American Top 40 - May 3, 1980

Continuing our departure from the 70's this week, we’re looking at what was on the on the pop charts in the 80's. Today we'll look at the first week of May, 1980:

The Top 10:

1. Call Me - Blondie
2. Ride Like The Wind - Christopher Cross (remember him? His debut album churned out 4 massive hits, won 5 grammys and is considered “one of the most influential roft rock albums of the early 1980s”. But after releasing the #1 theme song for the movie Arthur, he pretty much disappeared).
3. Lost In Love- Air Supply
4. With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston (and Syreeta)
5. Another Brick In The Wall - Pink Floyd
6. Fire Lake - Bob Seger
7. You May Be Right - Billy Joel (kind of surprised I don't have this one.  Hmmmmm....)
8. I Can't Tell You Why - Eagles
9. Sexy Eyes - Dr. Hook
10. Hold On To My Love - Jimmy Ruffin

I didn't listen to Top-40 radio very much in the 80's, but I remember 7 of these 10 songs. And I only own 3: "Call Me", "Another Brick In The Wall" and “I Can't Tell You Why”. We could add 2 more if you include my wife’s old vinyl that hasn’t been converted to digital (yet)….

So, looking at the Hot 100, what songs do I have? Here's a few of my favorites (aside from the ones listed above).

  

• Cars - Gary Numan (#18)
• Brass In Pocket (I'm Special) – Pretenders (#19)
• Funkytown - Lipps, Inc. (#24)
• Train In Vain (Stand By Me) – Clash (#34)
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen (#36)
• Headed For A Fall - Firefall (#45)
• Love Stinks - J. Geils (#56) aside:  This album showed up in my college dorm room after a party, no one ever claimed it.  But I figure it offsets the occasional one that disappeared.  But if it's yours, let me know, I still have it!)
• Rock Lobster B-52's (#68)
• Here Comes My Girl - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers (#71)
• Borrowed Time - Styx (#100)

 Seems like a pretty high “fun” contingent here, whether you’re looking at B-52’s or Funkytown, “Love Stinks” or the super atypical “Train In Vain” (which the Clash didn’t even credit on the “London Calling” album sleeve...  I have a promotional copy, which I picked up during my days as photographer for the Duke University newspaper.  Back then the newsie types had no interest in such uncouth music....)