December 14, 1985 Part Two

Concluding.

20 - "Wrap Her Up," Elton John
19 - "Talk to Me," Stevie Nicks
18 - "Walk of Life," Dire Straits
17 - "You Belong to the City," Glenn Frey
16 - "Tonight She Comes," The Cars

The second half begins with Sir Elton and an uncredited George Michael singing the praises of women in general, and specifically, a litany of famous females they give shout-outs to, including such legends as Marilyn Monroe, Doris Day, Katherine Hepburn, and, um, Samantha Fox. Again, this song is more interesting than it is good.

Next it's Stevie Nicks with the lead track from her third solo album, a passionate encouragement for someone to open up and share their secrets with a trusted friend. If I were the guy she was singing to, I'd totally spill my guts.

Then it's Dire Straits, back from last time with their tale of a busker named Johnny trying to make a living in the London Underground. Still fun.

Glenn Frey also returns from last time with his sax-accented hit from Miami Vice. I don't believe him as a chronicler of dangerously seductive urban life. And I don't like him as...whatever else he tries to be on his other songs. He was somewhat tolerable as an Eagle though, I will admit.

Rounding out this group are The Cars. "Tonight she comes," eh? Can I ask her in the morning if you were telling the truth? Good lord that's a horrible joke. But it's my horrible joke.

15 - "Lay Your Hands on Me" The Thompson Twins
14 - "That's What Friends are For," Dionne and Friends
13 - "Perfect Way," Scritti Politti
12 - "Small Town," John Cougar Mellencamp
11 - "Who's Zoomin' Who," Aretha Franklin

This section opens with the "touching" Thompson Twins tune from last time. Not much more to say about the song, but that Tintin movie comes out this week. Looks like it could be interesting, but if I see one Spielberg before the year is out, it'll probably be War Horse.

The Burt Bacharach/Carole Bayer Sager ballad "That's What Friends are For" was originally recorded by Rod Stewart in 1982 for the soundtrack of the Ron Howard-directed morgue-attendants-become-pimps comedy Night Shift. Three years later, Dionne Warwick and her "friends" Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder recorded it as a benefit single, with proceeds going to the American Foundation for AIDS research. Despite a climate in which the word "AIDS" provoked such fear and misunderstanding that an Indiana board of eduacation was fighting to keep an HIV-infected child from attending school, the single hit #1 and raised over three million dollars for the cause. The song itself is kind of a sappy sleeper, but the money and awareness it generated for an issue that badly needed both at the time must be admired and applauded.

Next are Scritti Politti with their jaggedly bouncy synth treat. I don't need to make any sort of justification for calling this song awesome.

Then it's Mr. Mellencamp, back singing the praises of the hamlet where he "used to daydream" and "had myself a ball." Soon, it would be joined on the 40 by Bruce Springsteen's "My Hometown" which has a somewhat different point of view on small town life.

Finishing this fivesome is Aretha Franklin, wondering aloud if she is being zoomed or if, in fact, she herself is the one doing the zooming. I'm sure it's a question we've all asked ourselves at least once in our lives. Right?

They are the Top Ten, and they demand respect!

10 - "We Built this City," Starship
Yeah, they did. And it can't be torn down, no matter how much you try to get it out of your head. They constructed that thing solid.

9 - "I Miss You," Klymaxx
Fact that's more interesting than this song: The singer, Joyce Irby, was once part of George Clinton's P-Funk crew under the name "Fenderella"

8 - "Sleeping Bag," ZZ Top
The bearded blues-rockers take their flirtation with synthesizers to the next level. It hasn't aged well.

7 - "Alive and Kicking," Simple Minds
Arguably, it was the success of these Scots and their arenalternative (yeah, I made up another word) sound that paved the way for the megastardom of their Irish neighbors U2 after they put out The Joshua Tree. I wonder if Bono ever sent Jim Kerr a thank-you note.

6 - "Election Day," Arcadia
This Duran Duran offshoot contained Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and drummer Roger Taylor. However, he wasn't the Taylor who stayed on for the Notorious album. That was John, the bassist.

5 - "Never," Heart
I'm running away from this song. It's fun defying orders from Ann Wilson.

4 - "Party All the Time," Eddie Murphy
Eddie's girl wants to party all the time. Well, he thought she was a girl when he picked her up. Sorry, terrible joke. Oh Eddie, that time you picked up that transvestite prostitute will never be forgotten. Maybe it might have if you'd won that Oscar, but you went and did Norbit and saw it get released during the voting, and, well, here I am referring to that time you picked up that hooker. Such is life.

3 - "Say You, Say Me," Lionel Richie
Has anyone out there actually seen this movie White Nights?

2 - "Seperate Lives," Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
Because the soundtrack must have been pretty big, because this week it has the #3 and #2 songs on the chart. But I don't think the movie did too well, probably because when Americans were looking for Cold War-themed entertainment back then, they preferred Rocky IV

And king of the hill, A-number-1 on the American charts this week 26 years ago was...

1 - "Broken Wings," Mr. Mister
A soft-rock standard that instantly says "80s" Last time I referred to it as a "really good song" and I stand by that. I think a really good, sincere, stripped-down cover version might actually redeem it.

This week's NotCaseys were "Living in America" by James Brown, "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora, "The Sun Always Shines on TV" by A-ha, and "Day by Day" by The Hooters. And Casey played two Long Distance Dedications, both featuring songs by Billy Joel. First, a young mother dedicated "Just the Way You Are" to the parents she now regretted mistreating during her childhood. Then, a woman sent out "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" to anyone who's ever contemplated suicide.

Yes, I've got another bonus for you this week. Tomrorrow, we're going back to 1975.