80s Songs Of The Week Part 1 = 'The Edge Of Heaven' by Wham! (1986)

Part 1 of This Week's Featured 80's songs goes to that British 80's legendary duo Wham!, and their 1986 song The Edge Of Heaven. Wham! of course consists of duo George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley who started out in a ska group but which eventually transformed into what we all know and love as Wham! in Bushey, England back in 1981. The Edge Of Heaven was released as a single off of their 1986 album titled Music From The Edge Of Heaven which was also their 3rd and final album. The song would clench the #1 chart spot on the UK and Netherlands music charts.

#18 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' by Tears For Fears (1985)

Now for #18 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown, and it is Everybody Wants To Rule The World, by British synth-pop/new-wave group Tears For Fears. Tears For Fears started out in Bath, UK in 1981 and was formed by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith following the dissolution of their former band called Graduate. Everybody Wants To Rule The World comes off of their 2nd (and most successful) studio album Songs From The Big Chair (released in February of 1985) and would clench #1 on various charts including the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart, the Canadian Singles Chart, and the New Zealand Single Chart, while hitting the #2 spot on the UK Singles Chart, and the Australian Singles Chart. In the USA this was no doubt one of their biggest hits, and most memorable in my mind as well. This song was a last minute add-on to this album before its final production and release, and it was later featured on the soundtracks for many films including Real Genius (1985), Peter's Friends (1992), Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997), Click (2006), Watchmen (2009), and Middle Men (film) (2010). This is one of the great 80's songs of all time in my mind, capturing that classic new-wave post-apocalyptic sound and message and it will live on to be played for years to come I am sure.

Mentionable 80s Mashups = 'Girls On Film Freak Out' by DJ Magnet (2009)

This week's Mentionable 80s Mashup goes to DJ Magnet and his mashup titled Girls On Film Freak Out. This mashup features the 1981 Duran Duran hit song Girls On Film, and it is mashed-up with 1978 song Le Freak by disco group Chic. Quite a brilliant mashup in my opinion and both songs are great on their own too! This mashup was charted on the Bootie Mashups Top 10 of 2009 and is well known. For more info and works by DJ Magnet you can head to his website HERE.

80s Songs Of The Week Part 3 = 'I Still Believe' by Tim Cappello (1987)

Part 3 of This Week's featured 80s Songs goes to American Saxophonist/Singer Tim Cappello and his 1987 cover of the song I Still Believe. Now any of you who have seen the 80s teen vampire-horror-film/cult-classic The Lost Boys will likely be familiar with the oiled up muscle-man/saxophonist/80s-icon playing a brief, but memorable 80s set on the California coast (clearly Santa Cruz) for a bunch of 80s teenagers hanging out around beach bonfires. Now if that scene doesn't capture some 80s sentiment I don't know what does. Timmy Cappello originates out of Westchester County in New York, and he plays various instruments including tenor saxophone, keyboards, harmonica, guitar, and various percussion, and he is also well known for playing saxophone in Tina Turner's 80's-era band, and had easily identifiable saxophone-solos in her soundtrack songs for the 80's film  Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, so be sure to check those songs out if you are looking for some brilliant sax solos. I Still Believe was a cover that Tim did of the song originally written by band The Call, and Tim's version can be found on The Lost Boys Soundtrack. And so there is part 3, and already another week is here, and with more 80s songs to come! Thanks for stopping By 80's Fans!

80s Songs of The Week Part 2 = 'Lessons In Love' by Level 42 (1987)

Part 2 of This Week's Featured 80s Songs goes to British pop-rock-new-wave band Level 42, and their 1987 single Lessons In Love. Level 42 originates out of the the Isle Of Wight, UK and started out with members Mark King (bass guitar and percussion), Phil Gould (drums), Boon Gould (guitar and saxophone), and Mike Lindup (keyboards and percussion). According to their wikipedia page, the band took their name after King, Gould, and their producer of the time Andy Sojka had been reading the Douglas Adams' sci-fi novel called The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in which the number 42 is found to be the answer to all questions in the universe. Lessons In Love was released on the band's 1987 album titled Running In The Family, and it reached #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and #3 on the UK Singles chart, and #1 in Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland.
Level 42 - Lessons In Love by jpdc11

#19 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)' by Michael Jackson (1982)

Welcome back 80s fans! We are down to the final 19 of the Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown... and #19 is the 1982 song P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), by The former King of Pop Michael Jackson. That officially makes it the 3rd Michael Jackson song to appear in the Top 100 countdown and to give you some hints it won't be the last..it is just an inevitability that Jackson songs will end up in any 80's countdown as he produced such a prolific portfolio of great 80's pop-music, and he was the King of Pop for a good reason after all. P.Y.T. came off of the also legendary 1982 Thriller album, which I am sure I've stated in past posts is the the best-selling album of all time, with sales estimated to be somewhere around 65 and 110 million copies globally, and it also remains the best-selling album in the United States. Thus, most of you are no doubt familiar with this song, and when it comes to the rest of the Top 100 Countdown the songs that remain are probably ones most of you will already know which makes the final 20 actually less exciting to post :-( P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) was the 6th single release from the album which peaked at #10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and at #11 on the UK Singles Chart. Also, according to the wikipedia page, Janet and La Toya Jackson provided backing vocals in this song. So there is #19, and I suppose I should speed this process up a bit and publish them quicker but it all depends on when I get down to it, so stay with me, we will get through them all.

80s Song of the Week Part 1 = 'Nite And Day' by Al B. Sure! (1988)

Part 1 of this week's 80s songs goes to Al B. Sure! and his 1988 R-and-B hit Nite And Day.  Al B. Sure! (Albert Jason Brown III) is is an American singer/songwriter/producer from Boston Massachusetts who started out his music career back in 1987 and is still active to this day. Nite And Day was a 1988 single release off of his In Effect Mode album which clenched the #1 spot on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart that year. Stay tuned for part 2 and of course the next song of the Top 100 Countdown...

Mentionable 80s Mashup of the Week = 'Illiterate City' by Divide and Kreate (2007)

This weeks Mentionable 80s Mashup goes to Illiterate City, by mashup artist Divide and Kreate. The 80s song is the 1988 Gun's and Roses hit Paradise City, and it has been mashed together with The Jackson Five and their 1970 hit ABC. This mashup also appeared on The Best of Bootie 2007 album.

80s Song of the Week Part 3 = 'Rhythm Of The Night' by DeBarge (1985)

Part 3 of this Week's featured 80s songs goes to Rhythm Of The Night by American RandB/pop music falsetto singer El Debarge. Now if this song doesn't have that classic 80's synth-pop sound then I don't know what does. Eldra Patrick "El" DeBarge came out of Grand Rapids, Michigan and was the lead singer and focal point of the family group called Debarge throughout the early to mid 1980's. Rhythm Of The Night comes off of the 4th studio album by Debarge of the same title, which was released in 1985. This song reached #1 on the RandB chart and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

80s Song of the Week Part 2 = 'Stimulation' by Wa Wa Nee (1986)

Part 2 for this weeks 80s songs goes to Australian 80's funk/pop band Wa Wa Nee, and their 1986 song titled Stimulation. Wa Wa Nee were active from 1985-1989, based in Sydney, Australia, and the band was head-lined by singer/songwriter Paul Gray, but also included Steve Williams (guitar),  Mark Gray (bass guitar), and The Sween (drums). Wa Wa Nee produced 4 hits that fell into the Australian Top 40, and the song Stimulation peaked at #2 in Australia. This one isn't on ITunes (USA), so you might have to look elsewhere to find it.

Feature 80s Song of the Week Part 1 = 'Somewhere In My Heart' by Aztec Camera (1987)

Part 1 of this weeks featured 80s songs goes to Scottish 80's new-wave band Aztec Camera and their 1987 hit Somewhere In My Heart. Aztec Camera came out of Glasgow Scotland, UK and the figurehead of the band was the teenaged singer/songwriter Roddy Frame. Somewhere In My Heart comes off of their 1987 album titled Love, which was later nominated for the Best British Album at the 1989 BRIT Awards. Good stuff, now I already know what part 2 is going to be and to give you a little hint it is a song by an Australian artist, so stay tuned to find out...

#20 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'Sussudio' by Phil Collins (1985)

I'm baaack and presenting #20 of the Top 100 80's Dance Countdown. At #20 is 1985 hit song Sussudio, by English singer/songwriter/drummer/pianist and actor Phil Collins. Phil Collins has had quite a music career, having started out as a drummer for Flaming Youth, then a vocalist/drummer for the progressive rock group Genesis, and of course his own solo career, and much of the success occurring especially in the glam decade we all affectionately refer to as the 1980's. Collins was born in 1951 in Chiswick, London, UK and is now 60 years old. According to Wikipedia, Phil Collins is one of only 3 recording artists (along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson) to have sold over 100 million albums worldwide both as a solo-artist, and as the principal member of a band. Quite impressive really! Sussudio was the first single to be released off of his No Jacket Required album in January of 1985, which was his 3rd solo studio album and would peak at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on the UK Singles Chart that year. According to Wikipedia the title lyric "suss-sussudio" was the result of an scanner typo-error, in which he opted to actually use in the finished product. And there it is folks, stay tuned as we continue on with the final 19 tracks of this countdown!

The Mentionable 80s Mashup of the Week = 'Virgin O'Reily' by Go Home Productions (2010)

This weeks Mentionable 80s mashup goes to mashup artist Go Home Productions and it's 2010 mashup Virgin O'Reily. This 80s mashup consists of the 1984 Madonna #1 smash hit Like a Virgin, and it has been mashed together with the 1971 song Baba O'Riley by English rock-band The Who. Check it!

Part 2 of This Week's Feature 80s Songs = 'In The Night' by Pet Shop Boys (1986)

Part 2 of this week's 80s feature songs goes to a London-based 80's synth-pop duo known as the Pet Shop Boys, and their 1986 song In The Night. Neil Tennant does the main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar and Chris Lowe works the synth keyboards. Pet Shop Boys are one of the best-selling artists out there having sold over 100 million records worldwide, and God knows I bought this album! In The Night was released on Further Listening (side 2) of their 1986 Please album. Pet Shop Boys are listed as The Most Successful Duo in UK Music History by the Guinness Book of World Records. They are also 3 time BRIT Award winners and 6 time Grammy Nominees, and since 1986 they have produced 42 Top 30 Singles and 22 Top 10 Hits on the UK Singles Chart. To top it off they are still at it, performing concerts, so you may still be able to catch them live sometime, which would be fully-siik maiit!

Feature 80s Song of the Week Part 1 = 'Heartbeat' by Don Johnson (1986)

Part 1 of the featured 80's songs for this week goes to Heartbeat by American actor/singer Don Johnson. Thaaat's rigggght, its the same Don Johnson who starred in the hit 1980's TV series Miami Vice. In 1986 Johnson recorded an album titled Heartbeat on the Epic/CBS Records label, which peaked at #17 on the Billboard 200 album. Heartbeat (the song) charted at #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now go watch yourself some Miami Vice re-runs or something.