Can you name the artist and song:
Here’s your ticket pack your bag
Time for jumpin’ overboard
The transportation is here
Close enough but not too far
Last Song: “Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)” by Elton John from the album Jump Up! (1982)
Great job Mary (@nakedplanet2)!!!
Now we pray for rain and with every drop that falls
We hear, we hear your name
If you’d like to get this song from Amazon, you can click on the album cover below
Well we have arrived at our Top 10 of the week. If you missed the previous songs, check out songs 40-31, 30-21, and 20-11. This has been a fun week so far. So, let’s get this going, and Return to the week ending April 5, 1986, and wrap up this week’s countdown! And as usual, if you’d like to listen to the song on YouTube, click on the song title. And if you want to listen or buy this song on Amazon, you can click on the album cover.
One cool thing about this song that I didn’t know, is that George Michael and Nik Kershaw are on the backing vocals.
Well that wraps up this week’s countdown. I hope you enjoyed it. What were some of your favorite songs this week? And get your passports ready! The next time, we will go back to the U.K. to do a Top 40 there! Until then, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.
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Welcome back to a new week of the Top 40 countdown! This will be a slightly different format. My comments will be limited to 1 or 2 sentences. If you would like to hear the song/see the video on YouTube, you can click on the song title. If you’d like to listen or buy the song from Amazon, you can click on the album cover. We are in the heart of the 80s for this countdown, so there will be some great songs this week. So, let’s Return to the week ending January 19, 1985, and begin the countdown.
Mistake No. 2 = Thinking Boy George was a woman, despite his name
That wraps up today’s list of songs. I’m liking this countdown so far. Come back tomorrow as we continue the countdown.
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Hi Everybody! Here is the Return of the Return to the ’80s podcast!
We welcome Scott Ryan back to the show. This is the first of our Billy Joel album series. The gang discusses the loss of Tom Petty. Then there is some Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination talk. We have our regular segments, Play This, Not That, featuring the other Piano Man, Remember That Song, and ’80s Trivia. Then we get into our main topic – Billy Joel’s Glass Houses album.
– Welcome back Scott Ryan, author of thirtysomething at thirty: an oral history (available at www.scottryanproductions.com), who last appeared on Episode 15.
– R.I.P. Tom Petty
– “Rock and Roll” Hall of Fame nominees (https://www.rockhall.com/class-2018-nominees)
Instead of: “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues
Play “Kiss The Bride
Or “Healing Hands
Last song: “If You Leave
New Song:
Some love is just a lie of the heart
The cold remains of what began as a passionate start
If you know the artist and song, you can email us at returnto80s@gmail.com with your answer.
Last Question: What was the name of the company Michael and Elliot owned in the first season of thirtysomething?
Answer: The Michael and Elliot Company
New Question: How many Friday the 13th movies were released in the ‘80s.
If you know the answer, you can email us at returnto80s@gmail.com with your answer.
You can click on the album cover to purchase the album or listen to it on Amazon:
1. “You May Be Right”
2. “Sometimes a Fantasy”
3. “Don’t Ask Me Why”
4. “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”
5. “All for Leyna”
7. “Sleeping with the Television On”
8. “C’était Toi (You Were the One)”
10. “Through the Long Night”
You can contact Scott at the following places:
@30somethingpod
Facebook
www.scottryanproductions.com
In addition to purchasing the book from www.scottryanproductions.com
you can also click on the link below to purchase the book from Amazon:
And you can find Return to the ’80s on iTunes
Also,
returntothe80s.wordpress.com
Find Return to the ’80s on Facebook
Twitter: @returntothe80s
Email: returnto80s@gmail.com
Can you name the artist and song:
Catch as catch, catch as catch can
Anybody in their right mind could see, it’s you and me
Last Song: “Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) 
Great job southernhon (@peacesong464) and Citizen O’Kane (@mjnokane)!!!
And we are so amazed we’re crippled and we’re dazed
A gardener like that one
No one can replace
If you’d like to purchase this song from Amazon, click on the album cover below:
Hey Gang! We’re back with another Top 40 this week! This time, we go back to a time when MTV was coming into full swing, as cable television was coming into more and more homes. There were some acts that still did not catch on to the music video trend, and others full embraced it, and reaped the rewards. Now, let’s Return to August 27, 1983, and begin the countdown!
[If you’d like to see the YouTube video of the song, you can click on the song title. If you’d like to purchase or listen to the song on Amazon, you can click on the album cover]
This song was released just before The Fixx released their signature hit, “One Thing Leads to Another”. “Saved By Zero” was used in a 2008 Toyota campaign. OK, I just realized that when those commercials came out, I already had my current Toyota Corolla for 4 years – and I still have it to this day! Sure, you all have touch screens, and cameras in your car now. But, I bet you don’t have a cassette tape deck like I do!
The Little River Band began changing musical direction here. Meh. It’s kind of like how Saturday Night Live has a great run, then goes into a transitional phase, which sucks, before they go on another great run.
Oh man! You can’t go wrong with the smooth sound of George Benson! This really brings me back to the early 80s. This song is a classic.
Another classic! This song from their Synchronicity album, was the final original single released by the band.
This is from MY James Bond movie. Cable TV was new in our house, and we had HBO, where I watched Octopussy several times a week. I’m not sure if this is a good song or not, but I do love it because it brings me back to that time.
This is my favorite Elton John song of the ’80s, if not of all time. What a great rocker!
I love early ’80s R&B! And it doesn’t hurt that this song is by Rhode Island’s own, Jeffrey Osbourne. He is an awesome guy who does a lot of great charity work. So, he can be forgiven for letting The Bachelor use his signature song, “On the Wings of Love” in 2010.
Classic early ’80s ballad that is awesome! I still listen to this.
Classic early ’80s ballad that irritates me! I couldn’t stand this song when it was first released. I do like it now, as it does make me feel nostalgic about a better time.
This is one of those songs that come to mind when you mention ’80s music. I loved this when it came out. Then got sick of it, after the constant radio and MTV airplay – even after he released the better “Romancing the Stone” single. But, I like it again now, and limit how many times I listen to it.
That wraps up today’s list of songs. What do you think? Do you have any favorites, or any “I forgot about that one!” moments. This is going to be great week, so come back tomorrow to check out the next 10 songs!
Follow @returntothe80sCan you name the artist and song:
I saw your eyes
And you touched my mind
Although it took a while
I was falling in love
Last Song: “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” by Elton John from the album Too Low for Zero (1983)
Great job Jim (@JimVilk)!!!
Just stare into space
Picture my face in your hands
Live for each second without hesitation
And never forget I’m your man
Welcome back as we continue this week’s countdown! If you missed the first 10 songs, you can go ahead and check out songs 40-31. My addiction to MTV was still in full force this week. There are some classics here today. So, let’s Return to the week ending November 10, 1984, and move on with the countdown.
Sammy’s signature song. This is a classic song and classic video. In 1994, Sammy was interviewed on the show In the Studio, and said this about the song:
“I was in a rent-a-car that wouldn’t go much faster than 55 miles an hour. I was on my way back from Africa. I did a safari for three months throughout Africa. A really great vacation after Three Lock Box. I was traveling for 24 hours, I got to New York City, changed planes, Albany, New York. Got in a rent-a-car. Had a place in Lake Placid at the time, a little log cabin, I used to go there and write with my little boy. Aaron, at that time, went to North Country school when I was on tour. I would go there and see him. It was a really cool getaway. But it took two and a half hours to drive there from Albany. And I was driving from Albany, New York at 2:00 in the morning, burnt from all the travel. Cop stopped me for doing 62 on a four lane road when there was no one else in sight. Then the guy gave me a ticket. I was doing 62. And he said, ‘We give tickets around here for over-60.’ and I said, ‘I can’t drive 55.’ I grabbed a paper and a pen, and I swear the guy was writing the ticket and I was writing the lyrics. I got to Lake Placid, I had a guitar set-up there. And I wrote that song there on the spot. Burnt.”
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Another great song! This was the theme for the film, Teachers. I really need to get back and revisit this movie. I remember enjoying it at the time. And check out this cast: Nick Nolte, JoBeth Williams, Ralph Macchio, Richard Mulligan, Laura Dern, Crispin Glover, and Morgan Freeman.
Yet another classic song. This was one of Duran Duran’s biggest hits, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The video was pretty cool too. It had a post-apocalyptic feel too it, like the Mad Max movies. The video should have been good. It cost over one million British Pounds to make, which was a staggering amount for a music video at that time.
This was the fifth and final single released from the Sports album. All the previous singles from the album was severely overplayed. This song was one of my favorites from the album, and I don’t ever remember hearing it on the radio! This was Heuy Lewis and the News’ commentary on the Vietnam War.
This song ain’t played enough! As much as I like “Sunglasses At Night“, it would be nice to hear some more of Corey Hart’s other work.
Originally a #1 R&B hit in 1959 by Phil Phillips. The Honeydrippers were formed by former Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant. The band also included fellow former Led Zeppelin member Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and other friends and well-known studio musicians. They scored a big hit with this song, peaking at #3. The band released only one recording, an EP titled The Honeydrippers: Volume One. With the EP’s success, Plant stated that a full album would be recorded, but it never was.
My favorite song by Survivor. This was the first single released from the Vital Signs album, which was the first Survivor album featuring Jimi Jamison on lead vocals.
This isn’t bad for a dance song. We are broken away from disco, and now have the ’80s sound in full swing now. This song was written by Daryl Hall with Sara Allen.
This title track to New Edition’s second album, was their big breakthrough. It would peak at #4 on the Hot 100. They were trying really hard to be the new edition of The Jackson 5. They did have some pretty decent music, including this song.
I didn’t remember this song at all. It was released off of elton John’s Breaking Hearts album, which featured the song “Sad Songs (Say So Much)“. This may be blasphemous on this page, but I much prefer Elton John’s ’70s music to his ’80s music. He does have some really good ’80s songs. But a lot, like this song, are just middle-of-the-road.
Well that wraps up today’s list of songs. What do you think, now that we are halfway through? Any favorites? The countdown is just going to keep getting better. Come back tomorrow as we continue the countdown.
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Hi Everybody! Welcome back to this week’s Top 40 Countdown. Today, we will cover songs 20-11. If you missed the previous songs, you can go back and check out songs 40-31 and 30-21.
Just like the previous songs, this list has a mixed bag of styles. There is rock, country, pop, and R&B. This was a very interesting time. The ’70s were disappearing, but we have not really gotten to the classic ’80s sound yet. Looking over this list, everybody here had gotten their start in at least the ’70s or earlier. So let’s get to it, and Return to the week ending September 25, 1982, and continue the countdown.
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I love when the list starts with a great rock song! I used to love this song – until 5 minutes ago when I found out that this is actually a Gary Glitter song. Now this song takes on a whole new meaning. If you aren’t aware of Gary Glitter’s history, I don’t want to get into details here, but you can look him up. But. I’ll still listen to Joan Jett’s version, and rock out to it.
This is a very good Santana song, which features Alex Ligertwood on vocals. Santana is still around today. Just this year the album Santana IV was released and reunited the ’70s classic lineup of Carlos Santana, Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon, Mike Carabello and Michael Shrieve. This was the first time in 45 years they recorded together.
I know that most of us say that music sucks these days. But, I feel that it’s just Top 40 music that sucks. A lot of our bands are still releasing new work, but we never hear about it through normal channels. You just need to know where to look. As I am writing this, I’m thinking that I can help keep us informed.
This is the title track of Jermaine Jackson’s final album for for Motown Records.
He married Berry Gordy’s daugther, Hazel, just as he started his solo career, while still playing with the Jackson 5. When The Jackson 5 left Motown for CBS records, Jermaine broke with the group and stayed loyal to Motown. After Jermaine’s 9th studio album here, he left Motown for Arista Records.
I really enjoy all of supergroup, Asia’s songs. The band consists of John Wetton (former bassist/vocalist of bands including King Crimson, Family, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, UK and Wishbone Ash), Steve Howe (guitarist of Yes), Geoff Downes (keyboardist of Yes and The Buggles) and drummer Carl Palmer (of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and Atomic Rooster). This song, “Only Time Will Tell”, is my favorite by them.
Gotta love Eddie Money! This song is classic. It was just after this that Money’s career was starting to fall apart. I’m sure his drug use didn’t help. But, he did have a huge comeback a few years later with the album Can’t Hold Back, which featured “Take Me Home Tonight” and “I Wanna Go Back.” As far as I know, his most recent work was in this Geico commercial:
This song was off of If That’s What It Takes, Michael McDonald’s first solo album away from The Doobie Brothers. I think that in every single countdown I’ve covered, Michael McDonald has been involved in at least one song that week in one way or another, whether it’s singing lead, backup, part of a duet, or even written. I was not a fan at all. Now I’m loving everything he has done. I think my friend Jim performed some sort of jedi mind trick on me. Hey, whatever works, right? I like this song a lot now, where in the past, I may have skipped right over it. Now, somebody has to get me to like Bruce Hornsby, and one other band which will be featured in the top 10 this week.
I know this may be blasphemous on this site, but I much prefer Elton John’s music in the ’70s than I did in the ’80s. There are some ’80s songs by him I love. But, overall there is nothing like his earlier music. This is one of those songs I don’t love. I do like it a lot if I’m in the mood for it. Otherwise, this is kind of boring for me.
Earlier, we heard my favorite Asia song. Now we get to hear my favorite Kenny Rogers tune! This was also the theme song for the movie Six Pack, in which Kenny Rogers starred. I watched it constantly when it came on HBO. I haven’t seen that movie in years. I really need to revisit it though. In addition to Rogers, the movie stars some other actors you may have heard of: Diane Lane, Erin Gray, and Anthony Michael Hall.
This was a small comeback for the folk rock duo, America. This is a pretty good song. It does have that late ’70s/early ’80s sound to it.
Not the greatest song in the world. But, it should be noted that this song features Ringo on drums, and produced by George Martin.
Well, that wraps up today’s list. We’ll be back to finish up the Top 10 songs on Friday.
Follow @returntothe80sCan you name the artist and song:
I’ll never find another girl like you
For happy endings, it takes two
We’re fire and ice, a dream won’t come true
Last Song: “Kiss the Bride” by Elton John from Too Low for Zero (1983)
I should have stuck up my hand
I should have got up to stand
And this is what I should have said
