May 19, 1984 Part Two

Once again, I have to start with an R.I.P., this time to Robin Gibb.  Damn.


Before we resume our 1984 coverage, let's go back to May 21, 1977.  Stevie Wonder was on top with "Sir Duke."  The Top Ten also included "Dreams," "Gonna Fly Now," "Hotel California," and "Lucille."  Below that, there are only three newbies.  First are The Jacksons at #28 with their second post-Motown hit, the able disco track "Show You the Way to Go."  Solid, but not spectacular.  At #33, we find Bob Seger's second hit, a ballad on which the Styx of Detroit reminisces about lusting after an Ann Arbor, Michigan stripper.  At least that's what I've been able to deduce about "Mainstreet."  And lastly, and coming under my spotlight this week, we find...

39 - "Everybody be Dancin'," Starbuck
I'm assure like me, you assumed that these Atlantans only cracked the 40 once, with "Moonlight Feels Right."  Well, WRONG!  They managed to squeak out one more Top 40 with this song that.Al..sounds basically like a sped-up "Moonlight Feels Right."  Oh, and it namechecks The Rolling Stones.  So there.  They had TWO hits, and I insist that we all give them the respect that this accomplishment deserves.  Okay, "insist" is too strong a word.  Just go ahead and adjust your level of esteem towards them however you see fit.

All right, back to 1984.

20 - "Tonight," Kool and the Gang
19 - "I'll Wait," Van Halen
18 - "Dancin' in the Sheets," Shalamar
17 - "They Don't Know," Tracy Ullman
16 - "Sister Christian," Night Ranger

The second half opens with Kool and the Gang, returning from last time with their funky reminiscence of lost teenage innocence.  Again, above average for them in this decade.

Van Halen followed up the huge success of "Jump," with another synth-heavy rocker.  The music was co-written by Eddie and none other than Doobie Brothers de-clawer Michael McDonald.  You would think that would be death, but David Lee Roth saved it with a lyric inspired by an attractive lady in a Calvin Klein print ad.  Still, Roth at one point wanted it removed from the 1984 album.  And apprently, the group are having differences of opinion again, which is causing them to cut their tour short and "postpone" all the dates scheduled after the end of June.  I am shocked, shocked.

Next we have the only post-Jody Watley pop hit for Shalamar, a lust-drenched electro-funk tune from the ever-present Footloose soundtrack.  It's not bad, and probably my second-favorite hit from that record.

Then it's Tracy Ullman and her retro smash about a love that will not be dissuaded by friends' doubts.  If you'd told me I'd like it more now than I did then, I surely wouldn't have believed you.  But here we are.

This bunch closes with what would become Night Ranger's biggest hit, a ballad that drummer Kelly Keagy wrote as a way of advising his teenage sister Christy not to be in such a hurry to grow up.  But singer Jack Blades thought the lyric said "Christian" instead, so that stuck.  Anyway, it's slick and overwrought, but that's what provides it's enduring charm.  Along with trying to figure out what "Motorin', what's your price for flight?" means.

15 - "The Authority Song," John Cougar Mellencamp
14 - "The Longest Time," Billy Joel
13 - "Breakdance," Irene Cara
12 - "The Reflex," Duran Duran
11 - "Head Over Heels," The Go-Gos

Leading off this quintet is JCM with his ode to battling the powers that be.  Twenty years later, he'd write a song and pretty much instantly sold it as a jingle to a car company.  Oh well, these things happen.

Billy Joel also returns with his one-man stab at old-school a capella.  And it worked.  He was never cool, but he knew what sounded good on the radio.

Next is Irene Cara with her last major hit, a song about the then-rising style of hip-hop dancing that was at the time being chronicled in films like Breakin' and Krush Groove.  She didn't exactly sound in her element covering this subject, but she did all right.  And yes, back in the day, I laid down the cardboard a few times and tried a few moves.  I didn't injure myself, so I guess that's something.

Then it's Duran Duran with what would be their first American Number One.  It's their usual dancey, New Wavish pop, with lyrics about a child looking for treasure, selling expensive art, and of course, that unknown thing that one should use but try not to bruise.  Definitely in my Top 5 of theirs.

This group is anchored by The Go-Gos and their hit from last time.  I was effusive in my praise of it then, and nothing has changed.  Awesome.

Top Ten, assemble!

10 - "Footloose," Kenny Loggins
The smash title track from the movie about the town that outlawed dancing.  Silly fun from the Logginator.  Kick off those Sunday shoes already!

9 - "You Might Think," The Cars
Yes, Ric, I might think.  But then again, I might not.  I do, however, think this is a good song.  Happy?

8 - "Oh Sherrie," Steve Perry
The Journey frontman's biggest solo hit was this bombastically sung rock ballad about a love that "holds on" in spite of everything.  Not surprisingly, it was used in the hit jukebox musical Rock of Ages.  As was "Sister Christian."  This led to one of the main characters being named...wait for it...Sherrie Christian.  Outstanding.  And yeah, I'll probably go see the movie version when it comes out next month, in spite of my aversion to Tom Cruise.

7 - "Love Somebody," Rick Springfield
The rocker/soap star returns with his final Top Ten.  After this, he pushed it just a little too far.

6 - "Time After Time," Cyndi Lauper
The pop pixie from Queens followed up the sprightly "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" with a complete 180 in the form of this tender, mature ballad about pledging to always be there for someone even when distance and circumstance separates you.  A more-than-deserving #1, and certainly one of the standout ballads of the entire decade.

5 - "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
The Latin heartthrob and the country legend return with their odd coupling.  It didn't claim the Uneasy Rider last time, but it does on its second attempt.  And yes, I realize that I didn't give out the award last week.  Sometimes when there are no glaring candidates, it slips my mind.  And going back now, I can't even pick one.  Sorry.

4 - "Hold Me Now," The Thompson Twins
I like your song and all, guys, but no.  Maybe some other time.

3 - "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)," Phil Collins
Back from last time, even still in the same spot.  That's convenient.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say that his is Phil's best ballad.

2 - "Let's Hear it For the Boy," Deneice Williams
The woman born June Deneice Chandler had her only solo #1 with this okay bit of pop-funk about a man who lacks in money, style, eloquence, and singing ability, but is her "loving one-man show" regardless.  And yes, that makes four songs from Footloose on this week's chart.  That soundtrack was just ubiqitious.  But I must say, I don't think it's held up as well as the one from, say, Saturday Night Fever.

And at the top of pop 28 years ago was...

1 - "Hello," Lionel Richie
Indeed, it was this sweet ballad that pop fans were looking for at this time.  Not one of my favorites by any means, but there's no doubt that Lionel can sell a song.  Hell, he's currently selling many of his big hits all over again, in counrty form, on his recent smash album Tuskegee.

The NotCaseys this week were "Magic" by the Cars, "Dance Hall Days" by Wang Chung, "What is Love" by Howard Jones, and "Legs" by ZZ Top.  And Casey played two LDDs.  In the first, a teenage boy dedicated Van Halen's "Jump" to the friends he'd recently won a fifth-grade talent show with by lip-synching that song.  And in the second, a teenage girl dedicated Asia's "Only Time Will Tell" to the three brothers she'd been long separated from by family circumstances.

To my fellow Canadians, Happy Victoria Day.  And to everyone else, see you next week.