Before we close 1982, let's go back to February 10, 1979. Rod Stewart was on top with "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy." The Top Ten included "YMCA," "Le Freak," "Fire," and "I Will Survive." And below...there's only one song I haven't covered before. But I might as well.
27 - "Baby I'm Burning," Dolly Parton
The country queen had already made her big crossover move with the Top Five smash "Here You Come Again," but still, I don't think anyone was ready when she decided to release this disco number. Studio 54 seemed like a long way from Sevierville, Tennessee. But whaddaya know? Her rich voice singing about lust, over a throbbing beat and a horn-heavy arrangement, doesn't sound out of place at all. I'm not saying she could have been significant competition for Donna Summer had she continued in this direction, but of all the attempts by artists from other genres to "go disco," this is one of the least embarrassing.
Okay, now let's finish off '82.
20 - "Love is Alright Tonight," Rick Springfield
19 - "Mirror, Mirror," Diana Ross
18 - "Through the Years," Kenny Rogers
17 - "You Could Have Been With Me," Sheena Easton
16 - "Leather and Lace," Stevie Nicks with Don Henley
The second half kicks off with Rick Springfield's third Top 40 hit, a mediocre rocker about a guy insuring his girl (and her father) that he can love and provide for her. Nothing the least bit interesting about it.
Next is Miss Ross with a disco-funk-rock number about her odd, fairytale-esque relationship with a looking glass. At some point, she sings that the mirror "has nailed my heart upon the wall." Neat trick. But not much of a song.
Then it's Kenny Rogers with a goopy ballad about surviving the ups and downs of a relationship. He sings it fine, and I'm sure it's soundtracked many an anniversary party. But I don't care for it.
Sheena Easton is here with the title track to her second album. It's a ballad about a "strange and special one" who for some reason does not want to be with her, instead opting to remain "alone and lonely." Doesn't sound like a good idea, but actually, it comes off well. There's a restrained passion to Sheena's voice that works like a charm. Maybe her best early single.
This section closes with Stevie and Don, returning from last time with their tender fabric trade. It's still a nice listen.
15 - "Hooked on Classics," The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
14 - "Take it Easy on Me," The Little River Band
13 - "Waiting on a Friend," The Rolling Stones
12 - "Leader of the Band," Dan Fogelberg
11 - "Cool Night," Paul Davis
This quintet is led off by that classical bunch from London, taking the real oldies from the concert hall to the dance floor. The Carmen part is probably my favorite.
My buddies the Little River Band had their last U.S, Top Ten with this song about...who cares? I turned around a bit on Three Dog Night, but these guys aren't winning me over. I will not be taking it easy on them any time soon.
Next are the Stones with my favorite of their 80s singles, a lazily grooving midtempo tune about how when you get older, friendship is more important than chasing women. "A smile relieves a heart that grieves," Mick sings, while "making love and breaking hearts, it is a game for youth." While it turned out that Mr. Jagger's tomcatting days were, in reality, far from over, the song is still the epitome of laid-back cool.
Then it's MOR monster Dan Fogelberg's last Top Ten, a ballad he wrote thanking his bandleader father for giving him the gift of loving to play music. It's a very heartfelt tribute, in which Dan confesses that "my life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man." There's a sincerity and beauty to it that just makes it impossible to hate, and it was given an added poignancy when Lawrence Fogelberg died just six months after this countdown.
This group ends with Paul Davis, back again with his boring song in which he asks why all the flowers had to die. Maybe they just didn't want to listen to dull songs like this anymore.
Top Ten Go Boom!
10 - "Sweet Dreams," Air Supply
The Aussie duo continued their run of Top Fives with yet another big ballad. In this one, they say they want to "ride the skies" in their sleeping fantasies. It might be my favorite non-Steinman hit of theirs. It's not quite that bombastic, but it hints that such heights might be brought out of them someday.
9 - "Waiting for a Girl Like You," Foreigner
The boys are back with their song that hung on for a long time at #2 but never made it to the top. It probably should have made it. It's all right.
8 - "Physical," Olivia Newton-John
And here's ONJ with the ode to "exercise" that was mainly responsible for keeping those poor Foreigner guys off the top of the mountain. Oh Olivia, why were you so heartless and greedy? The ONJ of "Have You Never Been Mellow" would have stepped aside for at least one week to give Lou and co. a chance to rule. What happened to that girl?
7 - "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)," Juice Newton
Juice gushes about the man she loves. Meh, I like her uptempo stuff better.
6 - "Shake it Up," The Cars
The Boston New Wavers cracked the Top Ten for the first time with this burbly dance-rocker in which they encourage people to get out and express themselves. "Don't you worry about two left feet," Ric Ocasek sings. I'll try not to, Ric.
5 - "Turn Your Love Around," George Benson
George is back with one of his biggest non-threatening funk hits. The man can play guitar, but this stuff doesn't move me much.
4 - "Open Arms," Journey
The corporate-rock machine from Frisco had their biggest hit with this heart-on-sleeve ballad on which Steve Perry opens his voice up full-throttle and lays down a vocal that not even Mariah Carey could top when she covered this. One of the more effective power ballads out there.
3 - "Harden My Heart," Quarterflash
This Portland, Oregon band return with their biggest hit, a slick, cool midtempo ballad. It sounds similar to the stuff The Motels did, but better. Oh, and in reality, it was a buck-and-a-quarter Quarterflash, but they weren't telling us that.
2 - "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," Daryl Hall and John Oates
Daryl and John will do anything for love, but apparently, they won't to that. Where have I heard that before?
And at Number One 30 years ago, we find...
1 - "Centerfold," The J. Geils Band
Peter Wolf sees much more of an old classmate than he ever did in high school. I wonder if he ever did get together with her to watch her "take 'em off in private." Oh well, some mysteries aren't meant to be solved.
The NotCaseys this week were "Make a Move on Me" by Olivia Newton-John, "Juke Box Hero" by Foreigner, "(Oh) Pretty Woman" by Van Halen, and "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club. Casey began the show by playing the previous week's Top Two, which were identical to this week's. Later, he played Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" after telling the story of why Randy Bachman stutters on it. And there were two Long Distance Dedications. First, a woman dedicated Ronnie Milsap's "I Wouldn't Have Missed it For the World," to the memory of her first love, who'd recently been killed. Then, a Navy sailor stationed in the Phillipines sent The Supremes' "Back in My Arms Again" to the woman he was about to return home to marry after a long and difficult courtship, to say the least.
I'm not sure, but I might have been a little off this week. Sorry if that's the case. I think next week'll be pretty good, though, so join me then, if you like.
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