Top 100 Singles Of The 70's - 30-26
#30-26and we are back for some more fun and games as we look even further into those hot hits from the decade that was the 70's - and so let's take a look at today's entries shall we?
#30 – X Offender – Blondie(Deborah Harry/ Gary Valentine)
Private Stock single #45,097
Released December 1976 – Not Charted
Our third venture into the blonde world of Debbie and her boys,
“X Offender” is the very first single ever released by the band that helped shape my life. Originally singed to Frankie Vali’s little Private Stock label, the single was released right as the album was coming out. An ode to 60’s girl groups with a whole message of 70’s sex, the song was originally called
“Sex Offender” but they couldn’t get it past the powers that be, so they dropped the S-E which I always thought were dirty letters anyway. Beginning with a little chant straight out of a Shangri La’s opus Debbie coos, “
I saw you on the corner/ you looked so big and fine/ I really wanted to go out with you/ so when you smiled I laid my heart on the line…” We get a little drum roll and all of the Blondies pump in with guitars and Jimmy Destri’s always driving keyboard before we get to the bust, “
You read me my rights/ then you said ‘let’s go’ and nothing more/ I thought of my nights and how they were/ they were filled with/ I know you wouldn’t go/ you’d watch my heart burst then/ you’d step in/ I had to know so I asked/ you just had to laugh.” That’s right, Debbie isn’t the one being pursued in this gem, instead our girl is the actual sex offender trying to proposition the cop. The song changes melody a number of times from the chorus to the verses, to a great little bridge and onto my favorite lyric,
“My vision in blue/ I call you from insiiiiide my cell/ and in the trial you were there with your badge and rubber boots/ I think of the time how I’m going to/ perpetrate love with you/ and when I get out/ there’s no doubt/ I’ll be sex offender to you/ oooooh….” And a brilliant fade out of a brilliant single that did absolutely nothing on the charts but remains one of the band’s most interesting and beloved songs.
#29 – Alison – Elvis Costello(Elvis Costello)
Columbia/Stiff single #10641 US/ Stiff single BUY14
Released May 1977 UK/ June 1977 US
Not charted
I am simply appalled that
“Alison” never hit the chart either here or in the UK. What’s even more appalling is the fact that Linda Ronstadt who I love and who can usually do no wrong recorded a version of this song and actually had a hit in the UK. She’s done several Elvis songs and in almost all those cases they’ve worked just as brilliantly as anything else she ever covered but either I love this original so much or she just sucked it because I hate her version of it. But we’re not here to talk about cover versions anyway, we’re here to talk about the brilliance that was 1970’s Elvis Costello. He released a number of great singles through out his tenure as the unflappable bespectacled new wave kid of the late 70’s including another of my favs,
“Oliver’s Army” and
“Radio Radio” but his signature song would have to be
“Alison.” A little ode to a former love who has the habit of driving everyone around her crazy,
“I wish I could stop you from talking/ when I hear the crazy things that you say…” and what’s more apparently the chick is doing his pal,
“I hear you let that little friend of mine/ pull off your party dress…” Oh Elvis, nothing like being bitter. But that’s what makes him so great – his bitterness, his slyness, his ultimately cool quirkiness. Alas, even Elvis can’t get over Ms. Al as he tells her over and over again,
“Alison/ I know the world is killing you/ oh Alison/ my aim is true/ my aim is true…”
#28 – Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) – Tanya Tucker(David Allen Coe)
Columbia/CBS single #45991 US / CBS single #2285 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 02/16/1974 #46 / Country 02/02/1974 #1
Tanya Tucker was a little spitfire even at the age of 15 when she recorded this rather racy little ditty. After a successful run on the country charts with two albums and four singles, Tanya opted to up her image even further by recording David Allen Coe’s sexual opus,
“Would you lay with me in a field of stone/ if my needs were strong would you lay with me?/ would you go away to another land/ walk a thousand miles in the burnin’ sand/ wipe the blood away from my dyin’ hand/ if I give myself to you?” That’s right, she’s all about knowing what the man will go through should she you know spread ‘em if you will; and I think she will. A tad racy for country and pop radio in the early 70’s and even more controversial when you realize Tanya was about 15 years old. Of course without the knowledge of her age you would never guess it by the vocal. Tanya from the very first line she ever sang came off at least 20 years older than she actually was, which is why she was able to pull off more mature songs than some of the women twice her age. The single was a huge hit in both country and pop radio making Tanya one of the very first cross over artists and the whole thing landed her on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine – the very first country artist ever to do that – with the neat tag line,
“Hi, I’m Tanya Tucker, I’m 15, You’re gonna hear from me.” And so we have.
#27 – Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
(Freddie Mercury)
Elektra single #46579 US / #5001 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 12/22/1979 #1 / UK #2“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” was such a throw back to the 50’s rockabilly movement many people believed it to be a cover song but it’s a full on original written by the incredible Freddie Mercury. It’s one of those songs that you can’t help but bopping to from the minute that first chord hits, you’re on a trip through fun.
“Well this thing called love/ I just can’t handle it/ this thing/ called love/ I must get round to it/ I ain’t ready/ crazy little thing called love..” It’s a karaoke staple from me and though I’m not Freddie Mercury I’m not half bad at it. By the time of the release of this single many new wavers and punks felt Queen were ultimate rock dinosaurs but the boys proved everyone wrong with the 1979 album
The Game which included not only this rockabilly single but the bass pulsed dance rock of
“Another One Bites The Dust” (which made our top 100 of the 80’s) giving them two huge hits in a new medium no one thought they’d be in.
#26 – Brass In Pocket (I’m Special) – The Pretenders
(Chrissie Hynde/ Honeymoon-Scott)
Sire single #49181 US / Real single #11 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 02/16/1980 #14 / UK 11/17/1979 #1One more strange little chart anomolie, The Pretenders’ incredible single was a huge hit in the UK months before ever making it over to the US which lucky for us makes it into the top 100 of the 70’s. Pissy Chrissie is one of the greatest achievements in rock history, her no holds barred approach to everything from music to her personal convictions leaves admiration in her wake. Of course it’s all about the music and nowhere has she proved herself than on this somewhat sad little love song. How many times have I told people that they need to love me because umm hello I’m special and there isn’t anyone like me. Luckily, Chrissie made this song and it just gave me the vindication that I needed to present my case. It’s also one of the first videos I ever remember seeing on the then fledging little channel known as MTV.
and there we have numbers 30 through 26; a few classics from a few classics and next time we venutre even further down the list as we make our way to the very best singles of the 70's...
Labels: 70s, Blondie, Bradley, Elvis Costello, Pretenders, Queen, Retro songs, Tanya Tucker
#15-11
and after our little break, we are back for more glorious singles from the decade that was the 80s - today we edge closer to the top ten with numbers 15 - 11 of the Top 100 Singles Of The 1980s!
#15. UNDER PRESSURE - Queen
(Bowie/Deacon/May/Mercury/Taylor)
Elektra single #47235 (US)/ EMI single #5250 (UK)Chart Debut: December 5, 1981 (US)/ November 14, 1981 (UK)
Chart Position: #29 US / #1 UK
Combining two of the greatest forces of music together is never a small feat, and when the collaboration takes place and it is actually a worthy contribution to music well then you have a top single in my opinion. I love everything about this song (notable reactions to
"Ice Ice Baby" not withstanding) and with Freddie Mercury and David Bowie trading off vocal performances, this is pure magic. The fact they are actually saying something in the lyrics as well, doesn't hurt the song at all. Telling the powers that
"it's the terror of knowing what this world is about/ watching some good friends scream 'let me out'..." genius, and with Freddie's little seque into the world of rock scatting, well I just turn it up and try to sing along.
Watch the video here.
#14. SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT - Corey Hart
(Corey Hart)
EMI America single #8203
Chart Debut: June 24, 1984 US
Chart Position: #7 US
My pal Brian will not only be horrified to find this song on my list, but to have it in the top 15 will probably send him to the bar for a cosmo, but the truth is, just like Brian's old roommate in Seattle who played this song with abandon, I too love it. Of course I've already talked about my love for the hotness of Corey Hart but not only is he hot, hot, hot in the video, the song is catchy as all hell. One of those 1984 versions of new wave - think
"She Bop" or
"99 Red Balloons" - the song combines rock guitar with a synth laden backing track and a lot of attitude as Corey tells us his sordid tale of the girl who would sleep with a guy in shades. Well who the hell wouldn't if he looked like this guy?
See the hottie in action here!
#13. LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD - Pat Benatar
(Holly Knight/Mike Chapman)
Chrysalis single #42732 (US) / #2747 (UK)/ #PAT1 (UK - re-release)Chart Debut: October 15, 1983 (US) / January 21, 1984 (UK)/ March 23, 1985 (UK)
Chart Position: #5 US / #49 UK - #17 UK (re-release)
You know I love my Patty and to have my girl not only acting the tough in a video, but to have that video become a huge hit and go down in history as one of the most played in the hey day of MTV, well then you know you have a #13 Top Pop Single Of The 1980s. The video was directed by Bob Giraldi who would go on to direct
"Beat It" by Michael Jackson - another street fight/dance hybrid. As for Patty, she told the powers that be for the video she just wanted to do something in the streets of New York and voila my girl was a runaway hooker!
Goofiness aside, the video was revolutionary at the time. It is the first video to have spoken dialogue in it,
"you leave this house now you can't ever come back..." Telling the tale of a runaway rebel, our heroine finds herself in the streets of New York, looking ever cool with her new punky styled hair do. Then without much to look for, she finds herself working as a private dancer if you will. Sure, she's supposed to be a hooker, but it all starts with the innocent dance. But once, that pimp with the gold tooth tries to push around a fellow "dancer" well you know our Pat will have none of that. She throws a drink in her face, does some dancing and shimmies her way out the door, hookers in tow. There is a heart felt goodbye as Patty hugs her fellow whores and heads back on the bus to go home to her little brother. Well, I get just weepy thinking about it.
Now for the song, -
"Love Is A Battlefield" was a sort of departure for my girl. Instead of the bombastic rock of albums like
Crimes Of Passion or even the keyboard laden foray into new wave stylings of her previous album
Get Nervous,
"Love Is A Battlefield" incorporated drum machines, synthesizers and overdub upon overdub of Pat's powerful pipes. Written by Holly Knight and Mike Chapman, Holly would later record her own version, a very watered down ballady type of thing which I imagine is the way she intended the song to be; but Pat isn't watered down so the whole synth style is laced with Neil's guitar and through remix upon remix, the multiple layers of the song shine through.
In the UK, she actually scored a #49 chart position with the song which was her biggest UK hit to date, then they re-released the single the following March and she ended up scoring all the way to #17. Here in the US, where we loved her and couldn't get enough dancing hookers or bitchy love songs with whistling, Pat scored a huge hit going to #5 and forever being remembered as a dancing runaway liberating hookers.
Watch the video epic here!
#12. THE TIDE IS HIGH - Blondie
(John Holt)
Chrysalis single # 2465
Chart Debut: November 29, 1980 (US) / November 8, 1980 (UK)
Chart Position: #1 US / #1 UK
As I've said before, when you lived in the middle of nowhere and were still just a small child with a love for music, the only time you knew a new record was out was when you walked into the store and saw it. So it was on a cold December afternoon that I got one of the biggest surprises of my still relatively short life. On this particular day, my uncle Kermit was visiting and he, my mother and I were on our way to my aunt Dianne's house for my cousin Paula's birthday - did you get all those relatives? My uncle hadn't bought Paula a gift so on the way to Dianne's we stopped at Prange Way so he could run in and buy her a 45. Now I was so excited because that meant I could go into the store and look around at the records too. But my Mother was wiser than that - she made me stay in the car, cause they were just going to run in and out and didn't have time for my endless searching. I was pissed, but what could I do as an abused child whose own mother wouldn't indulge his love for record shopping? But don't feel too sorry for the little blonde boy sitting in the Chevy in the parking of Prange Way for this tragic tale has a happy ending...
When my mother and uncle returned to the car, he showed me the record he bought Paula but he showed me something even better. "Here you go, but don't tell Paula," said Kermit as he handed me the brand new Blondie single! I didn't even know it was out, I had never heard it before and I was peeing my pants in excitement (and for warmth). I looked at the 45, with Debbie all painted and looking uber cool, while the back of the jacket informed me the B-side was only available on this single! I couldn't wait to hear it, and then I realized if I couldn't tell Paula about it, I wasn't going to be able to hear the song until I got home. I had a whole evening of waiting in store for me and I didn't think I could take it.
As it turned out, I didn't have to take it for long. You see Paula was a bit of brat in those days, and for some reason she and I would always end up in some argument or another. I'm sure she was jealous of me, I mean who wasn't? So as the evening progressed and she teased me, made me mad and the like, I informed her finally, "Yeah well you know what? Kermit bought me a record too and it isn't even my birthday!" She didn't believe me so I showed her my Blondie record and that was the ultimate in revenge in my 8 year old mind!
Although Paula still had her way as she wouldn't allow me to play my new record. So it wasn't until I got home that I actually heard those string arrangements, the horns and the super cool smooth vocals of Debbie Harry, as they sent me into a reggae tinged delirium.
To this day,
"The Tide Is High" is one of those songs where you think if you never really hear it again it won't matter.. an overplayed number if you follow. But the minute you hear the song begin it changes the whole mood. Right from the opening, I'm hooked all over again. It's one of those 'take you back to another time' thing. I recall getting the album
Autoamerican a few months later, after pleading with my grandmother. I remember Kermit and I listening to the whole album from beginning to end. I remember me and Bobby Hallas from school bonding over the greatness of that album as we talked for hours about the genius that was my favorite band. I recall my excitement of running over to another relatives - My Aunt Carol's with
"The Tide Is High" 45 in my hot little hand so she could hear it as she was the one who had given me the last Blondie album
Eat To The Beat. And most of all, I recall shoving that 45 in Paula's face! I'm sure you're all wondering what record Paula got for her birthday; well it was
"He's So Shy" by The Pointer Sisters - a relatively fun song (that didn't make my list) but nowhere as cool as a Blondie single.
Watch the video here.
#11. SEND ME AN ANGEL '89 - Real Life
(David Sterry/ Richard Zatorski)
MCA/Curb single #10531 (US)/ #42961 (UK)
Chart Debut: May 13, 1989 US
Chart Position: #26 US
This song sends me right into a tizzy. Originally released in 1984, this version came out four years later and though only slightly altered, this is the one that had me out on the underage dance club floor. Hurried and hectic, Real Life takes synth pop to a new level with chugging bass line, drum programming and overdubbed "angelic" back vocals.
"Do you believe in Heaven above/ do you believe in love?" I certainly did back in 1989 as I was in love with just about anything that moved, oh those hurried teenage angst days of endless angels.
"Don't give up/ you can be lucky at love/ it gets in your eyes/ it's making you cry/ don't know what to do/ looking for love/ calling Heaven above/ Send Me An Angel right now!" Oh, I just love it. In fact, I think I'm going to have to go listen to it right now.. right now... right now.
Watch the video and re-live the magic of the song.
and now we are about to enter into the most sacred of sacred - the top ten of a list long and heavily laden with pop and rock classics - love is a battlefield when the tide is high but luckily for you, you've been sent an angel who dons sunglasses at night and is never under pressure in his quest to give you his top singles of the 1980s!Labels: Blondie, Corey Hart, David Bowie, Pat Benatar, Queen, Real Life, Send Me An Angel, Top 100 Singles Of the 1980s
50-46
50. MAD ABOUT YOU – Belinda Carlisle(Brown/Evans/Whelan)
IRS single #52815 (US)/ #118 (UK)Chart Debut: June 21, 1986 (US)/ August 16, 1988 (UK)
Chart Position: #3 US / #67 UK
I always loved the Go Gos and no one was more devastated than I was when they broke up, but a few years later Belinda was back and she was no longer the girl with the baby fat and cherub face, instead donned over a bright pink backdrop was the Belinda of ’86 svelte and dressed in black. But one thing she didn’t leave behind for her debut album was a charming little pop sensibility and the ability to capture summer in a song. Just like the Go Gos songs that came before “Mad About You” feels like summer. Just hearing the dunt dunt dunt dunt at the beginning makes me want to sauter off the top of my Escort and drive to the beach.
Watch the video.
49. BREAKAWAY – Big Pig(Mitch Bottler/Gary Zekley)
A&M single #3014Chart Debut:
Chart Position: #60 US
Mostly notable being featured in the film Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, I knew the song long before they used it in that film. Big Pig’s BONK! album with its tin drums and iron lungs was on constant rotation in Ryanne’s Omni 024 just like Duran Duran. I love the whole album but “Breakaway” gets me going the minute I hear the opening chug and I love the lines of the whole song – “like a child in his fantasy/ punching holes in the walls of reality” and Mama did always say I can be what I want to be but I can’t change the course of my destiny, or something like that.
See the video!
48. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST - Queen(John Deacon)
Elektra single #47031 (US)/ EMI single #5102 (UK)Chart Debut: August 30, 1980 (US)/ September 16, 1980 (UK)
Chart Position: #1 US / #7 UK
With its funky bass line and Freddie Mercury’s vocals this is one of those songs that transcended genres. Even country hicks vowed to be buried to the tune of this song. I remember begging my mother to buy me the 45 and then like the child I was, I left it in the car while we visited relatives. I was devastated when we got back to the car and my brand new unlistened to record, was warped. I felt like killing myself! Luckily I flipped the record over and the b-side was called “Don’t Try Suicide” so I just begged my mother to buy me another one.
Watch the video!
47. PLEASURE & PAIN - Divinyls(Mike Chapman/Holly Knight)
Chrysalis single #42916 (US)/ #9799 (UK)Chart Debut: October 1, 1985
Chart Position: #76 US / #12 aus
I love the Divinyls and this is the song that first got me into the brilliance of Chrissie Amphlett and Mark McEntee. Another little gem written by the team of Holly Knight and Mike Chapman, and once again produced by Chapman, this is the song that should’ve pushed Divinyls into the mainstream. A dark tale of an abusive relationship, “Pleasure & Pain” finds our antagonist actually thriving for the abuse her lover gives her – “Just don’t ask me how I’ve been getting off”. Fairly complex stuff for a rock song but such is the brilliance of the Divinyls. Due to the lack of buying interest, Chrysalis Records in America didn’t release any more singles off the What A Life! Album but in Australia, they got the brilliant “Sleeping Beauty” and “Heart Telegraph.” Personally, I recommend you run and buy every single Divinyls album you can get your hands on, or you could email me for Divinytyve, the bubbatunes compilation I created, which is probably THE best Divinyls compilation you’ll ever find.
Watch the video and see how cool Chrissie really is!
46. I LOVE ROCK & ROLL – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts(Hooker/Merrill)
Boardwalk single #135Chart Debut: February 13, 1982 (US)/ March 24, 1982 (UK)
Chart Position: #1 US / #4 UK
Joan Jett rocks my world! Leave it to that leather-clad gal to take a completely obscure cover song and turn it into one of the most recognizable and popular songs of the entire decade of the 80s. Who doesn’t sing along as Joan puts another dime in the jukebox baby? And who doesn’t try to seduce the 17-year-old standing by the record machine? This single is Joan in one of her most brilliant moments and it’s one of the greatest moments in my karaoke career – though Joan may cringe to hear that.
Relive the kick ass video here! and see the never released video in amazing color (who knew!)and come back next time when we hit the numbers 45-41 of the Top 100 Singles Of The 80's - According to me!
Labels: Belinda Carlisle, Big Pig, Divinyls, Joan Jett, Queen, Top 100 Singles Of the 1980s
#30-26
#30 – X Offender – Blondie
#29 – Alison – Elvis Costello
#28 – Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) – Tanya Tucker
#27 – Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
#26 – Brass In Pocket (I’m Special) – The Pretenders
