August 15, 1987

This week we go back 25 years, to the day after the first Aeropostale clothing store opened.  I've never worn any of their clothing, and I doubt I ever will.  Thought you'd like to know.  Anyway, once again, we've got a lot of repeaters, so it's just one entry this week, starting with 40-11, new stuff in bold.

40 - "One Heartbeat," Smokey Robinson
39 - "I Need Love," L.L. Cool J.
38 - "Who Found Who," Jellybean
37 - "Jam Tonight," Freddie Jackson
36 - "I Heard a Rumour," Bananarama
35 - "Lies," Jonathan Butler
34 - "Kiss Him Goodbye," The Nylons
33 - "Mary's Prayer," Danny Wilson
32 - "Touch of Grey," The Grateful Dead
31 - "Since You've Been Gone," The Outfield
30 - "Wipe Out," The Fat Boys with The Beach Boys
29 - "I'd Still Say Yes," Klymaxx
28 - "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)," Whitney Houston
27 - "Give to Live," Sammy Hagar
26 - "Here I Go Again," Whitesnake
25 - "Didn't We Almost Have it All," Whitney Houston
24 - "When Smokey Sings," ABC
23 - "Doing it All for My Baby," Huey Lewis and the News
22 - "Living in a Box," Living in a Box
21 - "The Pleasure Principle," Janet Jackson
20 - "Can't We Try," Dan Hill and Vonda Sheppard
19 - "Seven Wonders," Fleetwood Mac
18 - "Wot's It to Ya," Robbie Nevil
17 - "Alone," Heart
16 - "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett
15 - "Love Power," Dionne Warwick and Jeffrey Osborne
14 - "It's Not Over ('Til it's Over)," Starship
13 - "Back in the High Life Again," Steve Winwood
12 - "Shakedown," Bob Seger
11 - "Rock Steady," The Whispers

Eleven newcomers in this bunch. Let's break 'em down.

We'll star with the R&B.  Freddie Jackson had his last pop Top 40 with this midtemp tune on which he seems to be asking someone to dance with him, but I think the "jamming" he wants to do might involve more than that.  But that's between him and whoever he's asking.  South African soul/jazz guitarist Jonathan Butler is here with his one and only American pop hit, a springy number about falsehoods and their effect on romantic relationship.  An okay song, but his rise to stardom out of a country still under apartheid rule is obviousyly inspirational.  And Dionne Warwick and Jeffrey Osborne are here with the meh ballad duet that would be the last pop hit for both of them.  What is notable about it is that the fist line Dionne sings is "Saw a psychic in L.A."  Did she know something even then?    She probably did.

Next we go to the British groups.  Scotland's Danny Wilson were a trio who named themselves after the title character in a 1952 Frank Sinatra movie.  Their only U.S. hit was this catchy-yet-mournful pop ditty about watching a lover you let slip away go on to someone better, and being genuinely happy for them yet still regretful and wondering "what if?"  At least that's my interpretation.  Regardless, it's an underrated gem, and might slip somewhere onto my Top 100 of the decade.  England's The Outfield are here with their third hit, a middling rocker about missing someone.  Nowhere near as good as "Your Love," and it was also eclipsed nearly two decades later by another song with the same title by a certain TV talent contest winner.  Sorry, The Outfield, but pop culture has so moved on from you.  And Sheffield's Living in a Box are here with their self-titled debut single from their self -titled debut album.  It's a funky bit of synthpop about feeling closed in.  They're kind of like a slightly noisier version of ABC, and that's a good thing.

Then we have three solo men.  Sammy Hagar had his last solo hit, and his only one after joining Van Halen, with this earnest ballad about perserverance and stuff.  Not much to it, but apparently, Sammy doesn't believe in that "No man is an island." stuff.  To him, "each man's a country in his own right."  Okay.  On an unrelated note, I'd like to declare my intention to participate in the next Olympics under my own flag.  In every sport.  I may finish last in all of them, but I guarantee my synchronized swimming routine will blow you away.  Robbie Nevil had his second and last Top Ten with this reggaeish kiss-off to a lover he once would have given anything to have back, but now that she wants to do so, she's a day late and a dollar short, as the kids don't say.  I wasn't that familiar with this one, but it's very good, and a worthy hit.  And that harmonica coming in in the middle was a cool little surprise.  And Steve Winwood is here with the fourth hit and title track from his most successful album, a bit of optimism about getting back into life and having fun again after a dark period.  I can relate.  It's probably his best hit.

We'll finish off the newbies with two American-based bands.  Fleetwood Mac are here with a sparkly, Stevie Nicks-sung song about how a brief fling can be the most meaningful and wonderful experience of one's life.  I'm not so sure about that, but then again, I don't know much about such things.  No matter, very good stuff.  And Starship had their last Top Ten with a slick-but-forgettable pop-rocker whose Yogi Berra-derived title might be the least cliched lyric in it.  Just crap.

Birthday party, Top Ten, jellybeans, boom!

10 - "Rhythm is Gonna Get You," Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
It just might, Gloria.  It just might.  And I don't think I'll mind.

9 - "Only in My Dreams," Debbie Gibson
The crown jewel of the late-80s teen-girl pop wars.  I'm pretty sure all of Debbie's hits are better than anything Tiffany charted with.  Okay, maybe "Electric Youth" might lose out to "Could've Been."  Barely.  But that's it.

8 - "Cross My Broken Heart," The Jets
Those Wolfgramm kids are here with an okay dance number from the Beverly Hills Cop II soundtrack.  Not my thing, but clearly well put-together.  I appreciate craftsmanship.

7 - "Don't Mean Nothing," Richard Marx
"It's easy to get stuck in all that California snow," he sings.  What snow?  It's Los Angeles.  That doesn't make sense...wait, he means like "snow job."  Ahhh.  Clever, Richie-me-boy.

6 - "Heart and Soul," T'Pau
Again, this song is great.  Effortlessly earwormy.  Another Top 100 contender.

5 - "La Bamba," Los Lobos
I think it's kind of a shame that these guys never had a hit that wasn't a Richie Valens cover.   But I have a feeling that this bothers me than it does anyone in the band.  Good for them.

4 - "Luka," Suzanne Vega
The California folksinger had her first major hit with this tale of an abused child.  The song itself sounds catchy and summery, but it's a delivery system for a serious message.  And it works perfectly.  But the subject matter was atypical for pop radio at the time, and that makes it this week's Uneasy Rider.

3 - "I Want Your Sex," George Michael
Wow, this song was so controversial at the time that on this week's show, Casey dared not speak its name.  That's crazy.

2 - "Who's That Girl," Madonna
The song was a smash.  The movie...wasn't.  But at least the director went on to make Glengarry Glen Ross.  Great film.  But poor Jack Lemmon.

And topping the charts 25 years ago was...

1 - "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," U2
'The Irish megaband's second and last U.S.#1.  I swear, if for some reason I'm ever face to face with Bono, the first thing I'm going to say to him is "Found it yet?"  I figure he'll either laugh or punch me in the face.  Either way, it'd be worth it.

This week's NotCaseys were "Oh Yeah," by Yello, "U Got the Look" by Prince, "Carrie" by Europe, and "Who Will You Run To" by Heart.  And there were two LDDs.  First, a woman dedicated Club Nouveau's "Lean on Me," to the people at a rehab facility who helped her get over her addictions.  And later, a man had Casey play a live version of Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds," and dedicated it to all of The King's fans on the tenth anniverary of his death.  (This was the same version Casey played on the countdown shortly after he died.)

And the only newbie from this week's 70s show is "Springtime Mama" by Henry Gross.  It's better than "Shannon." 

Yes, it's been over two years I've been doing this now, but I can tell you I'm going to be back with an 80s recap for at least one more week.  After that, it's up in the air.  I'm still going to be here talking about music and stuff for at least a little while longer, if all goes to plan.  But there will be some different stuff coming up.  Just giving you the heads up.  Thanks.