1980s #1 One-Hit Wonders Series

Good morning, Kittens and Dawgs! It’s fabulous to see you! Did you get a chance to cast your vote in last week’s BoTB? If not, then you’re invited to pick your favorite cover artist singing, The Winner Takes It!

Are you ready to groove to some mewsic?  This week’s theme is “freebie” pick, so I’m continuing today with my “#1 One-Hit Wonders” series and and I invite you step on the floor with my dance partners:  XmasDolly and Stacy. Our dear,  Colette is taking a temporary leave due to health issues and I ask that you keep her in your prayers.

This is a weekly hop for mewsic enthusiasts regardless if you follow our weekly theme or not if you have mewsic to share then we’re ready to dance with you. Otherwise, I ask that you do not link non-mewsic posts below to boost traffic to your site. You’re welcome to leave your URL in comments with a brief description inviting me to check it out. Thank you!

  1. Funkytown ~Lipps, Inc (1980). The year I graduated highschool, Funkytown, the lead single (B-side All Night Dancing) from Lipps 1979 début album, Mouth to Mouth hit the top of the chart in 28 countries.
  2. Chariots of Fire theme ~Vangelis (1982). What I remember most from 1982 is the World’s Fair expo held right here in K-town. Vangelis’ hit steadily rose from its ’81 release and while we opened our doors in May to the world it took #1 for a week. Vangelis faced plagiarism charges from Greek composer Stavros Logaridis over a four note similarity to City of Violets.  In the end, he proved his innocence but what I thought was interesting is Vangelis used this mewsical note arrangement in a previous piece – “Wake Up” playing keyboard for the progressive Greek rock band Aphrodite’s Child that predated Logaridis’ composition. Could it be that Logaridis is the plagiarist? BTW, I never saw the movie, Chariots of Fire.
  3. Hey Mickey ~Toni Basil (1982). This bubblegum rock  ditty appeared on her début album, Word of Mouth. Originally recorded as “Kitty” (1979) by UK band Racey. Basil changed the name to make it about a man.  I can’t say that I remember this song from its day but I do know one or more of my 40-something readers shared this little tune several times.
  4. Baby Come To Me ~Patti Austin & James Ingram (1983) appeared on Austin’s 1981 album, Every Home Should Have One but it wasn’t until it released as single (B-side *Solero) staying on the charts peaking at 72 for four weeks (Apr 24-May 15 1982). It wasn’t until later in the year her song gained greater interest after the song featured on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital, as a love theme song for the character Luke Spencer and eventually topped the chart early in the following year.
  5. Come On Eileen Dexy’s Midnight Runners released as a single in the UK (1982) from their album, Too-Rye-Ay. It won Best British Single in 1983 Brit Awards and topped the US charts April 23rd of the same year preventing Michael Jackson from having back-to-back #1 hits in the US with “Come On Eileen” sandwiched between “Billie Jean” and “Beat It”.
  6. We are the World  ~USA for Africa (Supergroup).  It released in March 1985; topping charts around the globe and became the fastest selling American pop song in history.  This is song topped the R&B Singles, Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks, & Billboard Hot 100 charts for months. It seemed to play forever on the airwaves, whether it actually did I grew tired of it after a while despite its humanitarian mission to feed Africa.
  7. Miami Vice theme ~Jan Hammer (1985) became the last TV show theme to top the charts until 2013. It released from the album, Miami Vice Soundtrack, which also charted for 11 weeks, making it the most successful soundtrack until  2006. We own this fabulous CD. Every time I hear the opening song it makes me to watch those streetwise undercover cops taking down the corrupt in the steaming city of Miami. The bikini clad girls were purrty hot, too! 🤣
  8. Shake You Down from Gregory Abbott album with the same name released 1986 but not intended to be his first single (scheduled first I Got the Feeling (It’s Over) cut; postponed as follow-up and ranked 56). It went straight to #1 on the Black Singles chart in October and then hitting the top slot again in January ’87 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
  9. I’ve Had The Time of My Life recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes as a single (B-side Love is Strange Mickey & Sylvia) for the 1987 movie, Dirty Dancing, and featured on the movie soundtrack. The song won all kinds of awards (Academy Award ‘Best Song’, Golden Globe ‘Best Original Song’, & Grammy Award ‘Best Pop Performance for a duo or group with vocals’) this year but I found it interesting that Donna Summer and Joe Esposito turned down the opportunity to record it initially.
  10. Don’t Worry Be Happy Bobby McFerrin released September 1988 (a few months after DD#1’s birth) is the first a capella song to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks. The song title comes partly from a quote by Indian mystic, Maher Baba who  often said, “Don’t worry, be  happy.” The song did not register at the time of its released and introduced to me many, many years later. It certainly makes me happy just listening to it.
  11. When I’m With You  is a power ballad by Canadian arena rock band, Sheriff, and is one of few #1 hits not promoted with a video during the MTV era. Arnold Lanni wrote it after meeting and falling in love with Valeri Brown. On Valentine’s Day, he told Brown he didn’t have anything for her and played this song for her; two years later they married. He shared it with the band which they liked and began performing it live. This was one of the last songs the band recorded. Originally recorded in 1983 charting in the top 100 but it wasn’t until it’s re-release at the end of the decade that it hit #1 on the Billboard Hot… 100 Singles and Adult Contemporary Tracks charts in February 1989.

*Note: YouTube shows this song also under the title of Do You Love Me. I don’t know if it’s the same song, do you know?

Tell me about an 80s song tied to a particular event in  your life, does it make you happy or sad? What’s your favorite 80s song?

For more words of hope and inspiration, visit  McGuffy’s Reader for more “Sparks” tidbits. Have a sparkletastic day! 😉

Don’t forget to cast your vote in The Winner Takes it All BoTB showdown. I’m scaling back on blogging while I prepare for the April A to Z Challenge but you’ll find me back on the dance floor next week. Keep those tunes playing and your body swaying, I’ll see ya around the cyber block!

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41 comments

  1. Isn’t it interesting how there seemed to be a plethora of one-hit-wonders in the 80’s? Makes you wonder what was going on those artists didn’t keep on going and have more hits! Loved all your choices – thanks for the dance, Cathy! 🙂

    1. Stacy,

      Yeah, you’d think if a band could touch on one #1 hit then they’d at least chart again. Oddly that isn’t the case, though. Thanks for hitting the dance floor with me, my friend. Have a good week!

  2. Wow! You are so busy. You & John rock your posts! Powerful Sparks, too. I have been a bit under the weather, and trying to get caught up for A-Z! I saw you there! HUGS!

    1. Annie.

      Sorry to hear that you’re under the weather. The good news is you can visit friends in Blogosphere without making them sick while lifting your spirits. 🙂 Get well!

      1. Cathy, you are funny. No, what I have is not contagious. But, yes, you are all entertaining! HUGS.

  3. Hi Cathy!
    I don’t know what happened to me in the 80s but there are several of these songs that I just never heard. Where was I?? 🙂
    I do like Tainted Love and listening to it right now. I’ve always liked that one. “Funkytown” was a fun song. I was in the class of 80 (but graduated a year early so I’m really a ’79 graduate). Of course I remember “Hey Mickey” and I like “Baby Come to Me”. I never really cared for “Come on Eileen” for some reason — but I do like the video! And that’s really interesting that the song blocked Michael Jackson from having back to back #1s.
    I was a big Miami Vice fan and like John, I loved all those flamingos!
    Love the harmonica at the beginning of “Shake You Down”.
    I bet Donna Summer & Joe Esposito were bummed about turning down recording the “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” song!l I didn’t know that little factoid…
    “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” came out just about the time that I broke into radio (leaving media planning/buying at ad agencies and jumping the fence from buyer to seller of air-time) and it was a very fitting song for my frame of mind at that time.
    I don’t remember the last song by Sheriff at all. And I don’t remember that group either.
    Thanks for taking us on a ride through the 80s…

    Hope you’re having a good week.
    PS: Thanks for including the Friends of Mr Cairo song. I like it!

    Michele at Angels Bark

    1. Michele,

      I have moments when someone share mewsic and I’m like “How come I don’t remember that?” Surely to goodness, these tunes crossed my ears but it could be just a matter of being misplaced in my memory bank. You know whatever is going on in ones life has a way of messing up the part of your brain that collects these POI. Thanks for dancing with me to these #1 one-hit wonders from the 80s. I’m debating on moving forward with the 90s because I’m certain I won’t remember a single one. I’ll see how things go in May, then decide. Have a good afternoon!

    1. Mike,

      Oh yeah, these retro shows are very much dated but I so do enjoy stuff from the 80s. It was a era when girls like being girls and boys acted like boys. I think we need to get back to that, don’t you?

  5. Love the 80’s music since that was my time to have fun and dance and dance. I know all these songs quite well and I would add, The Friends of Mr. Cairo” also by Jon and Vangelis. Thanks for memory lane

    1. Birgit,

      “The Friends of Mr. Cairo” I didn’t know, so I went to YouTube to listen to it. I definitely do not remember it but it came out in 1981. This is what Wiki says about the song…”The title track and its accompanying music video serve as an ode to classic Hollywood films of the 1930s and 1940s. Most notable references are to the classic film noir The Maltese Falcon. The track incorporates sound effects and voice impressions of the stars of the era, most notably Humphrey Bogart, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Jimmy Stewart. At the beginning of the track, the screeching of tires and a car horn are heard, presumably as a car makes an attempted getaway, which then gives way to the sound of gunfire. This screeching sound/car horn is identical to that heard in the 1971 feature film Get Carter and was probably sampled for use on the track.” I noticed it charted #1 in Canada but there is no reference to US charts, so I’m not sure how it did in the states. I like the mewsic, though. Thanks for the introduction and I’m including a vid for others to enjoy.

    1. Myke,

      I wasn’t sure what you were talking about until I looked it up on Google and I remember seeing Billy Bass. That’s just ridiculously funny and if it doesn’t make you smile then you something is wrong. 😀

  8. Love Hey Mickey – such a good song to sing along to and always brings a smile to my face. My favourite 80’s song is Tainted Love by Soft Cell – so fabulous.
    Love this spark as sometimes we need reminding that we’re stronger than we think.
    Have a really lovely week.

    1. Pamela,

      I don’t remember “Tainted Love” so I had to look it up on YouTube but after listening to it I honestly can’t say it sounds familiar. Wikipedia says Soft Cell’s cover hit the top of the chart in the UK in 1981 and finally after 19 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1982, it cracked the US Top 40. Here it is for anyone interested. 😉

  9. With “Miami Vice,” my favorite scene from the open was the one with all the flamingos running. Back in the day, Jan Hammer was with the Mahavishnu Orchestra…

    I remember the Bobby McFerrin tune from my first days in Atlanta. I used to hear it and Mike + The Mechanics’ “The Living Years” all the time when I was stuck in traffic. Oh, and UB40’s “Red Red Wine.” That’s when I knew I was going to have to get an FM radio in the car. That car fell apart, and when I looked at new cars I bought one simply beause it had an FM radio. (That was a pretty nice car, actually, a Dodge Omni. Not exactly top of the line, but I liked it.)

    My favorite ’80’s tune? A-ha’s “Take On Me.” Mostly because of the video.

    1. John,

      I’m trying to remember what was going on in my life in 1986 when “Take On Me” released. I know I went through a couple of job changes within a few years time but I definitely recall it playing on the airwaves. The radio in our 1977 Ford Fiesta had a Sears radio which DH installed because he got the base version which didn’t come with a radio or get this…. a glove box door. lol
      [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914&w=560&h=315%5D

      1. I’ve seen cars like that, without a glove box door. I retrospect, I’m glad I didn’t replace the radio in the Cavalier (my first car), because the car ended up dying on me.

  10. We are indeed diamonds in the rough, the years and experiences of life grind and polish us until we hopefully reflect the light our Creator and shine! Diamonds are incredibly strong, and we are much stronger than we realize. We can survive anything, survivors have the most beautiful light of all! 🙂 XO

  11. We only heard a handful of those. Just seeing the title Oh Mickey brings on an ear worm. That’s one of the few we remember. Bill Medley was one of the Righteous Brothers. Come On Eileen is/was a great song and another ear worm. We kinda did the one-hit wonder thing but with a twisty. We loved 80s music so it’s hard to pick one song—possibly Radio Free Europe by R.E.M. would be that song. It still gives us a rush to hear it. It’s worth a ton of money these days too.

    1. Cathy,

      Sorry about the earworm but you gotta love ’em just a bit, don’t ya? REM is a band that sorta slid by me somehow so naturally, I had to check out your fave and am sharing it now.

      [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKVyCjit1AE&w=560&h=315%5D

      Even after listening to it, it doesn’t ring any bells. I was surprised to learn it released the year I graduated colled (1983) and it even hit the US Billboard Hot 100 (peak 78) as well as US Billboard Top Tracks (peak 25). I guess my mind was muttered with trying to find a job.

  12. Too many songs in the 80’s for me as that is when I really discovered music (I graduated high school in 1987) that have memories for me. Thanks for sharing all of these songs. So cool.

    1. Patrick,

      Those high school years are often associated with mewsic. I reckon that’s why I like the late-70s so much but the 80s totally rocked.

  13. What a great start to the week! I love Dirty Dancing-I’ve Had The Time of My Life- but I can’t resist dancing to Funkytown. Yeah!

  14. I love the Dirty Dancing one the very best. I’ve played that over and over many times. I’ve also listened to most of the others as well. Great choices.

    Have a fabulous day, Cathy. Big hug. ♥

  15. Great spark! And I love your mewsic choices. My prom date wore a Miami Vice tux 🙂

  16. Yay, class of 80′! I think we’ve discussed being about the same age. Great walk down Memory Lane. I had no idea these were all one hit wonders! We Are the World was the coolest collaboration, ever! It’s fun seeing all that talent combined in one song. Musicians need to pick a cause and do it again. Or maybe Adam Levine can do it by himself and imitate everyone’s voices. Did you know he could do that? Then again, the video wouldn’t be as much fun. I can think of plenty of things that need fixing around here!

    1. Joyce,

      I didn’t know Adam Levine coud imitate other singers. That would be cool to hear. I don’t think I have heard him do this. Anywho, I went over to YouTube to see if I could find something when I found this and had to share it with you.

      Thanks for saving a dance for me and have a good week. 🙂

  17. Wow. Dolly’s comment blew me away. I’ve got nothing after that. ~shakes head~ To lose a child must be one of the worst things imaginable. Happy Sparks Monday!

  18. Whoa girlfriend you really did some homework here. Guess mine was just kinda all over the place, and I changed it so many times…hahaha I just love music, don’t you! Hmmm my favorite tune of the 80’s huh… hmmm let me see. Hows bout… oh I know, well, being as this year it was the 40th anniversary of the death of my child and at that time “You Light of my Life” by Debbie Boone was very popular, but it was 77′ and it went well over into the 80’s. That song was played at her wake because she did light up my life. I hear that song now & I think of my Angel. Angelina Anne-Marie. That’s what i think of for 80’s music. Have a rockin’ week my friend! BIG HUGS… and always say I love you today… don’t wait until tomorrow!

    1. Marie,

      Your mewsic selections were awesome. It makes me so sad knowing you lost a wee one and I know the weight of losing her is something you’ll carry with you always but at least time has eased some of the pain placing a tenderness in your heart for the little angel who now lives in heaven. Angelina Anne-Marie is a beautiful name, too. I can’t agree with you more, we should tell those we love in the present because we don’t what tomorrow will bring. Have a great week, my frined. Hugs & loves back at ya!

  19. Hi, Cathy!

    This is a super set of 80s one hit wonders. I have a few of these songs scheduled in upcoming posts on my own blog. There are three here that I probably haven’t heard since the 80s when they ran on the MTV station where I worked at the time, and it was refreshing to listen to them this morning. They include “Chariots Of Fire,” “Baby Come To Me” and “Shake You Down.” Two of the songs, “We Are The World” and “I’ve Had The Time Of My Life,” are very familiar because they were used as “anchor songs” in my motivational seminar program, songs selected to inspire, energize and motivate seminar participants. I also used both songs in an hour long documentary that I produced for the seminar series. One tune, the “Miami Vice Theme,” brings back memories of working with some of the models that were used as extras in the production of that hit television series. I was completely unfamiliar with the last recording,”When I’m With You” by Sheriff.

    Thank you very much, dear friend Cathy, and have a great week!

    1. Tom,

      The 80s produced some fabulous mewsic. Mary had a great line up of tunes spanning nearly 50 years and after listening to the various sets of tunes, it surprised me that I couldn’t listen to all the songs that fell from 2000 through the present. You worked with some of the models from Miami Vice? What a horrible job that must have been! lol There were some real lookers on that show. That was a time when girls didn’t mind looking like girls, too. I just love watching old stuff from the 80s because of this one thing girls were prettier, more feminine, and did not offend easily when I guy gave them attention. Just look how far we’ve come from that time? What a shame! Thanks for popping by, my friend. Have a pawsome week!

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