Dark Monday • Betty Hutton Sings "Can't Stop Talking About Him"

When Paramount Pictures decided to go ahead with the musical 'Let's Dance',they put their top talent behind it. Their #1 box office female star was the wonderful Betty Hutton, and they paired her with Fred Astaire, a man who starred in countless hits before. They also had Frank Loesser to write the music, as he had with so many hits. That would include the toungue-twisting song "Can't Stop Talking About Him", a great number for Hutton to bring to the screen. It featured her comedic talents, as well as her unique singing style. And the dancing is pretty amazing, too. Well, check out "Can't Stop Talking About Him" for yourself.

'Let's Dance' did fine at the box office, but not close the the expectations of the studio. Instead, it was always in the shadow of 'Annie Get Your Gun', the MGM musical that was to star Judy Garland. That was not meant to be, and shortly after filming began, Judy was released from the picture. MGM made a deal with Paramount to 'borrow' their star, Betty Hutton, to play Annie Oakley. MGM ended up with the huge hit of 1950, while 'Let's Dance' remained a footnote for the year.

Dancing the Weekend Away • 1983

Clockwise: David Bowie, Talking Heads, The Clash, & The Fixx.

Thirty years ago, my Friday night might be spent dancing to some great music, whether I was out in the clubs, or if I was at home in my apartment. Having just moved to New York City, I was fairly broke, so I was heading out as much as you might think. But that didn't stop me from playing albums, or listening to the radio to get my weekend started. And there certainly was a lot of music to get that job done. And if the song wasn't right for it, there was more than likely a DJ somewhere working on a dance mix. The music I picked for tonight is all uptempo fun, even if it might not have been traditional dance material. The first song certainly played with the line, especially considering it was released by edgy Rocker David Bowie. While he was no longer Ziggy Stardust, and The Thin White Duke was no more, and the Berlin Era had passed, but Bowie had no intention to disappear. A few years before, he put out one of my favorite Bowie albums, 'Scary Monsters'. In 1983, he released an album produced by Nile Rodgers, giving it a smooth and sexy feel. "Let's Dance" was the title cut, and it was everything one could ask for. After all, it had Bowie, a soulful band track, and it had people all over wanting to turn up the volume and play it. The song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and also topped the chart in the UK and all over the world. Enjoy the music video for David Bowie's "Let's Dance".

You can purchase David Bowie's 'Let's Dance' from iTunes and Amazon. In the summer of 1983, you couldn't escape the music of the Talking Heads, but then again, no one wanted to do that. With the release of 'Speaking In Tongues', the darlings of the critics and students all over had their fix of the latest music from the band. As usual, they sounded like no one else, always pushing the envelope. While David Byrne was thought of as the frontman, all the music was written by him and bandmates Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, and Tina Weymouth. The first single off the album was the incendiary "Burning Down the House", the percussive shit that was heard any place that was playing cool music. The song made it to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest charting single for the band ever, This is the music video for the Talking Heads big hit, "Burning Down The House".

You can purchase Talking Heads' 'Speaking in Tongues' from iTunes and Amazon. Another band who burned bright in 1983 were the London-based members of The Fixx. Sleek and stylish, the group had the looks, bite, and talent to score on the charts. Cy Curnin, Adam Woods, Rupert Greenall, and Jamie West-Oram were in the band for the making of 'Reach the Beach', the 1983 release that delivered their huge hit to the world. "One Thing Leads to Another" went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, appealing to everyone. The album made it to #8 on the Billboard album chart. This is the music video for "One Thing Leads To Another" by The Fixx.

You can purchase The Fixx's 'Reach the Beach' from iTunes and Amazon. My final entry is one of my favorites, for I find it simply irresistible. It was initially released in 1982, when The Clash had a new album out, 'Combat Rock'. At the time, the lineup of the band was Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Topper Headon. Despite the retro feel for "Should I Stay of Should I Go" was written by the band. Rumor had it the song was written about the strife in the band. Others claimed it was about the end of the relationship between Jones and singer Ellen Foley. Almost a decade later, Jones said it was neither, only an attempt by the band to write a song they loved to play. It was first released in 1982, then re-released in 1983. In the US, the snog made it to #45 on the Billboard Hot 100. But it did make it to #13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. For me, this is a classic, one I can't get enough of. Here are The Clash playing "Should I Stay or Should I Go".

You can purchase The Clash's 'Combat Rock' from iTunes and Amazon. By the end of 1983, both Headon and Jones were dismissed by the band. By 1986, The Clash had so many issues, they disbanded and Joe Strummer went to Spain to avoid facing anyone. However, in 1991, the song was re-re-released in the UK, and went to #1 on the British Pop charts. But I can tell you all four albums were in my collection back in the day, and the songs were certainly part of my weekend soundtrack!

Top Songs of the Summer of 1983

Clockwise: Davie Bowie; Irene Cara; The Eurythmics; and The Police.

Thirty years ago, there were four songs that hit #1 for the sixteen weeks from the end of May to the end of August of 1983. And when looking at the songs, it is no wonder they topped the Billboard Hot 100. I actually owned three of the four songs, and enjoyed each and every one of them. I am starting with the #1 song for the week ending May 21. Although he was no longer Ziggy Stardust nor was he the Thin White Duke, David Bowie was still a superstar and had many, including myself, rushing to the record stores to buy whatever he was putting out. His 'Scary Monsters' album still remains a favorite of mine, as did the follow up, 'Let's Dance'. With producer Niles Rodgers, there was some magic going on, including in the title track. I not only remember buying and loving the album, but hearing this track everywhere in New York City. I was surprised to learn it was his second of only two #1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Enjoy the music video for "Let's Dance".

In 1983, you couldn't go anywhere and not feel the reach of the movie 'Flashdance'. The movie was a surprise hit, and people were lining up to see it. There was the fashion impact, with cut out sweatshirts, and the leg warmers were everywhere as well! And there was the soundtrack album, put together by Giorgio Moroder, who did an incredible job. There were two singles off the album, and both made it to #1 on the US Pop chart. The first was the soaring "Flashdance...What A Feeling", re-establishing Irene Cara's hold as queen of the soundtrack. She had already scored big with songs from the movie 'Fame'. With the new song, Cara spent six weeks at #1, from the week ending May 28th to July 2. I hope you love Irene Cara singing "Flashdance...What A Feeling".

Now I remember coming across much new music when I was in college, first hanging out with guys working at the radio station, and soon hanging out in the station itself. There I found an album called 'Outlandos d'Amour', by a band I hadn't heard about. They were The Police, featuring the amazing Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers. I fell in love, and was ready to race to the mall to get whatever was coming out next. By the time 1983 hit, they were releasing their fifth album, sounding much more polished and finished than their punk roots every predicted. They still had an edge - after all, how can Sting not bring edge? The first single off 'Synchronicity' was the brooding "Every Breath You Take". The song kept The Police in the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for an astounding eight weeks, from the week ending July 9th to August 27th. I can't believe you haven't heard their ode to stalking, "Every Breath You Take", but perhaps it hasn't been recently.

There was another sweet surprise in 1983, with another new group to get to know. I hadn't really heard of the Eurythmics before, and neither Annie Lennox nor David Stewart were names that were familiar. That would quickly change, with one song at the end of summer. Out of nowhere, I saw the music video for "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" on MTV, back when they were all about music, not entitled teens and twenty-somethings. Everyone was blown away, not only for the music, which was great, but also the visuals, with Annie sporting an androgynous look. Annie was a startling talent on so many levels, with that incredible voice, an ability to look gorgeous one moment, and oddly striking the next. But for the week ending September 3, The Eurythmics spent one week at #1 with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"

As our summer in kicking into high gear, you just have to wonder if thirty years from now, will people be able to look back at the #1 songs of 2013 with the same wonder we can look at 1983. Quite literally, from the week ending May 21, to the week ending September 3, 1983, these four incredible artists tied up the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for sixteen weeks, and on the minds of all paying attention to music. I hope you enjoyed revisiting the songs as much as I did.