"Sexy Eyes" by Dr. Hook

Top 10 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  0056
Date:  02/16/1980
Debut:  71
Peak:  5
Weeks:  21
Genre:  Pop, Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  Dr. Hook had a good decade run on the charts. Originally known as Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, the name was shortened after they declared bankruptcy in 1974, which got out of their record contract. Signed to Capitol next, they continued to have hits like "Sharing the Night Together." The band's initial sound was a mix of rock, country and folk (sometimes bordering on novelty), but they turned to a smoother pop sound in their Capitol years. "Sexy Eyes" was their sixth and last Top 10 hit.

ReduxReview:  Probably because the band's main hits were all in the 70s, I didn't realize this was on the chart in 1980. At the time I remember not really liking the song and I wasn't a big fan of the group. Their smooth pop was like "mom music" where a mom hums and dreamily sways around the house when this is on the radio. I'm still not a big fan, but I appreciate the song better now and it does have a jazzy, sensual groove that is alluring.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  The group got their break when they were asked to perform the songs for the film "Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?" The songs were written by Shel Silverstein (poet, cartoonist, author of "A Light in the Attic). The association continued after the film as Silverstein wrote the songs for the groups first two albums.

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"Voice of Freedom" by Jim Kirk & the TM Singers

Song#:  0055
Date:  02/16/1980
Debut:  73
Peak:  71
Weeks:  3
Genre:  Easy Listening, Pop



Pop Bits:  Jim Kirk produced and created a lot of music for the American Top 40 and American Country Countdown radio shows. He also wrote and produced a ton of jingles and promos for radio and TV stations and corporations like Coca-Cola. Roy Disney hired him as creative director for TM Productions where a huge amount of his work was produced. During that time this song came about as a benefit for the American Red Cross. Later on, he co-founded Corporate Magic which specialized in producing major corporate events.

ReduxReview:  Okay, this is just such an easy target that I wonder if it is even worth commenting on. Oh, but I will. Right from the start you can tell this was done by a jingle writer. It sounds so radio spot/TV commercial/theme park-y. I want to be nice because this song benefited a worthy cause, but this is just so hideous. I've heard some pretty awful pop in my day but this just sets a new record. I actually made it through this tripe twice without my head exploding into little puffs of red, white and blue cotton candy. I'm gonna have to listen to some Metallica just to get the caked-on, dried up saccharine cracked off of my ears. Oh, the humanity...

ReduxRating:  0/10

Trivia:  At one time, Corporate Magic was acquired by Gaylord Entertainment - the folks who own such places as the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry. Later on, Kirk re-purchased the main stake in the company and now is back to heading up the company he started.


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"Women" by Foreigner

Song#:  0054
Date:  02/16/1980
Debut:  77
Peak:  41
Weeks:  9
Genre:  Rock, Arena Rock



Pop Bits:  Foreigner was successful from the get-go as their debut album spawned two Top 10 hits, as did their follow-up album "Double Vision." For their third album, "Head Games," they put forth a more straight-ahead gritty rock sound and the first single "Dirty White Boy" set the tone. It went to #12, but the set is more known for the title track, which surprisingly only made it to #14. A third single failed to click, but this fourth single was able to make it on the chart and peaked just shy of the Top 40. Although a hit album, "Head Games" was a slight decline for the band. That would soon be addressed with their first album of the 80s.

ReduxReview:  I like a lot of Foreigner's hits, but I've never fully connected with their albums. The only song I really like off of "Head Games" is the title track. "Women" is a rock n' rave-up that lacks some of the dirtiness that perhaps a hot Southern rock band could inject. For me, it just doesn't fit the band and sounds a little awkward.

ReduxRating:  3/10

Trivia:  The band name came from co-founder Mick Jones. Since the sextet had three members from the UK and three from the US, he said that no matter what country they were in, half the band were always going to be foreigners.

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"Call Me" by Blondie

#1 Song Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  0053
Date:  02/16/1980
Debut:  80
Peak:  1 (6 weeks)
Weeks:  25
Genre:  Rock, New Wave, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  While their album "Eat to the Beat" was still fresh and its second single "The Hardest Part" (see Song #0033) was just hitting the chart two-weeks prior, this Giorgio Moroder and Deborah Harry collaboration was released. This major blast of new wave served as the theme song to the Richard Gere movie "American Gigolo" and stormed up the chart. The naughty nature of the film combined with Harry's sexy delivery helped to make it Blondie's biggest hit.

ReduxReview:  In the 60s there was a song with the same title that was an easy listening standard. Most notably done by Petula Clark, Chris Montez had a #22 hit with it in 1966 and it has been covered countless times since then. The innocent chorus invites to "Call me...don't be afraid, just call me." I've always considered Blondie's song the dirty cousin who demands "Call me!" and to "roll me in designer sheets." Oh how the times change. In 1966 she is letting a lonely guy know she is available, but in 1980 she is asking for a lil' sumpin' sumpin' anytime, day or night. As a naughty boy, I prefer the dirty girl. This is a hot song that hasn't lost a single bit of its sizzle.

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  Double Shot! 1) Blondie had a total of four Top 10 hits - each of them peaked at #1. Other than these four #1's, they did not have any other song go higher than #24. 2) "Call Me" was the #1 chart song for 1980.

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"Cars" by Gary Numan

Top 10 Alert!

One-Hit Wonder Alert!

Song#:  0052
Date:  02/16/1980
Debut:  81
Peak:  9
Weeks:  25
Genre:  Pop, Electronic, Synthpop



**Here is the first One-Hit Wonder of the 80s! Just to be clear, my definition of a One-Hit Wonder is an artist who had a Top 10 hit with their first chart song and then never made another appearance on the Hot 100. Other lists are more liberal and consider just charting in the Top 40 and not hitting the Top 40 again to be the standard, but I'm strict on this!

Pop Bits:  In his native UK, Numan was definitely not a one hit wonder. He had 39 chart hits with six of them Top 10's. Here in the States he is basically only known for the highly influential "Cars" and his severe, mechanical look and performance. The single is from his album "The Pleasure Principle" which was a rock album that had no guitars - keyboards with pedal effects drove the album. Although there were previous chart songs that were synth, moog, or keyboard driven, arguably "Cars" is the first real shot of synthpop to really hit and it set the tone for a lot of 80s pop to come.

ReduxReview:  I remember hearing this on the radio and thinking this was the coolest thing ever. There was nothing like it at the time. Both the song and Numan were creepy too, which was an added bonus. This is a synthpop classic and to me it doesn't sound dated. There are current bands who have learned a thing or two from this and are applying to their own music. Goldfrapp and Metric come to mind. Other groups in the 80s would be more popular with this sound, but Numan really hit it out of the park first.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Numan's distinctive look at the time came about by accident. Plagued with some acne before a TV show appearance, the makeup folks caked him up with a bunch of white makeup to cover it up and then used black for the eyes. Combined with his self-conscious stage presence and glam outfits, it worked with the music and the androgynous look stuck.

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