{"id":9867,"date":"2020-07-22T22:07:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-23T02:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/?page_id=9867"},"modified":"2026-04-16T11:29:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T15:29:22","slug":"rfts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/rfts\/","title":{"rendered":"Reaching For The Stars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Few things in life have influenced me as much as Casey Kasem\u2019s American Top 40<\/em> did. For a good chunk of the 1980s, Sunday morning meant listening to Casey count down the top 40 pop hits in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I am middle-aged, nostalgia is kind of what I live for. Thus I spend far too much time listening to old countdowns, either AT40<\/em> replays on my local radio station on Sundays, on the iHeart Radio channel dedicated to old AT40<\/em>\u2019s, or to the \u201cBig 40 Countdown\u201d on SiriusXM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I often write about what I hear on these old countdowns. Here is a full list of my Reaching for the Stars series:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)\u201d \u2013 Beastie Boys<\/a>
\u201cKillin\u2019 Time\u201d \u2013 Fred Knoblock and Susan Anton, \u201cSmoky Mountain Rain\u201d \u2013 Ronnie Millsap, \u201cI Made It Through the Rain\u201d \u2013 Barry Manilow<\/a>
\u201cI Guess That\u2019s Why They Call It the Blues\u201d \u2013 Elton John<\/a>
\u201cAllentown\u201d \u2013 Billy Joel<\/a>
\u201cKyrie\u201d \u2013 Mr. Mister<\/a>
\u201cLittle Red Corvette\u201d \u2013 Prince<\/a>
\u201cTime After Time\u201d \u2013 Cyndi Lauper<\/a>
\u201cStomp!\u201d \u2013 The Brothers Johnson<\/a>
\u201cEyes Without a Face\u201d \u2013 Billy Idol<\/a>
\u201cPlay the Game Tonight\u201d \u2013 Kansas<\/a>
\u201c18 and Life\u201d \u2013 Skid Row<\/a>
\u201cWe\u2019re Not Gonna Take It\u201d \u2013 Twisted Sister<\/a>
\u201cWe Don\u2019t Need Another Hero\u201d \u2013 Tina Turner, \u201cPower of Love\u201d \u2013 Huey Lewis & The News, \u201cSt. Elmo\u2019s Fire (Man in Motion)\u201d \u2013 John Parr<\/a>
\u201cHeartbeat\u201d \u2013 Don Johnson<\/a>
\u201cWhenever I Call You \u2018Friend\u2019\u201d \u2013 Kenny Loggins (with Stevie Nicks)<\/a>
\u201cStrut\u201d \u2013 Sheena Easton<\/a>
\u201cPenny Lover\u201d \u2013 Lionel Richie<\/a>
\u201cHuman\u201d \u2013 The Human League<\/a>
\u201cThe Belle of St. Mark\u201d \u2013 Sheila E.<\/a>
\u201cLet the Music Play\u201d \u2013 Shannon<\/a>
\u201cDown Under\u201d \u2013 Men at Work<\/a>
\u201cThe Rubberband Man\u201d \u2013 The Spinners<\/a>
\u201cBeat\u2019s So Lonely\u201d \u2013 Charlie Sexton<\/a>
\u201cHow Deep Is Your Love\u201d \u2013 Bee Gees<\/a>
\u201cWe Are the World\u201d \u2013 USA for Africa<\/a>
\u201cWest End Girls\u201d \u2013 Pet Shop Boys<\/a>
\u201c19\u201d \u2013 Paul Hardcastle<\/a>
\u201cDon\u2019t Go Breaking My Heart\u201d \u2013 Elton John and Kiki Dee<\/a>
\u201cInvincible (Theme from The Legend of Billy Jean<\/em>)\u201d \u2013 Pat Benatar<\/a>
\u201cLove Is In Control (Finger on the Trigger)\u201d \u2013 Donna Summer<\/a>
\u201cWe Got the Beat\u201d \u2013 The Go-Go\u2019s; \u201cI Love Rock \u2019n Roll\u201d \u2013 Joan Jett and the Blackhearts<\/a>
Top New Artists of the 1980s<\/a>
\u201cStand Back\u201d \u2013 Stevie Nicks<\/a>
\u201cManeater\u201d \u2013 Daryl Hall and John Oates<\/a>
\u201cYour Love Is Driving Me Crazy\u201d \u2013 Sammy Hagar<\/a>
\u201cPush It,\u201d Salt-N-Pepa; \u201cPump Up the Volume,\u201d M\/A\/R\/R\/S<\/a>
\u201cWaiting for a Girl Like You\u201d \u2013 Foreigner<\/a>
\u201cI Still Can\u2019t Get Over Loving You\u201d \u2013 Ray Parker, Jr.<\/a>
\u201cThey Don\u2019t Know\u201d \u2013 Tracey Ullman<\/a>
\u201cMissing You\u201d \u2013 Diana Ross, \u201cNightshift\u201d \u2013 The Commodores<\/a>
\u201cGenius of Love\u201d \u2013 Tom Tom Club<\/a>
\u201cOne On One\u201d \u2013 Daryl Hall and John Oates<\/a>
\u201cBe Good To Yourself\u201d \u2013 Journey<\/a>
\u201cObscene Phone Caller\u201d \u2013 Rockwell<\/a>
\u201cHurts So Good\u201d \u2013 John Cougar<\/a>
\u201cYour Wildest Dreams\u201d – The Moody Blues<\/a>
\u201cSomeday, Someway\u201d – Marshall Crenshaw<\/a>
\u201cFriends\u201d – Jody Watley with Eric B and Rakim<\/a>
\u201cSteppin\u2019 Out\u201d – Joe Jackson<\/a>
\u201cPurple Rain\u201d – Prince & The Revolution<\/a>
\u201cLove is a Battlefield\u201d – Pat Benatar<\/a>
\u201cBruce\u201d – Rick Springfield<\/a>
\u201cUndercover of the Night\u201d – The Rolling Stones<\/a>
Reaching for the Stars, Bonus Tracks<\/a>
\u201cCoward of the County\u201d – Kenny Rogers<\/a>
\u201cI Know There\u2019s Something Going On\u201d – Frida<\/a>
\u201c867-5309\/Jenny\u201d – Tommy Tutone<\/a>
\u201cIn the Navy\u201d – The Village People<\/a>
\u201cFantasy\u201d – Aldo Nova<\/a>
\u201cIf She Knew What She Wants\u201d – The Bangles<\/a>
\u201cI Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)\u201d – Whitney Houston<\/a>
\u201cDon\u2019t Want to Wait Anymore\u201d – The Tubes<\/a>
\u201cBreakin\u2026There\u2019s No Stopping Us\u201d – Ollie and Jerry<\/a>
\u201cAnd We Danced\u201d – The Hooters<\/a>
\u201cThe Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald\u201d – Gordon Lightfoot<\/a>
\u201cHere You Come Again\u201d – Dolly Parton<\/a>
\u201cMore Than I Can Say\u201d – Leo Sayer<\/a>
\u201cThe Boys of Summer\u201d – Don Henley<\/a>
\u201cDo What You Do\u201d – Jermaine Jackson<\/a>
\u201cCarry On Wayward Son\u201d – Kansas<\/a>
\u201cWe Don\u2019t Talk Anymore\u201d – Cliff Richard<\/a>
\u201cA Little Bit of Love (Is All It Takes)\u201d – New Edition<\/a>
\u201cCars\u201d – Gary Numan<\/a>
\u201cMusic Box Dancer\u201d – Frank Mills<\/a>
\u201cAnother Brick in the Wall, Part 2\u201d – Pink Floyd<\/a>
\u201cAngel of the Morning\u201d – Juice Newton<\/a>
\u201cBaker Street\u201d – Gerry Rafferty<\/a>
\u201cHeaven In Your Eyes\u201d – Loverboy<\/a>
\u201cSomebody\u2019s Baby\u201d – Jackson Browne<\/a>
\u201cSeparate Lives\u201d – Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin<\/a>
\u201cHeartbreaker\u201d – Dionne Warwick<\/a>
\u201cDon\u2019t Shed a Tear\u201d – Paul Carrack<\/a>
\u201cI Wanna Be Your Lover\u201d – Prince<\/a>
\u201cFalling\u201d – LeBlanc and Carr<\/a>
\u201cStars On 45 III (A Tribute To Stevie Wonder) (Medley)\u201d \u2013 Stars On 45,\u201cPop Goes the Movies (Part 1) (Medley)\u201d \u2013 Meco<\/a>
\u201cWhirly Girl\u201d – Oxo<\/a>
\u201cI Want You To Want Me\u201d – Cheap Trick<\/a>
\u201cBuffalo Stance\u201d – Neneh Cherry<\/a>
Summer 1984 Review<\/a>
\u201cFor Your Eyes Only\u201d – Sheena Easton<\/a>
\u201cGeneral Hospi-tale\u201d – The Afternoon Delights<\/a>
\u201cOn the Dark Side\u201d – John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band<\/a>
\u201cI.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)\u201d – Donald Fagen<\/a>
\u201cAutomatic Man\u201d – Michael Sembello<\/a>
\u201cNever Too Much\u201d – Luther Vandross<\/a>
\u201cChristmas (Baby Please Come Home)\u201d – Darlene Love<\/a>
\u201cCentipede\u201d – Rebbie Jackson<\/a>
\u201cNobody Told Me\u201d – John Lennon<\/a>
\u201cI\u2019ve Never Been To Me\u201d – Charlene<\/a>
\u201cBack On The Chain Gang\u201d – The Pretenders<\/a>
\u201cDon\u2019t Dream It\u2019s Over\u201d – Crowded House<\/a>
Reaching for the Stars: The First 100<\/a>
\u201cWanna Be Startin\u2019 Somethin\u2019\u201d – Michael Jackson<\/a>
\u201cI Want Your Sex\u201d – George Michael<\/a>
\u201cCry\u201d – Godley & Creme<\/a>
\u201cI\u2019m Alright\u201d – Kenny Loggins<\/a>
\u201cAlive Again\u201d – Chicago<\/a>
\u201cYou Belong To The City\u201d – Glenn Frey<\/a>
\u201cMore Than A Feeling\u201d – Boston<\/a>
\u201c(Just Like) Starting Over\u201d – John Lennon<\/a>
\u201cDon\u2019t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue\u201d – Crystal Gayle<\/a>
\u201cEat It\u201d – \u2018Weird Al\u2019 Yankovic<\/a>
\u201cTake It On The Run\u201d – REO Speedwagon<\/a>
\u201cLove Really Hurts Without You\u201d – Billy Ocean<\/a>
\u201cI\u2019ll Wait\u201d – Van Halen<\/a>
\u201cLove Will Find A Way\u201d – Pablo Cruise<\/a>
\u201cAnd I Am Telling You I Am Not Going\u201d – Jennifer Holliday<\/a>
\u201cTelephone Line\u201d – Electric Light Orchestra<\/a>
\u201cDreamtime\u201d – Daryl Hall<\/a>
\u201cSunglasses At Night\u201d – Corey Hart<\/a>
\u201cIt\u2019s A Mistake\u201d – Men At Work<\/a>
\u201cLovin\u2019 Every Minute Of It\u201d – Loverboy<\/a>
\u201cValotte\u201d – Julian Lennon<\/a>
\u201cThe Look Of Love (Part 1)\u201d – ABC<\/a>
\u201cBreak My Stride\u201d – Matthew Wilder<\/a>
\u201cWhat You Need\u201d – INXS<\/a>
\u201cJuke Box Hero\u201d – Foreigner<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Few things in life have influenced me as much as Casey Kasem\u2019s American Top 40 did. For a good chunk of the 1980s, Sunday morning meant listening to Casey count down the top 40 pop hits in the country. Since I am middle-aged, nostalgia is kind of what I live for. Thus I spend far too much time listening to old countdowns, either AT40 replays on my local radio station on Sundays, on the iHeart Radio channel dedicated to old AT40\u2019s, or to the \u201cBig 40 Countdown\u201d on SiriusXM. I often write about what I hear on these old countdowns. Here is a full list of my Reaching for the Stars series: \u201c(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)\u201d \u2013 Beastie Boys\u201cKillin\u2019 Time\u201d \u2013 Fred Knoblock and Susan Anton, \u201cSmoky Mountain Rain\u201d \u2013 Ronnie Millsap, \u201cI Made It Through the Rain\u201d \u2013 Barry Manilow\u201cI Guess That\u2019s Why They Call It the Blues\u201d \u2013 Elton John\u201cAllentown\u201d \u2013 Billy Joel\u201cKyrie\u201d \u2013 Mr. Mister\u201cLittle Red Corvette\u201d \u2013 Prince\u201cTime After Time\u201d \u2013 Cyndi Lauper\u201cStomp!\u201d \u2013 The Brothers Johnson\u201cEyes Without a Face\u201d \u2013 Billy Idol\u201cPlay the Game Tonight\u201d \u2013 Kansas\u201c18 and Life\u201d \u2013 Skid Row\u201cWe\u2019re Not Gonna Take It\u201d \u2013 Twisted Sister\u201cWe Don\u2019t Need Another Hero\u201d \u2013 Tina Turner, \u201cPower of Love\u201d \u2013 Huey Lewis & The News, \u201cSt. Elmo\u2019s Fire (Man in Motion)\u201d \u2013 John Parr\u201cHeartbeat\u201d \u2013 Don Johnson\u201cWhenever I Call You \u2018Friend\u2019\u201d \u2013 Kenny Loggins (with Stevie Nicks)\u201cStrut\u201d \u2013 Sheena Easton\u201cPenny Lover\u201d \u2013 Lionel Richie\u201cHuman\u201d \u2013 The Human League\u201cThe Belle of St. Mark\u201d \u2013 Sheila E.\u201cLet the Music Play\u201d \u2013 Shannon\u201cDown Under\u201d \u2013 Men at Work\u201cThe Rubberband Man\u201d \u2013 The Spinners\u201cBeat\u2019s So Lonely\u201d \u2013 Charlie Sexton\u201cHow Deep Is Your Love\u201d \u2013 Bee Gees\u201cWe Are the World\u201d \u2013 USA for Africa\u201cWest End Girls\u201d \u2013 Pet Shop Boys\u201c19\u201d \u2013 Paul Hardcastle\u201cDon\u2019t Go Breaking My Heart\u201d \u2013 Elton John and Kiki Dee\u201cInvincible (Theme from The Legend of Billy Jean)\u201d \u2013 Pat Benatar\u201cLove Is In Control (Finger on the Trigger)\u201d \u2013 Donna Summer\u201cWe Got the Beat\u201d \u2013 The Go-Go\u2019s; \u201cI Love Rock \u2019n Roll\u201d \u2013 Joan Jett and the BlackheartsTop New Artists of the 1980s\u201cStand Back\u201d \u2013 Stevie Nicks\u201cManeater\u201d \u2013 Daryl Hall and John Oates\u201cYour Love Is Driving Me Crazy\u201d \u2013 Sammy Hagar\u201cPush It,\u201d Salt-N-Pepa; \u201cPump Up the Volume,\u201d M\/A\/R\/R\/S\u201cWaiting for a Girl Like You\u201d \u2013 Foreigner\u201cI Still Can\u2019t Get Over Loving You\u201d \u2013 Ray Parker, Jr.\u201cThey Don\u2019t Know\u201d \u2013 Tracey Ullman\u201cMissing You\u201d \u2013 Diana Ross, \u201cNightshift\u201d \u2013 The Commodores\u201cGenius of Love\u201d \u2013 Tom Tom Club\u201cOne On One\u201d \u2013 Daryl Hall and John Oates\u201cBe Good To Yourself\u201d \u2013 Journey\u201cObscene Phone Caller\u201d \u2013 Rockwell\u201cHurts So Good\u201d \u2013 John Cougar\u201cYour Wildest Dreams\u201d – The Moody Blues\u201cSomeday, Someway\u201d – Marshall Crenshaw\u201cFriends\u201d – Jody Watley with Eric B and Rakim\u201cSteppin\u2019 Out\u201d – Joe Jackson\u201cPurple Rain\u201d – Prince & The Revolution\u201cLove is a Battlefield\u201d – Pat Benatar\u201cBruce\u201d – Rick Springfield\u201cUndercover of the Night\u201d – The Rolling StonesReaching for the Stars, Bonus Tracks\u201cCoward of the County\u201d – Kenny Rogers\u201cI Know There\u2019s Something Going On\u201d – Frida\u201c867-5309\/Jenny\u201d – Tommy Tutone\u201cIn the Navy\u201d – The Village People\u201cFantasy\u201d – Aldo Nova\u201cIf She Knew What She Wants\u201d – The Bangles\u201cI Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)\u201d – Whitney Houston\u201cDon\u2019t Want to Wait Anymore\u201d – The Tubes\u201cBreakin\u2026There\u2019s No Stopping Us\u201d – Ollie and Jerry\u201cAnd We Danced\u201d – The Hooters\u201cThe Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald\u201d – Gordon Lightfoot\u201cHere You Come Again\u201d – Dolly Parton\u201cMore Than I Can Say\u201d – Leo Sayer\u201cThe Boys of Summer\u201d – Don Henley\u201cDo What You Do\u201d – Jermaine Jackson\u201cCarry On Wayward Son\u201d – Kansas\u201cWe Don\u2019t Talk Anymore\u201d – Cliff Richard\u201cA Little Bit of Love (Is All It Takes)\u201d – New Edition\u201cCars\u201d – Gary Numan\u201cMusic Box Dancer\u201d – Frank Mills\u201cAnother Brick in the Wall, Part 2\u201d – Pink Floyd\u201cAngel of the Morning\u201d – Juice Newton\u201cBaker Street\u201d – Gerry Rafferty\u201cHeaven In Your Eyes\u201d – Loverboy\u201cSomebody\u2019s Baby\u201d – Jackson Browne\u201cSeparate Lives\u201d – Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin\u201cHeartbreaker\u201d – Dionne Warwick\u201cDon\u2019t Shed a Tear\u201d – Paul Carrack\u201cI Wanna Be Your Lover\u201d – Prince\u201cFalling\u201d – LeBlanc and Carr\u201cStars On 45 III (A Tribute To Stevie Wonder) (Medley)\u201d \u2013 Stars On 45,\u201cPop Goes the Movies (Part 1) (Medley)\u201d \u2013 Meco\u201cWhirly Girl\u201d – Oxo\u201cI Want You To Want Me\u201d – Cheap Trick\u201cBuffalo Stance\u201d – Neneh CherrySummer 1984 Review\u201cFor Your Eyes Only\u201d – Sheena Easton\u201cGeneral Hospi-tale\u201d – The Afternoon Delights\u201cOn the Dark Side\u201d – John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band\u201cI.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)\u201d – Donald Fagen\u201cAutomatic Man\u201d – Michael Sembello\u201cNever Too Much\u201d – Luther Vandross\u201cChristmas (Baby Please Come Home)\u201d – Darlene Love\u201cCentipede\u201d – Rebbie Jackson\u201cNobody Told Me\u201d – John Lennon\u201cI\u2019ve Never Been To Me\u201d – Charlene\u201cBack On The Chain Gang\u201d – The Pretenders\u201cDon\u2019t Dream It\u2019s Over\u201d – Crowded HouseReaching for the Stars: The First 100\u201cWanna Be Startin\u2019 Somethin\u2019\u201d – Michael Jackson\u201cI Want Your Sex\u201d – George Michael\u201cCry\u201d – Godley & Creme\u201cI\u2019m Alright\u201d – Kenny Loggins\u201cAlive Again\u201d – Chicago\u201cYou Belong To The City\u201d – Glenn Frey\u201cMore Than A Feeling\u201d – Boston\u201c(Just Like) Starting Over\u201d – John Lennon\u201cDon\u2019t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue\u201d – Crystal Gayle\u201cEat It\u201d – \u2018Weird Al\u2019 Yankovic\u201cTake It On The Run\u201d – REO Speedwagon\u201cLove Really Hurts Without You\u201d – Billy Ocean\u201cI\u2019ll Wait\u201d – Van Halen\u201cLove Will Find A Way\u201d – Pablo Cruise\u201cAnd I Am Telling You I Am Not Going\u201d – Jennifer Holliday\u201cTelephone Line\u201d – Electric Light Orchestra\u201cDreamtime\u201d – Daryl Hall\u201cSunglasses At Night\u201d – Corey Hart\u201cIt\u2019s A Mistake\u201d – Men At Work\u201cLovin\u2019 Every Minute Of It\u201d – Loverboy\u201cValotte\u201d – Julian Lennon\u201cThe Look Of Love (Part 1)\u201d – ABC\u201cBreak My Stride\u201d – Matthew Wilder\u201cWhat You Need\u201d – INXS\u201cJuke Box Hero\u201d – Foreigner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9867","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9867"}],"version-history":[{"count":84,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9867\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17222,"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9867\/revisions\/17222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsnotebook.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}