I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) by Aretha Franklin and George Michael was released on January 19, 1987, with an instrumental version of the song as the B side. The single appeared on Franklin’s thirty-fourth studio album Aretha. Continue reading
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80s Song of the Day: Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey was released January 5, 1983, with Frontiers as the B side. It was a single from the band’s eighth studio album Frontiers. Continue reading
80s Song of the Day: Jump by Van Halen
Jump by Van Halen was released on December 21, 1983, with House of Pain as the B side. It was the lead single from the band’s sixth studio album 1984 – their last with David Lee Roth as lead singer.
The song was Van Halen’s first to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and their only No. 1 hit with Roth as lead singer. It was also a No. 1 hit in Canada and Italy. It reached No. 7 on the UK Singles chart.
The music video for Jump, considered ground-breaking at the time, won an MTV Video Music Award in 1984 for Best Stage Performance.
Ultimate 80s Christmas Grooves Mixtape: Side A
We’re feeling festive here at Eighties Grooves, and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than with Christmas songs from our favorite decade? So grab a pair of leg warmers and a cup of hot chocolate, and check out side A of the Ultimate 80s Christmas Grooves mixtape.
1. Christmas Time by Bryan Adams
Christmas Time by Bryan Adams is one of my favorites from the 1980s. The single was released on clear, green vinyl in 1985, with Reggae Christmas as the B side – another great 80s Christmas song. If we’re strictly going by music videos, you can’t beat the one for Reggae Christmas, filmed in the MTV studios with special guest Pee-Wee Herman.
2. Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Band Aid
What can I say about the gold standard, be-all end-all of 80s Christmas songs? This song meant so much to me that I still remember buying the 12″ version in Sam Goody while Christmas shopping with my mom at the local mall – and I still have that same record I bought 32 years ago. I also still remember the excitement of watching the song’s music video and seeing footage of all my favorite artists arriving to record the song together.
80s Song of the Day: Christmas in Hollis by Run-DMC
Christmas in Hollis by Run-DMC was released November 25, 1987, with Peter Piper as the B side. It was originally released as a single from the Christmas compilation album A Very Special Christmas, which included artists such as Madonna, Pretenders, U2, Sting, and Whitney Houston. Proceeds from the sales of the album were donated to the Special Olympics. Christmas in Hollis was the only original composition on the album.
Christmas in Hollis, which refers to the Hollis, Queens neighborhood where Run-DMC grew up, samples Back Door Santa, a 1968 release by Clarence Carter, as well as holiday classics Frosty the Snowman, Joy to the World, and Jingle Bells.
The song didn’t chart upon its original release. In 2000, it reached No. 78 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
80s Song of the Day: Come Dancing by The Kinks
The picture sleeve of the UK 7″ release.
Come Dancing by The Kinks was released in the United Kingdom on November 19, 1982, with Noise as the B side. It was a single from the band’s nineteenth studio album State of Confusion.
The song failed to chart in the UK upon its initial release. When it was released months later in the United States, it was propelled by frequent airplay of the song’s music video on MTV. As a result, Come Dancing reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band’s highest US charting single in over a decade. Continue reading
80s Song of the Day: Tell It to My Heart by Taylor Dayne
Tell It to My Heart by Taylor Dayne was released November 6, 1987, with an instrumental version of the song as the B side. It was Dayne’s debut single from her debut album of the same name.
The song took off unexpectedly upon its release, forcing Dayne to complete her album in six weeks. In the United States, the single spent 26 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 7. In the United Kingdom, it reached No. 3.
In 1988, Dayne was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal, Female for the song.
80s Song of the Day: Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order was released on November 3, 1986, with Bizarre Dub Triangle (a shorter mix of the song) as the B side. It was a single from the band’s fourth studio album Brotherhood.
The song reached No. 5 on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart and No. 56 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1995, a new mix of the song, included on The Best of New Order album, cracked the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 98.
For more about Bizarre Love Triangle, read my previous post about the song.
80s Song of the Day: Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi was released on October 31, 1986, with Wild in the Streets as the B side. It was the second single from the band’s multi-platinum album Slippery When Wet.
The song – about a fictional working class couple, Tommy and Gina – spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and two weeks at No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Continue reading
80s Song of the Day: The Boys of Summer by Don Henley
The Boys of Summer by Don Henley was released on October 29, 1984, with A Month of Sundays as the B side. It was the first single from Henley’s album Building the Perfect Beast.
The song reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
Henley won a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the song.
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