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Subject: songs you didn't know were even out
From that Kia thread, I am reminded that apparently there are some songs that were out and hits that I don't ever recall hearing when current.
For me, most prominently, is that song "Stop the World" or "Meld with You" or whatever it's actually called.
I swear I don't ever remember hearing that song when I lived through the 80s!
Do you have any songs that caught you by surprise? That you thought were new/recent songs? (I don't mean covers, I mean actual specific recordings.)
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
The song you're thinking of is "Melt with You" by Modern English.
Good topic, but I can't think of any such songs off hand.
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Yep, good topic, the_OlLine_Rebel. :-) The fact is, every year there are at least a dozen “hits” that perform rather poorly on the pop chart when originally released, yet still end up going down as “classics” of their day, and thus survive through regular play on both the radio and video outlets, many years after being recorded. Modern English’s “hit”, “I Melt With You”, happens to be a perfect example, as here in the U.S., it only got as high as #78 in the Spring of ‘83 - and that’s why, like you, most people don’t remember hearing it back then!
Below is a comprehensive list of songs from 1980-84 that were only minor hits on the pop chart here in the U.S. when originally released, yet still live on today, despite their failure to even break into the coveted “top 40” back then! (Each song’s peak position follows the artist’s name.) You may be surprised to see a few of these on the list, thinking they were actually much bigger hits back in the day! (Or conversely, like w/ “I Melt With You”, you’ll say something like, “Yeah, I really don’t remember that song on the radio or MTV back then, but I sure hear it a lot today!”) This list is based largely on my own personal experience of how often I still hear the following songs on the radio, or see their respective videos on video outlets, so a few of them may be a bit debatable, depending on where you live in the U.S., but I’m sure most people here will agree w/ my picks. Those songs in bold are especially prominent today, IMO...
1980:
01) “You Better Run” - PAT BENATAR (#42)
02) “Rockin’ into the Night” - .38 SPECIAL (#43)
03) “Games Without Frontiers” - PETER GABRIEL (#48 )
04) “What I Like About You” - THE ROMANTICS (#49)
05) “I Got You” - SPLIT ENZ (#53)
06) “And the Cradle Will Rock...” - VAN HALEN (#55)
07) “Rock Lobster” - THE B-52’S (#56)
08 )”I Don’t Like Mondays” - THE BOOMTOWN RATS (#73)
1981:
09) “Tom Sawyer” - RUSH (#44)
10) “Tempted” - SQUEEZE (#49)
11) “Limelight” - RUSH (#55)
12) “Controversy” - PRINCE (#70)
1982:
13) “Workin’ for a Livin’” - HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS (#41)
14) “Since You’re Gone” - THE CARS (#41)
15) “Destination Unknown” - MISSING PERSONS (#42)
16) “Words” - MISSING PERSONS (#42)
17) “Should I Stay or Should I Go” - THE CLASH (#45) (also a #50 hit in 1983)
18 )”Planet Rock” - AFRIKA BAMBAATAA & THE SOUL SONIC FORCE (#48 )
19) “What Do All the People Know” - THE MONROES (#59)
20) “The Message” - GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE (#62)
21) “I Know What Boys Like” - THE WAITRESSES (#62)
22) “I Want Candy” - BOW WOW WOW (#62)
23) “Shakin’” - EDDIE MONEY (#63)
24) “Goodbye to You” - SCANDAL (#65)
25) “No One Like You” - SCORPIONS (#65)
26) “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” - JUDAS PRIEST (#67)
27) “Situation” - YAZ (#73)
1983:
28 )”Swingin’” - JOHN ANDERSON (#43)
29) “Love My Way” - PSYCHEDELIC FURS (#44)
30) “It’s Raining Men” - THE WEATHER GIRLS (#46)
31) “New Year’s Day” - U2 (#53)
32) “Just Be Good to Me” - THE S.O.S. BAND (#55)
33) “Sharp Dressed Man” - ZZ TOP (#56)
34) “The Metro” - BERLIN (#58 )
35) “Mexican Radio” - WALL OF VOODOO (#58 )
36) “Sex (I’m a...)” - BERLIN (#62)
37) “Lick it Up” - KISS (#66)
38 )”Freak-a-Zoid” - MIDNIGHT STAR (#66)
39) “Only You” - YAZ (#67)
40) “Walking in L.A.” - MISSING PERSONS (#70)
41) “Rockit” - HERBIE HANCOCK (#71)
42) “Change” - TEARS FOR FEARS (#73)
43) “I Melt With You” - MODERN ENGLISH (#78 )
44) “Radio Free Europe” - R.E.M. (#78 )
45) “A Million Miles Away” - THE PLIMSOULS (#82)
1984:
46) “Strip” - ADAM ANT (#42)
47) “Two Tribes” - FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD (#43)
48 )“Rebel Yell” - BILLY IDOL (#46)
49) ”Wouldn’t it Be Good” - NIK KERSHAW (#46)
50) “Looks That Kill” - MOTLEY CRUE (#54)
51) “Hot for Teacher” - VAN HALEN (#56)
52) “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” - DEF LEPPARD (#61)
53) “No Parking (On the Dance Floor)” - MIDNIGHT STAR (#81)
54) “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” - R.E.M. (#85)
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Wow, freak, thanks alot! I'll bore you w/my views on this listing....
01) “You Better Run” - PAT BENATAR (#42)
Knew it well, along w/most Benatar "radio" singles.
02) “Rockin’ into the Night” - .38 SPECIAL (#43)
Not a clue then or now.
03) “Games Without Frontiers” - PETER GABRIEL (#48 )
ditto
04) “What I Like About You” - THE ROMANTICS (#49)
Vaguely aware but not sure if I knew it then or not. Definitely know it now, though.
05) “I Got You” - SPLIT ENZ (#53)
No idea then or now.
06) “And the Cradle Will Rock...” - VAN HALEN (#55)
ditto
07) “Rock Lobster” - THE B-52’S (#56)
ditto
08 )”I Don’t Like Mondays” - THE BOOMTOWN RATS (#73)
ditto
1981:
09) “Tom Sawyer” - RUSH (#44)
ditto
10) “Tempted” - SQUEEZE (#49)
Only know as of this June because it's on my 80s CD! (and I don't like it much.)
11) “Limelight” - RUSH (#55)
Not a clue, period.
12) “Controversy” - PRINCE (#70)
ditto
1982:
13) “Workin’ for a Livin’” - HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS (#41)
Recall it, but wasn't around much.
14) “Since You’re Gone” - THE CARS (#41)
Definitely! But then, I guess I noticed any Cars that made it to radio.
15) “Destination Unknown” - MISSING PERSONS (#42)
No clue, period.
16) “Words” - MISSING PERSONS (#42)
ditto
17) “Should I Stay or Should I Go” - THE CLASH (#45) (also a #50 hit in 1983)
ditto
18 )”Planet Rock” - AFRIKA BAMBAATAA & THE SOUL SONIC FORCE (#48 )
ditto
19) “What Do All the People Know” - THE MONROES (#59)
ditto
20) “The Message” - GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE (#62)
ditto I think - Was this some kind of "message" song? My brain is itching way in the back....
21) “I Know What Boys Like” - THE WAITRESSES (#62)
I think I vaguely recall but not sure. Definitely know it now!
22) “I Want Candy” - BOW WOW WOW (#62)
ditto
23) “Shakin’” - EDDIE MONEY (#63)
Not a clue, period.
24) “Goodbye to You” - SCANDAL (#65)
Definitely knew this! To me this was a Benatar song! LOL
25) “No One Like You” - SCORPIONS (#65)
No clue, period.
26) “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” - JUDAS PRIEST (#67)
ditto
27) “Situation” - YAZ (#73)
ditto
1983:
28 )”Swingin’” - JOHN ANDERSON (#43)
No idea at all.
29) “Love My Way” - PSYCHEDELIC FURS (#44)
ditto
30) “It’s Raining Men” - THE WEATHER GIRLS (#46)
OMG! LOL! Geez, I thought this was a '70s disco song that I didn't know was a hit in the '70s! :-[ ;D
31) “New Year’s Day” - U2 (#53)
No idea at all.
32) “Just Be Good to Me” - THE S.O.S. BAND (#55)
ditto
33) “Sharp Dressed Man” - ZZ TOP (#56)
Yes definitely! Loved ZZTop songs!
34) “The Metro” - BERLIN (#58 )
Not a clue.
35) “Mexican Radio” - WALL OF VOODOO (#58 )
ditto
36) “Sex (I’m a...)” - BERLIN (#62)
ditto
37) “Lick it Up” - KISS (#66)
ditto
38 )”Freak-a-Zoid” - MIDNIGHT STAR (#66)
ditto
39) “Only You” - YAZ (#67)
ditto
40) “Walking in L.A.” - MISSING PERSONS (#70)
ditto
41) “Rockit” - HERBIE HANCOCK (#71)
ditto
42) “Change” - TEARS FOR FEARS (#73)
ditto
43) “I Melt With You” - MODERN ENGLISH (#78 )
You know the story. Think I 1st knew it because of Burger King. :-[
44) “Radio Free Europe” - R.E.M. (#78 )
No idea.
45) “A Million Miles Away” - THE PLIMSOULS (#82)
ditto
1984:
46) “Strip” - ADAM ANT (#42)
ditto
47) “Two Tribes” - FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD (#43)
ditto
48 )“Rebel Yell” - BILLY IDOL (#46)
Are you kidding? This was classic right away! I can't believe it's that low! I know I liked about every radio Idol but still....
49) ”Wouldn’t it Be Good” - NIK KERSHAW (#46)
No idea.
50) “Looks That Kill” - MOTLEY CRUE (#54)
ditto
51) “Hot for Teacher” - VAN HALEN (#56)
Don't ask; always heard of, but never actually heard it.
52) “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” - DEF LEPPARD (#61)
No idea here either.
53) “No Parking (On the Dance Floor)” - MIDNIGHT STAR (#81)
ditto
54) “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” - R.E.M. (#85)
ditto
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Quoting:
09) "Tom Sawyer" - RUSH (#44)
21) "I Know What Boys Like" - THE WAITRESSES (#62)
22) "I Want Candy" - BOW WOW WOW (#62)
23) "Shakin'" - EDDIE MONEY (#63)
33) "Sharp Dressed Man" - ZZ TOP (#56)
35) "Mexican Radio" - WALL OF VOODOO (#58 )
38 )"Freak-a-Zoid" - MIDNIGHT STAR (#66)
48 )"Rebel Yell" - BILLY IDOL (#46)
51) "Hot for Teacher" - VAN HALEN (#56)
53) "No Parking (On the Dance Floor)" - MIDNIGHT STAR (#81)
End Quote
I agree with most of your list, especially since I never heard of some of them, but I have to disagree with the ones I quoted above.
I'm not sure how the chart ranking is determined, but I remember those songs being popular during or through the 80s based on radio play ("Tom Sawyer" was popular on the radio throughout the 80s), MTV/video play ("Hot For Teacher" "Mexican Radio"), or just hearing lots of people sing the song (both Midnight Star songs).
Of course, like you said, some of that could have been peculiar to my hometown.
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Quoting:
I agree with most of your list, especially since I never heard of some of them, but I have to disagree with the ones I quoted above.
I'm not sure how the chart ranking is determined, but I remember those songs being popular during or through the 80s based on radio play ("Tom Sawyer" was popular on the radio throughout the 80s), MTV/video play ("Hot For Teacher" "Mexican Radio"), or just hearing lots of people sing the song (both Midnight Star songs).
Of course, like you said, some of that could have been peculiar to my hometown.
End Quote
Actually, that was the point of my entire list. All of those songs that you quoted did do well on the radio for the remainder of the '80s, and that continues through to today - but they all did fairly poorly when originally released! Obviously, all of the songs got some regional airplay when first released - which, along w/ sales, is how they made it onto the chart in the first place - however, their popularity wasn't widespread. But for whatever reason, w/ the passage of time, radio and video outlets latched onto them, and they've turned into classics. Also, it's worth bearing in mind that some of the above songs actually did quite well in their respective niche formats - e.g., Rush, Van Halen, and Motley Crue at AOR radio, Prince, Midnight Star, and The S.O.S. Band at r&b radio, John Anderson at country radio, etc. Again, the list I composed above was based on how well the songs did on the pop chart (i.e., top 40 radio)... :-)
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Some were bigger outside the USA, for example Two Tribes was a UK #1.
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Quoting:
1982:
20) “The Message” - GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE (#62)
ditto I think - Was this some kind of "message" song? My brain is itching way in the back....
1983:
32) “Just Be Good to Me” - THE S.O.S. BAND (#55)
ditto
End Quote
The Message is, I think, now generally acknowledged to be one of the seminal early rap songs - also because it was one of the first rap videos. "Don't push me, 'cause I'm close to the edge; I'm trying not to lose my head. It's like a jungle, sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under." It's the tale of one person's struggle to live in a poor urban neighbourhood - the staple topic of most early rap. Matt Groening (of Simpsons fame) did a good (text-only) parody of this song in his Life In Hell strip.
Just Be Good To Me was covered by a British hip-hop/dance outfit sometime back; Norman Cook (a.k.a. Fatboy Slim) worked on that one. I think it was reasonably popular that time.
Of course, many of those songs reached much higher original chart positions outside the USA.
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Some of the songs you listed, I heard much earlier then when they hit their peak on the charts. "I'll Melt With You" I heard in 1982.
And where was "Everywhere That I'm Not," by Translator?
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Quoting:
Some of the songs you listed, I heard much earlier then when they hit their peak on the charts. End Quote
You're right, some of the songs on my list were actually released late in the year prior to when I show them above, as I did group them based on when they peaked on the pop chart here in the U.S...
Quoting: "I'll Melt With You" I heard in 1982. End Quote
If you're talking here in the U.S., that's really pushing it. It debuted on the AOR chart the week of March 26, 1983, and the pop chart the following week, April 2. That means the earliest airplay probably would've been in February of '83. Believe it or not, the song wasn't even a hit in their native U.K.!
Quoting: And where was "Everywhere That I'm Not," by Translator? End Quote
While it's their best-known song, it was not a hit here in the States (pop or AOR). And I know I certainly don't hear it much today! However, in the past month, I have seen the video for it on VH-1 Classic twice now... :)
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Quoting:
Some were bigger outside the USA, for example Two Tribes was a UK #1.
End Quote
Yeah thats definitly correct. Too many Americans believe that 'Come On Eileen' is a one-hit wonder, but DMR's had a no1 British hit with 'Geno' 2 years before. Not that the song is any good or anything, but nevertheless a hit ;D
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Quoting:
04) “What I Like About You” - THE ROMANTICS (#49)
07) “Rock Lobster” - THE B-52’S (#56)
08 )”I Don’t Like Mondays” - THE BOOMTOWN RATS (#73)
10) “Tempted” - SQUEEZE (#49)
17) “Should I Stay or Should I Go” - THE CLASH (#45) (also a #50 hit in 1983)
20) “The Message” - GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE (#62)
21) “I Know What Boys Like” - THE WAITRESSES (#62)
27) “Situation” - YAZ (#73)
30) “It’s Raining Men” - THE WEATHER GIRLS (#46)
32) “Just Be Good to Me” - THE S.O.S. BAND (#55)
34) “The Metro” - BERLIN (#58 )
39) “Only You” - YAZ (#67)
43) “I Melt With You” - MODERN ENGLISH (#78 )
44) “Radio Free Europe” - R.E.M. (#78 )
47) “Two Tribes” - FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD (#43)
48 )“Rebel Yell” - BILLY IDOL (#46)
49) ”Wouldn’t it Be Good” - NIK KERSHAW (#46)
End Quote
Some of the above songs are seminal. Some are just plain fantastic. And some did far better in Engand than America, such as 'Only You' (hit no 2), 'Two Tribes' (hit no 1) and 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' (hit no 1: but on re-release in '91).
I adore 'Tempted', 'The Metro', 'Rebel Yell' and 'Just Be Good To Me' - these songs are just plain fantastic :)
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Da da da- Trio
Don't think I ever heard it until the commercial.
Subject: Re: songs you didn't know were even out
Quoting:
Yeah thats definitly correct. Too many Americans believe that 'Come On Eileen' is a one-hit wonder, but DMR's had a no1 British hit with 'Geno' 2 years before. Not that the song is any good or anything, but nevertheless a hit ;D
End Quote
I liked it !!.I too was going to say that alot of the songs listed did much better in the U.K and also europe for chart positions.Also lets face it some songs just age better than others irrespective of their original chart position!