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last time i was in LA i vowed never to go back. Its dirty it smells and it makes me sad. But LA is the stuff that dreams (and movies) are made of.

can anyone take a pic of the folded picture. Thanks awesome

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1 . “Broken Wings” Songwriters: Richard Page, Steve George, John Lang (their 1st each) Producers: Arif Mardin (his 5th), Hugh Padgham (4th), Phil Collins (3rd as a producer) Label: RCA . ((Select Personnel)) Mr. Mister:  Ricard Page: Vocals, Bass;  Steve George:  Keyboards;  Pat Mastelotto: Drum Machines, Drums;  Steve Farris: Guitars . Casey Young: Synths.  Casey is a session guy who you’ll hear throughout the 80s on songs from Michael Jackson, Madonna, Tina Turner, The Manhattan Transfer, Robbie Nevil, and David Sanborn

With Mr. Mister on top…and as we get ready to leap into virtual 1986… The Billboard 200 Top 1986 Part I . There are 15 #1 albums this year. Let’s break the first half down now, and the rest in “virtual July” . Do you have any of these in your collection? Are any of these among your favorites? . 1. The MIAMI VICE soundtrack was #1 for 8 weeks in 1985.  It wraps up its reign with 3 more weeks in 1986.  We talked about this last virtual year. Bye-bye Tubbs. . 2. Here’s one of 4 top albums in 1986 without a #1 song associated with it: Barbra Streisand’s THE BROADWAY ALBUM is her 4th #1 album.  Bab’s connection to Broadway musicals (both in the theater and in the movies) made this album an easy choice for her.  7 producers including Babs and peak David Foster made this a top album for 3 weeks.  There’s no top twenty hit on here.  She’ll be back on top of the album charts many more times. ugh . 3. I have to plead ignorance.  Sorry.    I figured “Sade” was Sade Adu’s stage name, much like ‘Madonna’ or ‘Cher’.  I didn’t know until 2 days ago that when it came to the music charts “Sade” was referring to the band, and NOT just the singer.  Sade, The band’s 2nd album PROMISE was a huge hit eventually selling 4 million copies in the US.  “Sweetest Taboo” reached #5.  Let’s sing, “the day is Christmas and the night is New Year’s Eve” And this singer can sing. . 4. Today’s #1…WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD was the 2nd album by Mr. Mister.  Tom has a lot to say about this album, plus another top 8 song with “Is this Love”.  A solitary week at the top. . 5. THIS took a LONG time.  But finally, Whitney’s eponymous debut WHITNEY HOUSTON hit the top of the album charts. This album was released in February 1985, but it didn’t hit the top till March 1986.  So when it hit, it hit BIG.  Top selling album of 1986, and 3rd overall biggest of the 1980s.  A few Tom tunes kept this at #1 for 14 non-consecutive weeks. . 6. The 3rd album with no #1 hits, was from a veteran band that was starting its 2nd stage of their career.  5150 wasn’t just Van Halen’s next album after the massive, “1984”, it was their first with Sammy Hager.  It became their first #1 album.  “Why Can’t This Be Love” hit #3, while “Dreams” & “Love Walks In” both hit #22.  . In honor of the late-great Eddie Van Halen, here’s to having the Best of Both Worlds. Salute. . 7. Was there anyone better, sexier, cuter, better or NASTIER in 1986 than “Michael’s sister”, grown up, and ready to take absolute freakin’ CONTROL?  This is Janet Jackson’s ascension LP.   5 top 5 songs. But for my money, the best song and the best video of the album only got #14, “The Pleasure Principle”. https://youtu.be/Q-gu1KETjVY?t=16 CONTROL was #1 for just 2 weeks. . 8. You’ll have to check out the fonts for the cover album of Patti LaBelle’s WINNER IN YOU.  That’s 80s stuff.  It was #1 for 1 week.  How it knocked my girl, Janet off the top, I don’t know.  It’s not only Patti’s only #1 album, but the only one in the top 15. . See You in “July 1986”

I definitely agree. I said it before. It’s like knowing the score before reading the play by play of the game

another poll bites the dust. lol

Dave Mason’s “We Just Disagree”. There ain’t no good guys, there ain’t no bad guys. .... that’s a brilliant line.

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1 “Separate Lives” Songwriters: Stephen Bishop (1st) Producers: Arif Mardin (his 5th), Hugh Padgham (4th), Phil Collins (3rd as a producer) Label: Atlantic ((Select Personnel)) Daryl Stuermer: Guitar (3rd) Nick Glennie-Smith: Keyboards. Nick is known as a film composer, scorer and conductor. Just in the last few years, he has conducted the music for “Bad Boys for Life”, Both “Jumanji” movies, “Aquaman”, “Dark Phoenix”, “Maleficent”, “Smallfoot”, Batman v Superman, all the Despicable Me movies…

cool Thanks.

i DON’T like seeing the ratings before we read the story. It’s like getting the final score before watching the game. I like to guess before Tom reviews it and as i’m reading it, i try to guess based on his words. Sometimes i’m surprised a glowing review gets just a seven, or a classic “only” gets a 9. Sometimes i think, it’s a one and Tom murders it but gives it a 4. Now it’s not the same. boo. hiss.

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1   “We Built This City” Songwriters: *Bernie Taupin (his 6th, first without Elton John), *Martin Page (1st) *Dennis Lambert (his 1st as a songwriter but he produced several including “Rhinestone Cowboy”, and “Baby Come Back”.  Dennis also wrote some great non-#1s like “Ain’t No Woman Like the One I Got”, “Don’t Pull Your Love”, Tavares’ “It Only Takes a Minute” and The Commodores’ “Nightshift” *Peter Wolf (not to be confused with the J Geils Singer).  His 1st Producers: Peter Wolf (1st), Jeremy Smith (1st) Label: Grunt/RCA               ((Select Personnel)) Starship: Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick: Vocals Donny Baldwin: Drums and electronic drums Pete Sears: Bass and synth bass.  He played the celesta on Rod Stewart’s #1 Maggie May. and Craig Chaquico: Guitars Craig wrote the Jefferson Starship song, “Light the Sky on Fire” which is notable for being broadcast as an original part of infamous 1978 “The Star Wars Holiday Special”   If you REALLY need to see this…well here it is (I guarantee you won’t last 2 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuqa5U8ZL-o

Wait!? what? U Can’t Touch this Didnt Go to #1? how is that possible

thanks You don’t have to change the wording. I also meant the whole song is done by one person, writing producing and instruments. obviously incredible. especially when Doves cry since it’s multiinstruments not just a synth.

Night Court and Saved By the Bell?

virgin, see my request in my post below. Thanks.

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1   “Miami Vice Theme” Songwriters: Jan Hammer Producers: Jan Hammer Label: MCA               ((Select Personnel)) This is only the 4th #1 where just 1 person is involved (see, “Chariots of Fire”, “When Doves Cry”, “I Just Called to Say I Love You”).   VIRGINDOG…can you add this to your comment section for each of these songs, considering how unique it is?

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1   “Part Time Lover” Songwriters: Stevie Wonder (his 8th as a songwriter #1 including “Tears of a Clown”) Producers: Stevie Wonder (his 7th as a producer) Label: Tamla               ((Select Personnel)) Luther Vandross – Co-lead vocals (2nd #1 – “Enough is Enough (no more tears)” Background Vocals: Syreeta Wright (surprisingly, I think this is her first #1) Philip Bailey – “Easy Lover” didn’t go to #1 but “Part time Lover” did.  I guess it’s harder to be easy. Peter Byrne – Lead singer of Naked Eyes. Melody McCulley – one of 5 Baby Mamas for Stevie (he has 9 children) Renee Hardaway – Stevie’s younger sister

Here’s my educated guess based on looking into his bio. Marx was breaking into the LA music business as both a songwriter and a piano/keyboard player. Michael Masser the producer had a ton of session musicians on the Whitney Houston debut album. Marx just happened to be one of them. in about a virtual year’s time (october 1986) Marx will he recording his own debut album.

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1 Saving All My Love For You” Songwriters: Michael Masser (his 3rd #1, “touch me in the morning” “the theme from Mahogany”), Gerry Goffin (his 8th #1 – “will you still love me tomorrow”, “take good care of my baby”, “the loco-motion” (twice!), “go away little girl” (twice!), “the theme from Mahogany”) Producers: Michael Masser (his 3rd as a producer) Label: Arista               ((Select Personnel)) Paul Jackson Jr. – Guitar – his 6th #1 Louis Shelton – Guitar – at least 4th #1 (“last train to Clarksville”, “I think I love you”, “Hello”) – but he was a member of the Wrecking Crew, so the exact number is unknown. Nathan East – Bass (his 2nd – “footloose”) Randy Kerber – Keyboards Richards Marx – Keyboards Debbie Thomas, Oren Waters – backing vocals Tom Scott – Sax Solo – his 3rd #1 (“Listen to what the Man Said”, “Billie Jean”) John Robinson – drums – his 6th #1  Here’s John demonstrating his drumming on “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” (I queued it up for ya) https://youtu.be/ICMCv4Yxbio?t=12

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1   “Take On Me” Songwriters: Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket, Pal Waaktaar Producers: John Ratcliff, Alan Tarney Label: Warner Bros.               ((Select Personnel)) a-ha: Harket: Vocals Furuholmen: Synths Waaktarr: Guitars, drum programming

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1   “Oh Sheila” Songwriters: Melvin Riley Jr., Gordon Strozier, Gerald Valentine (1st for all) Producers: Ready For the World Label: MCA               ((Select Personnel)) Ready For the World: Melvin Riley Jr. – Vocals, Guitar; Gordon Strozier: Guitar; Gregory Potts: Keyboards, Synths, John Eaton: Bass; Gerald Valentine: Drums; Willie Triplett ((that’s a fantastic name for a drummer!)): Electronic drums

one of the greatest outro guitar solos of all time.

great story. Thanks for sharing.

i love the opening distorted guitar as well as the intro with the synths and scattered drums. when i listen with fresh ears it’s an 8 or 9. Played so often when i was younger that it’s a 6.

The slur is proving that the Bevis and Butthead type of fella watching these videos and hearing these songs are just dopes. The slur is very important to the song and what MTV was creating. The notion that you put out a video, gallop around for 5 minutes and get all the materialistic things you could ever want. It’s appealing to the lowest common denominator. And in 1985, we all knew someone who was like this narrative. Put into context the slur is essential. that’s my two cents.

Knopfler has a great way of creating tunes that would very well as country or blue grass.

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1   “Money For Nothing” Songwriters: Mark Knopfler (1st), Sting (2nd) Producers: Neil Dorfsman, Mark Knopfler Label: Warner Bros               ((Select Personnel)) Dire Straits: Mark Knopfler – Guitar, Vocals John Illsley – Bass Alan Clark – Keyboards Guy Fletcher – Keyboards Omar Hakim – Drums Terry Williams – Drums Sting - Vocals There are no chicks on this song. Despite them being free.

Fortress is a ten for me. Like today’s #1 it is a song filled with kinetic words and phrases which is something i love. Anything about movement gets an automatic +3 for me

don’t forget the kinetic words and phrases of the lyrics. I know that always gets me in a song.

that was cool

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1 “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion)” Songwriters: David Foster (2nd after “Hard To Say I’m Sorry”), John Parr (1st) Producers: David Foster (2nd) Label: Atlantic ((Select Personnel)) TOTO FEST: Steve Porcaro (2nd #1- Keyboards), David Paich (#5 Keyboards), Steve Lukather (#3 Guitar) 80’s FEST: Richard Page (lead singer of Mr. Mister doing backing vocals), and David Amato (#3, the lead guitarist of REO Speedwagon also on backing vocals) Trumpet – Jerry Hey (his 4th #1) Drums – Carlos Vega (#3)

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1   “The Power Of Love” Songwriters: Huey Lewis, Chris Hayes, Johnny Colla (Hey, John-nay!) Producers: Huey Lewis and the News Label: Chrysalis               ((Select Personnel)) Huey Lewis: Vocals and Harmonica The News: Mario Cipollina: bass, Johnny Colla: Guitar/Sax, Bill Gibson:drums, Chris Hayes: guitar, Sean Hopper: Keyboards

welcome

for those of us who were geeks and nerds (back when those things didn’t mean the positives they do now) high school was awful and never a glory day. Some of it we remember fondly but most of the time we hated it.

Thankfully Reagan was right. All the critics in the music industry didn’t understand the process. They never admitted they were wrong.

Sowing the Seeds is obviously a takeoff on the Beatles’ psychedelic era. Tom wasn’t a fan of that era (or a big Beatles fan). so the 5 is really an 8 when you add the Beatles correction (case in point Penny Lane only got a 6) we add 3 to any Beatles or solo Beatles ranking given by Tom.

loved it

i’m down on two and up on one. so far

PRODUCTION CREDITS FOR TODAY’S #1 “Shout” Songwriters: Roland Orzbal (2nd), Ian Stanley(2nd) Producers: Chris Hughes (2nd) Label: Mercury               ((Select Personnel)) Sandy McLelland – backing vocals.  He’s the one...um...shouting.  Haha. Enjoy your day!

Pino may be the only person playing on a #1 single in 1985 and 2020. i could be wrong.