This week we go back to late fall '87. I believe this is the high school semester when I took Physics for some reason. I was never a science guy. I believe I just passed the class with a 54. And every one of those marks was a struggle. While I battled my academic shortcomings, this was the popular music of the day:
40 - "Casanova," Levert
39 - "U Got the Look," Prince
38 - "Need You Tonight," INXS
37 - "Don't Make Me Wait for Love," Kenny G and Lenny Williams
36 - "Animal," Def Leppard
35 - "Boys' Night Out," Timothy B. Schmit
34 - "Cherry Bomb," John Cougar Mellencamp
33 - "Tell it to My Heart," Taylor Dayne
32 - "Let Me Be the One," Expose
31 - "Love Will Find a Way," Yes
We start with three repeaters. Levert return insisting that they're not smooth, but they're still worthy of love. Prince is back contemplating amorous sport with Sheena Easton. And the dynamic duo of Kenny and Lenny are still making the listening easy.
Three rock bands in this section. After only managing two American hits during the first seven years of the decade, Australia's INXS broke into superstardom with this slinky funk-rock declaration of sexual desire. It would go on to be their first and only U.S. #1. Honestly, as huge as the Kick album was, most of my favorite songs of theirs are from other records. I do really like "Never Tear Us Apart" though. Def Leppard made their comeback after the car crash in which drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm with this slow burner about primal lust. The Hysteria album produced several bigger hits than this, but to me, it's the best of the lot. And Yes continued in their mid-80s pop vein with this song about...well, it's pretty self-explanatory. Although I'm not sure what the line "I eat at chez nous" is doing in there. Anyway, another failed attempt to replicate the success of "Owner of a Lonely Heart."
There are also a pair of solo rockers. Timothy B. Schmit, a former bassist for both Poco and the Eagles, had his only hit on his own with this mild, synth-laden bit of business about guys gone wild. The only remarkable thing about it is how much it sounds like a lot of Glenn Frey and Don Henley's solo stuff, only not as well-sung. And John Cougar Mellencamp is here with a lazy little jam about reminiscences of youthful escapades. This is the kind of thing the Coug could do in his sleep, but the violin and accordion add spice.
We close with female-fronted dance-pop. Leslie Wunderman, who changed her name to the much more catchy Taylor Dayne, had the first of her seven Top Ten hits with this song that asks "Is this really love, or just a game?" Well, on my end, Taylor, it's neither. It's just bland 80s radio fodder. And Expose's song from last time is back. Good for them.
30 - "That's What Love is All About," Michael Bolton
29 - "I Do You," The Jets
28 - "Where the Streets Have No Name," U2
27 - "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)," Aerosmith
26 - "Got My Mind Set on You," George Harrison
25 - "Come On, Let's Go," Los Lobos
24 - "Bad," Michael Jackson
23 - "Valerie," Steve Winwood
22 - "Skeletons," Stevie Wonder
21 - "Catch Me (I'm Falling)," Pretty Poison
Half this section is occupied by male solo artists. After establishing himself as a writer and producer, Michael Bolton made his first impact as a singer by applying his big, bombastic voice to a ballad about making romance work. Can't say I like it exactly, but his later hits were much worse. Especially his desecrations of soul classics. Those were unforgivable. George Harrison is here with his slick remake of an obscure 1962 soul song by James Ray. Jeff Lynne's production style would start to grate by the 90s, but in this setting, it worked fine, and it got George his thrid and final U.S. #1. Catchy and exuberant. Michael Jackson is back from last time with the title track from his Thriller follow-up. I must say, I like it more now than I did then, but I think that goes for most of Michael's 80s stuff. Steve Winwood continued his late-80s hot streak with this remix of a 1982 single, a lite-rock piece about a woman who reminds him of "jazz on a summer's day." Not much to it, but enough people liked having it on in the background of their various daily activities to propel it to the Top Ten. And Stevie Wonder had what would be his last Top 40 hit to date with this funky jam about lies and their consequences. I didn't get to hear this much at the time, but upon this listen, I have to say it was a much better way for him to go out than some of the goopier stuff from the middle of the decade. He sounds more like the great artist he is at his best.
Two pop groups are here. The eight eldest Wolfgramm siblings from Minneapolis had another of their hits with this dance trifle that pledges their love. Nothing much here. They were like the 80s version of The Sylvers, only not nearly as good. And Philadelphia's Pretty Poison had their biggest of two Top 40 hits with this boilerplate uptempo popper about love and stuff. I hated this song before, and learning that one of the band's members went by the name "Whey Cooler" makes me hate it even more. Not good at all.
We finish with the rock bands. The most famous Irish band named after an American spy plane had their third hit from their monster The Joshua Tree album with this epic rocker that seems to be about some sort of utopian place "high on a desert plain." And there's something about that guitar riff that just gets into your bones. After nine years of breakups, make-ups, and rehab, Aerosmith made their return to the pop charts with this rave-up about a man with a, shall we say, deceptive appearance. From my research, I've determined that, in one way or another, this song was inspired by Motley Crue. Take from that what you will. Anyway, dumb fun, and probably the best song of their comeback. And Los Lobos are here with their second hit Richie Valens cover from the La Bamba soundtrack. A cool little retro number that makes me want to slick back my hair and bust some moves with a girl in a poodle skirt. It is kind of a shame that Los Lobos never had a hit with a song of their own, though.
Tomorrow: The Human League, Bob Marley, and the Foo Fighters...all have songs that share titles with ones that were in this week's Top Twenty.
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