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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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”.
- 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.
- 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! 🤣
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
