Hey Everybody, it’s been a while. I’ve been wanting to do a new Top 40 countdown, which is a popular feature on this site. The wait is finally over! This week, we’ll Return to the week ending September 25, 1982. At this time in 1982, I had just begun my dreaded Junior high school days – 7th grade. The one thing that got me through those rough times was the totally awesome music. So let’s get to it, and Return to the week ending September 25, 1982. Today we will be covering songs 40-31. If you are new to this series, I post 10 songs a day until we get to the top of the charts. If you want to listen to the song/watch the video, just click on the song title. And away we go!

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40. “Let It Be Me” by Willie Nelson

The 83 year old music legend’s very first public appearance took place shortly after his 5th birthday where he recited a poem. He was so nervous before hand, that he picked his nose until it bled, earning him the name “Booger Red.”
This song, the second single from Willie’s Always On My Mind album, and is a cover of an Everly Brothers 1960 song.

39. “Heart Attack” by Olivia Newton-John

This song was released off of Olivia’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2. My mom owned the album, but I think I listened to it more than anybody else. While my mom watched the television shows she liked, such as Dynasty, I would sit at the stereo with headphones listening to this album, while I stared lovingly at Olivia on the album cover:

Oh, and the music was pretty damn good too.

38. “Oh Julie” by Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow’s heyday was in the ’70s. The best contribution Manilow made in the ’80s was that he was mentioned in one of the most popular quotes of the decade, delivered by Bender in The Breakfast Club: “Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe?”

37. “Holdin’ On” by Tané Cain

I had never heard of this song before, and like it a lot. Tané Cain sounds like a cross between Laura Branigan and Pat Benatar. If her last name sounds familiar, it’s for a good reason. She was married to Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain, who also happened to co-write and co-produce the songs on Tané’s self titled debut album, from which this song came. It was her only top 40 hit.

36. “You Don’t Want Me Anymore” by Steel Breeze

This is another pleasant surprise for me. I had never heard of this band or song. It is a good pop-rock song.

35. “Gypsy” by Fleetwood Mac

This Stevie Nicks song was a huge hit off of Fleetwood Mac’s Mirage album. It was intended to be included on Stevie’s solo album, Bella Donna. However, when her best friend Robin Anderson died of leukemia, the song took on a new significance and Nicks held it over for Fleetwood Mac.

34. “Don’t Fight It” by Kenny Loggins with Steve Perry

Forget Loggins and Messina. We needed more Loggins and Perry. Hey, neither of you guys have had any hits in years! Let’s make this happen!

33. “The One You Love” by Glenn Frey

This song was the lead single from the late, great Glenn Frey’s debut solo album No Fun Aloud.

32. “Hold Me” by Fleetwood Mac

You may remember this band, Fleetwood Mac, from 3 songs ago. This one is a Christine McVie jam, with Lindsey Buckingham on the backing vocals. This was the first single released off of the Mirage album.

31. “You Dropped a Bomb On Me” by The Gap Band

Let’s get funky as we wrap up today’s songs! This electronic funk is totally ’80s.

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That’s is all for today’s list. Did you have any favorites, or stinkers? What were you doing this week in 1982? We’ll continue the countdown tomorrow.

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