Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
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…
Today’s classic dream-related song of the day is “Your Wildest Dreams” by the Moody Blues. Released in April of 1986, this single went to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song’s music video also got a ton of airplay on MTV and other channels. “Your…
Today’s dreamy classic song of the day is “I Can Dream About You” by Dan Hartman. You may better remember it, however, as being featured in the 1984 movie Streets of Fire—and hence springs a story. Streets of Fire, as some of you may remember, was a kind of operatic rock and roll action thriller, directed by Walter Hill. It…
Today’s classic song of the day keeps us in the ’80s with the very popular Huey Lewis and the News and their hit, “The Power of Love.” You may remember the song being featured in the blockbuster film, Back to the Future, or from its popular MTV music video. “The Power of Love” was written by Newsers Huey Lewis, Johnny…
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…
Today’s classic song of the day is a somewhat obscure one, even if it was a Top Twenty hit back in the day. The song is “Pilot of the Airwaves” by British singer/songwriter Charlie Dore. She released this one in February of 1980 in the U.S. (November of 1979 in the UK) and it went all the way to #13…
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…
Today’s classic song of the day is a later and less-remembered hit from Carly Simon. Released in July of 1980, “Jesse” hit #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #8 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It was a highlight of her Come Upstairs album. “Jesse” is a fine piece of songwriting that deals with a woman weak with love for…
Today’s classic ’80s teen dance pop song of the day is Debbie Gibson’s “Shake Your Love.” It was released in September of 1987 and rose all the way to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the Dance Club Songs chart. It was Ms. Gibson’s second single; her debut track, “Only In My Dreams,” also hit #4 on…