Only the Young by Journey was released January 8, 1985, with I’ll Fall in Love Again by Sammy Hagar as the B side. Originally intended for Journey’s Frontiers album but pulled at the last minute, the song eventually appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Vision Quest. Continue reading
1980s
80s Song of the Day: Looking for a New Love by Jody Watley
Looking for a New Love by Jody Watley was released January 6, 1987. The 7″ release in the United States featured an a cappella version of the song as the B side. It was the first single from Watley’s eponymous debut album. Continue reading
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: I Want a New Drug by Huey Lewis and the News
I Want a New Drug by Huey Lewis and the News was released on January 3, 1984, with Finally Found a Home as the B side. It was the second single from the band’s third album Sports. Continue reading
80s Song of the Day: Father Figure by George Michael
Father Figure by George Michael was released January 2, 1988. The 7″ release in the United States featured an instrumental version of the song as the B side. The song was the fourth single from Michael’s debut studio album, Faith, following the breakup of Wham! in 1986. Continue reading
80s Song of the Day: New Year’s Day by U2
New Year’s Day by U2 was released on January 1, 1983, with Treasure (Whatever Happened To Pete The Chop) as the B side. It was the lead single from the Irish rock band’s third studio album War. Continue reading
80s Song of the Day: Just Like Paradise by David Lee Roth
Just Like Paradise by David Lee Roth was released on December 30, 1987, with The Bottom Line as the B side. It was the lead single from Roth’s second solo album Skyscraper.
The song was Roth’s second-highest charting single of his solo career, after his cover of The Beach Boys’ California Girls, released in 1984. California Girls peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Just Like Paradise reached No. 6. Just Like Paradise was also a Top 10 hit in Canada, peaking there at No. 8. It reached No. 27 on the UK Singles chart.
The music video featured stage performance footage interspersed with footage of Roth climbing the famous Half Dome of Yosemite mountain. A photo of Roth climbing the mountain appeared on the picture sleeve of the single’s release.
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.
80s Song of the Day: Black Velvet by Alannah Myles
Black Velvet by Alannah Myles was released in the United States on December 17, 1989, with If You Want To as the B side. It was a single from the Canadian singer’s self-titled debut album.
The song, about Elvis Presley, was a No. 1 hit for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached No. 2 on the UK Singles chart and No. 10 in Myles’ native Canada.
Myles won a Grammy award for Best Female Rock Performance for Black Velvet.
80s Song of the Day: Only in My Dreams by Debbie Gibson
Only in My Dreams by Debbie Gibson was released on December 16, 1986, with Only in My Dreams (Dub) as the B side. It was Gibson’s debut single. It later appeared on her debut album Out of the Blue, released on August 18, 1987.
The song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1987. It peaked at No. 11 on the UK Singles chart.
Eighties Grooves 