Popdose - Latest Comments in CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

Old_Davy — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:27:39 -0000

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).

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

kingofgrief — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:52:23 -0000

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.

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

Chris X — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:20:39 -0000

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?

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

Dan C. — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:28:55 -0000

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.

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

jasonhare — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:24:03 -0000

"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.

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

rockymtranger — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:01:22 -0000

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

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

jasonhare — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:06:39 -0000

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.

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

jefito — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:19:09 -0000

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

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

JonCummings — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:08:37 -0000

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

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

JonCummings — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:07:07 -0000

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?

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

jasonhare — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:32:06 -0000

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

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

SteveA — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:50:01 -0000

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.

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

Phillip Gangale — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:04:51 -0000

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?

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

Phillip Gangale — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:41:59 -0000

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..

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

SteveA — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:16:19 -0000

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).

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

Joel — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:56:08 -0000

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.

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

Joel — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:47:57 -0000

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.

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

Dan C. — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:06:39 -0000

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.

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

what the what — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:06:32 -0000

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?

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

jasonhare — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:18:23 -0000

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

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

Jack Feerick — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:15:02 -0000

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

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

JonCummings — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:56:12 -0000

How about Jon (Cummings) Ocean?

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

JonCummings — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:53:43 -0000

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.

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

JohnHughes — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:37:25 -0000

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

Re: CHART ATTACK!: 7/19/86

jasonhare — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:31:57 -0000

Why don't you just marry Billy Ocean?