DISQUS

Beau · 5 months ago

I liked "Sledgehammer" the first time, when it was called "Superstition."

"Your Wildest Dreams" isn't a bad song in its own right, but it's also interesting because it's surely near the beginning of ex-Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz's disenchantment with the band. "Hey, I signed up to play all these cool Mellotron parts and play duets with the flute guy, and now we're doing synthpop ballads?"

Steve · 5 months ago

And I liked "Your Wildest Dreams" the first time the Moody Blues did it, in 1981, when it was called "The Voice."

Beau · 5 months ago

They're different songs?

(Actually, I kind of liked "The Voice," and yes, a lot of their 80s material was cheap rehashing of that song without the hooks.)

Joel · 5 months ago

"Gemini Dream"... now THERE'S a song!

thefxc · 5 months ago

"Your Wildest Dreams" did get a ton of MTV play--in part because MTV went oddly retro in 1986 (possibly because new wave was more or less over), that was the year of the Monkees comeback and, well, Genesis.

Later in the year they'd dump the ballads (no more Cetera!) and 60s stuff and add a ton of hair metal. Damn you and your cultural hegemony, MTV!!!!

Matt · 5 months ago

As an 80s kid, I love weeks like this. 10 of my favorite songs!! Love the Cetera moment. Classic. I think I heard "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" by the Moody Blues first, which led me back to The Other Side of Life where I found "Your Wildest Dreams," and then I began to make my way through the 70s catalog, starting with Days of Future Passed.

I don't know that I can defend Your Wildest Dreams, but I always loved the visuals that the song creates, and I thought the video illustrated those visuals perfectly. I like sappy crap - that's why I like it :-)

andrew_t · 5 months ago

Peter Cetera always strikes me as looking like the "after" photo in a layout where William H. Macy is "before." And my favorite bit from the video for "Nasty" was always the goofy little dance Paula and Ms. Privacy Control's other girlfriend did toward the end.

Didn't know that about Aardman doing the Sledgehammer video, though. I guess that means I've enjoyed their work for longer than I ever knew.

rockymtranger · 5 months ago

This is one of the most MOR Top 10s ever! When Janet Jackson is among the more cutting edge tracks, you know you're in big trouble.

DwDunphy · 5 months ago

For years I avoided Invisible Touch because it was the album that sounded too 80s. Oddly enough, with Lady GaGa, synthesized Kanye West and a host of other key-minded artists now topping charts, the album doesn't sound as dated anymore. Oh it's still 80s, but it's less obvious.

JE · 5 months ago

Wait... El DeBarge is a dude? I'm completely serious. I've never seen a video/picture until now.

JohnHughes · 5 months ago

Well, it's there in the name - if he were a lady, he'd be La DeBarge!

theroux · 5 months ago

That is why we never saw El and Bunny DeBarge* in the same room at once.

*("Save the best for last", donthca' know?!)

jasonhare · 5 months ago

This is exactly how I felt about Jermaine Stewart!

JonCummings · 5 months ago

Jason, you know the drill on Billy Ocean songs. He HAD to use the parentheses to get an 8-word title so that this song could go to #1. Billy only ever got to #1 with 8-word titles, and he did it three times -- "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car" did make it, and so did "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)." Which means that he accomplished at least one of your pet peeves each time out--the parentheses or the smashed-together word ("outta"). If he'd only found a way to combine a couple words in the title "When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going," that song would have made it to #1 as well, instead of #2.

You suck for making me watch the "Love Touch" video to find out which "movie star" you're talking about. I've made it an absolute mission to avoid that song for 23 years, and you blew it for me. You owe me bigtime. (See, I combined two words there just to piss you off.)

jasonhare · 5 months ago

Right you are about Billy Ocean, sir, not only the 8-word title but on the third #1 song. I misread my Billboard book because my cat was sitting on it.

And regarding "Love Touch," this was actually poor writing on my part -- I was trying to hint that later on in our countdown, Ms. Sheedy would get roped into appearing in a courtroom music video, not that there was an additional movie star in Rod's video. That being said, I'm comfortable with the fact that my crappy writing forced you to listen to "Love Touch."

JonCummings · 5 months ago

BTW, in your diatribe about "There'll Be Sad Songs" you failed to mention "Loverboy," which for some reason is my fave Billy Ocean song (and a #2 hit). If only he'd titled it "(I Want To Be Your) Lover Lover Loverboy," it would have made it to #1. And it would have had both parentheses and a smashed-together word!

When I don't have a column on Monday, it'll be because I wasted what little cleverness I possess on micromanaging Billy Ocean's song titles. Or because "Love Touch" melted what was left of my brain.

jasonhare · 5 months ago

Why don't you just marry Billy Ocean?

JohnHughes · 5 months ago

Jon Cummings-Ocean does have a lovely ring to it.

JonCummings · 5 months ago

How about Jon (Cummings) Ocean?

Jack Feerick · 5 months ago

Ahem. "Jon Cummings-Ocean (Billy's Ever-Lovin' Life Partner)." Eight words. Remember the RULES, people.

jasonhare · 5 months ago

I like Jon (Cummings) Ocean and all its variations, but I wouldn't want to swim there.

JonCummings · 5 months ago

Why not? I'm clean, and I only pee in there occasionally.

steed · 5 months ago

Oh sir - how misled you are. I haven't looked at every top 10 list of the '80s to compare, but I have to think this is one of the best weeks of the decade. There's not a bad song in the bunch. Peter Cetera followed by Who's Johnny - that's GOLD. "Love Touch" and "Danger Zone" are awesome pop songs. This top 10 could be used as guide to introduce a newbie to the decade. What a brilliant week.

theroux · 5 months ago

Did Janet really do that backflip? That was such the controversy back in the day.
--"Yes, she did!"
--"Oh hell nah, stunt double!"

David_E · 5 months ago

1986 suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked.

JonCummings · 5 months ago

The first half of '86 really sucked. But once Starship and Mr. Mister and "The Greatest Love of All" cleared out, in the second half enough decent music emerged ("So," "Graceland," "Back in the High Life," "Raising Hell," "Lifes Rich Pageant," Crowded House) that one could almost forget "Stuck with You," Glass Tiger and Don Johnson.

Sharon · 5 months ago

Woo! Kenny Loggins again on Popdose! Really though, he was tough to avoid in the 80s. And wow, you managed to mention Cetera without including David Foster. For me (I love Pop), this was a good week. What do you have against mashed together words and parenthesis? Are hyphens annoying too?

Dan C. · 5 months ago

I will echo the comments about this Top 10 being 10 of my favorite songs at that time. This was the first summer that I really watched the charts and got into pop music, so this brought back a lot of memories.

Joel · 5 months ago

I'm surprised "Holding Back The Years" became a #1hit. Not because it's a bad song (which it certainly isn't) but because it's extremely sophisticated fare for "the top 40". I mean c'mon...a muted trumpet solo on a number one pop hit? I remember this starting to get some serious airplay at the end of the school year and so many girls in my class LOVED this song. I was in the 6th grade! Can you imagine 6th grade girls these days being into something this...well..."deep"? I was pretty indifferent to the song when it was out, but 20+ years later, it has become one of my favorites of the 80's. Mick Hucknull can sing his balls off. Too bad much of Simply Red's output was hit or miss.

My 11 year old mind also thought "Sledgehammer" had a pretty "retro 70's soul" (way before those type of things were fashionable). I loved it. Bought the 45 at the Rideau Centre in Ottawa in June '86. Speaking of "retro soul" things....Another lost classic (that didn't go top 10) from that summer: "Digging Your Scene" by the Blow Monkeys.

Those are the only two songs on the chart I really cared for. I may have liked "Who's Johnny" for a few weeks, if only for the oh-so-cool Synclavier/sampler effects. So futuristic then, so dated now.

Joel · 5 months ago

By the way that live version of "Holding Back The Years" from 2009 is a performance of the 45 single edit. That was the version that got all the airplay on CHR/top 40 radio back in the day.

Phillip Gangale · 5 months ago

Might want to add Double "The Captain Of Her Heart" as a song that should have been a top 10 record..The melody was so catchy and it was one of the few slow songs as a teenager that I loved..At 14 I was more into urban or harder edged hits, but that Double record was awesome..I bought that 45 at Sam Goody/Musicland in San Bruno, CA...The Blow Monkeys song was a good one too..Does anybody remember The Fixx "Secret Separation" that was also out in the summer of 1986?

SteveA · 5 months ago

Yes Secret Separation was a good song and I believe the last top 40 for the Fixx. From 1986 does anyone remember the Outfield (Your Love); the Hooters (And We Danced); Cutting Crew and Eddie Money (Take Me Home Tonight). 1986 is rounding up to be a good year.

PS: I also loved Double - great song.

jasonhare · 5 months ago

I have a theory (as yet unproved) that "Captain of Her Heart" might actually be the very last Mellow Gold song of that era.

JonCummings · 5 months ago

I don't know, Jason--what are the exact rules for qualifying as a "mellow gold" act? Double, being Swiss and using so many synths, seems outside the usual parameters to me. But you're the expert. Regardless, I have four words that (I think) refute your theory: "She's Like the Wind." And wouldn't Cetera's soundtrack-duet ballads count? (Not to mention "Look Away" and most of the rest of "Chicago 19"?)

Seems to me the dividing line may have come when all the white pop songwriters moved to Nashville in the early '90s and their songs started being labeled "country." Or was that just a myth?

jefito · 5 months ago

I'm pretty sure John Denver released an album after "Captain of Her Heart" was released, which would ruin your theory.

jasonhare · 5 months ago

See, here's the thing: I've never been able to define what makes a song Mellow Gold. I just know it when I hear it. "She's Like the Wind" and the Cetera stuff fall into some other category. They're not Mellow Gold. There's something about "Captain of Her Heart" that makes it Mellow Gold to me. I'll try to put my finger on it, but I doubt I can articulate it.

rockymtranger · 5 months ago

How about "Shattered Dreams"? That seems like it would fit into the same genre. Or Basia's "Time and Tide"?

jasonhare · 5 months ago

"Shattered Dreams" is a great pop song, but definitely not Mellow Gold; the protagonist has too much anger and not enough desperation. I haven't heard "Time and Tide" in years, I'll have to check it out again.

Dan C. · 5 months ago

I would say that "Time & Tide" (and most of Basia's work, for that matter) is pretty close to Mellow Gold, but would not dream of making the designation for Jason is surely the expert on that genre. ;)

I always kind of liked Basia's stuff in spite of myself - she somehow made that loungey style of music respectable for at least as long as it took to listen to the song.

SteveA · 5 months ago

The 80's were an awesome time. I remember watching MTV day in day out for hours and seeing these videos quite often till they grew on me. I wanted to be in most of these videos except for Ms Jackson's Nasty - I guess it was too funky for me, but in retrospect if I had to listen to one track on my ipod it would probably be nasty.

Not a big fan of the Moody Blues but I think the video on MTV may have had something to do with the song's popularity. It was a very visual song and the video showed this. Not one of my faves - but loved the video.

Did you also notice that 6 out of the 10 artists are British here, and that 4 of the songs from 2-10 were #1 (Simply Red / Peter Gabriel / Billy Ocean and Peter Cetera).

Phillip Gangale · 5 months ago

Four out of the ten are from soundtracks...I have to say that "Love Touch" was the last Rod Stewart song I cared for...Simply Red's "Holding Back The Years" is worthy of being number one, but I like "Money$ Too Tight to Mention" even better..

Chris X · 5 months ago

not a bad song in the bunch? Seriously, steed? haha come on. Weeks like this would make me agree with your earlier assessment of the 80s being the worst decade ever for music. Some great songs, but a glance over at the list of what was riding high on the charts as opposed to the general music out at that time makes me shudder a little.

Regardless, Billy Ocean is the man. THE MAN. Jason, I must agree that the other songs you noted are indeed superior to "..Sad Songs" (parentheses or not)

"Glory of Love"

I think Peter Cetera is a flaming bag of used tampons, but I must admit to liking this song. Probably the Karate Kid connection.

"Who's Johnny" - I just heard they're remaking Short Circuit. I though they did that last year, it was called Wall-E and was one of the most overrated hypemachines released to theaters in quite some time. I was happy to see this song here if for nothing else to see steed pining over El Debarge, but was severely disappointed haha

Simply Red. Man, I hated this song back then, but really dig it now. Funny how things change over 20+ years. The Frantic Elevators were great, I'd love to see most people's reaction when they realize
their favorite Carrot Top of syrup ballads was once uppin' the punx. I havent heard their version of this song though, and I'd certainly like to.

"Danger Zone" - Seriously, FUCK Kenny Loggins.

"Nasty" - who's that eatin that nasty food? What a ridiculous lyric.

"Sledgehammer" - great song, great album, and best video of all time. Love Peter Gabriel.

"Invisible Touch" - despite my love of Peter as referenced above, I prefer Genesis' 80s pop stuff to their prog era. And really, this was their only #1? I'd swear "Land of Confusion" and "Tonight" x 3 were charttoppers too. Damn, who knew?

kingofgrief · 5 months ago

This is the first time I've watched the "Love Touch" video at length in over twenty years. And it still hurts...except for the clips that feature Ms. Winger. That hairstyle suits her.

Even Rod himself doesn't have many kind words for the song, if I remember the annotations for the Storyteller box correctly. I wonder how he'll feel about "If We Fall in Love Tonight" or that recent 70s cover album in five years, They never should have let him out of the cell when the director called "cut".

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to dig up my copies of Every Picture Tells a Story and "In a Broken Dream" to purge. I'd offer commentary on the other cuts, but I do enough play-by-play with Steed.

Old_Davy · 5 months ago

Justin Hayward pretty much took over writing The Moody Blues singles in their later years, which is why "Your Wildest Dreams" sounds like "The Voice" which sounds like "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" which sounds like "No More Lies" etc. etc. etc. Not that I'm complaining since I love his guitar work and all, but too much of a good thing, you know.

Love love love "Sledgehammer" (does Gabriel have weird teeth or what??), but the rest of the chart is pure poo in my book, including the Genesis track (and I'm a big Genesis fan).