Hey, Remember The 80's?

Send us a textEpisode 171: Coming Around Again; the segment which focuses on songs that charted or were released more than once is back again! The song "Don't Tell Me Lies" by UK act Breathe got a remix and a second shot at success on the Hot 100, as did an early single from Adam and the Ants. John Foxx and Paul Young (or rather, their record labels) also re-released some singles...did any of them deserve a second chance?Just a Bit Outside: no second chances for these singles from Rush, Crystal Gayle, Kiss and Bonham. They have been relegated to the lower reaches of the Hot 100, but should they have charted higher?

Send us a textEpisode 170: Of course, Joe and Kari have to pay tribute to Olivia Newton-John. Kari said it best in one of the first episodes of HRT80's: ONJ is our superstar, forever and always. Ebony And Ivory: More long piano solos from the 80's; including songs from Peter Cetera, Smokey Robinson, and Fine Young Cannibals. Kari is a huge fan of piano and keyboards in popular music, but does she enjoy all of the songs covered in this segment? Before you answer, we forgot to mention that Manhattan Transfer is also on the list. Obscure Soundtrack Songs: Kari teased an upcoming segment, did you guess that we would be discussing The Boy Who Could Fly? Because Joe was stumped! And don't forget there's more music in Flashdance than just Irene Cara and Michael Sembello!

Send us a textEpisode 169: Joe and Kari are celebrating the 41st anniversary of MTV by revisiting the videos that were chosen to air on that first day of programming. We all know "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles was the first video to air, but the Buggles also had another video in rotation at the time.  Lesser known acts like PhD and Robin Lane and the Chartbusters were also pioneers by having produced videos early in their career, as well as Lee Ritenour and The Shoes. Big names like Paul McCartney and Pete Townshend were also in the early rotation.Just a Bit Outside: Songs that hit the Hot 100 but didn't make it to the Top 40. Jefferson Airplane aka Jefferson Starship aka Starship were in the bottom half of the Hot 100 in 1980 AND in 1989. Did they deserve to chart higher??

Send us a textEpisode 168: Billboard Flashback, July 28, 1984: Let's look at some advertisements and articles from an old issue of Billboard Magazine. First up, is America ready for Wendy O. Williams? Her label ponied up for a front page ad touting "The finest heavy rock album since Pyromania." Well she certainly loved fire. Page 2 features the former lead singer of The J. Geils Band, Peter Wolf. Is his debut album a departure from his previous work? Also, an article lists some of the disappointments in the music world from 1984, plus a look at some of the most added songs and videos of the time.

Send us a textEpisode 167: What's your favorite 80's soundtrack? There are so many great ones out there, so Joe and Kari decided to take a look at some of the more obscure offerings. Cyndi Lauper's first movie role resulted in the song "Hole in My Heart"…does the song give you the Vibes? Vision Quest had some big hits, but it's also got overlooked gems from Don Henley and Sammy Hagar. Finally, the soundtrack for Ruthless People was packed full of superstars like Mick Jagger and Billy Joel, but the contributions from Dan Hartman and The Machinations deserve some love too. Number 167: Treblezine and Pitchfork ranked their Top 200 songs of the 80's. Number 167 on those lists come from LL Cool J and Yoko Ono. Were they ranked correctly? 

Send us a textEpisode 166 is here, and the category is...Songs with Hand Claps (hold for applause). There are many Hot 100 hits from the 80's that feature hands as instruments, and Joe and Kari discuss some of the deeper hits: songs from the Kingbees, Vaughan Mason and Crew, and Nicolette Larson, among others. Just a Bit Outside: the "hit" from 1980 comes from "musical act" Starland Vocal Band and the "song" "Loving You With My Eyes". Unfortunately we had to listen to this with our ears. The selection from 1989 is a bit better (on the eyes, not the ears) -- Fiona with Kip Winger. 

Send us a textEpisode 165: Our tidbits are packed to the gills, thanks to Milwaukee's Summerfest! Kari witnessed performances from some great acts like The Fixx, Modern English, Howard Jones and Midge Ure. Find out who put on the best show.A Happy Belated 4th of July is next: Joe and Kari rank some Hot 100 hits with America or USA in the title (they also threw in a song from the band America because they are sneaky like that). Rock, R&B, Pop, Yacht Rock, New Wave: many genres are represented but only one song can win the grand prize!

Send us a textEpisode 164: We timed this one just right for the second part of Stranger Things Season 4, which drops on Netflix on July 1. It's an in-depth look at the music used in the show's first 4 seasons. If you haven't watched the show yet, first of all, what are you waiting for? But even if it's still on your To-Do List, Joe and Kari are bringing a spoiler-free review of the great songs from Cutting Crew, Gentlemen Afterdark, New Order and many more!Coming Around Again: The segment that focuses on songs that were released more than once is back, with a spotlight on the Def Leppard song "Bringin' on the Heartbreak." Do you prefer the original version, or the beefed-up Mutt Lange remix? I know nothing stays the same, but if you're willing to play the game....

Send us a textEpisode 163: Of course, we begin with a quick Kate Bush update (HRT80s has never been so invested in a current Hot 100 chart), and then it's time to discuss some superstars from the R&B Chart. Last time we visited the subject, we left off on the letter H -- so get ready for info on Isaac Hayes, Leon Haywood, Heavy D and others. Number 163: Since it's episode 163, we are focusing on number 163 on Treblezine's top 200 songs of the 80's, which is "There She Goes" by UK act The La's. You know this song whether you were a fan back in the day, or maybe you're a fan of Gilmore Girls or Sixpence None the Richer. No judgment! 

Send us a textEpisode 162: First in tidbits is an update on the Kate Bush Chart Resurgence of 2022: she's back, BABY! Next, it’s a super-sized Just A Bit Outside;  a look at the songs of 1980 and 1989 that didn't quite hit the Top 40, including songs from Foreigner, John Denver, and Chunky A (psst, it's really Arsenio). And you don't want to miss the song that Joe calls the absolute worst song ever covered on HRT80s. Then it’s time for That's What Friends Are For, the segment where we discuss musicians who get some help in the studio from their famous friends. Warren Zevon got some help from Linda Ronstadt and some of the Eagles on his 1980 Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School.

Send us a textEpisode 161: Joe and Kari have returned from a little break -- Kari went on a European vacation just like the Griswolds, but Stonehenge remains in tact! Since it's been a few weeks since they've caught up, the first segment is Revenge of the Tidbits! The music world has been shaken up by some classic 80's songs that have seen a resurgence of late, and Kari fills us in on the 80's music aspects of her vacation. Fleetwood Mac: We all know them and we all love them, but how do the members of the Mac stack up when comparing their solo 80's releases? Joe and Kari take a look at the Top 40 chart happenings of Lindsey, Christine, Mick and Stevie. 

Send us a textEpisode 160: This week, Kari and Joe chose two artists for the HRT80s spotlight. Kari picked singer/songwriter John Hiatt -- a musician who began his career in the 70's and went on to become a well-respected figure in the industry and had his songs covered by other legends like Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton and BB King, and Jon Bon Jovi. Joe was inspired by the recent announcement of inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and picked the Eurythmics, an act that has a ton of big hits on the Hot 100, as well as a trove of deeper hits that deserve a listen. Bagpipes: Since Kari is headed to Scotland, they decided to brush up on some 80's hits that feature the bagpipes (and the similar sounding Uillean Pipes), from Rod Stewart and The Adventures. 

Send us a textEpisode 159: It’s been teased for a few weeks, and the time has finally come: Joe and Kari give their review of the Mixtape Tour: NKOTB, Rick Astley, Salt N Pepa, and En Vogue! The show was 2.5 hours of nonstop hits...and a little bit of Magic Mike! Find out the highs and lows, and what it’s like to get Rickrolled in real life. Scottish Acts: Since Kari is headed to the UK, the HRT80’s duo takes a look at some of the finest 80's music to come out of Scotland. Altered Images, The Waterboys, and Orange Juice are a few of the acts which are highlighted. Because if it’s not Scottish … well you know the rest!

Send us a textEpisode 158: The 80's alternative music festival Cruel World is this weekend in Pasadena, and although Joe and Kari will not be attending (cruel world, indeed), they thought that discussing a bunch of the acts that will be performing would be the next best thing! Put on some heavy eyeliner and listen in as they discuss acts like Berlin, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Church, and Echo and the Bunnymen. 

Send us a textEpisode 157: There are a lot of May birthdays for some of our favorite 80's acts. Steve Stevens became famous for his work with Billy Idol, but he did a lot of great work on his own, including a theme for one of the biggest movies of the decade. Members of the Housemartins and China Crisis are also blowing out some candles this month. Get out your party hats and (Art of) Noisemakers!Just a Bit Outside: Joe and Kari celebrate some huge songs from the 1980's that didn't hit the top 40: songs you may remember from Budweiser commercials or your cousin Tina's wedding reception. It's electric!

Send us a textEpisode 156 is here! Time to head back to 1980 to take a look at the headlines, charts, and paid advertisements in Billboard magazine, dated April 26, 1980. Arista Records sprung for an ad on the cover touting the "sensational hit single" "Fire in the Morning" by Melissa Manchester. Money well spent? Al Johnson, Ian Hunter, and Ozark Mountain Daredevils are a few of the other artists within the pages, plus an editorial from a light salesman that tries to convince the American public that disco is NOT dead. Coming Around Again: British band B-Movie recorded their 1980 single "Nowhere Girl" more than once, but was it worth it? Listen to the newest episode of HRT80's to find out!

Send us a textEpisode 155: Believe it or not, there are a lot of 80's songs that feature the violin (just now realizing that we forgot to include that Lambda Lambda Lambda song from the finale of Revenge of the Nerds, darn it!). Check out the new segment "Strings and Things" for a rundown of some great 80's tunes that feature both traditional violin sounds as well as that wacky "pizzicato" technique. HRT80s Court: It's a case within a case this week. The Fixx has a new single out that includes a bass line that sounds awfully familiar. Did they rip off a classic 90's song, or did THAT band get their inspiration from the "Eighties"? It's no Joke, check out Episode 155!

Send us a textEpisode 154 is here! Remember that television program Hit Me Baby One More Time? Where fading pop stars performed their classic songs and contemporary covers, in an effort to restart their career? It's okay, Joe and Kari didn't really remember it either, but since so many great 80's acts took part, they decided to watch a few episodes of the UK version to see how everyone fared. Get ready for clips from Howard Jones, Tiffany, Limahl, Belinda CarLISLE, and others! The first episode of Hit Me Baby One More Time is up on YouTube if you'd like to get acquainted first, or just dive on in to Episode 154 of HRT80s!

Send us a textEpisode 153 is here! Joe and Kari discuss more acts that placed a ton of singles on the R&B Chart. They left off near the beginning of the alphabet, but they take a quick detour to the letter S (for reasons that will be explained) to discuss Slave, a brassy band with 15 hits on the chart in the 80's. Georgio, Johnny Gill, Herbie Hancock, Nona Hendryx and Stacy Lattisaw also take a turn under the microscope. Number 153: According to Pitchfork.com, THIS song was number 153 on their list of the best 80's songs. We're all Steppin' Out on this episode of HRT80s!

Send us a textEpisode 152: 80's Movie Soundtrack Mania! Did you know that the Against All Odds soundtrack has music NOT by Phil Collins on it?! It was news to Joe and Kari! Kid Creole and the Coconuts perform a delightful song and even appear in the movie! Other obscure movie tunes from The Heavenly Kid, The Lost Boys, Secret Admirer and (sigh) Hunk pop up as well. Just a Bit Outside: An offshoot of the Detroit Wheels and a Grammy-winning sound engineer are the two acts featured who *almost* hit the Top 40.