front, The Who, 1982, #68, and #5 on mainstream.  Come and join the party, baby.... One of 2 on the countdown.

And there you have another week of hits and oddities from the memory of Martin. Tune in next week to see what I'll dig out next!