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Number One! I’ve always loved the sound of that.
It’s
such a catchy
term in our culture: the #1 movie or book, your best friend, your favorite restaurant
or store and of course, the ultimate, the #1 hit single! Ever since I can remember
I’ve been obsessed with music charts. On Sundays growing up in Joliet,
Illinois I would rush home after church to listen to Casey Kasem’s Top
40 on the radio, diligently writing down each hit in my composition notebook,
completely mesmerized
by the time we hit #1! There was also this awesome record store in town called
The Crow’s Nest that would have these free pink photocopied flyers of the
chart listings from the local radio station that I would collect obsessively.
I was hooked! So I thought I would share my obsession with the #1 hit singles
from my favorite decade, the 80’s, here with you at fredflare.com. Over
the next 11 weeks I’ll be reminiscing while presenting the best of the
best
of the decade of decadence. I’m sure you’ll see ones that you think
are missing – and it’s true, there are some great hits that will
be absent – but they just didn’t have the power needed to make it
all the way to #1. That’s what it takes to be a true chart topper! Enjoy!
XXOO Chris |
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1980
Wow, 1980! Can you even remember back that far?
That’s like over 20 yrs
ago. I bet loads of you weren’t even born yet. While 52 Americans were
being held hostage in Iran and ole Mount St. Helens blew her top in Washington
State, I was going through some major changes myself. A new baby brother (Scooter),
a new house in a new neighborhood and, worst of all, a new school…as a
fifth grader! I ended up pretty much alone that year. To cheer me up, my mom,
the ever sensitive school teacher that she was, bought me one of my first records, "Chipmunk
Punk" by Alvin and the Chipmunks. They were a Saturday morning cartoon of
chipmunk brothers who found themselves in precarious situations while still finding
time to belt out the hits in their top 40 cover band. I loved them! I used to
rock out in my bedroom for hours singing alongside Alvin’s souped-up falsetto
vocals during his renditions of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and,
of course, "Call Me". No wonder my Teddy’s ears always fell off!
On that note, please enjoy the best of the year that launched the 80’s.
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the #1's
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) – Pink Floyd
Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
Call Me – Blondie
Celebration – Kool & The Gang
Coming Up (Live at Glasgow) – Paul McCartney
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
Do That To Me One More Time – Captain & Tennille
Funkytown – Lipps, Inc.
He Stopped Loving Her Today – George Jones
I Love A Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt
It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me – Billy Joel
(Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon
Lady – Kenny Rogers
Magic – Olivia Newton-John
Please Don’t Go – KC & The Sunshine Band
Rock With You – Michael Jackson
Sailing – Christopher Cross
Upside Down – Diana Ross
Woman In Love – Barbra Streisand |
