Tag Archives: Sheena Easton

1985, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week: January 19, 1985 – Songs 40-31

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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.

40. “The Old Man Down the Road” by John Fogerty

Remember when we had to hidey-hide, and jump and run because the old man was down the road? Well fellas, the table has turned. 32 years later, we are the old man down the road.

 

39. “Mistake No. 3” by Culture Club

Mistake No. 1 = “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”
Mistake No. 2 = Thinking Boy George was a woman, despite his name

 

38. “In Neon” by Elton John

Maybe things would be less depressing if we Returned to a time where we dress in neon again. It would make world a brighter place.

 

37. “The Heat is On” by Glenn Frey

The world would also be a less depressing place if we had fun songs like this.

 

 

 

36. “Sugar Walls” by Sheena Easton

My innocence was lost when I discovered that Sheena Easton was singing about her poontang in this Prince-penned song.

35. “No More Lonely Nights” by Paul McCartney

Great song from a not so great movie.

34. “Money Changes Everything” by Cyndi Lauper

I’ll take your word for it, Cyndi.

33. “Tender Years” by John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band

The other song from Eddie and the Cruisers.

32. “Misled” by Kool & The Gang

My favorite Kool & The Gang song.

31. “Bruce” by Rick Springfield

I never knew this existed. And yes, it is about THE Bruce.

 

 

 

That wraps up today’s list of songs. I’m liking this countdown so far. Come back tomorrow as we continue the countdown.

1984, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week – November 10, 1984: Songs 20-11

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Welcome back as we continue the countdown. If you missed the previous songs, you can go back and check out songs 40-31 and 30-21. In my opinion, this week’s songs just keep getting better and better. Sometimes, there is a little lull, where there are songs that are just meh. But every day has been solid so far, and it will continue. So, lets Return to the week ending November 10, 1984, and continue the countdown.

20. “The War Song” by Culture Club

This song does not get as much attention in the U.S. as much as a lot of Culture Clubs hits. I like this. I don’t know if it’s because of the quality of the song, or because it does not get played to death on radio. This was the lead single from the band’s third album Waking Up with the House on Fire, and peak at #17 in the U.S. It cracked the top 10 in several other countries.

19. “No More Lonely Nights” by Paul McCartney

This is one of my favorite McCartney tunes that I still love to this day. This was from the soundtrack of Give My Regards to Broad Street. I still haven’t seen that movie yet.

18. “What About Me?” by Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes & James Ingram

I have no idea how this song got by me. I love it! And I love all three singers. What a great combination. Then add in the fact that this song was written by David Foster and Richard Marx, and this is pure gold.

17. “Lucky Star” by Madonna

This was the beginning of Madonna becoming an ’80s icon. She would be cemented in with that status with her next album, Like a Virgin. But, the songs from her self-titled debut album, including this song, laid the groundwork. This was Madonna’s fourth single released from that album, and her first Top 5 hit, peaking at #4.

16. “Some Guys Have All the Luck” by Rod Stewart

“Some Guys Have All the Luck” was written by Jeff Fortgang, and originally performed by The Persuaders in 1973, and became a Top 40 hit. Rod Stewart’s version here was more successful, peaking at #10.
Jeff Fortgang was only in the music industry for three years. He went on to become a doctor in Psychology, and still practices in the Boston area today.

15. “I’m So Excited” by The Pointer Sisters

I always get excited when I get to play some Pointer Sisters! This song was originally released in 1982, from their album So Excited! and was a Top 40 hit, peaking at #30. It was re-released, after being slightly remixed, on their 1984 album, Break Out, and hit the charts once again, peaking at #9 this time.

14. “On the Dark Side” by Eddie & The Cruisers / John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band

indexRhode Island in the house!! John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band (who are from my home state of Rhode Island) performed this song for the Eddie and the Cruisers soundtrack. This is a fun Springsteenesque rocker. They have a lot of other great songs, but this is their signature song.

13. “Penny Lover” by Lionel Richie

This was the fifth and final single released from Lionel Richie’s classic, Grammy winning, Can’t Slow Down album. As with all the other singles taken from Can’t Slow Down (“All Night Long (All Night)”, “Running with the Night”, “Hello” and “Stuck on You”), “Penny Lover” was a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, spending two weeks at #8 in December 1984.

12. “All Through the Night” by Cyndi Lauper

I’m starting to see a pattern this week. This is yet another favorite song of mine by an artist. This was Cyndi’s fourth Top 5 hit in the U.S. It was off her classic She’s So Unusual album. It was originally written and performed by Jules Shear in 1983. In an article in the Chicago Tribune, Jules Shear said, “[it’s] like a big bonus really. Cyndi Lauper does a song (‘All Through the Night’) that’s on a solo record of mine. I just thought, ‘No one’s really going to hear this.’ Then she does it, and it becomes a Top 5 song.”

11. “Strut” by Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton was very popular in the early-to-mid ’80s, and this song was no exception to that success. This would be a Top 10 hit, peaking at #7.

That wraps up today’s list of songs. This week is moving right along! We will wrap up the countdown tomorrow. As the numbers get smaller, the hits get bigger.

1981, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week – October 17, 1981: Songs 10-1

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Welcome back as we wrap up this week’s Top 40. If you missed the previous songs, you can go back and check out songs 40-31, 30-21, and 20-11. This has been a great week of music so far. And there are some classics here today. And don’t forget, you can click on the song title to get to the YouTube video to listen to the song. Now, let’s Return to the week ending October 17, 1981, and wrap up this week’s countdown.

10. “The Night Owls” by The Little River Band

We begin the top 10 with a decent rock song. This is off of The Little River Band’s Time Exposure album. The album was produced by George Martin. This was the band’s last album with Glen Shorrock on lead vocals until 1988, and with lead guitarist David Briggs.

9. “Hard To Say” by Dan Fogelberg

This was Dan Fogelberg’s third Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. This song is notable for featuring the late (I still can’t believe I’m saying that) Glenn Frey.

8. “Who’s Crying Now” by Journey

download-1This was the first single released from the legendary Escape album. This began the hugely successful commercial run of Journey, 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees. Do hear more about Journey, check out the first episode of the Return to the ’80s Podcast:

7. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by Stevie Nicks (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

This was the first single from Stevie Nicks’ debut solo album, Bella Donna. It was written by Tom Petty and Mike Campbell, inteneded to be a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song. However, Jimmy Iovine, who was also working for Stevie Nicks at the time, arranged for her to sing on it. This was a good call, because these two unique voices sound great together.

6. “Private Eyes” by Daryl Hall and John Oates

How could a song with a handclap in the chorus be bad? This classic Hall & Oates tune was a staple on MTV. It would go on to be a #1 hit, holding that top position for 2 weeks.

5. “Step by Step” by Eddie Rabbitt

This country-crossover hit was also the #1 song on the country chart this week, and would peak right here at #5 on the Billboard 100.

4. “For Your Eyes Only” by Sheena Easton

This was the theme song of the 12th James Bond movie of the same name. Easton is the only artist (to date) to be seen singing the theme song to a Bond movie during its opening titles. This song was also nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards in 1982.

3. “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones

This song was my introduction to The Rolling Stones. I didn’t have MTV yet, but I did see the song on the television show, Solid Gold. The basic track of this song was written during the 1978 sessions for the Rolling Stones’ album Some Girls. It was at first cut as a reggae-rock track named ‘Never Stop’, but after dozens of takes the band stopped recording it and it was shelved. In 1981, with the band looking to tour, engineer Chris Kimsey proposed to Mick Jagger that archived songs could be put in the set. It was re-worked to the classic that we now know, and was recorded for the Tattoo You album.

2. “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

This is Lionel Richie’s third entry on this countdown. This was recorded as the title track of the film adaptation of Scott Spencer’s novel Endless Love. The song ended up being a bigger hit than the movie, reaching number 1 on the Hot 100, where it stayed for nine weeks from August 15 to October 10, 1981.

Before we reveal the #1 song, let’s see what was topping some of the other charts this week.

The #1 R&B song this week was “When She Was My Girl” by The Four Tops.

Topping the Dance charts was “Do You Love Me” by Patti Austin.

The #1 album this week was Tattoo You by The Rolling Stones

And the #1 Adult Contemporary tune is also the #1 song on the top of the pop charts this week…

1. “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” by Christopher Cross

And we have another movie soundtrack song. Coming off his mega-successful self-titled debut album, Christopher Cross followed up with this smash hit. This would be a #1 hit for 3 weeks. The song also won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Although his music was still great, Christopher Cross’ popularity faded away quickly once everybody started getting their MTV. This was definitely his high point.

Well that wraps up this week’s countdown. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. Let me know your thoughts on this list, and on any part of the countdown. We’ll count down a different year in the near future. In the meantime, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 4/28/16

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Can you name the artist and song:

I’m sorry, but I’m just thinking of the right words to say
I know they don’t sound the way I planned them to be

Last Song: “9 to 5 (Morning Train)” by Sheena Easton from Take My Time (1981)

Great job Scooter (@sneely71)!!!

I wake up every morning, I stumble out of bed
Stretching and a’ yawning, another day ahead

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 12/3/15

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Can you name the artist and song:
Your life style to me seemed so tragic
With the thrill of it all
You fooled all the people with magic
Yeah, you waited on Satan’s call

Last Song: “For Your Eyes Only” by Sheena Easton from the soundtrack of For Your Eyes Only (1981)

You can see so much in me, so much in me that’s new
I never felt until I looked at you

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 4/28/15

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Can you name the artist and song:

I was sick and tired of everything
When I called you last night from Glasgow
All I do is eat and sleep and sing

Last Song: “Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)” by Sheena Easton (who turned 56 yesterday) from Best Kept Secret (1983)

I wanna tell you
What’s been going on
Operator, get me Transatlantic

1989, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week – March 25, 1989: Songs 40-31

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Hi Everybody! Back by popular demand is the Top 40 Countdown!!! The last countdown – from 1985 – was classic. Personally, I think this is going to be an outstanding week as well. This week, we are Returning to 1989. At the time of this countdown, I was cut off from pop culture civilization as I was in the middle of Navy boot camp. There are some songs on this countdown that I had heard before boot camp, and there are some that were new to me after boot camp. But, there are also some that had come and gone in the 9 week period that I was away. This should be interesting! Now, let’s get started, and Return to the week ending March 25, 1989, and begin the countdown!

40. “One” by Metallica

Earlier in the decade, who would have thought that Metallica would have a Top 40 hit on the pop charts? This was Metallica’s first Top 40 hit, and it was the third and final song released from their album …And Justice for All. In a couple of years later the band would release their controversial album Metallica (aka The Black Album). It wasn’t the material that was controversial. The controversy was that they changed their sound, causing them to lose a lot of fans. But, they would gain plenty of new fans. So, I suppose this was the beginning of the end of Metallica’s true heavy metal sound.

39. “Feels So Good” by Van Halen

This is my favorite song from the second Van Halen album to feature Sammy Hagar – OU812. I didn’t think this album was as good as 5150 (although, it would have been almost impossible to top that one), but OU812 was a pretty solid album. And this song came as advertised – it made me feel good.

38. “Wild Thing” by Tone Lōc

Is it bad that I like this “Wild Thing” better than the Trogg’s “Wild Thing”? Tone Lōc’s song was not a remake, and had nothing to do with the Troggs, except for the title.

37. “The Love In Your Eyes” by Eddie Money

I could not find this song anywhere on the internet at all. So I linked up to his hit, “Walk On Water”, which also came off of his album, Nothing to Lose.

36. “Orinoco Flow” by Enya

I wish I could “sail away, sail away, sail away” from this new-agey song. This song was a world wide hit for the Irish singer, Enya. But this song is not for me.

35. “She Won’t Talk to Me” by Luther Vandross

I love Luther! This song was a huge R&B hit. It was nominated for a Grammy for “Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male”.

34. “The Lover in Me” by Sheena Easton

This is one of those songs that I didn’t remember until I just listened to it again. I hadn’t realized that Sheena Easton lasted this late into the ’80s. But, this was her biggest hit in the U.S. since “Morning Train”, topping out at #2. This song was produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, who were hitting their stride at this point.

33. “Sincerely Yours” by Sweet Sensation & Romeo J.D

Time for some freestyle from Sweet Sensation, the latin trio from New York! This was off of their debut album, Take It While It’s Hot. Although I was still heavy into rock music at that time, I loved Sweet Sensation.

32. “Thinking of You” by Sa-Fire

I loved this nice ballad by Sa-Fire. I bought this cassingle when I got out of boot camp, and went to my Navy schooling in San Diego. It was a perfect song for being very far away from home for the first time.

31. “Rocket” by Def Leppard

Two years after the release of the legendary Hysteria album, Def Leppard were still hitting the charts with songs from that album! This was the final single released from that album. I still love it, and it is still one of the kost popular songs they play in concert.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m loving this countdown already. What a variety! There was only one stinker for me. We’ll be back to continue the countdown tomorrow.

1985, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week – March 9, 1985: Songs 10-1

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Welcome back to this week’s Countdown! If you missed the previous songs, you can go ahead and check out songs 40-31, 30-21 and 20-11. Well, I think this has been a really solid countdown this week. And there are going to be some ’80s classics in this Top 10. So, let’s Return to the week ending March 9, 1985, and wrap up this week’s countdown.

10. “Misled” by Kool & the Gang


Once again, a great way to begin the countdown today! This is one of my favorite Kool & the Gang songs. This was off of Kool & the Gang’s biggest selling album, Emergency.

9. “Sugar Walls” by Sheena Easton

I love Sheena Easton, but this isn’t one of my favorite songs by her. It does have that classic ’80s synth-pop sound though. This song was composed by Prince, and you can totally hear it.

8. “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner

This classic power ballad by Foreigner was a #1 hit. It was also overplayed. But, after avoiding it for a while, it sounds good to me again.

7. “Neutron Dance” by The Pointer Sisters

This is a great fun song by the Pointer Sisters, with Ruth as the lead singer. It was included on their great album, Break Out. However, it’s inclusion on the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack may have helped it become a huge hit. The song went so perfectly with the awesome chase scene at the beginning of the movie.

6. “Too Late For Goodbyes” by Julian Lennon

This was Julian Lennon’s biggest hit. I could not get over how much he looked and sounded like his father, John. Back then, I was kind of hoping the Beatles would reunite, with Julian taking his father’s place. But, I could not even imagine the pressure he already must have felt. So, that may have been unfair to him. I kind of like this song, and it really brings me back.

5. “Material Girl” by Madonna

I do love me some classic Madonna! I even had a little crush on her back then. It was nice when she was relevant. By the way, did you know she has a new studio album out? I didn’t, until I just went to iTunes for something else. Oh well. After this song, Madonna would sometimes be called the Material Girl in the headlines of newspapers and magazines. She did have a hit with “Like a Virgin“, but I notice she was never called Virgin Madonna. Anyway, “Material Girl” helped play a big part in helping Madonna become a pop icon of the ’80s.

4. “California Girls” by David Lee Roth

I loved this song when it came out! I much prefer DLR’s rockin’ music, but this was fun. He always has the strangest characters in his music videos.

3. “The Heat is On” by Glenn Frey

Another ’80s classic! And another smash hit from Beverly Hills Cop. This song would top out at #2, being held off by this week’s top song. However, it is the highest U.S. charting solo single by any member of The Eagles.

Now is the time of the countdown where we find out what was topping the other charts this week in 1985.

Topping the Country charts was “My Only Love” by the Statler Brothers

Topping the R&B charts was our #34 song on the Hot 100 – “Missing You” by Diana Ross.

The top Rock song this week was our #25 hit on the Hot 100 – “Just Another Night” by Mick Jagger.

The top Dance tune was “New Attitude” by Patti LaBelle.

The top album was Make It Big by Wham

And the top Adult Contemporary song this week is our #2 song this week:

2. “Careless Whisper” by Wham! Featuring George Michael

This was George Michael’s first solo hit, although he was still performing in Wham! at the time. The song was on Wham!’s Make It Big album. This is one of those songs that I did not like at all when it came out. But, I like it now.

1. “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon

We have reached the top of the charts with this classic power ballad by REO Speedwagon. This was the first week of this song’s run as the #1 hit in the country. If you see any ’80s love song compilation, chances are very good that this song will be on it.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Return the Song, Artist and Lyrics – 4/28/11

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Can you return the song and lyrics from Princess Diana’s favorite band?

In touch with the ground
I’m on the ____ __ _____ ___

Here is yesterday’s…

Wind Beneath My Wings by Sheena Easton:

Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
And everything I’d like to be,
I can fly Higher than an Eagle

Here is the Bonus:

It’s Tricky by Run D.M.C.

I met this little girlie, her hair was kinda curly
Went to her house and bust her out, I had to leave real early
These girls are really sleazy, all they just say is please me
Or spend some time and rock a rhyme, I said “It’s not that easy”
It’s Tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that’s right on time

Music

The ‘Eyes’ Have (had) It

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Other than the trivia over the next two days, this will be my last post for at least a week. On Monday, I will be undergoing surgery on both of my eyes. This isn’t lasik surgery. I have to get muscles tightened in both eyes. Yuck! So I figured that I would have some fun with this situation. I got Elton John’s crappy song “Blue Eyes” in my head, then I thought of “Private Eyes” by Hall and Oates, and Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes”. So I found myself on a mission: Find as many 80s songs as possible that have “Eye” or “Eyes” in the song title. I couldn’t believe how many I had on my iPod alone! Here are some of my favorites:

“Bluest Eyes in Texas” – Restless Heart

In the early ’80s I loved Country music by Johnny Cash, Alabama, Kenny Rogers, and the Oak Ridge Boys. Then I got away from it for a while. Then, friends of mine told me that I should give Restless Heart a shot. They said that the band was similar to Alabama. I ended up loving this band, and got back into Country, and have not stopped. This song was a number 1 hit off of Restless Heart’s third album, Big Dreams in a Small Town:

“For Your Eyes Only” – Sheena Easton

This was from the James Bond movie of the same name during the great Roger Moore years:

“The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” – Asia

This song from the supergroup Asia gets stuck in my head for a while after I hear it:

“Close My Eyes Forever” – Lita Ford and Ozzy Osborne

A duet by two of the most bad-ass people at the time – former guitarist of The Runaways, Lita Ford, and the Legendary Ozzy:

“Private Eyes” – Hall & Oates

This was a number one song for Hall & Oates at the height of the career:

“Heaven In Your Eyes” – Loverboy

Great power ballad by Loverboy from the Top Gun soundtrack:

“When You Close Your Eyes” – Night Ranger

This is one of my favorite songs by Night Ranger. “Sister Christian” may have gotten all the attention from the Midnight Madness album, but “When You Close Your Eyes” more than holds its own:

“Lost In Your Eyes” – Debbie Gibson

I still love this song – Guilty pleasure or not.

“Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor

I could not get enough of this song when it came out. Would Rocky III have been as good without the association with this song? I have been a huge Survivor fan since I first heard this song:

“In Your Eyes” – Peter Gabriel

I’m not a Peter Gabriel fan at all. But this is one of my all time favorite songs. And who can forget that iconic scene with this song in the movie Say Anything… as John Cusak is holding the radio over his head:

Here is the song itself:

Here is a list of other songs that I did not include due to time constraints, and so this post would not be too long:

Angel Eyes – The Jeff Healey Band
Electric Eye – Judas Priest
Eyes of a Stranger – Queensrÿche
Eye in the Sky – The Alan Parsons Project
I Can See It in Your Eyes – Men At Work
Blue Eyes – Elton John
Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen (from Dirty Dancing)
Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
Wild Eyed Southern Boys – .38 Special
Spanish Eyes – Tiffany
Somebody’s Eyes – Karla Bonoff (from Footloose)
Eyes Without a Face – Billy Idol
Don’t Close Your Eyes – Kix

Does anybody know of any songs I’m missing? Do you have a list of favorites?

Since I may not be able to see too well for a while, my entertainment may need to come in the form of music. What songs do you listen to when you want to feel better? Although this is an ’80s page, don’t feel limited to ’80s songs.