Fireball's Fantastic 500 -- Early 1980s, Part I

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Pastor Fireball
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Fireball's Fantastic 500 -- Early 1980s, Part I

#1 Post by Pastor Fireball » Fri May 11, 2018 3:57 pm

It is finally time to delve into the decade of big hair and that new electronic sound. The 1980s are finally upon us!

But first, a quick announcement. Normally, when I go away for the weekend, I post that week's set of songs on a Thursday. That will not happen next week as there will be no list next week. In lieu of a list next week, today's list will be double-sized. My birthday is coming up on Tuesday and I'm treating myself to an entire week without the Internet. No WWTBAM Bored, no Facebook... not even a peek at Twitter to learn the new ways that Drumpf has come up with to destroy America. I will be enjoying an Internet-free and stress-free birthday week. Part II will be unveiled on Friday, May 25.

Let's not waste any more time. Let's start looking at my favorite songs between 1980-84. A total of 85 songs will make up this chapter of the compendium... but we're actually going to start with a couple of Honorable Mentions. Two cover versions of songs that were featured earlier in this series.

First up is Naked Eyes's 1983 new wave cover of "Always Something There to Remind Me", which was #64 on my Early 1970s list for R.B. Greaves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmh8Mc9gm_E

And then there is Kim Carnes's slap-happy 1981 Grammy-winning cover of "Bette Davis Eyes", #39 on the same Early 1970s list for Jackie DeShannon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPOIS5taqA8

Now on with the normal countdown!

#85. Romeo's Tune, Steve Forbert (1980)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixTXmKauL8A

#84. You Can Do Magic, America (1982)

Please don't sing "This is how you Sonic" while listening to this video. I don't have any chili cheese tater tots for you. This was America's only Top 10 hit as a duo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0AJ40eX2Vo

#83. Minimum Love, Mac McAnally (1983)

One of a handful of songs to hold the dubious distinction of making it only to #41 on the Hot 100. That one position mean the difference in Mac being a one-hit wonder or a two-hit wonder. Don't feel too bad for him, though. He was very successful on the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at #7. He's also made quite a name for himself in the country circles recently, working with Kenny Chesney and Sawyer Brown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13LG2HEQDFI

#82. Second Chance, Paul Anka (1983)

After a recording career spanning nearly 30 years, Paul charted on Billboard for the final time with this song. It failed to make the Hot 100, but it did go up to #14 on the AC chart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw6z09fWcmg

#81. Look What You've Done to Me, Boz Scaggs (1980)

Certainly, you recognize this song from the movie Urban Cowboy. Boz got some help from the Eagles and Toto on this Top 20 hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWrbelCfMvc

#80. When All Is Said and Done, ABBA (1982)

The Swedish quartet's final US Top 40 hit before calling it quits for good two years later. Indeed, all had been said and done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUh4u-lYEhM

#79. Leave a Tender Moment Alone, Billy Joel (1983)

Though this is one of Billy's most loved songs, the lack of a music video in the heyday of MTV caused this song to stall out at #27 on the Hot 100.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY3Br1DIRkM

#78. Nobody Knows Me Like You, Benny Hester (1981)

Another contemporary Christian song pops up on the master list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl39O8fPcPI

#77. I Got You, Split Enz (1980)
Boney Hall of Fame: #167


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmQlBfxh4Us

#76. Eye in the Sky, Alan Parsons Project (1982)

The song that immediately precedes this one on the Eye in the Sky album is an instrumental called "Sirius", and the two were usually played together on the radio. You probably know "Sirius" better when it's accompanied by the words, "Aaaaaaaaaaand now, the starting lineup for your Chicago Bulls!" Yep, you can thank the Alan Parsons Project for that music, and you can guarantee that they haven't been hurting for money during the past 30 years because of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNiie_zmSr8

#75. Overkill, Men at Work (1983)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY7S6EgSlCI

#74. (There's) No Gettin' Over Me, Ronnie Milsap (1981)

The biggest pop hit for the country music legend. It peaked at #5 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the AC chart. It also won him the third of his five Grammys for Best Male Country Vocal Performance--a record that stood for nearly a decade until Vince Gill won #6 (and eventually #7, #8, and #9).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXe5ETmifkM

#73. Sequel, Harry Chapin (1980)

The aptly-titled continuation of the story that Chapin told in his 1972 debut single, "Taxi", which was #37 on my early 1970s list. How palindromic! #37 and #73! The only reason why "Sequel" ranks so low on this list is because this is the 1980s and this is such a loaded list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD8sZFe9zxw

#72. Urgent, Foreigner (1981)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcb-Fsx_phM

#71. Cool Night, Paul Davis (1981)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urF0k1NAs7I

And that's it for me until Memorial Day weekend. Take care and join me again in two weeks.
"[Drumpf's] name alone creates division and anger, whose words inspire dissension and hatred, and can't possibly 'Make America Great Again.'" --Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)

"In times of crisis, the wise build bridges. The foolish build barriers." --Chadwick Boseman (1976-2020)

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