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Post by Dawn on Jun 20, 2003 7:06:44 GMT -5
These were the songs that occupied the top 10 spots on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart on June 20, 1981.
10. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
9. You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
8. America – Neil Diamond
7. The One That You Love – Air Supply
6. Being With You – Smokey Robinson
5. All Those Years Ago – George Harrison
4. A Woman Needs Love – Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio
3. Sukiyaki – A Taste of Honey
2. Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
1. Stars on 45 Medley – Stars on 45
Any thoughts or memories of these songs?
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Jun 20, 2003 8:24:09 GMT -5
Hey Dawn!
There's one of my all time faves and several other good songs on the chart today. -- Wait a minute. It's an 80s chart. This can't be happening! ;D
I love Bette Davis Eyes. I think it's mainly Kim's raspy voice. It's also generally a good tune with clever lyrics.
Harrison's All Those Years Ago is a very good song also. The style is remeniscent of the late Beatles and early Harrison solo years - which I think is intentional in the message he is trying to convey. It makes me feel nostalgic whenever I hear it.
-- and Smokey, is just - Smokey. He never misses. I can't think of any song of his that I don't like.
I also give plusses to Jessie's Girl (probably Springfield's best), You Make My Dreams (good, solid song), The One That You Love (Air Supply - one of my guilty pleasures - as we used to say on YL), and A Woman Needs Love (always liked this one).
That leaves:
America - not all that bad. I liked the version from the Jazz Singer (although the movie itself is not as good as the original). In general, though, I like earlier rather than later Neil.
Sukiyaki - A weak cover -- and the original was not all that great to begin with -- it made most of its popularity because it was a curiosity.
Stars on 45 - I couldn't even tell you which songs are on it, except I remember that it started with a few non-Beatles tunes and then ended with a whole bunch of Beatles, which made me question the song selection. (It should be a general medley or a Beatles medley, but why a nearly Beatles Medley?) Major claim to fame may be that it has the longest overall title (counting paranthetical parts) of any song to hit #1.
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Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Jun 20, 2003 10:08:41 GMT -5
I remember my dad buying the Stars on 45 single. That was actually where I learned No Reply! LOL! I eventually found that album on tape.
Don't know America really or Taste of Honey's take on Sukiyaki and I'm not sure about A Woman Needs Love.
The real winners here are You Make My Dreams (as corny as it is-even moreso the video!) and All Those Years Ago. That is definitely my fave George song, and I made a video tribute to my dad on his 50th with that song.
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Post by 55dodger on Jun 20, 2003 10:26:36 GMT -5
Hi Dawn
Not a bad chart.
The best songs would be You Make my Dreams, America, All Those Years Ago, & Bette Davis Eyes. Really like these songs.
Others that were good songs were Jessie's Girl & The One that You Love
I'm not really familiar with A Woman Needs Love & Sukiyaki.
As for Smokey, I prefer his early stuff (with Miracles) to the music he put out after about 1974.
As for Stars on 45, this was a fad that hard not to get caught up in. The songs were fun (if long) and a different twist to the dying (or dead) disco sound. Even I got one of the albums and have other songs on cassettes somewhere. But like all fads, I got tired it real quick. It was fun while it lasted but was glad when it was over.
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Post by Ken on Jun 20, 2003 11:50:50 GMT -5
Hi Dawn:)
Great Top 10 list
I remember seeing Rick perform Jessie's Girl on The Merv Griffin Show , of course I heard it many times on the radio - still sounds great today.
You Make My Dreams - This has always been one of faves from H & O . I don't recall seeing the video at the time.
America - One of my faves from Neil
Being With You - Heard this lots at the time - his best solo hit IMO. I enjoyed his work with The Miracles alot more.
All Those Years Ago - A great tribute . Originally he wrote this to give to Ringo but after the tragic loss he re-wrote the tune for John. I bought the single as soon as it came out.
Sukiyaki - I remember this well !
Bette Davis Eyes - This was huge! - a great tune from Kim.
Stars on 45 - I bought the 45 and my middle brother bought the album . I liked it! - I found the album a couple of years ago.
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Post by 70sChild on Jun 20, 2003 17:54:41 GMT -5
Summer of 1981. Wow! I just finished my freshman year of high school. My favorite on that list is "Jessie's Girl" of course. The rest of the songs are okay. I wasn't too thrilled about the direction music was going with so many "soft pop" songs. I guess I just missed the 70's.
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Post by Dawn on Jun 20, 2003 19:01:59 GMT -5
Hey Dawn! There's one of my all time faves and several other good songs on the chart today. -- Wait a minute. It's an 80s chart. This can't be happening! ;D I love Bette Davis Eyes. I think it's mainly Kim's raspy voice. It's also generally a good tune with clever lyrics. Harrison's All Those Years Ago is a very good song also. The style is remeniscent of the late Beatles and early Harrison solo years - which I think is intentional in the message he is trying to convey. It makes me feel nostalgic whenever I hear it. -- and Smokey, is just - Smokey. He never misses. I can't think of any song of his that I don't like. I also give plusses to Jessie's Girl (probably Springfield's best), You Make My Dreams (good, solid song), The One That You Love (Air Supply - one of my guilty pleasures - as we used to say on YL), and A Woman Needs Love (always liked this one). That leaves: America - not all that bad. I liked the version from the Jazz Singer (although the movie itself is not as good as the original). In general, though, I like earlier rather than later Neil. Sukiyaki - A weak cover -- and the original was not all that great to begin with -- it made most of its popularity because it was a curiosity. Stars on 45 - I couldn't even tell you which songs are on it, except I remember that it started with a few non-Beatles tunes and then ended with a whole bunch of Beatles, which made me question the song selection. (It should be a general medley or a Beatles medley, but why a nearly Beatles Medley?) Major claim to fame may be that it has the longest overall title (counting paranthetical parts) of any song to hit #1. Hey H2! LOL about the 80's chart!  ;D I completely agree with you about 'All Those Years Ago'. It does have that Beatle-esque quality to it. What a wonderful tribute to John! You know, I have often wondered that myself about the choice of songs for 'Stars on 45' - it does seem odd that it's all Beatles covers except for just 2 songs. I remember reading that some legal problems resulted from using 'Venus' and 'Sugar Sugar', so they would probably have been better off sticking strictly to the Beatles catalog. The full title of the song is 'Medley: Intro Venus/Sugar Sugar/No Reply/I'll Be Back/Drive My Car/Do You Want To Know a Secret/We Can Work It Out/I Should Have Known Better/Nowhere Man/You're Going To Lose That Girl/Stars on 45'. Whew! LOL! |
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Post by Dawn on Jun 20, 2003 19:39:10 GMT -5
I remember my dad buying the Stars on 45 single. That was actually where I learned No Reply! LOL! I eventually found that album on tape. Don't know America really or Taste of Honey's take on Sukiyaki and I'm not sure about A Woman Needs Love. The real winners here are You Make My Dreams (as corny as it is-even moreso the video!) and All Those Years Ago. That is definitely my fave George song, and I made a video tribute to my dad on his 50th with that song. This version of 'Sukiyaki' is a slow ballad, very different from the original single. The lyrics and melody are kind of sad, but I've always liked it. 'All Those Years Ago' is such a great song, and a perfect choice for a tribute video!  It really has a nostalgic quality to it. |
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Post by Dawn on Jun 20, 2003 19:45:51 GMT -5
Hi Dawn Not a bad chart. The best songs would be You Make my Dreams, America, All Those Years Ago, & Bette Davis Eyes. Really like these songs. Others that were good songs were Jessie's Girl & The One that You Love I'm not really familiar with A Woman Needs Love & Sukiyaki. As for Smokey, I prefer his early stuff (with Miracles) to the music he put out after about 1974. As for Stars on 45, this was a fad that hard not to get caught up in. The songs were fun (if long) and a different twist to the dying (or dead) disco sound. Even I got one of the albums and have other songs on cassettes somewhere. But like all fads, I got tired it real quick. It was fun while it lasted but was glad when it was over. Hi dodger! I remember seeing some of the Stars on 45 LPs in a secondhand store at one time. I didn't buy them, and now I wish I would have. That was a fun fad, but as you say, it did get a little old after awhile. I do still enjoy this song, though. |
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Post by Dawn on Jun 20, 2003 19:54:11 GMT -5
Hi Dawn:) Great Top 10 list I remember seeing Rick perform Jessie's Girl on The Merv Griffin Show , of course I heard it many times on the radio - still sounds great today. You Make My Dreams - This has always been one of faves from H & O . I don't recall seeing the video at the time. America - One of my faves from Neil Being With You - Heard this lots at the time - his best solo hit IMO. I enjoyed his work with The Miracles alot more. All Those Years Ago - A great tribute . Originally he wrote this to give to Ringo but after the tragic loss he re-wrote the tune for John. I bought the single as soon as it came out. Sukiyaki - I remember this well ! Bette Davis Eyes - This was huge! - a great tune from Kim. Stars on 45 - I bought the 45 and my middle brother bought the album . I liked it! - I found the album a couple of years ago. Hi Ken! 'Jessie's Girl' was huge back then! I remember my cousins and I used to call the local top 40 radio station and request it, even though they did play it quite often. Great song - I love Rick's music! I completely agree with you about 'Being With You' being Smokey's best solo song. I enjoy his solo work, but like you, I probably lean more toward his material with The Miracles. |
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Post by Dawn on Jun 20, 2003 19:57:20 GMT -5
Summer of 1981. Wow! I just finished my freshman year of high school. My favorite on that list is "Jessie's Girl" of course. The rest of the songs are okay. I wasn't too thrilled about the direction music was going with so many "soft pop" songs. I guess I just missed the 70's. I like most of the songs from this era, but I can see where you're coming from. There was something special about the music that came out during the 70's. |
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Post by heyabbott on Jun 20, 2003 21:57:42 GMT -5
Summer of 81 - I had just finished my last year of high school and was celebrating my freedom from academic pursuits (at least for a while).
Jessie's Girl - I had just started watching General Hospital and thought Rick Springfield was reaaally cute (remember I was about 17 at the time)
You Make My Dreams - one of the Hall & Oates songs that I still like
America - not bad but not my fave of Neil's work.
The One that you love - I liked Air Supply then, and I still like them.
Being with you - loved Smokey's smooth vocals.
All those Years ago - In my opinion, one of George's best, definitely a sing along when it is on the radio.
A Woman needs love - don't really remember this one.
Sukyaki - I liked the song then, but can't really listen to it now. Didn't they win the Grammy for Best New Artist that year?
Bette Davis Eyes - liked Kim's smoky vocals on this, but as a friend of mine used to say "why would you want Bette Davis's eyes anyway?"
Stars on 45 - Eeeewwwwww!!!!!!
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Kat
Full Member
Posts: 191
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Post by Kat on Jun 20, 2003 23:50:46 GMT -5
Jessie's Girl, Bette Davis Eyes, You Make My Dreams Come True, America, Stars on 45 - My very favorites! America.. what a great song! Neil Diamond still rocks.
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Post by kathyb on Jun 21, 2003 1:18:19 GMT -5
I graduated high school in '81. I guess this is the music I was listening to back then. Jessie's Girl--Good song from him. You Make My Dreams--Love this one from Hall & Oates. America--My mom's a big Neil Diamond fan, so I heard this more than I needed to back then. LOL! The One That You Love--Pretty good song, considering it's Air Supply. ;D Being With You--It's ok. Nuttin' special, imo. All Those Years Ago--Absolutely love it! A Woman Needs Love--Sappy and hokey. Never liked it much. Sukiyaki--Haven't heard it for years. I remember liking it though. Bette Davis Eyes--Oh yeah! Great song! Unique and different. Kim Carnes--liked her a lot. Stars on 45--Have to admit I sang to this one all the time when I heard it. I have the record somewhere in my collection. |
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Post by Dawn on Jun 21, 2003 6:47:52 GMT -5
Summer of 81 - I had just finished my last year of high school and was celebrating my freedom from academic pursuits (at least for a while). Jessie's Girl - I had just started watching General Hospital and thought Rick Springfield was reaaally cute (remember I was about 17 at the time) You Make My Dreams - one of the Hall & Oates songs that I still like America - not bad but not my fave of Neil's work. The One that you love - I liked Air Supply then, and I still like them. Being with you - loved Smokey's smooth vocals. All those Years ago - In my opinion, one of George's best, definitely a sing along when it is on the radio. A Woman needs love - don't really remember this one. Sukyaki - I liked the song then, but can't really listen to it now. Didn't they win the Grammy for Best New Artist that year? Bette Davis Eyes - liked Kim's smoky vocals on this, but as a friend of mine used to say "why would you want Bette Davis's eyes anyway?" Stars on 45 - Eeeewwwwww!!!!!! I'm totally in agreement with you about Rick Springfield. He was definitely a treat for the eyes! A Taste of Honey did win a Grammy for Best New Artist, but it was for 1978, when 'Boogie Oogie Oogie' was released. I remember wondering that myself about Bette Davis' eyes! |
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;D
It really has a nostalgic quality to it.
