Pop Shots – A Look At The Charts … From 41 Years Ago

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week I’m hopping into my time machine again, this time setting the coordinates for 41 years ago this week.

Touching down in 1981, it’s an interesting time to be alive, because it’s the ‘80s, but it isn’t really the ‘80s, at least not in the way we think of the decade. In 1981, most of the rock music still sounded like ‘70s rock, and while new wave was making its presence felt, the ‘80s pop sound wasn’t anywhere near the synth-driven heights it would eventually reach.

The #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 this week might have been one of the first truly ‘80s songs, as Kim Carnes was in the top spot with “Bette Davis Eyes.” Even with Carnes at #1, you’ll swear some of the other songs on this chart were from the ‘70s.

So let’s get into the exploration in chart history! Of course, since this is Pop Shots, you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

 

1. Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes

 

As I mentioned in the intro, this is a song from ’81 that actually sounds like an ‘80s song, and because of this it’s correctly remembered as an ‘80s classic. I do wonder, however, how many people in 2022 know “Bette Davis Eyes,” but have no idea who Bette Davis was.

 

6. REO Speedwagon – Take It On The Run

 

REO Speedwagon had two classics on the chart this week back in ’81 – “Take It On The Run” at #6, and “Keep on Loving You” at #42. Everyone on the planet knows these songs, and sings along to them when they come on the radio. They are classic rock staples, which is probably why many of us think of them as being from the ‘70s.

 

9. Hall & Oates – Kiss On My List

 

As I’m sure birth rates indicate, the music of Hall & Oates was everywhere at this time. On the Billboard Hot 100, not only was “Kiss On My List” at #9, “You Make My Dreams” was at #38. These guys have a sneaky great catalog, and over the years they’ve definitely help a lotta folks seal the deal.

 

31. Blondie – Rapture

 

“Rapture” is a great song that is sometimes only thought of as the first song to hit #1 that featured rap vocals. Yes, Debbie Harry rapped, and yes she rapped about general nonsense, but “Rapture” is way bigger than just that aspect of it … and if we’re being honest, the nonsense rap is silly fun. Not everything needs to be serious.

 

33. Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl

 

While many of us think of the previously mentioned REO Speedwagon songs as ‘70s rock, Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” is as pure an early ‘80s rock song as you’re going to find. Like many great ‘80s songs, it can get stuck in your head for days. Heck, it’s probably stuck in your head after reading this!

 

39. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – The Waiting

 

The music of Tom Petty doesn’t belong to any one decade. In fact, in can only be categorized as – Tom Petty music. He’s always created truly timeless tunes, and “The Waiting” is a song you could imagine being released in any of three, or four decades.

 

64. Stevie Wonder – Lately

 

A Stevie Wonder classic that an entire generation knows because of Jodeci’s phenomenal MTV Unplugged version of it, “Lately” is a jam no matter which R&B legend, or group of legends, is singing it. Seriously, though, the Jodeci version is incredible. Good luck to anyone who attempts to top it.

 

 

65. Shalamar – Make That Move

 

Remember how on Wu-Tang Clan’s “Triumph” Ghostface rapped, “Blowin’ like Shalamar in ’81”? This is what Shalamar sounded like in ’81, and I know what you’re thinking – wasn’t disco supposed to be dead by now? Kinda sorta, but much like how some of the rock songs on this chart sound like ‘70s rock, the last vestiges of disco were still around, as well. Hey, it’s never too late to get your boogie on!

 

81. Joe Dolce – Shaddup You Face

Apparently this is what comedic music sounded like before Weird Al. Thank God our accordion wielding legend came along and saved us!

 

84. Billy Squier – The Stroke

 

Not a single one of us thinks of this as an ‘80s song. Much like the previously mentioned REO Speedwagon songs, Billy Squier’s “The Stroke” feels like a ‘70s song, so much so, in fact, that I’m pretty sure there’s an unspoken rule that it has to be played at least half a dozen times a day on every classic rock radio station in the country. You know what, America is a better place for it.

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.