The great eighties countdown- the ever-lovin' end

Yes, we have finally made it to the end of all these countdowns.  We have made it through the 60's and the 70's, and today we wrap up the final panel of our tryptich.  And without further doo-doo, here we go:

20- I'm Alive, Electric Light Orchestra, #16, 1980.  This is the other of the hits from the Xanadu soundtrack.    








19- Desperadoes Waiting On A Train, Kristofferson/Jennings/Cash/Nelson, #15 country, 1985.  Not hard to figure this would be up here, as it was on the charts as I was trying to settle my dad's estate.




18- Amarillo By Morning, George Strait, #4 country, 1983.  "I ain't got time, but what I've got is mine/I'm not rich, but Lord, I'm free..."













17- South Central Rain, REM, #85, #43 Mainstream Rock, 1984.  The first REM tune most of us ever heard.  I'm sorry....







16- The Voice, Moody Blues, #15, #1 MSR, 1981.  Long Distance Voyager marked a whole new life for this classic band.











15-  Everytime You Go Away, Paul Young, #1, 1985.  Another slow grower that is best when you can find the full, uncut-for-pop-airplay version.
















14- Time (Clock Of The Heart), Culture Club, #2, 1982.  As anyone can tell you, I'm a pushover for bells tolling at the end of a song (see How Do You Mend A Broken Heart).










13- In The Shape Of A Heart, Jackson Browne, #70, #15 MSR, #10 adult contemporary, 1986.  The hands-down biggest tear producer on the list for me.










12- Fall On Me, REM, #94, #5 MSR, 1986.   "Well, I could keep it above/but then it wouldn't be sky any more/so if I send it to you, you gotta promise to keep it whole..."










11- 867-5309/Jenny, Tommy Tutone, #4, #1 MSR, 1982.  Still blows me away that the founder of this band was a founder of the Cowsills.









10- That Girl Could Sing, Jackson Browne, #22, 1980.  I don't know if she could, but I do know he could.











9- Money For Nothing, Dire Straits, #1, 1985.  Waking up under some girl's pool table.  Beer for breakfast.  And music still on MTV.  Good Times.






8- Making Love Out Of Nothing At All, Air Supply, #2, 1983.  Producer Jim Steinman sure had a run that summer- and the biggest one is still to come.







7- For You, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, #106, 1981.  The best of his Bruce Springsteen covers- don't let the low charting fool you.










6- Her Town Too, James Taylor with JD Souther, #11, #5 AC, 1981.  I spent a semester taking night classes at IPFW and this song played in the same spot, on my last turn-off, a mile from home- at least once a week.  Kinda becomes a comfort after a while.







5- Coming Up (live), Wings, #1, 1980.  C'mon, has anyone even HEARD the studio version that was the a-side?









4- Take Me Home Tonight, Eddie Money, #4, #1 MSR, 1986.  "Listen honey, just like Ronnie sang... be my little baby..."















3- Heat Of The Moment, Asia, #4, #1 MSR, 1982.  A breath of fresh air in a music era that was dying.










2- Total Eclipse Of The Heart, Bonnie Tyler, #1, 1983.  The other Steinman tune, and the song that rode the pop chart for 4 weeks and mine for 8.









And now, at long last, my #1 song of the 1980s- a tune that was top ten in my sixties countdown as well:

1- Angel Of The Morning, Juice Newton, #4, 1981.  A song so seared into my primal soul by Merilee Rush when I was little, that it only took the first few notes when Juice redid it.


And there you have it!  Hope everyone enjoyed, did some humming, brushed back a tear, or smiled at some memory.  Because that's what music is really all about- a blank cassette upon which we tape the good times.  See ya next week- on Time Machine, that is.

The great eighties countdown- the top 40

Yes, we are crossing Casey Kasum's magical line this week, and will be going all the way to the top next time!  Slip on your goggles, and let's go!

40- Pancho And Lefty, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, #1 country, 1983.  Nobody heard his dying words...  but that's the way it goes...

39- Find Your Way Back, Jefferson Starship, #29, #3 mainstream rock chart, 1981.  Two great tatses that tasted great together- Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick.

38- On The Radio, Donna Summer, #5, 1980.  For me, Donna was just another popular singer- until this one.

37- Show Me, the Pretenders, #28, #8 MSR, 1984.  A great song, and the last thirty seconds are the best.

36- No One Is To Blame, Howard Jones, #4, 1985.  No more I can add to this guy.  An underrated genius.

35- Copperhead Road, Steve Earle, #10 MSR, 1988.  A country star with a "power twang" hit.  From a great album that gave Vietnam vets the respect that few others did.

34- Leave It, Yes, #24, #3 MSR, 1983.  My favorite power drums of all time.

33- Skateaway, Dire Straits, #58, #31 MSR, 1981. I love songs that suck me into the imagry they paint.  Few are better at it than this one.

32- Behind The Lines, Genesis, unreleased, 1980.  My favorite from the great lp Duke, blending into Duchess.

31- Almost Saturday Night, Dave Edmunds, #54, 1981.  My taste for the obscure continues with Dave's cover of a John Fogarty song from 1975.

30- Don't Answer Me, Alan Parsons Project, #15, 1984.  My all time favorite video.  Tough break, Nick.

29- Fire Lake, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, #6, 1980.  "...till you look straight up and say/ O Lord, am I really here at last?..."

28- Caravan, Utopia, unreleased, 1980.  Todd Rundgren's band at their best.

27- I'm All Right, Kenny Loggins, #7, 1980.  The immortal theme to the immortal movie Caddyshack.

26- Sentimental Street, Night Ranger, #8, #3 MSR, 1985.  Another song that starts the choking up on note #1.

25- I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me, Rosanne Cash, #1 country, 1985.  The song that made me fall in love with her.

24- Come On Eileen, Dexy's Midnight Runners, #1, 1982.  In between Billie Jean and Beat it, one lone ROCK song fought it's way to the top of the charts.  This was it.

23- Keep The Fire, Kenny Loggins, #36, 1980.  " And there are those who can forsee where we will go/ all the future, I don't even want to know/ only that you'll be here by me/ while the embers still glow, we'll be safe till tomorrow..."

22- Always On My Mind, Willie Nelson, #5, #1 country, 1982.  Willie is a hero to all of us who were yelled at for singing "through our noses".

21- Ah! Leah!, Donnie Iris, #29, #19 MSR,1980 .  I knew a girl named Leah back then.  "Nuff said.

And that's it until next week, when we take one last trip into the eighties for my favorites.  See you then!

The Great Eighties countdown week 13

We have made it to the top 60 this week.  The obscure are thinning out, the bigger hits appearing, but you know me- surprises are still in store.

60- Twilight Zone, Golden Earring, #10, 1982.  Golden Earring only hit big here twice, but they were both "cool" songs- the ones everyone looked foreward to hearing.

59- Head Over Heels, Tears For Fears, #3, 1985.  Perhaps the best band of the era, with lyrics that cut to the heart of the matter.

58- Hurt So Bad, Linda Ronstadt, #8, 1980.  Danny Kortchmar's guitar solo raises the hair on the back of my neck.

57- Really Wanna Know You, Gary Wright, #16, 1981.  Almost liked this better than Dream Weaver.  Almost.

56- Midnight Rocks, Al Stewart, #24, 1980.  If American tastes were a bit more sophisticated, Al would be a hall of famer.

55- True, Spandau Ballet, #4 1983.  In that long ago time that I matched the top 4 song for song, this was #4. A song that grew on me.

54- Train In Vain, The Clash, #23, 1980.  Their first American hit, and a reminder to me of another fun trip to Snow Lake.

53- Here Comes My Girl, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, #59, 1980.  Once again, It played a lot before it was ever released.  Definately on my TP short list.

52- Back On The Chain Gang, The Pretenders, #5, 1982. Hard not to get involved in such an autobiographical song.

51- No Reply At All, Genesis, #29, 1981.  The first collaberation between the band and Earth Wind And Fire, with their horn section blowing and their arrainger arranging.

50- Tears Are Falling, Kiss, #20 Mainstream Rock, #51 pop, 1985.  The first Kiss song I really fell in love with.  Like Lays potato chips, never play it just once- or softly.

49- Congratulations, Travelling Wilburys, unreleased, 1988.  Beyond a doubt my favorite Dylan song of all time.

48- Gypsy, Fleetwood Mac, #12, #4 MSR, 1982. I think the best post-Rumours FM song.

47- Take On Me, A-ha, #1, 1985.  On the short list of best videos ever.

46- Ghost Riders (In The Sky), Outlaws, #31, 1980.  Love this song no matter who does it, but this is my best.

45- Learning To Fly, Pink Floyd, #70, #1 MSR, 1987.  Can't keep my eyes off the circling sky...

44- Gemini Dream, Moody Blues, #12, 1981.  It was a different sound in Moodys act II, but just as good.

43- Urgent, Foreigner, #4, #1 MSR, 1981.  After the Head Games lp was such a disappointment, it was good to hear the opening salvo from 4.

42- Lawyers In Love, Jackson Browne, #13, #4 MSR, 1983.  Gotta love the Del Shannon-esque chorus.  Eating from tv trays, tuned in to Happy Days...

41- All Out Of Love, Air, Supply, #2, 1980.  They only topped this one once.

Man, that was a good list!  Next time, the top 40 begins...

The great eighties countdown week 12

Four more weeks to go with this one, folks! the end of the journey nears.

80- Der Kommissar, After The Fire, #5, 1982.  Peer in his eyes, and you'll know why/the more you live, the faster you will die...

79- Sister Christian, Night Ranger, #5, #2 Mainstream Rock, 1984.  Their big breakthrough hit.

78- Things Can Only Get Better, Howard Jones, #5, 1984.  A dude that deserved better here, but was much bigger in the UK.  One of those guys I liked everything from.

77- One Thing Leads To Another, The Fixx, #4, 1983.  The one and only time in 8 years of keeping my own top ten that I matched the top four number for number, this was #4.  It went on to #1 on mine.

76- Allentown, Billy Joel, #17, 1983.  Far and away my favorite BJ tune.

75- All Over The World, ELO, #13, 1980.  From the Xanadu sound track.

74- Only Time Will Tell, Asia, #17, #8 MSR, 1982.  Had I been listening to this when I made up the list, it might have copped a top 20.  A great tune from a great album.

73- Misunderstanding, Genesis, #14, 1980.  Certainly charted much higher here in Fort Wayne.  Genesis and ELO generally did.

72- Almost Hear You Sigh, Rolling Stones, #50, #1 MSR.  This is the song I bought Steel Wheels for.  Next to Miss You, my favorite Stones song.

71- Driver 8, REM, #22 MSR, 1985.  One of my favorite sing-alongs, if only on the chorus.

70- Veronica, Elvis Costello, #19, #10 MSR.  A neat look into someone the world judges as crazy.  The song I bought Spike for; not near as good a purchase as Steel Wheels.

69- Rock And Roll Is King, ELO, #19, 1983.  After the sythesiser-heavy stuff from the last lp, this- even without a string section- was a breath of fresh air.

68- My Hometown, Bruce Springsteen, #6, 1985.  The last of seven singles from Born In The USA, none of which charted lower than #9.  My part is when he puts his son on his lap at the end.

67- Rain On The Scarecrow, John Mellencamp, Unreleased, 1985.  My favorite Mellencamp, and by far his most powerful statement.

66- In The Dark, Billy Squier, #35, #7 MSR, 1981. Another act who was more popular here, at least among my group.

65- 99 Balloons, Nena, #2, 1984.  I loved it as much in German as in English. By the way, you wonder what the German Lyrics really say?  Check it out:

Have you some time for me,
then I'll sing a song for you
about 99 balloons
on their way to the horizon.
If you're perhaps thinking about me right now
then I'll sing a song for you
about 99 balloons
and that such a thing comes from such a thing.

99 balloons
on their way to the horizon
People think they're UFO's from space
so a general sent up
a fighter squadron after them
Sound the alarm if it's so
but there on the horizon were
only 99 balloons.

99 fighter jets
Each one's a great warrior
Thought they were Captain Kirk
then came a lot of fireworks
the neighbors didn't understand anything
and felt like they were being provoked
so they shot at the horizon
at 99 balloons.

99 war ministers
matches and gasoline canisters
They thought they were clever people
already smelled a nice bounty
Called for war and wanted power.
Man, who would've thought
that things would someday go so far
because of 99 balloons.

99 years of war
left no room for victors.
There are no more war ministers
nor any jet fighters.
Today I'm making my rounds
see the world lying in ruins.
I found a balloon,
think of you and let it fly (away).

64- Turn It On Again, Genesis, #58, 1980.  Another great cut from duke.  Hit #8 in the UK.  Being a big soap opera fan at the time, this one hit home big.

63- Hold On Tight, ELO, #10, 1981.  Was neat to hear this get commercial-jingle love a few years back, for coffee I think.

62- Taking It All Too Hard, Genesis, #50, 1984. This might be the mother of all How-did-this-chart-this-low moments.  And now that Genesis and ELO have taken 30% of this week's slots, we wind up with...

61- Abracadabra, Steve Miller Band, #1, 1982.  Their last top 40 hit.  And a part of a very special-to-the-memory trip to the lake.

And that's another round of our countdown.  By this time next week, we'll be hovering over the top 40.  See you then!

The Great Eighties countdown week 11

We have come to the top one hundred at last here at the countdown, and as nothing more Friday the 13th-ish has happened, let's have at it.

100- Into The Groove, Madonna, b-side of #5 hit Angel, 1985.  You wouldn't have known it was a b-side around here; I don't even really remember Angel.

99- The Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide, the Kings, #43, 1980.  "Nothing matters but the weekend/from a Tuesday point-of-view..."

98- Goodbye, Elenore, Toto, #107, 1981.  From their lp Turn Back, had pretty brisk airplay on Rock 104.

97- Lost In Love, Air Supply, #3, 1980.  I was as big a fan as any when these guys first hit here with this song.

96- Walking On Sunshine, Katrina and the Waves, #9, 1985.  Katrina Leskanic was a cousin of Padres pitcher Curtis Leskanic.  He didn't know his cousin was THAT Katrina until she sang the national anthem at a Padres' game.

95- Synchronicity II, The Police, #16, 1983.  About a guy with a crappy life, a crappy job, a crappy boss, and the Loch Ness Monster creeping up to his front door.

94- Boulevard, Jackson Browne, #19, 1980.  From the classic lp Hold Out.

93- Don't Stand So Close To Me, The Police, #10, 1980. I got this lp (Zenyatta Mendatta) for my birthday one year.  A very good listen.

92- At The Sound Of The Tone, John Schneider, #5 country, 1982.  Yeah it's Bo Duke, but he was a helluva singer.  I really could/should have put in about 5 more of his, but this was my favorite.

91- I Want To Know What Love Is, Foreigner, #1, 1984.  The choir at the end (the New Jersey Mass Choir) is the best part.

90- Saved By Zero, The Fixx, #20, 1983.  A song that wrapped itself around a good dream about a girl I've forgotten.  Just got their greatest hits CD this past week.

89- Shakin', Eddie Money, #63, #9 Mainstream Rock, 1982.  Yes, another track from No Control, the first one in fact.

88- Edge Of Seventeen, Stevie Nicks,  #11, #4 MSR, 1982.  Another song whose chart numbers probably suffered because of how much it was played before it was released.

87- If This Is It, Huey Lewis and the News, #6, 1984.  I think every track but 2 on this lp (Sports) played on the radio around here.

86- Talking To The Moon, Gatlin Brothers Band, #4 country, 1986.  Reminds me of Ray Stevens' Misty.

85- Arc Of A Diver, Steve Winwood, #48, #11 MSR, 1981.  I couldn't stand While You See A Chance, but loved the follow up.  This was the title cut of his breakthrough lp.

84- Into The Night, Benny Mardones, #11 in 1980 and #20 in 1989.  The perils of dating a 16-year-old.

83- Games Without Frontiers, Peter Gabriel, #48, 1980.  I was hearing this in my mind as the squirrels at Pokagon hurled their half-eaten acorns at us.

82- Time After Time, Cyndi Lauper, #1, 1984.  Another benefit of work closing was not having to hear the karaoke-esque, screwed-up-lyrics version of this on the CD player.

81- Don't Go Back To Rockville, REM, non-charting, 1984.  Actually I only know this song from their greatest hits disc Eponymous.

And that wraps another excursion into the eighties.  Be sure to come back next week as we close in upon the end.

The great eighties countdown week 10.1

Sorry about the interruption.  God thought we might like a taste of the "good old days."  Frankly, I only minded the heat, especially between 2 and 7 PM.  And Laurie had her iPad that she charged at my son's place, so she was good once I bought battery lights and fans.  BTW, entrepeneurs out there, I think there's a market for battery fans that are too big to hide in your armpit, just sayin'.  And now, back to our countdown.

120- A Life Of Illusion, Joe Walsh, #34, #1 mainstream rock, 1981.  One of those lines that my mind often hears in times of crisis: "Pow, right between the eyes, Oh, how nature loves her little surprises..."

119- Don't Dream It's Over, Crowded House, #2, 1986.  Tell me you never sang along with "hey now, hey now..."

118- Kiss On My List, Hall And Oates, #1, 1981.  Especially when the play the long version that leaves in the entire guitar solo by Jeff Southworth.  Why cut that out in the first place?

117- Twilight, ELO, #38, 1981.  Not an era of ELO's history that I'm very fond of, but this one's stood the test of time for me.

116- No Control, Eddie Money, not released, 1982. The autobiographical title track of one of the best rock lps ever.

115- Any Way You Want It, Journey, #23, 1980.  A new generation learns this as an insurance jingle.  We old farts remember Rodney Dangerfield on the golf course in Caddyshack.

114- Breakfast In America, Supertramp, #62, 1980.  And the live version hit #62 the next year. WTF?

113- In A Little While, Amy Grant, unreleased, 1982.  The lead cut off the fantastic Age To Age lp.

112-  Stop Draggin' My Heart Around, Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, #3, 1981.  Really established her as one of the tough female vocalists of all time.

111-  Another Brick In The Wall, Pink Floyd, #1, 1980.  A lot of kids wanted this to be our graduating class song.  I doubt we were alone.

110- Somebody's Baby, Jackson Browne, #7, 1982.  Can't stand the dude's politics, but he's a great musician.

109- Highwayman, Kristofferson/Jennings/Cash/Nelson, #1 country, 1985.  I played this tape into the ground.  As of about a month ago, I have the CD.

108- King Of Pain, the Police, #3, #1 MSR, 1984.  No other band had the ability to be so consistant in sound but so innovative.

107- Eye In The Sky, Alan Parsons Project, #3, 1982.  The one big popular hit they had, but still pure APP.

106- Rock On, Michael Damian, #1, 1989.  Hey, you already knew I was a big The Young And The Restless fan.  Is it a shock I'd like Danny Romalotti's one big hit?

105- You Make My Dreams, Hall and Oates, #5, 1981.  Back then, this would have been a LOT higher.  Of course, back then the eighties were a year and a half along.

104- Miss Emily's Picture, John Conlee, #2 country, 1981.  One of the most immediate tear-producing songs for me.

103- Tweeter And The Monkey Man, Travelling Wilburys, #41 MSR, 1989.  Really puzzled that MSR only had this at 41. Our msr station played the crap out of it.  Dylan at his best.

102- Boys Of Summer, Don Henley, #5, #1 MSR, 1984.  On the "karaoke's greatest hits" or whatever it was they played at work, they changed, "Out on the road today, I saw a Dead Head sticker on a cadillac" to "...a blck flag sticker..."  Talk about losing the entire meaning of the song in one shot!

101- Passing By The Graveyard, Eddie Money, Unreleased, 1982.  The story of John Belushi's death, from No Control.

Next week, we hit the top 100 at last.  See you then!

The great eighties countdown week 9

It's Saturday morning yet again and time for the Countdown.  Before we get going, I know I jam a lot of posts in towards the weekend, and they might get a little buried.  I heartfully request that you check out the Friday night post, "The two sides of giving."  Even if you aren't interested in the main article (though how could you not be?), check out at the bottom, a link to a poem about the truth of Independence Day I got published on Yahoo voices.  It's cool, historical, typically hard to understand, and if you check it out, I make money!  And while you're digging backwards, don't forget this week's Time Machine, especially if you like the 'six degrees' feature.  Now, on with the countdown!

140- Hard Habit To Break, Chicago, #3, 1984.  I'm not a big fan of the "Chicago-as-Cetera's-backup-band era, but this one has enough horns to make the cut.

139- Blood And Roses, Smithereens, #14 Mainstream Rock, 1986.  A powerful song about love gone wrong.  "I want to love, but it comes out wrong. I want to live, but I don't belong. I close my eyes and I see Blood and roses."

138- Private Eyes, Hall and Oates, #1, 1981.  I was a big fan of the "new sound" of Hall and Oates starting on the Voices lp.  This is one that had some staying power.

137- Just Like Starting Over, John Lennon, #1, 1980.  Our group of friends were one of those who bought this 45 in honor of Lennon's assassination.  But I think it would have hit #1 anyway, because it was a good, fresh song.

136- Touch And Go, the Cars, #37, 1980.  The sped-up beat of the chorus made this my favorite Cars tune of all time- and one of the few I cared for after their classic first lp.

135- Changes, Yes, #6 MSR, 1984.  The second of three from the comeback album 90125.  A great lp.

134- Woman, John Lennon, #2, 1984.  The second single from Double Fantasy, it would have proved my point.  However, Blondie's idiotic Rapture lept over it to the top spot.  Scratches head and sighs.

133- More Power To Ya, Petra, #1 Christian Contemporary, 1982.  One of the biggest hits in Contemporary Christian history, from an lp of the same name in which almost every single got airplay.

132- Luka, Suzanne Vega, #3, 1987.  A heartbreaking song about domestic violence... and why it gets put up with.

131- Refugee, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, #15, 1980.  The only reason this song didn't get higher is that it played so much before it was released.  The next song off Damn The Torpedoes had the same problem.

130- Blue Moon And Heartache, Rosanne Cash, #104, #1 country, 1981.  The third of 3 #1s on the country chart off the lp Seven Year Ache.

129- I Don't Like Mondays, Boomtown Rats, #73, #1 UK, 1980.  Based on a true story of 16-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer, who shot down 11 (8 children), killing 2 adults, at a San Diego playground.  Her motive for the shootings became the title of the song.

128- Another One Bites The Dust, Queen, #1, 1980.  Kinda seems odd having these two songs together, eh?

127- This Is The Way Way Made A Broken Heart, Rosanne Cash, #1 country, 1987.  King's Record Shop was even better than Rhythm And Romance.  This was the leadoff single.

126- The Good Life, Firetown, Non Charting, 1989.  Five years later, these guys would pick up Shirley Manson for a lead singer and become Garbage.  But I liked them better here.

125- Rock The Casbah, The Clash, #8, 1982.  How these guys didn't get a fatwah issued against them I'll never know.

124- The Living Years, Mike + The Mechanics, #1, 1989.  Burt Bacharach called this "one of the finest lyrics of the last ten years" in 1996.  Written by Michael Rutherford of Genesis and BA Robertson, it was based on the recent death of Robertson's father.

123- Real Love, Doobie Brothers, #5, 1980.  One of the best for the michael McDonald Doobies.

122- Start Me Up, Rolling Stones, #2, 1981.  Previously mentioned Private Eyes combined with Arthur's Theme by Christopher Cross to keep this out of #1.  I remember fighting with a buddy who claimed the verse at the end, "you make a big man crawl" was actually, "you make a big man.." well, uhm, let's just say he was wrong.

121- Take The Long Way Home, Supertramp, #10, 1980.  I'm not really sure how I managed to float this one up here.  Stuff happens when you juggle 300 songs.  But it is a cool tune.

Okay, that's the list for this week.  See ya next time!

The Great eighties countdown week 8

Here we are at the two-month point of this countdown and we'll be crossing the halfway point this time.  Hope you've enjoyed the ride so far, and if you hit a song that you don't know, and are too busy to look it up yourself, let me know on comments and I'll try to find an acceptable posting.  And without further ado (or doo-doo), let us proceed.

160- Life In A Northern Town, Dream Academy, #7, 1985.  My favorite line, despite it's corruption of the timeline:  "It was winter 1963/and we thought that the world would freeze/ with John F. Kennedy/ and the Beatles..."

159- Middle Of The Road, the Pretenders, #19, #2 Mainstream Rock, 1984. I love the cat "rowww" right into the harmonica.

158- Key Largo, Bertie Higgins, #8, 1981.  About anything with a mandolin will get to me at one point or another.

157- Halfway House, Rosanne Cash, Unreleased, 1985.  I asked so many people for Rhythm And Romance for Christmas, I got two of 'em!  This album cut was the most primal, almost would have been a better fit on King's Record Shop.

156- Beds Are Burning, Midnight Oil,  #17, #6 MSR, 1987.  Native Americans should have a theme song as strong as this one for giving back to the Pintupi in Australians.

155- Panama, Van Halen, #13, #2 MSR, 1984.  "we're runnin' a little bit hot tonight... can barely see the road for the heat coming off..."

154- My Kinda Lover, Billy Squier, #45, #31 MSR.  Yeah, I know you know I'm a Squier fan.

153- If You Leave, Orchestral Manoevers In The Dark, #4, 1986.  Not near as big here as in England, this was from the Pretty In Pink soundtrack.

152- Duchess, Genesis, Not Charting, #46 UK, 1980.  I could have just put the entire Duke album on this.  It was that good.

151- You May Be Right, Billy Joel, #7, 1980.  I remember one time the glass crashing that leads off this song coming on as I drove into school.  Took a deep breath, prepared to sing along.  Choked on it when the Chipmunks started singing.  ARRRGH!

150- Handle With Care, Travelling Willburys, #45, #2 MSR, 1988.  Dylan.  Petty.  Harrison.  Lynne.  And Orbison.  How could these guys NOT be on the list?  And they'll be back a couple more times.

149- Whip It, Devo, #14, 1980.  Even though the legend exceeded the production, this was still a cool tune for the flowerpot heads.

148- Stepping Out, Joe Jackson, #6, 1982.  The ultimate first-date song.

147- Come Dancing, the Kinks, #6, 1983.  Don't we all have a place from our youth like "the parley"?  When they tore it down, "Part of my childhood died..."

146- Rio, Duran Duran, #14, 1983.  Hungry Like The Wolf didn't quite sell me on DD.  Rio did, though.

145- Limelight, Rush, #55, #4 MSR, 1981.  Go back and see my comments on Tom Sawyer and repeat.

144- Castles In The Air, Don McLean, #36, 1981.  "And I will not be part of her cocktail generation/partners waltz, devoid of all romance/ the music plays, and everyone must dance/ I'm bowing out, I need a second chance..."

143- Is There Something I Should Know, Duran Duran, #4, 1983.  My favorite of Duran Duran.

142- All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight, Hank Williams, Jr., #10, 1984.  Do you wanna driiiink, hey do you wanna partyyyy???

141- Cuyahoga, REM, Unreleased, 1986.  An album cut from Life's Rich Pageant, nostalgically looking back at a time before 1969, when it was so polluted it caught fire.


And there we are for another week.  Don't be shy about commenting, and we'll catch you next week!

The great eighties countdown week 7

I'm hoping we can get through this week's list without any more of its members dropping dead.  But even if it happens, at least the music lives on.

180- Take Your Time (Do It Right), S.O.S. Band, #3, 1980.  They never saw the top forty again, but I had a taste for the funk side of R&B.

179- Modern Love, David Bowie, #14, 1983.  The third of the three singles from Let's Dance to hit our top forty, and my favorite.

178- Free Falling, Tom Petty, #7, #1 mainstream rock, 1989.  One of Petty's best late-career tunes, with Jeff Lynne producing.

177- Poison, Alice Cooper, #7, 1989. I was surprised to see this charted so high; even though I wasn't following the charts as closely then, I don't recall it playing that much around here.

176- Feel It Again, Honeymoon Suite, #34, 1986.  A nifty Canadian hard-rock group, getting its name because what else would you call a band from Niagara Falls?

175- I Feel For You, Chaka Khan, #3, 1984.  Written by Prince, rapped by Grandmaster Melle Mel, harmonicas by Stevie Wonder.  How long were our conversations salted with variations of "Chaka Khan everybody everybody Chaka Khan"?

174- Snake Eyes, Alan Parsons Project, #67, #47 MSR, 1981.  My favorite from the lp A Turn Of A Friendly Card.  "Give me one minute more, and I'll walk right through that door..."  Two more for them ahead.

Yes, I know I did APP before.  But Laurie picks me out 4 random numbers for pictures, and this week she hit not one, but two repeat acts.

173- Karma Chameleon, Culture Club, #1, 1983.  Their second top dog, it was #1 in 13 nations.  If you could get past looking at Boy George, the video featuring the paddlewheeler was really cool.

172- Cherry Bomb, John Mellancamp, #8, #1 MSR, 1987.  The second highest of my 4 charters for John.  That's when a smoke was a smoke, and groovin' was groovin'..."

171- El Shaddai, Amy Grant, #1 Christian, 1982.  I listened to a lot of WBCL (local Christian station) when they weren't so "contemporary.  Age To Age was the best Christian lp ever IMHO.  When she went pop, and the station lost soft acts in favor of pop/rock, I lost a lot of interest in the music end.

170- That's All, Genesis, #6, 1983. "Why does it always seem to be/ me looking at you, you looking at me/ it's always the same, it's just the same, that's all..."

169- And The Cradle Will Rock, Van Halen, #55, 1980.  Have you seen Junior's grades...?

168- It's Different For Girls, Joe Jackson, non charting (#5 UK), 1980.  I've already told you my feelings on this Mr. Jackson.  I could put the chorus on infinite loop and listen for hours.

167- Mandolin Rain, Bruce Hornsby and the Range, #4, 1987.  This song had such widespread appeal it hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #2 on mainstream rock.  Always chokes me up.

166- Sara, Starship, #1, 1985.  Songs like this tell me I was a bigger fan of these guys after they lost the "Jefferson" than I thought.

165- The Doctor, the Doobie Brothers, #9, #1 MSR, 1998.  The big comeback for the group that Michael McDonald abandoned, complete with the return of Tom Johnston.  One of the two songs that dominated the long-ago honeymoon trip.

164- Paperlate, Genesis, #32, 1982.  That's twice this week, and six more to go.

163- Lost In The 50s, Ronnie Milsap, #1 country, 1985.  Doo-wop country, what a combination.

162- Against The Wind, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, #5, 1980.  The other of the only two songs worth a darn the week we graduated.

161- Down Under, Men At Work, #1, 1981.  The first place we heard of combies, zombies, chundering, and the vegimite that might well cause it in Americans.

Thats it for this week.  Tune in next time for more of the best of the eighties.