5 "Lost" Hits From...1981

[Dawn]

As with 1980, there were a lot of singles released in 1981 that haven’t received much airplay since their initial chart run. Let’s take a look at 5 of them. Anyone remember these?

1. Nobody Wins – Elton John (Billboard #21)

This song was released during a time when Elton wasn’t experiencing much top 40 chart success, and has been very overlooked over the years. Despite being a top 30 hit, it hasn’t been included on his latest hits compilation - Greatest Hits 1970-2002, or his Greatest Hits Volume 3 (1979-87). It’s always been one of my favorites of his, though. It first appeared in the Billboard top 40 on May 30, 1981, and is from his album The Fox: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002OJ3/qid=1060087182/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-0246989-1917503?v=glance&s=music.


2. Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love) – Marty Balin (Billboard #27)

This was the follow-up single to Marty’s top 10 chart hit ‘Hearts’, and has the same great mellow pop/rock sound of that song and the Jefferson Starship hits from the mid-to-late 70’s. It first appeared in the top 40 on October 10, 1981, almost 4 months after ‘Hearts’ made its chart debut. It was included on Marty’s greatest hits CD Balince, which unfortunately is out of print, but here is the link to a clip of a rerecording done by Marty in 1999: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000046S3P/qid=1060087718/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/104-0246989-1917503?v=glance&s=music.


3. Staying With It – Firefall (Billboard #37)

This excellent tune first charted in the top 40 on February 28, 1981. It was the final top 40 hit for Firefall, and is probably their least remembered single today. I’ve often wondered why this song didn’t chart higher than it did. It’s available on several of their hits compilations, including Rhino’s Firefall Greatest Hits: www.mymusic.com/product.asp?curr=0&myptr=addany&muzenbr=102060.


4. Love You Like I Never Loved Before – John O’Banion (Billboard #24)

This one has been a big favorite of mine ever since I first heard it back in the day. It was John’s only top 40 hit, and made its first appearance there on April 18, 1981. It was included on Rhino’s Radio Daze: Pop Hits of the 80’s - Vol. 5, now out of print.

5. Really Wanna Know You – Gary Wright (Billboard #16)

This was Gary’s third and last appearance in the upper tier of the charts, entering the top 40 on August 1, 1981. Despite the popularity of his two other singles, this song has never really found a home on either soft rock or classic rock stations. A shame, because it’s a terrific song, with superb keyboard work from Gary. Here is the link to a clip, from his Essentials CD: www.mymusic.com/product.asp?curr=0&myptr=addany&muzenbr=480913.

[Ken]

Wow I only remember two.


Really Want To Know You - I loved this so much at the time and could never find the 45 . It was played quite often in my area and it wasn't until the early 90's(!) that I found a copy of the LP ( I've never listened to the whole album) I recently included it on a mix CD. It would be perfect on any 80's or soft rock station.


Staying With It - I love that Rhino collection I've had mine for a long time now. I totally agree Dawn , this should have at least been Top 20 easy.


Atlanta Lady - an excellent track


I probably know the John O' Banion but i'd have to hear it.

[Boogieman]

1. Nobody Wins - Elton John
I remember this one well. It's true that Elton seemed to struggle in the early eighties to regain some measure of his previous chart success. His last single before this, Sartorial Eloquence (Don't You Want To Play) barely cracked the Top 40 and is a really good, forgotten song too. I didn't really like this one though. It foreshadowed his 80's style, sounding much like his tracks from 1983's "Too Low For Zero".

2. Atlanta Lady - Marty Balin
Got a lot of airplay here in Atlanta, imagine that . Nice ballad following on the heels of the top ten smash "Hearts". I've always thought Marty had a wonderful voice and this song is highly overlooked. The regional appeal simply didn't cross over nationwide.

3. Staying With It - Firefall
Wow! This is what I call a blast from the past. I loved this song and of course it just quit receiving airplay one day in the summer of '81, never to be heard again. As good if not better than their late 70's Top Tens in my opinion. Liked the female backing vocals here.

4. Love You Like I've Never Loved Before - John O'Banion
Remember the artist because of the uncommon surname. Don't remember the song at all...

5. I Really Want To Know You - Gary Wright
Didn't like this one. Tended to change the station when it came on. "Dream Weaver" it was not.

[Pete70s]

I have all of these, they're all good, but the one I want to comment on is "Really Wanna Know You". I LOVE this song, the synth intro, the bass, the overall feel of the song. great one!

[Dawn]

KenFrank said:

Wow I only remember two.


Really Want To Know You - I loved this so much at the time and could never find the 45 . It was played quite often in my area and it wasn't until the early 90's(!) that I found a copy of the LP ( I've never listened to the whole album) I recently included it on a mix CD. It would be perfect on any 80's or soft rock station.


Staying With It - I love that Rhino collection I've had mine for a long time now. I totally agree Dawn , this should have at least been Top 20 easy.


Atlanta Lady - an excellent track


I probably know the John O' Banion but i'd have to hear it.

Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a copy of the 45 of 'Really Wanna Know You', even at the record fairs I used to go to years ago - it must be fairly hard to find. I have it on a K-tel album called Dimensions, but would like to get that Essentials CD someday.

Ken, I did a Google search, and came up with a complete clip for 'Love You Like I Never Loved Before', on a website called "Crap From the Past": www.crapfromthepast.com/playlists/wrur2.htm. It's the second song on the May 22, 1996 show, and it starts a little under 3 minutes into the program. Let me know what you think!

[Dawn]

Boogieman said:

1. Nobody Wins - Elton John
I remember this one well. It's true that Elton seemed to struggle in the early eighties to regain some measure of his previous chart success. His last single before this, Sartorial Eloquence (Don't You Want To Play) barely cracked the Top 40 and is a really good, forgotten song too. I didn't really like this one though. It foreshadowed his 80's style, sounding much like his tracks from 1983's "Too Low For Zero".

2. Atlanta Lady - Marty Balin
Got a lot of airplay here in Atlanta, imagine that . Nice ballad following on the heels of the top ten smash "Hearts". I've always thought Marty had a wonderful voice and this song is highly overlooked. The regional appeal simply didn't cross over nationwide.

3. Staying With It - Firefall
Wow! This is what I call a blast from the past. I loved this song and of course it just quit receiving airplay one day in the summer of '81, never to be heard again. As good if not better than their late 70's Top Tens in my opinion. Liked the female backing vocals here.

4. Love You Like I've Never Loved Before - John O'Banion
Remember the artist because of the uncommon surname. Don't remember the song at all...

5. I Really Want To Know You - Gary Wright
Didn't like this one. Tended to change the station when it came on. "Dream Weaver" it was not.

You're absolutely right about 'Sartorial Eloquence', Boogie - I don't think I've heard it since 1980! The late 70's - early 80's was not his most consistent period, but he still had some good songs from that time, including that one.

I agree about 'Atlanta Lady' - it's a shame it wasn't more successful on the charts. I imagine it was pretty popular there, though!

You might want to check out the link I gave in my reply to Ken - there's a full-length clip of the John O'Banion song on the site. The announcer likened his style to Hall & Oates, which is a pretty accurate comparison. Great song!

[Dawn]

Pete70s said:

I have all of these, they're all good, but the one I want to comment on is "Really Wanna Know You". I LOVE this song, the synth intro, the bass, the overall feel of the song. great one!

Oh, I agree, Pete. When I was double-checking the links to the clips for this post, I kept playing the 'Really Wanna Know You' one over and over! Everything comes together so well in that song.

[Railyn]

I actually know one! I never knew that was Gary Wright on that song. I love that song! I'm pretty sure that Ultimate80s.com plays that one.

[Ken]

Dawn said:

Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a copy of the 45 of 'Really Wanna Know You', even at the record fairs I used to go to years ago - it must be fairly hard to find. I have it on a K-tel album called Dimensions, but would like to get that Essentials CD someday.

Ken, I did a Google search, and came up with a complete clip for 'Love You Like I Never Loved Before', on a website called "Crap From the Past": www.crapfromthepast.com/playlists/wrur2.htm. It's the second song on the May 22, 1996 show, and it starts a little under 3 minutes into the program. Let me know what you think!

Oh cool - I love Crap From The Past:) Thanks Dawn - I will let you know

[kathyb]

I graduated from high school in 1981. I guess I was too busy partying back then to take notice of these songs, cuz I only remember the Gary Wright tune. LOL!

[Ken]

Dawn said:

Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a copy of the 45 of 'Really Wanna Know You', even at the record fairs I used to go to years ago - it must be fairly hard to find. I have it on a K-tel album called Dimensions, but would like to get that Essentials CD someday.

Ken, I did a Google search, and came up with a complete clip for 'Love You Like I Never Loved Before', on a website called "Crap From the Past": www.crapfromthepast.com/playlists/wrur2.htm. It's the second song on the May 22, 1996 show, and it starts a little under 3 minutes into the program. Let me know what you think!

Good song! I don't remember hearing it before, not only does it remind me of Hall and Oates but Huey Lewis' If This is It also comes to mind.

[H2IZCOOL]

Hey Dawn!

This time I remember two.

Nobody Wins I remember fairly well, but never really cared that much for it.

Really Wanna Know You - Had to listen to the clip to refresh my memory - but sure, I remember it now. It's pretty good, but I like Love Is Alive a lot better.

[Dawn]

Railyn said:

I actually know one! I never knew that was Gary Wright on that song. I love that song! I'm pretty sure that Ultimate80s.com plays that one.

I really need to check out that Ultimate80s.com site again soon - it looks great! When I tried to listen to it before, I got an error message saying I didn't have the proper version of the player. I'll have to see if I can update it.

[Dawn]

kathyb said:

I graduated from high school in 1981. I guess I was too busy partying back then to take notice of these songs, cuz I only remember the Gary Wright tune. LOL!

LOL! I've always liked 'Really Wanna Know You' a lot.

[Dawn]

KenFrank said:

Good song! I don't remember hearing it before, not only does it remind me of Hall and Oates but Huey Lewis' If This is It also comes to mind.

I thought you'd like that one, Ken. Oh, I agree about 'If This Is It' - there are a lot of similarities between the two!