Disc 4 of 5. These songs charted between July 1980 through February 1981 (my first semester of high school.) Not many good tracks here.
Tracks:
- One In A Million You - Larry Graham, released April 1980, Pop #9, R&B #1.
Previously reviewed here. Here's what I said then: "I loved this song back in the summer of 1980 and it's great to hear it again. Graham was the bass player for Sly And The Family Stone and has a great voice that has similarities to Barry White. When I was 13 years old and trying desperately to figure out how to woo women, I would imagine myself singing One In A Million You to a girl in attempts to gain favor. I never tried it for reals, but I think it might have worked except for the fact that, at the time, I couldn't sing as low as Larry Graham." - Jesse - Carly Simon, released July 1980, Pop #11.
Carly has never been one of my favorites and this song isn't very good. It tries to be a lusty, seductive thing yet it has a children's sing-along chorus at the end? During my freshman year in high school, I was in drama class and was subjected to a classmate named Melissa earnestly lip-synching to this song for a "record pantomime" grade. It was so bad I clearly remember it 32 years later. - Hot Rod Hearts - Robbie Dupree, released July 1980, Pop #15.
1980 was a good time to be a yacht rocker. I always group Dupree with with fellow soft rock artist Michael Johnson, but this could just as easily be a Michael McDonald chart. I prefer his earlier hit, Steal Away (on volume 3 of this series), but this is still mighty smooth. - Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys) - Waylon Jennings, released August 1980, Pop #21, Country #1.
I have a love/hate relationship with this one. It's familiar and I sing along with it, but more than a little too country for my tastes. What I want to remember about that TV show isn't the theme, but its continuing contribution to fashion: Daisy Dukes.
- How Do I Survive - Amy Holland, released June 1980, Pop #22.
I don't remember this disco-ish tune from '80. Holland sounds a lot like Sheena Easton. Michael McDonald was behind this release and his hand is all over it - even the sax solo sounds like it was ripped from One Step Closer. Holland and McDonald eventually married. - Sequel - Harry Chapin, released October 1980, Pop #23.
Another one I don't remember. At almost seven minutes, this one is hard to take. I've never liked any of Chapin's work and I don't like his voice, so this song isn't doing anything to change my opinion of his musical work. His humanitarian work, on the other hand, demands my respect. - Lookin' For Love - Johnny Lee, released June 1980, Pop #5, Country #1.
As you can imagine, Urban Cowboy was huge in Houston and this song was probably played on every station in the Houston market at one time or another. I know all the words, but that doesn't mean I like it. This is so far from what I normally play, my oldest son just asked me what I was listening to. - Empire Strikes Back (Medley: Darth Vader/Yoda's Theme) - Meco, released June 1980, Pop #18.
Sci-fi disco? Oh, lawd, why? What might have been a good idea in 1977 had tarnished badly by 1980. - King Of The Hill - Rick Pinette & Oak, released February 1980, Pop #36.
I remember this one. It's an unfortunate melodramatic marriage of the styles of Barry Manilow and Styx. Let that sink in for a second. - I'm Happy That Love Has Found You - Jimmy Hall, released September 1980, Pop #27.
The disc makes a mild comeback with this soul-tinged southern shuffle. Another Michael McDonald sighting? That sure sounds like him on background vocals. I don't remember this one, but I probably would have liked it back in 1980.; It saves the second half of this disc, for sure. - Killin' Time - Fred Knoblock & Susan Anton, released November 1980, Pop #28.
Not my kind of ballad. Even though I have strange fondness for Knoblock's earlier hit (Why Not Me, on volume 3 of this series), I don't like this plodding waltz. For an actress/model, Anton isn't a bad vocalist. - I Believe In You - Don Williams, released August 1980, Pop #24, Country #1.
Even when this was popular, I thought it was just boring country pablum. An annoying earworm - I wish I had written it.
Also on the blog:
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 5
Vol 4 is much weaker than Vol. 5 in my book and like you I know all the words to "Lookin' For Love" but unlike you I sing it often. Guess I wasn't as traumatized as you were during the Great Urban Cowboy
ReplyDeleteTakeover of 1980-1981:)
Was I the only pubescent boy freaked out because Daisy Duke wore panty hose with her shorts? Who does that? Yuck.
Although HERC is not fond of the blondes, Jessica Simpson and AC/DC's "Shoot To Thrill" were only reasons to watch Dukes Of Hazzard film. Just got dizzy thinking about it. C'mon YouTube.
I too have all these cds, I remember when I would see them at circuit city brand new for $9.99 a pop.
ReplyDeleteBut I only got one volume at that price, vol. 5, then I sparked an interest in the early 2000's and seeked the rest out just like you did, and it wasn't cheap.
ReplyDelete