Hey, Remember The 80's?

Send us a textEpisode 191: The stars have aligned, and Joe and Kari have now BOTH seen the new(ish) Whitney Houston movie, so get ready for a discussion in Tidbits. The Main Event: Billboard Flashback 1/19/1985. (Feel free to follow along with the issue, you can find it at worldradiohistory.com). A front-page ad from RCA Records doesn't exactly inspire confidence, find out if their money was well-spent on NYC act The Nails. The Ramones were also hitting the pages of Billboard that week, as well as fellow rocker George Thorogood (too late to change the name to ThoroBAD?).The Kinks, The Textones and the Egyptian Magician (ahem, Egyptian LOVER) are also mentioned in the mag. You don't need a coupon from your Uncle Freddy to enjoy this week's episode of HRT80s!

Send us a textEpisode 190: Did everyone remember Kari has a book about the R&B charts? We left off on the letter J, so get ready for discussion about a few Joneses, and the Jonzun Crew! Also, name your favorite saxophonist!Who’s Holding Phil Now— your favorite Genesis member also moonlighted as Fixx-er!

Send us a textEpisode 189 is here! Time to close out our look at each year of the 80's with a Supersized Just a Bit Outside segment. Which songs were populating the lower half of the Hot 100 in the last year of the 80's? You know the big hits from acts like Warrant, Surface, and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, but these selections didn't exactly score a knockout on the charts. Some lesser known acts were also hanging out on the Hot 100, including a veteran rock band, a one hit wonder, and a man responsible for a dance hit that would become one of the most legendary house songs of all time. 

Send us a textEpisode 188: In our look at (almost) each of the years of the 1980's, Joe and Kari are up to Episode 188, which means it's time to check out an event from 1988; the year Celine Dion sang the winning song in the Eurovision contest. While the song "Ne partez pas sans moi" might not ring any bells, it's a song that led to Celine becoming the international superstar that we now know and love. Inspired by Celine, HRT80s highlights some of the "BEST" Canadian Songs of the 80s, as determined by the CBC, including tunes from The Parachute Club, Lee Aaron, Red Rider, and Toronto, among others. Let's raise a glass to the Great White North!

Send us a textEpisode 187: Time to celebrate the year 1987 by investigating some of the albums that were released in 1987! Teen queen Debbie Gibson burst onto the scene in that year, but even though she was young, it wasn't exactly an overnight success. Out of the Blue was a smash, but just how involved was young Debbie in the making of the record? (Answer: very!) Three seasoned vets joined forces to record the beautiful album Trio, but the plans started way before 1987. Thank the heavens that their schedules finally freed up!And a superstar followed up a blockbuster 1984 album with a decidedly different tone. Did it set the charts on fire?Finally, the Purple One recorded but DIDN'T release an album in 1987. Find out what forces were at work to keep the album from seeing the light of day. 

Send us a textEpisode 186: There were soundtracks a'plenty in 1986! Yes, there was Top Gun, Pretty in Pink, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, but those have already been discussed, so it's time to check out movies like About Last Night, Out of Bounds, and Back to School. Heavy hitters like John Waite and Adam Ant are represented, and other acts like JD Souther, Nancy Shanks and Jude Cole are up for debate. That's What Friends Are For X Coming Around Again: The (Nitty Gritty) Dirt Band found a friend in Kenny Loggins, and ended up coming around again!

Send us a textEpisode 185: First up in Tidbits, a review of the performances from this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, and Eurythmics performed. Some sounded better than others, do you agree with Joe and Kari’s assessments?Episode 185 is all about 1985, particularly the debut of brand new music video channel VH1. The first VJs included Don Imus and Sha Na Na? Plus a look at the videos that played in the very first hour. 

Send us a textEpisode 184: First up in tidbits, Joe and Kari pay tribute to the iconic Irene Cara, who we sadly lost this past weekend. Her music inspired many conversations between Joe and Kari, both on and off the air, and she will be missed. Since it's episode 184, your hosts are looking at 1984 for significant events in Pop Music, and what could be bigger than the first ever MTV Video Music Awards? Bette Midler and Dan Aykroyd were the hosts who kept the show running smoothly (or did they?). The performances from Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, and Madonna had the audience gagged. The highs, the lows, and the WTFs are discussed as Joe and Kari dissect the inaugural "not your parents’ award show". 

Send us a textIn celebration of episode 183, Joe and Kari rank the songs that peaked at number 83 on the Hot 100 throughout the 1980's. Songs from The Tourists, Carly Simon, Blue Oyster Cult, and Quarterflash are included, but only one song can take the top spot. Here's a hint: it's from a sister act! Just a Bit Outside: The segment that focuses on songs that didn't quite make the Top 40 is back, with songs from big acts like Jimmy Buffett and Fine Young Cannibals (and lesser known acts like Festival and Big Noise). 

Send us a textEpisode 182 is chock full of tidbits! Kari gives a mini-review of the new Weird Al movie, and listener Blair shares his thoughts on the Mötley Crüe/Def Leppard/Joan Jett tour. Billboard Flashback: Since this is episode 182, Joe and Kari travel back to November 1982 to flip through an old issue of Billboard Magazine. They find ads and articles for acts like George Clinton, Planet Patrol, and Joni Mitchell. The charts in 1982 were a trip; did you know the Dynasty theme song hit the Top 20 of the AC chart? Weird. Also included: a review of Juice Newton's live show, and new to the chart artists like Larry Jenkins and Crash Street Kids. 

Send us a textEpisode 181: You got the Sands Preview episode a few week's back, and now it's time for the Sands REview! Joe and Kari have all the details of the festival of the year (and the scratchy voices to prove how much fun they had). Find out which acts lived up to the hype as your hosts discuss the performances by Lou Gramm, Cutting Crew, Samantha Fox, and others, including a very special surprise performance from Corey Feldman. You'll feel like you were there in Cancun along with Joe and Kari (and maybe you were -- shoutout to the listeners we saw at the shows!). 

Send us a textRocktober is here! Get ready to bang your head to some of the best HARD ROCK of the 80's! Actually, Joe and Kari are not the biggest hard rock fans and cannot confirm they are the BEST, but these are definitely some of the biggest names of the decade: Metallica, Dokken, and Lita Ford. You'll need a neck brace by the end of the episode!Coming Around Again: Spotlighting songs that were released more than once, CAA takes a look at a single from UK act Curiosity Killed the Cat. Andy Warhol was certainly curious about the band, find out how he got involved in this week's episode!

Send us a textEpisode 179: Joe and Kari present a podcast episode devoted to pioneers of Power Pop and Paisley Underground! (This episode is brought to you by the Letter P: and look, over in tidbits, it's Prince!) Marshall Crenshaw, The Three O'Clock, Rain Parade and Paul Collins' Beat are a few of the acts discussed. And Hoodoo Gurus might have a funny name, but there is nothing funny about their pristine hooks! Plus, get ready for one of Joe and Kari's favorite songs from the genre. Number 179: A look at a gospel song and how it came to be a hit in the NYC dance clubs. 

Send us a textEpisode 178: Hello, listeners! Did you know that Sep. 15 - Oct. 15 marks Hispanic Heritage Month? It's a perfect time to highlight some of the musicians that were hitting the charts in the 80's that are of Hispanic heritage. Some of these acts will be very familiar to you (Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine, Menudo, Sheila E.) and some might be new to you (Juan Gabriel, Nayobe) but one thing is for certain, the music is great! Plus, you'll get some bonus information on the Freestyle genre. Listen today and join in the celebración! (Joe is of Hispanic heritage and he wrote this, so no appropriation here!)

Send us a textEpisode 177: In this week’s episode, Joe and Kari welcome a very special guest: DJ Jake Rudh! You may know him from his Transmission specials (broadcast on Twitch), but Jake has been in the DJ business for over 30 years, and is a club and radio DJ in the Minneapolis area. He was kind enough to let Joe and Kari ask him all sorts of questions about his amazing career, including questions about some of the iconic performers he’s opened up for. And since Jake will once again be performing his sets at 80’s in the Sand, he’s joining Joe and Kari as they discuss just some of the acts that will be performing this year, including Morris Day and the Time, Wang Chung, and Klymaxx! You don't want to miss this one!

Send us a textEpisode 176: The segment "Just a Bit Outside" covers all the songs that hit the Hot 100, but never made it to the Top 40. Joe and Kari's TIRELESS effort to cover all of these songs continues in Episode 176, and this week's contenders include a singer-songwriter that is one of Joe's faves, a legendary R&B musician and icon, the artist that co-wrote one of the biggest hits of the 80's, and a superstar guitarist that's been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. Steel Drums: What's that sound? It's a steel drum, and it's included in all kinds of 80's songs, including singles from Spyro Gyra and El Debarge with Debarge (featuring DeBarge). 

Send us a textEpisode 175: First up in tidbits, some 80's-related TV notes (Cobra Kai, Women Who Rock), and a reaction to the first trailer for the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic. Then it's time for the main topic, a Billboard magazine flashback to the September 19, 1987 issue. A new band's debut album and single "demand your attention!" Then, a news article explains why Michael Jackson's blockbuster "Bad" album won't debut on this week's chart. The top-grossing live shows include some faves, plus an R&B legend comes out on top. Remember the movie "He's My Girl"? Probably not, but Billboard does! Also included: REM, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and get ready to bundle up because it's about to get FROSTY!

Send us a textEpisode 174: Since Kari was stoked to see one of her favorite bands, Crowded House, live in concert later this month, she thought it would be a good time to discuss the band's history in this week's episode. Crowded House may have postponed their US dates, but HRT80s must go on! The story begins with brothers Tim and Neil Finn (and the band Split Enz), and endz with another set of brothers! Meanwhile, Joe wanted to discuss ABC due to his recent obsession with the insane video for "The Look of Love". This suave UK act is responsible for some great "sophisti-pop", and ABC's Martin Fry is still at it!The Other Number Ones: This episode, number one hits from the Dance and R&B are represented by music from Rockers Revenge and LeVert. Should the songs have fared better on the Hot 100?

Send us a textEpisode 173: Remember a few weeks back when Joe and Kari ranked songs with America in the title? They had so much fun, they decided to open it up to all the countries around the world! Songs that were "Big in Japan" or had you "Dancing Under a Latin Moon" are up for debate! The list is quite diverse, so there is sure to be a song in the mix that that you love, or maybe you will hear a song for the first time!Number 173: Joe and Kari went to the lists of the 200 best songs of the 80's and found the entries for 173: An influential punk band from the Pacific Northwest and a beloved UK synth pop group!

Send us a textEpisode 172: Joe and Kari left off on the letter "H" in the R&B Singles reference book, so it's time to check in with some artists that were putting in a lot of time on the R&B Chart: Howard Hewett, Miki Howard (did we know she was in Poetic Justice??), and Phyllis Hyman. By the time they get to the letter J, they are dealing with some legends: Millie Jackson and Al Jarreau. HRT80s Court is in session! Our case in this week's episode: The Pet Shop Boys didn't rip off Cat Stevens, or did they? Surprise witness Jonathan King is here, and he is no stranger to the judicial system! Get ready for a ruling!