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 first selection of top 1984 hits which I hope you will enjoy.
News Event: January 16th 11th American Music Awards: Pat Benatar and Michael Jackson win
Prince & The Revolution – When doves cry
“When doves cry” was the lead single from the album “Purple Rain” and Prince’s first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for five weeks and was classified as the top-selling single of 1984. It ranked #1 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles, #52 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. According to the website “Acclaimed Music,” it is the 31st most celebrated song in popular music.
News Event: February 14th Britain’s Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean famously dominate the ice dancing at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics; perform to Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero” in free dance routine; record 9-of-9 perfect scores for artistic impression
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing in the dark
“Dancing in the dark” was the first single from the album “Born in the U.S.A.” and spent four weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. A worldwide success, it became Australia’s best selling single of 1984 and peaked at #1 in both Belgium and the Netherlands while becoming a top ten hit in seven other countries. It is listed among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and was voted “Song of the Year” in the 1984 Rolling Stone readers poll. Springsteen won his first Grammy Award for this song for Best Rock Vocal Performance in 1985
News Event: March 21st Part of Central Park in New York City is named Strawberry Fields honoring John Lennon
Now time for my first picks from 1984 and I hope you will enjoy my selection.
Phil Collins – Against All Odds (Take a Look At Me Now)
“Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” (also titled “Against All Odds”) is a song by English drummer, singer and songwriter Phil Collins. It was recorded for the soundtrack to the 1984 film of the same name. The single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, the first of seven US No. 1’s for Collins in his solo career.”Against All Odds (Take a Look At Me Now)” also topped the charts in Canada, Ireland, and Norway, while peaking at No. 2 in the United Kingdom. VeryMusicChannel
News Event: May 2nd Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Sunday in the Park with George”, a fictionalized version of painter Georges Seurat’s relationship with his grandson, starring Mandy Patinkin, opens at Booth Theater, NYC; runs for 604 performances
Van Halen – Jump
“Jump” is a song by American rock band Van Halen. It was released in December 1983 as the lead single from their album 1984. It is Van Halen’s most successful single, reaching number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[1] The song differs from earlier Van Halen songs in that it is driven by a keyboard line, although the song does contain a guitar solo. David Lee Roth dedicated the song to martial artist Benny “The Jet” Urquidez, of whom he was a student. VHTelevision
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 1984 Part Two. We hope you will tune in.. as always we love to hear from you.. thanks William and Sally.
Thanks Sally and William!
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Thanks Jennie..hugsx
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You’re welcome!
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Eddie Van Halen, a super star. Died 6th Oct 2020 and a sad day for all musicians and fans of his. Jump – yes, a great track. innovator and amazing musician. I’ve worked with many successful guitarists and they all looked to his playing as an inspiration. Sadly there are few left. Jason Becker has had a dreadful illness for years which means he can only communicate using his eyes, and Eddie used to visit him a lot. Jump, a classic track. Van Halen, a class musician, is greatly missed. Phil Collins, another star musician. Very sad to see him so in decline.
Prince, another virtuoso and much missed.
I am not a fan of Bruce, but some of his songs have been brilliantly covered by other artists. Thanks, William and Sally, great memories. xx
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Thanks for the update Jane as you say many gone too soon and very sad to see such one vibrant and energetic musicians so incapacitated.. perhaps partly down to the toll of performing .. the stress mentally and physically is enormous.. hugsx
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Yes, it is sad. So much talent gone in a puff of air. xx
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Thank you very much, Jane, for your input. It is very sad when great artists leave us too soon or are in such a bad state that performing becomes difficult. We are so lucky when they leave behind great treasures of music for us to continue to enjoy. All the best. Hugs
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William, agreed. That is true immortality. Thankfully. Have a fab week. xx
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Oh that Van Halen’s 80s hair! Jump is still a huge hit with the kids – they played it at my daughter’s wedding and it got the place literally jumping! I saw that Phil Collins, who I saw in concert here in NC, has played his last concert sitting in a chair – he is very incapacitated. So as. His riff on the drums during the concert was mind-blowing!
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Sounds like a great wedding Noelle and it saddens me to see someone so full of life and creative become so incapacitated… amazing artist.. hugsx
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It is very sad that Phil Collins is in such a bad state. What a great musician. Glad you enjoyed our selections, Noelle. Hugs
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Wonderful classics. Those were the days! Prince and Phil Collins and the 80s, good times! ❤
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I think the 60s and the 80s were my favourite decades… great memories..♥
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Make that 70s and 80s for me. The 80s – disco decade. ❤
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♥♥
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Thank you very much, Debby. Those were the days, indeed. Hugs
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These are all great, Sally and William, but dancing in the dark is my favourite.
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Thank you, Robbie. I am thrilled that you enjoyed. All the best. Hugs
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Great choices!! I love these strolls down memory lane, Sally and William!
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Wonderful thanks Jan…hugsx
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Thank you very much, Jan. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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Once again you both chose fantastic songs. Van Halen had me dancing around the house, much to the dogs’ amazement. It is a song that makes you feel great to be alive.
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Thanks very much Darlene…glad we got you dancing..♥
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Good for you, Darlene. Dancing keeps one in good shape. Hugs
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Fantastic selection this week from both of you, thank you! Bruce looks so young! The girl he brings up on stage is Courtney Cox – what a spot of luck she was standing there, eh? Seems she had friends from an early age…
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She certainly did, Clive. Glad you enjoyed. All the best.
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Thanks, William, you too 😊
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As teenager hard rock/metal fans, we were appalled at the addition of keyboards to this already iconic rock band. We turned our allegiance to the ‘real’ rockers. But we came back, cuz they were still pretty cool.
Oh, and I had to secretly like Phil Collins. “You like who?”
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When the music is good I like them all. Glad you enjoyed Phil Collins. All the best.
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Some great tunes today.
no Zumba due to a heavy cold so at least these tunes cleared my brain fog a bit.
Loved the Phil Collins and Bruce Springstein songs.
Was nesmerised by the outfits of Van Halen and as for Prince. (He was never my favourite but ) you have to admire his style.
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Indeed. Thank you, Sue. Sorry you can’t do the Zumba class today. Do enjoy listening to music at home, and by all means stay warm. Hugs
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Sorry to hear you are not well Sue and get better soon and glad to provide a little therapy this morning..hugsx
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That Bruce Springsteen is a classic and one of those songs that you just have to ‘groove’ to. I do know just how old that makes me sound! xx
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Well, I’m grooving with it, too. Too bad about how old that makes us, it’s still lots of fun, Alex. Hugs
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Join the club Alex… and you are never too old to get your groove on..hugsx
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All good choices I’m doing a lot of foot-tapping today between you and Clive it’s been lively but good…Hugs xx
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Glad you enjoyed Caro.. in the middle of a violent storm at the moment I think staying inside with music is probably the wisest move..hoping the power stays on.. hugsx
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Oh No! although I love a good storm as long as its stays within safe perimeters and unfortunately that’s not always guaranteed…I hope you don’t get any storm damage…Yes, I hope the power stays on for you…Hugs xx
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So far so good Carol.. ♥
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By all means stay in and keep the music flowing. Hope the lights stay on. Take care. Hugs
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Thanks William… hopefully will pass over my tomorrow..hugsxx
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Good to hear, Carol. I’m foot tapping right along with you. Hugs
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The young Bruce Springsteen is a fun. 😉 Thanks for the great entertainment, Sally and William! xx Michael
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Thanks very much Michael… great you enjoyed..hugsx
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Great, Glad you enjoyed, Michael. Have a good day.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing Michael..hugsx
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Thank you for sharing, Michael. All the best.
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When I want to get my wife to start shaking her head at her teenage husband, I put on a little Van Halen. 🤣 Fortunately, I have some other redeeming qualities.😎
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Van Halen does that to us all, Pete. Glad you enjoyed. All the best.
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Lol… a little teenager as we get older is a good thing Pete..xx
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Such great tunes! Hard to believe everyone (including me) was ever so young. As I grew up in Detroit, I was a total Bob Seger fan, so when this video of Springsteen’s came out, I kept wondering who he was. Now? I still prefer Seger but I developed a true appreciation for Springsteen!
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I think Bruce Springsteen seduced the world with this song, Annette. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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I agree Annette.. but thank goodness that the music only has to begin and we can relive our youth… ♥
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Young Bruce performing “Dancing in the Dark” was the standout of that year for me!
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It was the same for me, too. What a great performance. Thanks, Liz. Hugs
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You’re welcome, William.
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It is a brilliant song and Bruce accompanies me in the kitchen for veg prep several times a week with his albums.. xx
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🙂
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Me too, Liz. Love Bruce Springsteen.
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