Each week William and I select two top hits from the charts in the US and UK starting with 1960 for two weeks followed by 1961 etc..through to 1985. We will also include some of the notable events in those years for the up and coming stars who were centre stage at the time. We are now in the 1980s.
Welcome to our show and we are excited to share decades of music with you in 2021. Here is my second selection of top 1980 hits which I hope you will enjoy.
News Event: June 9th 14th Music City News Country Awards: Statler Brothers & Loretta Lynn win
Pink Floyd – Another brick in the wall (Part 2)
“Another brick in the wall (Part II)” from the album “The Wall,” is a protest song written by bassist Roger Waters. The lyrics are a reflection on his life and how his schooling was part of that. The song won Waters the 1983 British Academy Award for Best Original Song for its appearance in the film, “The Wall.” Pink Floyd received two Juno Awards, one for the “International Single of the Year” and for the “International Album of the Year” as well as being nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Rock Duo or Group. It appears at #384 on Rolling Stone’s list of The Greatest Songs of All Time. The single, as well as the album “The Wall,” were banned in South Africa in 1980 after it was adopted by supporters of a nationwide school boycott protesting instituted racial inequities in education under apartheid.
News Event: June 16th Musical comedy film “The Blues Brothers”, starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, and directed by John Landis, premieres in Chicago
Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright – With you I’m born again
“With you I’m born again,” written by Carol Connors and David Shire, is from the 1979 film “Fast Break” and became an international hit for the duo, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the UK Singles chart. It is on the list of Billboard’s “50 Most Popular Adult Contemporary Songs” in the U.S. It was one of Billy Preston’s biggest hits and the biggest pop hit of Syreeta Wright’s career.
News Event: September 23rd Bob Marley’s last concert at Stanley Theatre Pittsburgh
Now time for my second picks from 1980 which would prove to be a spectacular year and I hope you will enjoy my selection.
Irene Cara – Fame
“Fame” is a pop song, written by Michael Gore (music) and Dean Pitchford (lyrics) and released in 1980, that achieved chart success as the theme song to the Fame film and TV series. The song was performed by Irene Cara, who played the role of Coco Hernandez in the original film. It was also her debut single as a recording artist. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1980, and the Golden Globe Award the same year. In 2004, it finished at number 51 on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. HD Film Tributes
News Event: December 19th Comedy film “9 to 5” starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin is released
The Detroit Spinners – Working my Way Back to You
In 1979 American soul and R&B group The Spinners recorded a medley of “Working My Way Back to You” and Michael Zager’s “Forgive Me Girl,” topping the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in April 1980. On the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the medley (released in December 1979 in the U.S.) peaked at the No. 2 position in March and April 1980 for two weeks, behind “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd. The Spinners version also made it to No. 6 on the Soul Singles chart and No. 8 on the disco/dance chart –Zsori. Gold Hits.
Additional sources: On This Day – Music – Hits of the 70s: Playback FM – Wikipedia
Your Hosts for The Breakfast Show
William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.
His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.
While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.
Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial
Regular Venue – Cave Wilson
Sally Cronin is an author, blogger and broadcaster who enjoyed four years as part of the team on Onda Cero International’s English speaking morning show in Marbella and then for two years as a presenter on Expressfm the local radio station in Portsmouth. She co-presented two ‘Drive Time’ shows a week with Adrian Knight, hosted the live Thursday Afternoon Show and The Sunday Morning Show guests including musicians and authors. Following this she became Station Director for a local internet television station for two years, producing and presenting the daily news segment, outside broadcasts and co-presenting the Adrian and Sally chat show live on Friday evenings.
She and her husband David have now returned to Ireland where they live on the Wexford Coast where she blogs and continues to write books.
Books :Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin
Next week 1981 Part One. We hope you will tune in.. as always we love to hear from you.. thanks William and Sally.
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This was an era of great movies as well as music, such as Blues Brothers and 9 to 5.
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I didn’t get to see The Blues Brothers until much later but heard the music and loved Nine to Five..♥
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We’re bonded at the hip, Sally. You’ll love this… my teaching team gets together once in a while for pizza and a movie night. We pick a great movie that the younger 30-year-olds haven’t seen. Best movie night ever!! The last one was “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. Next week is “Tootsie”. Wish you could be there.
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How wonderful Jennie and delighted you are introducing a new generation to some of the greats .. love Tootsie.. Dustin Hoffman was brilliant and hard to believe it is nearly 40 years since if was made. wish I was there too…♥
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Thanks, Sally! ❤️
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Fabulous picks from the 1980 classics. Wow, that With You Born Again was a great flashback! Thanks for the memories William and Sal. ❤ xx
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Thanks Debby and I am sure with Sanja there the music is even more memorable..♥♥
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True dat Sal! ❤ xx
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Thank you, Debby. Glad you enjoyed your trip down memory lane. Hugs
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Always! ❤
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Thank you both for this week’s choices – especially Fame. I used to watch the series every week and wish I was there myself! Couldn’t decide whether to cast myself as an actor or a dancer – not that I was talented in either field. 🙂
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Thanks Wendy and I think all of us who watched the series wished we were there… we have been creative in different ways though hugsxx
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Thank you, Wendy. Many of us wished we could have been part of the production, it seemed like so much fun in spite of the hard work. Hugs
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Oh, the memories “The Wall” brings. My two daughters, when they were very small loved to grab a hairbrush and sing at the top of their lungs, “We don’t need no education…” 🙂 Thanks for the memory, William and Sally!
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Lol.. the anthem for all children… lovely memory Jan ♥
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Wow. Sorry if we rocked the boat there, memory wise. But I understand you perfectly. Some songs do that to one. Hugs
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I am going to choose ‘With You I’m born Again’ – the title rang no bells until I started listening.
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Thank you very much. That is a beautiful melody. Hugs
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Great Janet.. glad we tweaked your memory…hugsx
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Thank you, Noelle. These songs do bring back great memories. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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Another bunch of winners for me. I loved Fame, and remember buying an actual record of THe Wall and sending it to a friend in what was then Communist Czechoslovakia because he couldn’t get it. Working My Way Back to You is so darn danceable!
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Fame! Oh my. That was my daughter´s theme song. It still makes me think of her every time I hear it. The movie was so good, all about striving for your goals and not giving up. And the fashions it inspired. Remember leg warmers?? I had to play it over a couple of times. Thanks.
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Thanks, Darlene. Fame was a hit in my household, too. Delighted that you enjoyed. Hugs
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Wonderful Darlene, delighted we took you down memory lane.. and yes I remember leg warmers, not a pretty sight lol…hugsx
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LOL! They were cute on the little girls and very practical during cold prairie winters.
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I would think so..xxx
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I love all these, William and Sally, especially Fame. Toni x
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Great thanks Toni..hugsx♥
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Great to hear, Toni. Many thanks. Hugs
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For this rock music fan, the clear favourite here is Pink Floyd. The single had the distinction of being the last UK #1 of the 70s and the first of the 80s, having got to the top just before Christmas 1979. A great record, and the movie is incredible!
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Thanks Clive.. I never actually saw the film as I was in the wilds of Wales for two years without a car and no buses on my day off on Sundays! I did a lot of walking but missed some great movies. I have tried to catch up since but still behind.
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If you can find it, Sally, I can recommend it. It’s a striking piece of cinema and the music is great!
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Will do..
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Thank you, Clive. Fortunately, I saw the movie and it was right on. Glad you enjoyed. All the best.
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Thanks, William, I’m pleased you had a chance to see it – well worth watching.
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Not a dud (in my opinion!) among them. A good friend and I guiltily confessed that we loved the TV series Fame when it first came out and the title track is stirring stuff. For me, Pink Floyd is up there in my top ten of favourite groups. I was lucky enough to see one of their early gigs when I was a student and I think I have everything by them on my trusty iPod classic. Many thanks to both of you. x
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Thanks very much Alex and delighted we hit the spot for you with these selections. as I mentioned to Clive I could only listen on my transistor to the latest music as I was socially distanced in Wales.. lucky you seeing Pink Floyd live…hugsx
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Thank you so much, Alex. I am happy that you enjoyed today’s selection. Hugs
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Four great tracks to start the day.
I hadn’t heard that version of ‘Another Brick in the Wall’, I remember the animated video version!
Loved Fame, the series and the film……
Definately got my feet moving today.
All great iconic tracks and cheery too.
Thank you
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Thank you very much, Sue. Glad we helped you get off to a great start. Enjoy your day. Hugs
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Fantastic Sue… great to hear and did you have Zumba today? Hugs…x
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I did indeed have my zumba today. And thanks for starting my day with music.. As always. Love my Tuesday start
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Great ♥
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Isnt this wonderful music? Thank you, for this great collection. Have a nice day, Sally and William! xx Michael
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Delighted you enjoyed Michael.. enjoy Tuesday hugs xxxx
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Fantastic, Michael. Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for the reblog. All the best.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Fantastic, Robbie. It’s true how encouraging the lyrics to Fame are. Great song. Glad you enjoyed.
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Thank you, Sally and William, for sharing two of my favourite songs, Another Brick in the Wall and Fame. Whenever I have to do something that requires courage, like speak on TV or Radio or present to Government, I listen to Fame to give me strength. I also play it for my boys when they have something taxing ahead like exams.
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Great way to create shortlink to confidence Robbie, I have a couple of songs that do it for me.. hugsx
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I picked out With you I’m Born Again to be sung at our wedding 35 years ago. I still love that song.
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That is a lovely choice, Pete. I might make you smile to know I wanted The end of the world as you know it by R.E.M. for our wedding song. Terence did not appreciate my dark humour and put his foot down so we had Enja’s Carribean Blue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl8iYAo90pE
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Haha! I like your sense of humor. That would have been hilarious.
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I think Carribean Blue was quite a good compromise, Robbie. Hugs
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Lol…the first is brilliant but I can understand Terence’s reluctance…love Carribean Blue…hugsx
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Robbie, that’s provoked my first chuckle of the day!
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That is incredible, Pete. Glad it brought back good memories. Thanks. All the best to you.
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That is a great song for a wedding Pete…x
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Four fantastic selections. Pink Floyd are iconic of course but so is Billy Preston after playing on I think it was Hey Jude with the Beatles. Syreeta married Stevie Wonder.. The whole world knows Irene Cara and those legs but I remember rushing out to get the Detroit Sinners record when it came out. Soul perfection to me.
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Thanks to you both.
Hugs
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Have a good day.
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Thanks David xxxhugs
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Wow, what memories, David. Glad you enjoyed. All the best.
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Wonderful David thank you for the snippets… I didn’t remember Syreeta marrying Stevie Wonder… and I would have been very happy with Irene Cara’s voice and legs…hugsxxx
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Four terrific selections. Thanks, Sally and William.
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Thank you, John. Good to hear. All the best.
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😁
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Thanks John..hugsx
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It was great to hear Syreeta and Billy’s duet again! I had all but forgotten how good it is, All the selections are first-rate!
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Thank you, Annette. That was indeed a great song. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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Fantastic thanks Annette…hugsxx♥
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I just listened to all the selections. I’d forgotten how good “Working My Way Back to You” was.
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Thanks, Liz. Good to hear. Hugs
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You’re welcome, William.
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Glad we reminded you Liz… hugs xx
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🙂
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