Favorite Top Ten Song of 1981

[NewbieJr 541]

On to 1981. Which is your favorite from these ten selections?

[Mike Honcho 5,220]

Went with Jessie's girl, cheesy song, but considering the decade, I think that's okay.

[NewbieJr 541]

Huge shortage of guitar on this list. Only three songs have any substantial guitar- Jessie's Girl, Rainy Night, and Loving You. By 1981, synthesizers had pretty much taken over the pop charts. It would be even more evident in the next three years.

 

Of this list, 9 to 5 and Starting Over were the only ones I never had any use for. Endless love had sentimental value because it was after that movie that I lost my virginity. And proceeded to obsess over her for the next three months. So that was 'our song'. But only to me. lol

 

I was a fan of Kenny Rogers (probably because of my dad), so I liked Lady (written by Lionel Richie). Kiss On My List was Hall & Oates' continued morphing away from their bluesy 70's sound. I actually like both versions of the band and really liked this one at the time.

 

I also liked Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbit. Had a cool sound to it. REO's Hi Infidelity was one of my favorite albums from '81. I liked every song on it. I also really liked Bette Davis Eyes. It was originally written and recorded in 1974 by Jackie DeShannon, but the added synthesizers and Carnes' raspy vocals turned it into a monster hit. Celebration was a great song at the time, but as a DJ, I've heard that more times than I could possibly want to.

 

My vote is easy on this one, although I like quite a few, Jessie's Girl stands head and shoulders above the rest. I can play that song at any event and as soon as the opening guitar riff starts, the place gets nuts. Even today's teenagers like it.

[The Next Generation 10]

Jessie's Girl

 

BTW, Rick Springfield's guest stint on Californication was awesome!

[Big Blue 06 195]

Wow, what a difference between 1980 and 1981. I went with Jessy's Girl, as it has some nostalgic, cheesy value. Everything else on that list is brutal to listen to.

[Mike Honcho 5,220]

Just realized "For You" by Manfred Mann didn't make the list...

[jerryskids 6,645]

Wow, what a difference between 1980 and 1981. I went with Jessy's Girl, as it has some nostalgic, cheesy value. Everything else on that list is brutal to listen to.

Funny, I thought most of that list was good though not great. Then again, I was 14 in 1981, so these were my formative music years. You are a bit younger if I recall, so you probably look at this list like I did the early 70s.

 

Part of me is trying to objectively compare the decades but it is very hard.

 

Also I still haven't voted; deciding between about 5 of them.

[NewbieJr 541]

Just realized "For You" by Manfred Mann didn't make the list...

Great song! Just listened to it yesterday. I don't think it ever charted real high, though.

[The Moz 69]

Isn't this the Year Blizzard of Oz came out? And no songs from that one? for shame

[Cruzer 1,995]

Love me some H & Oats, but Jessie's Girl is tops here.

[NewbieJr 541]

Isn't this the Year Blizzard of Oz came out? And no songs from that one? for shame

On the pop charts?

Besides, nothing on that album could touch Jessie's Girl anyway. hth

[posty 2,650]

Isn't this the Year Blizzard of Oz came out? And no songs from that one? for shame

That is the problem with pop charts, the good music is scarce...

[Little Rusty 18]

I voted for REO simply because I'm a rocker and I love the Guitar Solo.

 

 

But I must say that they're all pretty equal in my Marty Feldman Eyes Probably only a couple will stand the test of time, that being "Endless Love", "Celebration" & "Jessie's Girl"

[Electric Mayhem 35]

I actually chose Keep on Lovin' You over Jesse's girl. The chorus is ok, but I actually like the other parts better, including the guitar solo.

 

I always mix up Jesse's Girl and Your Love by The Outfield, with the latter being one of my favorite songs of the era.

[jerryskids 6,645]

Went with Jessie's Girl as the song I'd most likely listen to if I were scanning the dial. Celebration is iconic but as Newbie said it has been so overplayed that now it is just meh... REO is another one where I like the group more than the specific song; Keep on Rollin' would have been a no-brainer for me.

 

I say a few votes for Lady; I considered that as well. Perhaps my folks listened to it, I don't know, but I have fond memories of that song.

[NewbieJr 541]

I actually chose Keep on Lovin' You. The chorus is ok, but I actually like the other parts better, including the guitar solo.

 

I like the line "Instead you laid still in the grass, all coiled up and hissing" followed by the hisssssssssing sound.

[NewbieJr 541]

Went with Jessie's Girl as the song I'd most likely listen to if I were scanning the dial. Celebration is iconic but as Newbie said it has been so overplayed that now it is just meh... REO is another one where I like the group more than the specific song; Keep on Rollin' would have been a no-brainer for me.

 

I say a few votes for Lady; I considered that as well. Perhaps my folks listened to it, I don't know, but I have fond memories of that song.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think Kenny Rogers was one of those artists that not too many people really hated. Same as Dolly Parton. He seemed like a nice guy and he made some great story-songs. The Gambler, Lucille, and Coward of the County are all great tunes. It was hard not to like the guy.

[kutulu 1,664]

On the pop charts?

Besides, nothing on that album could touch Jessie's Girl anyway. hth

 

Crazy Train gets played more than Jessie's Girl does now.

[NewbieJr 541]

 

Crazy Train gets played more than Jessie's Girl does now.

On classic rock stations, for sure.

[Mike Honcho 5,220]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think Kenny Rogers was one of those artists that not too many people really hated. Same as Dolly Parton. He seemed like a nice guy and he made some great story-songs. The Gambler, Lucille, and Coward of the County and Love Will Turn You Around are all great tunes. It was hard not to like the guy.

 

Fixed

[NewbieJr 541]

By the way, it's of my opinion that the Lennon album Double Fantasy, would have been a huge flop had the guy not been killed before it's release. It was boring, slow crap. Sounded like a Paul Anka album.

[kutulu 1,664]

On classic rock stations, for sure.

 

Outside of radio stations, too.

[The Moz 69]

 

Crazy Train gets played more than Jessie's Girl does now.

Mr. Crowley

Suicide Solution

Crazy Train

I don't know

Goodbye to Romance

 

One of the only metal albums I know of to have so many hit songs on 1 regular (non-greatest hits) album.

[patweisers44 832]

Just realized "For You" by Manfred Mann didn't make the list...

Dont call for your surgeon, even he says its too late...its not your lungs this time its your heart that holds your fate....

 

 

Another great Springsteen song made famous by Manfred Mann.

[patweisers44 832]

By the way, it's of my opinion that the Lennon album Double Fantasy, would have been a huge flop had the guy not been killed before it's release. It was boring, slow crap. Sounded like a Paul Anka album.

Its almost sacriledge to speak negatively about Lennon, but the vast majority of his solo stuff was and is crap. Not a huge Beatles fan to begin with and his stuff just went in a crappy direction.

 

For me, Post Beatles:

George Harrison

 

 

Paul McCartney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Lennon/Ringo Starr/Pete Best (tie)

[patweisers44 832]

I went with Rick Springfield. I like at lot of Hall and Oates, but that song isnt one of my favorites. Celebration was another one of the songs on my "list" that the wedding DJ was banned from playing. Focking hate that song.

[OldMaid 2,130]

I prolly could have voted for any of these... not sure about the Lennon song, though. Ended up picking Journey, but I wouldn't change the channel if any of these songs were playing.

[patweisers44 832]

I prolly could have voted for any of these... not sure about the Lennon song, though. Ended up picking Journey, but I wouldn't change the channel if any of these songs were playing.

I'm impressed that out of that group that you picked Journey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[OldMaid 2,130]

I'm impressed that out of that group that you picked Journey

 

 

 

2 other people agree with me... Jessie's Girl is a bit overplayed IMO.

[kutulu 1,664]

2 other people agree with me... Jessie's Girl is a bit overplayed IMO.

 

Quit sniffing glue.

[patweisers44 832]

2 other people agree with me... Jessie's Girl is a bit overplayed IMO.

journey....reo speedwagon.....whatever it takes.

[OldMaid 2,130]

journey....reo speedwagon.....whatever it takes.

 

Blonde moment, sorry.

[patweisers44 832]

 

Blonde moment, sorry.

forgiven. its kinda of funny, my sister was into both of those bands and overplayed them to the point of nausea....until worse crap like bon jovi, etc came along. My distain for them became interchangable. I was a rocker so i "had" to not like those bands. Funny thins is that If they come on the radio now, they are usually the best thing on any of the 10-12 channels i scroll thru.

[OldMaid 2,130]

forgiven. its kinda of funny, my sister was into both of those bands and overplayed them to the point of nausea....until worse crap like bon jovi, etc came along. My distain for them became interchangable. I was a rocker so i "had" to not like those bands. Funny thins is that If they come on the radio now, they are usually the best thing on any of the 10-12 channels i scroll thru.

I'm one of those weird people that likes a little bit of everything. My iPod looks like it belongs to a schizophrenic person.

[NewbieJr 541]

I'm one of those weird people that likes a little bit of everything. My iPod looks like it belongs to a schizophrenic person.

Same here. If I hit shuffle, I could easily hear Barry Manilow, Panic at the Disco, Jody Whatley, Metallica, Salt-n-Pepa, Whitesnake, Jack Johnson, and Counting Crows.

[patweisers44 832]

I'm one of those weird people that likes a little bit of everything. My iPod looks like it belongs to a schizophrenic person.

Right there with ya. Mine goes from Rancid, to Metallica to Sheryl Crow to Leonard Cohen with stops at all points in between.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,363]

Mr. Crowley

Suicide Solution

Crazy Train

I don't know

Goodbye to Romance

 

One of the only metal albums I know of to have so many hit songs on 1 regular (non-greatest hits) album.

 

 

Don't forget Dee

[kutulu 1,664]

 

 

Don't forget Dee

 

Wow...I almost posted the same exact thing.

[cbfalcon 825]

Same here. If I hit shuffle, I could easily hear Barry Manilow, Panic at the Disco, Jody Whatley, Metallica, Salt-n-Pepa, Whitesnake, Jack Johnson, and Counting Crows.

 

Same here. If I hit shuffle, I could easily hear Alt-J, Atoms for Peace, Burning Hotels, The Horrors, Midlake, The Orbans, or The Walkmen.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,363]

 

Wow...I almost posted the same exact thing.