Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 109
Chart Week: January 7, 1978 Song: “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” – Crystal Gayle Chart Position: #16, 22nd week on the chart. Peaked at #2 for three weeks in November/December 1977. What is the first American Top 40 show I remember listening to? If you know me, you understand that I wish I could identify that broadcast to…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 108
Chart Week: December 13, 1980 Song: “(Just Like) Starting Over” – John Lennon Chart Position: #4, 7th week on the chart. Peaked at #1 for five weeks across December and January. This entry is less about a specific song than an extraordinary moment in American Top 40 history. And an opportunity for me to revisit a lost piece of writing…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 107
Chart Week: December 6, 1976 Song: “More Than A Feeling” – Boston Chart Position: #9, 12th week on the chart. Peaked at #5 the week of December 25. A perfect song. I could end this post there and it would be enough. Why waste your and my time cranking out a thousand or so words breaking down the how and…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 106
Chart Week: November 9, 1985 Song: “You Belong To The City” – Glenn Frey Chart Position: #4, 9th week on the chart. Peaked at #2 for two weeks. The fall of 1985 was one of those proverbial Big Times in my life. I was a freshman in high school, which brought all kinds of new excitement and perils each day.…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 105
Chart Week: November 4, 1978 Song: “Alive Again” – Chicago Chart Position: #21, 3rd week on the chart. Peaked at #14 for two weeks in December. In the Seventies and Eighties the band Chicago was like air: they were always around. In over 21 years of hitting the pop chart, they had 34 Top 40 singles, 20 Top 10s, and…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 104
Chart Week: October 4, 1980 Song: “I’m Alright” – Kenny Loggins Chart Position: #8, 13th week on the chart. Peaked at #7 the next two weeks. Every successful career has a turning point, a moment that elevates it from being run-of-the-mill into something special and lasting. This song, for example, recorded as a favor to a friend for a movie…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 103
Chart Week: September 7, 1985 Song: “Cry” – Godley & Creme Chart Position: #24, 8th week on the chart. Peaked at #16 the week of October 5. Every decade is filled with unlikely hits. In the Eighties, the best way to force your way into the Top 40 was by making a video that was unique and memorable. That’s how…
A Reaching For The Stars Series Update
My momentum in this series has been off for a few months. No worries for the two or three of you who care about these posts; I’m not giving up on them! A combination of factors over the summer kept me from listening to American Top 40 very often. Less time in the kitchen, where I play the iHeart Radio…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 102
Chart Week: June 20, 1987 Song: “I Want Your Sex” – George Michael Chart Position: #36, 3rd week on the chart. Peaked at #2 the week of August 8. Hey, a countdown that landed on my birthday! How did I celebrate turning 16? Well, we lived in San Leandro, CA at the time, and had dinner the night before at…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 101
Chart Week: June 4, 1983 Song: “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” – Michael Jackson Chart Position: #22, 2nd week on the chart. Peaked at #5 for two weeks in July. High Fidelity was one of my favorite movies of the early 2000s. I loved the record store culture it celebrated. Hanging around with fellow music geeks, arguing about insanely obscure bits…