American Top 40 1981 October 3rd

American Top 40 with Casey Kasem aired on radio from July 4, 1970 until August 6, 1988. This recording is a rebroadcast from internet radio.

In this countdown:

A listener wants to know, "How many instrumentals over the past 10 years have hit number one?" Casey says there are six, and one of them is a tune written by the most famous composer of all time, a tune written over 200 years ago. Then he introduces Mike Post's latest instrumental, Theme from "Hill Street Blues" (at number 37).

Billy Joel is at number 30 with, "Say Goodbye To Hollywood." If you decided to get a copy of 1986 American_Top_40_1986_August_16th, you already have the liner notes for this album (it is in the folder, "Songs_In_The_Attic_Liner_Notes"). If not, then you have yet to notice that the coffee stains on the scan bear absolutely no resemblance to the coffee stains on the Shroud of Turin).

A question comes in, "How many number one songs have had titles that named a popular dance?" Casey lists The Hustle, The Locomotion, Le Freak (I was there in 1981 and it wasn't that Chic), Chubby Checker with Pony Time, The Twist (twice), and Joey Dee & The Starliters with a song called the "Peppermint Twist" in 1962.

"When She Was My Girl" (at number 25 by The Four Tops) put me in a Four Tops mood, so... I'll help you re-seed "The Four Tops - Motown's Greatest Hits (1992) vtwin88cube" just open the enclosed torrent, offer expires on December 31st. I've also included "Pony Time" by Chubby Checker, the "Peppermint Twist" by Joey Dee & The Starliters, (and in honor of "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" by Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty [at number 3] I've included "Stop Draggin' My Car Around" by Weird Al).

On a Midnight Train Bound for Nowhere Georgia: Casey says the back-up singers for "Share Your Love" by Kenny Rogers are an unidentified vocal group with 24 Top 40 hits and 8 Top 10s. Once I heard this song in the new context, I had to reexamine everything else I ever thought I knew. Luckily, I never really thought I knew that much.

In the category of Most Top 10 Hits by a Group in the Rock Era; The Beatles are in 1st place with 33, and The Supremes have been in 2nd with 20 Top 10s for many years, but last week, "Start Me Up" (at number 9 this week) became the Rolling Stones' 20th Top 10 as well.

Casey tells how Eddie Rabbitt, at number 7 with "Step By Step" was inspired to write a country song by watching his bath water go down the drain. I have septic, so I endeavor to write blue Grass myself.

LW#1: Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
40: Burnin' For You - Blue Oyster Cult
39: Really Wanna Know You - Gary Wright
38: The Breakup Song - Greg Kihn Band
37: Theme from "Hill Street Blues" - Mike Post
36: Here I Am - Air Supply
35: Cool Love - Pablo Cruise
34: Draw Of The Cards - Kim Carnes
LDD: Watching The Wheels - John Lennon
33: General Hospi-Tale - Afternoon Delights
EXTRA: Mrs. Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel
32: Theme From "The Greatest American Hero" - Joey Scarbury
31: Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
30: Say Goodbye To Hollywood - Billy Joel
29: She's A Bad Mama Jama - Carl Carlton
28: Just Once - Quincy Jones W/ James Ingram
27: Slow Hand - Pointer Sisters
26: Trying To Live My Life Without You - Bob Seger
25: When She Was My Girl - Four Tops
24: We're In This Love Forever - Al Jarreau
23: I've Done Everything For You - Rick Springfield
22: Breaking Away - Balance
EXTRA: This Guy's In Love With You - Herb Alpert
21: Superfreak - Rick James
20: In Your Letter - REO Speedwagon
19: I Could Never Miss You - Lulu
18: Hard To Say - Dan Fogelberg
17: Share Your Love - Kenny Rogers
16: Lady (You Bring Me Up) - Commodores
15: The Voice - Moody Blues
14: The Night Owls - Little River Band
13: Private Lives - Hall & Oates
LDD: Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel
12: The Beach Boys Medley - The Beach Boys
EXTRA: Grazing In The Grass - Hugh Masakela
11: For Your Eyes Only - Sheena Easton
10: Hold On Tight - ELO
9: Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
8: Urgent - Foreigner
7: Step By Step - Eddie Rabbitt
6: Queen Of Hearts - Juice Newton
5: No Getting Over Me - Ronnie Milsap
4: Who's Crying Now - Journey
3: Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty
2: Arthur's Theme - Christopher Cross
1: Endless Love - Diana Ross