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
1981 Things were starting to look a little better
for me in 1981. MTV was born, although we didn’t have cable yet. I had
to truck all the way to my friend Mike Boucher’s house after school to
catch a glimpse of Martha, Nina and the whole gang presenting the first-ever
three minute music video miracles. But the scariest part of ’81 was entering
junior high. Those dreaded 8th graders! They were like gigantic men and women
constantly tormenting little chubby me. Come summertime though, I was free to
lose myself in the fantasy world of playing Barbies in the basement of my neighbor
friends, sisters Tracy and Becky Egizio. (Ssssh, don’t tell my parents...)
Oh, the Dallas dramas I would cook up with those girls! We had more glamour and
international intrigue than Charles and Diana’s royal wedding. But the
real escape for me was my blonde dreams of Olivia and Debbie. I was getting "Physical" when "The
Tide Is High". How many #1’s can you sing along to from 1981? Let’s
see.
the #1's
Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – Christopher Cross
Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
Chariots of Fire – Vangelis
Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon
Kiss On My List – Hall & Oates
Morning Train (Nine to Five) – Sheena Easton
Physical – Olivia Newton-John
Private Eyes – Hall & Oates
Rapture – Blondie
Stars On 45 (Medley) – Stars On 45
The One That You Love – Air Supply
The Tide Is High – Blondie
