30 Years Ago • UB40, The Motels, Huey Lewis & Cyndi Lauper

Clockwise: The Motels, UB40, Cyndi Lauper, and Huey Lewis & the News.

In search of inspiration, trying to come up with a post for this evening, I took to the web. As I ambled through a few halfhearted topics, I decided to look at the music that was being released 30 years ago. When I looked at the music of the day, I was impressed by the diversity that was being released over the period of about 30 days. From Johnny Cash to Alice Cooper, all kinds of music was being made and released. But I will pick some of my own favorites from that period, music I was likely to purchase and listen to. I will start with a British band who combined Pop and Reggae in a new way. UB40 had great success in the UK, but it was with their September 12, 1983 US release of 'Labour of Love' that they saw gold in the States. The album went double-Platinum in the US, and the lead single, "Red Red Wine", went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Neil Diamond, who also put out the first recording. But it was UB40 who had the greatest success with their Reggae take on the song. Please enjoy as UB40 sing "Red Red Wine".

Back in the early 1980s, i t seemed like Huey Lewis & the News could do no wrong. In 1982, they started appearing on the charts with songs like "Do You Believe In Love", and and soon were everywhere. With the September 15, 1983, release of 'Sports', the band took it to a new level. The album, which went to #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, contained five Top 20s singles, four of which made it to the Top 10. The second of those was "I Want A New Drug", a song written by Lewis and lead guitarist Chris Hayes. The song went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the video was on regular rotation on MTV, back in the days the station was in the music forefront. This is the official music video for "I Want A New Drug", the great song from Huey Lewis & the News.

In 1982, The Motels had a huge success with the song "Only The Lonely", off the album 'All Four One'. The song combined the rocky edge, but still had an amazing vocal from singer Martha Davis. On September 16, 1983, they released the album 'Little Robbers', and the lead single was their second hit, "Suddenly Last Summer". Both hits were written by Davis, proving her to be a great talent. In fact, both songs made it to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, thanks to fans eager to hear more of the music. This is the official music video for The Motels song "Suddenly Last Summer".

In October of 1983, there was an unexpected surprise for many who loved music. Portrait Records, a sister company of EMI, released an album from a 'kooky' young girl who certainly captured the attention of the public. Cyndi Lauper was her name, and on October 14th, 'She's So Unusual' was released. Lauper, with her multi-hued hair, her Brooklyn accent, and her bold vocals kept everyone guessing what she would do next, and seldom were they right. Her first hit was "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", a song written by New Wave Rocker Robert Hazard. The song was an international hit, on or near the top of music charts everywhere. The song went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and introduced everyone to the immeasurable talent of Lauper, who this year won a Tony Award for her writing of the music for "Kinky Boots" on Broadway. But 30 years ago, the world was just getting to know Cyndi Lauper through the music video for "Girls Just Want To Have Fun".

I hope you enjoyed the trip down memory lane, looking at the music just being released thirty years ago! If you loved the music, you can still find it all on iTunes and Amazon, as well as on YouTube!

Billboard Top 5 - 1986

1986 was a transitional year in many ways, including in my own life. I moved into my own apartment in Park Slope. Bill & I had gone are separate ways, and lost touch for a bit. We have, however, been in touch, and he might, in fact, be reading this, and if so, hope he enjoys it. He was, and still remains, a good man. In music, however, we were seeing a greater influence of the women in rock, with trailblazers like Grace Slick, Debbie Harry and the ladies from The Go-Gos, making it possible for the top group on this list. And speaking of influences, the #5 song on the list is Sara by the band Starship. The song was from their first album since changing the name from Jefferson Airplane, the first single being We Built This City. The lead vocals were not Grace Slick, but Mickey Thomas. Here is Sara.



If there is a video, a song, or a performer who is more synonymous with 80s music, it is the combination of Robert Palmer, the song Addicted To Love, and his bevy of women in the video. Together, they made remarkable history, a glistening package that measured so much of pop culture. I don't know anyone who didn't love the song, and appreciate the video. I have to say, I am surprised the song finished at #4 for the year on the Billboard chart.



Mr. Mister had a bit of a run on the charts, and it included the amazing song Kyrie, my personal favorite of theirs. The song was rich and strong, a great addition to the musical line up for the year, and ended up in the #3 slot.



Stuck With You was a great camp song by the kings of pop charts in the 80s Huey Lewis & The News. After the resounding success of The Power of Love, the theme song to the megahit movie Back To The Future, the band seemed unstoppable, and for their next album, Fore!, their success continued. They charted 5 songs in the Billboard Top Ten, including the #2 song for 1986, Stuck With You.



Like I said earlier, with ladies like Debbie Harry, Grace Slick and the GoGos leading the way, a musical landscape included the fantastic band The Bangles, an all-female collection of talented young ladies. In their third single from their debut album, they had a surprising hit that topped the charts. Walk Like An Egyptian ended the year at #1, so here is the video.

Billboard Top 5 - 1985

25 years ago, I was living in Brooklyn, working Off-Broadway theater in Greenwich Village, a poor, but happy camper. While working at the theater, the radio was often on, so I knew all three of these songs well, although only one or two was really a part of my record collection at that point. And, I am sorry to say, it wasn't the song that was in fifth place, We Built This City by Starship. I apologize because I loved Jefferson Airplane, and thought Grace Slick truly rocked. I might have tolerated the move to become Jefferson Starship, but when they went only by Starship, I had written them off. Listen to Grace and the boys sing this song, and tell me you don't think they are capable of way better...



There is some Pop music you just have to accept at face value - it is what it is. Huey Lewis and the News is one of those - a band that created catchy hooks and fun music, but it wasn't really gonna be breaking any boundary, or moving you with insightful reflection. Don't get me wrong, some music has to be like that, and Huey and the boys did it well. Here is the #4 song of the year, The Power of Love. If I am not mistaken, it was the theme song to one of the Back To The Future movies.



I will admit to having a weird fascination for the # 3 song, Mr. Mister's Broken Wing. Well, truthfully, I had a much greater interest in the song Kyrie, which was released immediately following this one, but liked this one, too. Partially, it was my interest in Richard Page's vocals, as well as the nicely structured musical accompaniment. Could be the beautifully photographed videos that went with the band, but you never know for sure. Just know I liked them, and these songs found their way into my listening rotation.



OK, I was already a fan of Tears For Fears since the first album, 1983s The Hurting. The complex music aligned with the introspective lyrics made the band a perfect brooding English schoolboy-like crush, and I was there. Songs From The Big Chair was released in 1985, and was a great follow-up to the debut, with more polish while still keeping the elements. Here is the #2 song of 1985, the primal Shout.



On one hand, how can you not like REO Speedwagon? I mean, they are a classic American rock band, and don't think they ever released anything as embarrassing as J. Geils Band's Centerfold song. On the other hand, I don't really remember many of their songs when I think of them, more like just a thought of a fun band. When I heard this, I knew the song instantly, but if someone had asked me what was their top song of 1985, I don't know if I would have had an answer. Anyway, this is Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon. Enjoy!