So, after ten chronological installments of the 1980s sets of “Who Sings It?,” this conclusion episode bounces around the decade:
Picking up a couple of dozen tracks that didn’t make earlier editions but needed conversion to digital for my iPod (the original reason for the compilations).
Many of these will resonate with the MTV Generation:
- Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit,”
- Bow Wow Wow’s “I Want Candy,”
Peter Schilling’s “Major Tom (Coming Home),”
- Golden Earring’s “Twilight Zone,”
Kajagoogoo’s “Too Shy,”
- And Thomas Dolby’s “She Blinded Me With Science.”
Others exploded on TV or film soundtracks:-
- John Parr’s “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion),”
- Jan Hammer’s “ ‘Miami Vice’ Theme,”
- Harold Faltermeyer’s “Axel F.”
And then there are the tracks that just scream “‘80s:”
- Buckner and Garcia’s “Pac-Man Fever,”
Stars on 45’s “Abba Medley,” “
Run DMC’s “Walk This Way”
and Sheriff’s “When I’m With You.”
Ohio native Jermaine Stewart went Top 10 in 1986 with “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off…”
… the same year that Nick Heyward’s “Over the Weekend” appeared on the soundtrack of the movie Nothing in Common, starring Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason.
Martin Briley’s sole Top 40 hit, from 1983, brought the immortal kiss-off, “I won’t cry for all The Salt In My Tears.”
Six years later, Texas’ “I Don’t Want a Lover” featured a bridge with lyrics just as powerful:
“You don’t even care about what I’m saying/You don’t even think what you’re doing/All you see is what you want it to be/But in there there’s just no room for me.”
The Texas track is one of five from late 1989, lopped off a set from 1989-90,” Because somewhere down the line, we’ll take a spin through the “Who sings it?” collection from the ’90s.
We’ll finish this set – and the series, with another great forgotten track:
“The Way to Your Heart” by the Belgian group Soulsister.
It was another song that just missed American Top 40 by peaking in Billboard at No. 41. But Casey Kasem counted it down on his Casey’s Top 40 because that countdown show used Radio and Records’ charts.
That’s where “The Way to Your Heart” eventually peaked at No. 33.
Of this set, the only one not available on Spotify is Bob and Doug McKenzie’s (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas’) “Take Off.”
It’s available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jm4LoOaAWI.
Here’s the Spotify link for the rest of this set:
Which ones do you like? Hate? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Here’s the Spotify link for the rest of this set:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1JJu5Kcpg1CL4uTj4zzjHC?si=4b72cf45a761433c
Thanks, Chuck for helping with the back up on the link. I was having trouble getting it to render last night, but looks like all is well.
And thanks for a great series! A ton of amazing research along with lots of surprises. No pressure… But looking forward to the 90s Reboot!
I knew 18 of these, and of those, most of the artists. Just watched Nothing in Common recently but don’t remember the song. It’s an underrated film and Tom Hanks really showed he had acting depth beyond his Bosom Buddies beginnings.
Thanks, rb. I purchased the “Nothing in Common” soundtrack not long after seeing the movie in theaters because it featured Carly Simon’s “If It Wasn’t Love at All,” a song that was unavailable elsewhere. I wound up liking “Over the Weekend” as much.
Nice job, Chuck. I didn’t recognize all of these by name, but I knew them when I heard them. The only exception is the Kevin Paige song. I’m not sure if I’ve heard that before or not.
But man, “Genius Of Love,” “I Want Candy,” “She Blinded Me With Science,” and “Walk This Way,” these are my jams.
I have a question about Young MC. He had that monster album, “Stone Cold Rhymin’,” with “Bust A Move” and “Principal’s Office” and then seemingly disappeared. Wikipedia tells me he released seven more albums and even put out a single in 2021, but even in the early 90s there were tons of copies of “Stone Cold Rhymin'” in used record stores. Did the advent of Gangsta Rap turn the tide against him?
I suspect so — within a few years, there were far fewer “Bust a Move”/”Wild Thing”/”The Humpty Dance” goofy/almost novelty rap songs amid the rise of gangsta rap. But I’ll readily admit this is not my wheelhouse, so someone more qualified to tackle it can add more.
There’s 16 I recognise this week. Some great songs in Genuis Of Love, Walk This Way, Major Tom and In A Big Country.
Didn’t recognise the Spandau Ballet song til I played it. Despite having 10 UK top 10 hits everything is overshadowed by True and Gold. Which brings the surprising realisation that despite it being the Olympics I haven’t yet heard Gold played on any of the coverage. Perhaps it’s finally had its day. Their first hit To Cut A Long Story Short is the best. They looked suitably out there in their New Romantic stylings and there was a bit of edge to the music. By True and Gold it was glossy style as much as substance.
Golden Earring were a one hit wonder here for Radar Love in 1973 so seeing them with another big hit a decade later is a big surprise. Looking at their discography and they had 29 Dutch top 10s between 1965 and 2005. This title jumped right out; Dong-Dong-Di-Ki-Di-Gi-Dong. Which is surprisingly performed in English.
https://youtu.be/ktI1iAqXxuc?si=04IfEkHlbMKN3heP
I wasn’t a fan of “Radar Love” when it was a hit but became so in retrospect. On the other hand, I jumped on “Twilight Zone” the first time I heard it, and it’s still a song I crank up whenever I’m driving and it’s on (via CD).
I once won a trivia competition for our team by knowing a bit of Golden Earring trivia. “Radar Love” was featured on the world’s first postage stamp with sound. You could scan the stamp with your phone, and it played the song.
Knew the Song and Artist:
Genius of Love, I Want Candy, Too Shy, She Blinded Me With Science, Major Tom, Let the Music Play, Rockit, Miami Vice Theme, In a Big Country, Bust a Move, Walk This Way
Knew the Song:
Axel F, St Elmo’s Fire
A much better showing on my part compared to other chapters. I think I will know a lot more of the 90s obscurities. I guess we’ll have to see!! Thanks Chuck!
I knew 18 songs and I think I knew all 18 artists…I mean I used to know that “Pac Man Fever” was done by Buckner and Garcia…
This list hits my sweet spot as I still listen to several of them often including In A Big Country, Genius of Love, Rockit, Major Tom, and Walk This Way.
I remember watching Bob and Doug McKenzie do their thing on SCTV late Friday nights. Here is their “12 Days of Christmas”.
https://youtu.be/1DTwLqR071M?si=UNcFDL516Fjd1OzD
Pac Man Fever is the most 80s song there is, even ranking ahead of that Killing Joke song
Being a true child of MTV, I knew 16 artist-song combinations and 17 songs (didn’t remember who sang Pac Man Fever). Chock full of highlights too… the iconic (and oft-sampled) Tom Tom Club, Peter Schilling, Big Country, Shannon and Jermaine Stewart are all 10’s.
Beavis and Butthead pondered if Big Country’s video was an Irish Spring commercial:
https://youtu.be/ZSXEZe7tRuw?si=mtSyao1pjkln1TLv
Thank you Chuck!!! This series was awesome, lots of nostalgia and a bit of new (to me anyway) music to explore. Bravo Zulu Raleigh brother!