Tag Archives: Ronnie Milsap

1981, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week – October 17, 1981: Songs 40-31

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Hi Everybody! Let’s do another Top 40 Countdown! We go back to 35 years ago this week. At this time 6th grade was well underway. It’s Halloween season. This must have been getting towards the end of my trick-or-treating days. But it was, and still is, my favorite time of the year. So, let’s Return to the week ending October 17, 1981, and see what was hitting the U.S. charts at this time.

40. “Burnin’ For You” by Blue Öyster Cult

This classic rock band was big in the ’70s. After this point, the height of their popularity was fading away. This song was the biggest hit off their 1981 album, Fire of Unknown Origin.

39. “In The Dark” by Billy Squier

This was Squier’s follow-up single to “The Stroke” from his Triple Platinum 1981 album Don’t Say No.

38. “The Old Songs” by Barry Manilow

This one’s for you, you Fanilows! This old song was Manilow’s eleventh number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, spending three weeks at number one.
My parents were fans of Barry Manilow. It’s a miracle I made it through the rain of that period in my life. Could it be magic that helped me not want to rip my ears off every weekend in New England during the late ’70s? I mean, I’m envious of Tony from the Copacabana. But by daybreak, it looks like we made it, and now I can’t smile without you guys.

37. “Sausalito Summernight” by Diesel

I had never heard of this song before. Diesel is a Dutch pop/rock group that became one of the few Dutch acts to chart in the U.S. when this song hit the Top 40. This song sounds a lot like The Steve Miller Band’s Rockin’ Me Baby.

36. “Lady (You Bring Me Up)” by The Commodores

This is my favorite Commodores song, and it was one of the band’s last big hits before Lionel Richie left for his legendary solo career.

35. “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me” by Ronnie Milsap

As often happened in the early ’80s, we have a country-crossover hit. I was not really a country music fan until the ’90s (with the exception of Alabama). But, there were some crossover artists I really enjoyed, and Ronnie Milsap is one of them.

34. “The Beach Boys Medley” by The Beach Boys

In the ’80s, there was a craze of medley hits, beginning with “Stars on 45”. The Beach Boys hopped on this bandwagon, with some success. Here is a list of the songs in the medley:
“Good Vibrations”
“Help Me, Rhonda”
“I Get Around”
“Little Deuce Coupe”
“Shut Down”
“Surfin’ Safari”
“Barbara Ann”
“Surfin’ U.S.A.”
“Fun, Fun, Fun”

33. “Alien” by The Atlanta Rhythm Section

This song has that classic ear;y ’80s easy listening vibe. Not the most exciting song, but I really like the harmonies. They kind have an Eagles sound to them too.

32. “He’s a Liar” by The Bee Gees

Unfortunately, by this point, The Bee Gees were pigeonholed as a disco act after their incredible success with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. They had some great rock songs before that point, and after that point, including this overlooked gem.

31. “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John

A lot of people slightly older than me, fell in love with Olivia Newton-John after her role as Sandy in Grease. I was a little late to the party, because this song was my introduction to ONJ, and I was in love. This is the first week “Physical” hit the top 40, and would climb all the way to the top of the charts.

That wraps up today’s list of songs. We are off to a damn good start! So let’s Return tomorrow to continue the countdown. What were you doing this week in 1981?

1983, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week – May 28, 1983: Songs 30-21

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Welcome back to this week’s Top 40 Countdown. If you missed the first 10 songs, you can go ahead and check them out. 1983 was an incredible year of music. The ’70s sound had pretty much disappeared, and ’80s music was building it’s own identity. At this time, I was 12 years old, and would become a teenager later in the year. I was wrapping up 7th grade, and getting ready for my final year of junior high. Now, let’s Return to the glorious week of May 28, 1983, and continue the countdown.

30. “The One Thing” by INXS

I did not know about INXS until later in the decade, when their Kick album came out. So I was unfamiliar with this song. It is classic INXS. I really like this one a lot. It may be 1983, but this sounds like it could have been from their incredible 1987 album.

29. “Mornin'” by Al Jarreau

Ahhh, the smooth sound of Al Jarreau! This definitely would not have been on my radar in 1983. But, I like it a lot now. This came off of Al Jarreau’s #1 Jazz album, Jarreau. This song was written by David Foster and Jay Graydon. It was originally supposed to be an instrumental that was to appear on David Foster’s 1983 album, The Best of Me. Jay Graydon produced many of Al Jarreau’s songs, so they gave the song to him.

28. “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John

This was my introduction to Elton John. Thank you MTV! I tend to favor Elton John’s ’70s songs over his ’80s songs, but I love this one. It’s so upbeat and fun.

27. “Try Again” by Champaign

I believe this R&B ballad has been on one of my countdowns before. I still like it. This is another one that would not have been on my radar back then, but I like it a lot now.

26. “Too Shy” by Kajagoogoo

You know it. You love it. This is ’80s personified! This was Kajagoogoo’s only hit in the U.S., but they did have some other hits in the U.K.

25. “Electric Avenue” by Eddy Grant

There is no mistaking which decade this song is from! This was one of the biggest hits of 1983. The song’s lyrics refer to the 1981 Brixton riot, the title referring to Electric Avenue, a market street in the Brixton area of London.

24. “Never Gonna Let You Go” by Sérgio Mendes (with Joe Pizzulo & Leza Miller)

Although I am a rocker at heart, I really love a lot of soft rock from the early ’80s. And this is one of the best. Sérgio Mendes is a bandleader, and does not sing in this one. That credit goes to Joe Pizzulo and Leza Miller.

23. “Stranger In My House” by Ronnie Milsap

Kenny Rogers may have been the king of country cross-over music in the ’70s and ’80s, but Ronnie Milsap is no slouch either. This particular song peaked at #5 on the Country charts, #8 on the Adult Contemporary charts, and right here at #23 on the Hot 100.

22. “Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners

I love this song, even though I can’t understand the lyrics, other than the title. This falls in the same category as “Louie, Louie” by The Kingsmen and “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly. This is great music, which is a lot of fun.

21. “Rio” by Duran Duran

Another ultimate ’80s song, by an ultimate ’80s band. Duran Duran was on top of the world at this time. And with songs like this, we can see why. Girls today have their One Direction. The girls of our generation had Duran Duran. Almost 35 years later, they are still going strong, having released a new album this past September, Paper Gods. And I think they sound the same today as they did in our glorious ’80s.

Well, classic Duran Duran is a good way to wrap up the countdown for today. Are you liking this countdown so far? And as the numbers get smaller, the hits get bigger. So, come on back tomorrow to check out the next 10 songs of the countdown.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 8/25/15

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Can you name the artist and song:

Haven’t you heard, there’s a new revolution
Gotta spread the word, too much confusion

Last Song: “Smoky Mountain Rain” by Ronnie Milsap from his Greatest Hits album (1980)

I thumbed my way from L.A. back to Knoxville
I found out those bright lights ain’t where I belong

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 1/17/13

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Can you name the artist and song:

It’s got solid gold hubcaps
It makes me feel like a king
I only need one thing

Last Song: “Smoky Mountain Rain” by Ronnie Milsap who turned 67 yesterday:

From a phone booth in the rain I called to tell her
I’ve had a change of dreams I’m comin’ home
But tears filled my eyes when I found out she was gone