Category 1980s

“Don’t Leave Me This Way” (Thelma Houston/Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes/The Communards)

Don't Leave Me This Way, Thelma Houston

Today’s classic song of the day is that disco classic, Thelma Houston’s “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” If you were anywhere near a radio or dance floor during the spring of 1977, you heard a lot of this one. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” was written by Philly Soul legends Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, along with frequent collaborator Cary…

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“Total Eclipse of the Heart” (Bonnie Tyler)

Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Tyler

Still celebrating yesterday’s birthday of the late Jim Steinman, here’s the biggest-selling song he wrote, “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Performed by Welsh songstress Bonnie Tyler, this over-the-melodramatic-top power ballad was released in June of 1983 (February in the UK) and shot to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 charts. It also hit #1…

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“867-5309/Jenny” (Tommy Tutone)

867-5309, Tommy Tutone

Keeping with our theme of phone number-named tunes, today’s classic song of the day is that major earworm from the early ’80s, “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone. Released in November of 1981 and supported by massive MTV music video airplay, this irresistible little ditty hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on…

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“99 Luftballons” (Nena)

99 Luftballons, Nena

Today’s classic song of the day is “99 Luftballons” by the West German group Nena. The song is unique in being that rare foreign-language hit on the U.S. charts; even though the band released an English-language version (“99 Red Balloons”), it was the German version that was the hit in the U.S. Released globally in early 1984 (March 1983 in…

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