Hi Everybody. welcome back to this week’s countdown! If you missed the first 10 songs, you can go ahead and check them out. If you enjoy soft rock music, then today’s the day for you! I had only heard of the first two songs you’ll hear. The rest were new to me. Let’s Return to the week ending October 4, 1980, and continue the countdown.

30. “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson has been churning out hits for almost 60 years! And this is one of his most recognizable of the bunch. In 1980, Nelson appeared in his first leading movie role in the film Honeysuckle Rose. In the movie, he played an aging musician. Again, this movie came out 34 years ago! Willie is still going strong today, releasing one or two albums a year.

One interesting fact about this song: Willie was approached by the executive producer of Honeysuckle Rose on a plane ride, and was asked to write the theme song for the movie. So, he picked up a barf bag, and quickly wrote the song on it.

29. “Emotional Rescue” by The Rolling Stones

This isn’t the greatest Rolling Stones song in the world, but it’s not the worst either.

28. “Someone That I Used to Love” by Natalie Cole

This song is a sad ballad. It sounds like it could be featured in a romantic comedy after a couple breaks up and one of them is walking in the rain.

27. “Midnight Rocks” by Al Stewart

This is a good folk-rock song. I thought it sounded like it could have been an Alan Parsons Project song. I then found out that from 1975-1978, Al Stewart’s music was produced by Alan Parsons. So, you can still hear the influence here.

26. “Dreamin'” by Cliff Richard

In the late ’50s through early ’60s, Cliff Richard was very successful. Then came the Beatles. Then he disappeared for a while. But Richard was making a big comeback here. I really like this song! It would go onto be a top 10 hit in the U.S. and in the U.K.

25. “You’re the Only Woman (You & I)” by Ambrosia

Ambrosia was pretty big in the mid-late ’70s. But, this was the beginning of the end for them. This song would go on to reach #13 on the Hot 100 chart, and #5 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

24. “How Do I Survive” by Amy Holland

This pop-disco song was from Amy Holland’s debut album. It helped earn her a Grammy Nomination for Best New Artist. She lost to Christopher Cross (who happened to pretty much own the Grammys that year). Amy Holland’s album was produced by Michael McDonald, who I am a huge fan of now. They would get married three years later, and they are still married today.

23. “No Night So Long” by Dionne Warwick

This is a nice soft rock song by Dionne Warwick, who at the time, was the host of the brand new show Solid Gold.

22. “One in a Million You” by Larry Graham

Here is another soft rock song that I like. He sounds like Boz Scaggs in this song. Larry Graham was the bass player for Sly & the Family Stone and frontman for Graham Central Station.

21. “The Wanderer” by Donna Summer

This sounded familiar to me when I heard it. This was Donna Summer’s first single released from the album of the same name. This was her first album with Geffen Records. With this album, the Queen of Disco was starting to move away from disco.

That wraps up today’s list. How are you liking this so far? The hits will keep on coming tomorrow.

Hi Everybody, welcome to a new Top 40 Countdown. This week, we will Return to the dawn of the ’80s – the week ending October 4, 1980. I always get nervous when we get to the very early ’80s, because I really don’t want to listen to the ’70s leftover disco music, and miss out on the classic ’80s sound. However, those fears are unwarranted here. This is going to be a great week of music. So, let’s Return to the week ending October 4, 1980, and begin the countdown.

40. “Let Me Be Your Angel” by Stacy Lattisaw

Stacy Lattisaw was an influential R&B star. She has an incredible voice in this song – especially for a 13 year old! She would go on to have a successful career throughout the ’80s. Then she retired from the music business in 1990 at the ripe old age of 23.

39. “Lady” by Kenny Rogers

What happens when you have one of the greatest crossover artists of all time sing a song written by the lead singer of The Commodores? You have yourself a smash hit that becomes a #1 song on three music charts – Country, Hot 100, and Adult Contemporary, as well as htting #42 on the Top Black Singles chart.
Not only did Lionel Richie write this song, he also produced it. The song’s success gave his career a great boost. His days with the Commodores were numbered, and he would embark on an incredible solo career.
Kenny Rogers already had a successful career going for himself, and would continue to have a string of hits throughout the ’80s.

38. “I’m Almost Ready” by The Pure Prairie League

This is a very good song by the Pure Prairie League, with future Country music legend Vince Gill on the lead vocals. And with this video, not only do you get a good song, but you also get to see the opening of Solid Gold. Ah, the good ole days!!

37. “Whip It” by Devo

Classic ’80s! This was my introduction to Devo. They had a unique look, especially with those hats, and they had a unique sound.

36. “Out Here On My Own” by Irene Cara

Longtime readers know of my love for Irene Cara. She already scores points with me for being on one of my favorite children’s television shows – The Electric Company. I have yet to hear a song by her that I don’t like. This is a beautiful ballad from the movie Fame. This won’t be the only song by Irene Cara from this movie on this week’s countdown.

35. “The Legend of Wooley Swamp” by The Charlie Daniels Band

This is a very cool Southern Rock song.

34. “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross

Ow! Music whiplash! We go from Southern Rock to a Disco dance song.

33. “Dreamer”by Supertramp

For some reason, Supertramp tends to be grating to me. But, I don’t mind this song.

32. “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” by Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder still has an incredible voice. Did you catch his performance of “Sir Duke” on The Tonight Show? He still sounds the same. In the immortal words of Joan Rivers, “Can we talk?” I’m sure Stevie Wonder has a lot of people in his life – friends, family, people who work for him. They do realize he’s blind, don’t they? Then why doesn’t one of them tell him that his big-ass ponytail looks stupid!?! The rest of his head is completely bald. I just want to take scissors to that ponytail! Ugh!! OK, rant is over.

31. “Who’ll Be the Fool Tonight” by The Larsen-Feiten Band

Sounds like it could be a Chicago song.

We’ll wrap up today’s list with a very good song that I was unfamiliar with. This sounds like a song that the band Chicago would do.

Well, I’m liking these songs so far. We’ll be back tomorrow to continue the countdown.