The 100 Greatest Songs of 1981 #1 Super Freak

[FairWarning 1,039]

1 minute ago, Ghost Rider said:

I was a big Cars fan in '84 thanks to the Heartbeat City hits, but never was never overly wild about Shake It Up.  Solid tune, and that guitar solo is surprisingly good, but it's not a song I ever seek out. I always enjoy it if I hear it somewhere, but I would never turn it on intentionally. 

I looked at it as it could have been a great song if it wasn't done by the Cars.   They had so many great ones early, this was just another solid release.  By the time this came out, new wave was going full steam thanks to MTV, and it wasn't hard enough for the rockers.  To me, it was the last of their great albums.  The follow-up Heartbeat City was a huge success for them, thanks to MTV - I thought it was fluff at its worst.  

[Ghost Rider 6,375]

Just now, FairWarning said:

I looked at it as it could have been a great song if it wasn't done by the Cars.   They had so many great ones early, this was just another solid release.  By the time this came out, new wave was going full steam thanks to MTV, and it wasn't hard enough for the rockers.  To me, it was the last of their great albums.  The follow-up Heartbeat City was a huge success for them, thanks to MTV - I thought it was fluff at its worst.  

I was a huge fan of You Might Think when I was 10, but while I still like it, I would argue that it has not aged particularly well.  Nostalgia is probably the only reason I still like it at all.  On the flip side, I still love Drive and Magic just as much as I ever did. 

[FairWarning 1,039]

5 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

I was a huge fan of You Might Think when I was 10, but while I still like it, I would argue that it has not aged particularly well.  Nostalgia is probably the only reason I still like it at all.  On the flip side, I still love Drive and Magic just as much as I ever did. 

I liked Magic the best.  You Might Think was the first single, but was a million miles away from anything from the debut album.  Tough standards when you are compared to that.  YMT was one of the first songs  I can remember that really used MTV to sell records.  

[zamboni 7,393]

37 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

I was a huge fan of You Might Think when I was 10, but while I still like it, I would argue that it has not aged particularly well.  Nostalgia is probably the only reason I still like it at all.  On the flip side, I still love Drive and Magic just as much as I ever did. 

The power of MTV. Hard to hear “Magic” and not visualize Ric Ocasek walking on a swimming pool. Or “Hello Again” from the album and not think of Andy Warhol. And so on...

[Ghost Rider 6,375]

I always loved how obvious it was that Ocasak was standing on something in the pool.  

[zamboni 7,393]

10 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

I always loved how obvious it was that Ocasak was standing on something in the pool.  

Damn - you sank my battleship

[HellToupee 15,759]

2 hours ago, Ghost Rider said:

I was a huge fan of You Might Think when I was 10, but while I still like it, I would argue that it has not aged particularly well.  Nostalgia is probably the only reason I still like it at all.  On the flip side, I still love Drive and Magic just as much as I ever did. 

I think Drive sounds fantastic today , wasnt a big fan at the time. Too soft.

[timschochet 35,001]

75. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers featuring Stevie Nicks “Insider” (from Hard Promises) 

https://youtu.be/x7bjXWzms5I

Two great collaborations between these two artists in 1981, both written by Tom Petty, this one appearing on his album, the other appearing on Nick’s solo effort Bella Donna. “Insider” is an achingly beautiful ballad which Petty originally meant for Bella Donna, and then decided it was too good and he had to keep it on his own album. So he gave Stevie the second song he’d written, which became a huge hit- we’ll get to it later. 

[zamboni 7,393]

14 minutes ago, timschochet said:

75. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers featuring Stevie Nicks “Insider” (from Hard Promises) 

https://youtu.be/x7bjXWzms5I

Two great collaborations between these two artists in 1981, both written by Tom Petty, this one appearing on his album, the other appearing on Nick’s solo effort Bella Donna. “Insider” is an achingly beautiful ballad which Petty originally meant for Bella Donna, and then decided it was too good and he had to keep it on his own album. So he gave Stevie the second song he’d written, which became a huge hit- we’ll get to it later. 

Haven’t heard this in a long time - nice. Didn’t know there was a video for it - looks like the same set used for the other one. 

Edited February 26 by zamboni

[FairWarning 1,039]

1 hour ago, zamboni said:

Haven’t heard this in a long time - nice. Didn’t know there was a video for it - looks like the same set used for the other one. 

I've never seen this either.  

[Pip's Invitation 7,604]

20 hours ago, northern exposure said:

Neil Finn and Tim Finn of Crowded House is one less letter than the guys in Loverboy.

They were only both in Crowded House for one album. Gotta give props to Split Enz. 

[Mister CIA 8,610]

15 hours ago, El Floppo said:

Lots of good to great tunes from this year. I don't blame Tim for putting up the fromage instead.

Well, I guess I do...but I'm not the one making the list and still completely support Tims choices even though I don't like and didn't like a lot of the tunes even back then. I've started a playlist of 1981 stuff I've been throwing together as the songs come to me...I'm playing by memory, so some may be the wrong year. I also am all over the place with choices- most of the time I'm not including the "obvious" bigger song from an album, some times I do. I'm also not including stuff I didn't like listening to then or own, which covers a lot of the bigger, best selling tunes and bands. But I'm sure, or at least hope there will be overlap with Tim.

I'll happily provide the spotify link for anybody interested via pm. Will post it here once Tim is done so no spoilers. Will also continue to add to it as I remember more.

Send a link to Tim, por favor.

[northern exposure 1,538]

4 hours ago, Pip's Invitation said:

They were only both in Crowded House for one album. Gotta give props to Split Enz. 

Good point.👍

[El Floppo 29,005]

Was that Insider tune a hit? Don't know that I've ever heard it...doubt I'll hear it again, tbh.

[zamboni 7,393]

35 minutes ago, El Floppo said:

Was that Insider tune a hit? Don't know that I've ever heard it...doubt I'll hear it again, tbh.

Wasn't released as a single and don't recall hearing it at all on the radio, so I'd call it a deep track. Hadn't heard it in forever from when I owned the actual album. 

Edited February 26 by zamboni

[Pip's Invitation 7,604]

37 minutes ago, El Floppo said:

Was that Insider tune a hit? Don't know that I've ever heard it...doubt I'll hear it again, tbh.

Petty (and Stevie Nicks) fans know it very well, but non-fans probably wouldn't. 

[El Floppo 29,005]

I'll be honest...I like Petty and I like Nicks. Figured the two together would be magic, which for me was far from the case here.

[zamboni 7,393]

10 minutes ago, El Floppo said:

I'll be honest...I like Petty and I like Nicks. Figured the two together would be magic, which for me was far from the case here.

I think most would agree that the other one they did is much better.

[Dr. Octopus 16,967]

13 hours ago, zamboni said:

Haven’t heard this in a long time - nice. Didn’t know there was a video for it - looks like the same set used for the other one. 

That's because you bailed on Genrepalooza. I picked it for the Tom Petty Channel.

[zamboni 7,393]

Just now, Dr. Octopus said:

That's because you bailed on Genrepalooza. I picked it for the Tom Petty Channel.

Nice - what round?

[Dr. Octopus 16,967]

Just now, zamboni said:

Nice - what round?

We're on round 215 now, and it was a few weeks back so no idea really.

[Doug B 7,101]

20 minutes ago, zamboni said:

31 minutes ago, El Floppo said:

I'll be honest...I like Petty and I like Nicks. Figured the two together would be magic, which for me was far from the case here.

I think most would agree that the other one they did is much better.

The verse trade-offs on the 'other one' make a big difference, with both vocalists moving around in their vocal ranges a lot more. I'd be interested to hear "Insider" arranged with some alternating verses. As recorded, "Insider" is a pretty, heartfelt tune while the 'other one' has some power behind it and it reaches another level IMHO.

[Bracie Smathers 3,773]

14 hours ago, timschochet said:

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers featuring Stevie Nicks “Insider” 

Great tune.

[Ghost Rider 6,375]

I had never heard Insider till just now. It was okay.  Kind of weird as I thought Tim was not putting deep cuts in these countdowns, but I won't quibble. 

[timschochet 35,001]

74. The Rolling Stones “Hang Fire” (from Tattoo You) 

https://youtu.be/3xbtlW16Gts

Tattoo You was, IMO, the last really good Stones album- not great by any means, but still really good with several memorable songs. They’ve released several albums in the years since 1981 and they’re all basically crap, sorry to say. This is one of those memorable songs. Supposedly the lyrics have some kind of social importance but I don’t pay a lot of attention to those; in fact for years I thought thy were singing “Hang five!” Mick Jagger is very amusing in the video (as usual). 

[Gr00vus 11,994]

2 minutes ago, timschochet said:

74. The Rolling Stones “Hang Fire” (from Tattoo You) 

https://youtu.be/3xbtlW16Gts

Tattoo You was, IMO, the last really good Stones album- not great by any means, but still really good with several memorable songs. They’ve released several albums in the years since 1981 and they’re all basically crap, sorry to say. This is one of those memorable songs. Supposedly the lyrics have some kind of social importance but I don’t pay a lot of attention to those; in fact for years I thought thy were singing “Hang five!” Mick Jagger is very amusing in the video (as usual). 

4 of my 5 BarMitvah albums represented.  I really don't think the 5th will show up in this countdown...

[Dr. Octopus 16,967]

13 minutes ago, timschochet said:

74. The Rolling Stones “Hang Fire” (from Tattoo You) 

https://youtu.be/3xbtlW16Gts

Tattoo You was, IMO, the last really good Stones album- not great by any means, but still really good with several memorable songs. They’ve released several albums in the years since 1981 and they’re all basically crap, sorry to say. This is one of those memorable songs. Supposedly the lyrics have some kind of social importance but I don’t pay a lot of attention to those; in fact for years I thought thy were singing “Hang five!” Mick Jagger is very amusing in the video (as usual). 

The lyrics take a bleak look at the unemployed working class citizens of England and the politicians that created the situation.

The term “hang fire” is slang for doing nothing.

[zamboni 7,393]

39 minutes ago, timschochet said:

74. The Rolling Stones “Hang Fire” (from Tattoo You) 

https://youtu.be/3xbtlW16Gts

Tattoo You was, IMO, the last really good Stones album- not great by any means, but still really good with several memorable songs. They’ve released several albums in the years since 1981 and they’re all basically crap, sorry to say. This is one of those memorable songs. Supposedly the lyrics have some kind of social importance but I don’t pay a lot of attention to those; in fact for years I thought thy were singing “Hang five!” Mick Jagger is very amusing in the video (as usual). 

The Stones' last good album IMO. So basically their resume consists of 17 years of high-end material and 40 years of occasional blech output/tons of touring.

Edited February 26 by zamboni

[massraider 11,376]

46 minutes ago, zamboni said:

The Stones' last good album IMO. So basically their resume consists of 17 years of high-end material and 40 years of occasional blech output/tons of touring.

I choose to ignore any Stones music from the last few (several) decades.  They're still cashing in, good for them, but I don't need to have my image of this great band ruined by a 70 year old scarecrow dancing onstage.  

How many bands have 17 years of good material, and how many of those bands can match their stuff with the Stones?  

Rockers, if they don't die young, tend to not age well, right?  There's only so many Bowies and Princes.  

[zamboni 7,393]

10 minutes ago, massraider said:

I choose to ignore any Stones music from the last few (several) decades.  They're still cashing in, good for them, but I don't need to have my image of this great band ruined by a 70 year old scarecrow dancing onstage.  

How many bands have 17 years of good material, and how many of those bands can match their stuff with the Stones?  

Rockers, if they don't die young, tend to not age well, right?  There's only so many Bowies and Princes.  

I think the Stones listened to Neil Young's "Hey Hey, My My"/"My My, Hey Hey" and applied the lyrics in reverse.

[Uruk-Hai 7,620]

1 hour ago, zamboni said:

The Stones' last good album IMO. So basically their resume consists of 17 years of high-end material and 40 years of occasional blech output/tons of touring.

I thought Bridges To Babylon was good and can usually find at least 2 or 3 songs I like from their more recent albums. But they are just recycling stuff they've already done (& in most cases, better) before. 

It's really strange because, where many of their peers realized they had enough good will banked to try all kinds of whacky stuff (Paul, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Bowie, Prince, etc...), the Stones have almost completely relied on rewriting their hits. I don't know if it's fear or laziness, but it's pretty much all rote now.

God bless 'em, though - they're richer than God doing it their way.

[rockaction 26,152]

27 minutes ago, zamboni said:

I think the Stones listened to Neil Young's "Hey Hey, My My"/"My My, Hey Hey" and applied the lyrics in reverse.

Johnny Rotten's advertising agency (himself) called in today to central processing for further evaluation. We re-routed.

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/sex-pistols-gamble-debut-ad-soundtrack/1028152 

[timschochet 35,001]

73. Foreigner “Urgent” (from 4) 

https://youtu.be/FHnNIoNUZig

Another terrific rocker from this band that, between 1978 and 1984 had so many of these. That opening guitar lead is so great and iconic. 
ETA I forgot to mention that incredible saxophone by the legendary Junior Walker. 

Edited February 26 by timschochet

[El Floppo 29,005]

5 minutes ago, timschochet said:

73. Foreigner “Urgent” (from 4) 

https://youtu.be/FHnNIoNUZig

Another terrific rocker from this band that, between 1978 and 1984 had so many of these. That opening guitar lead is so great and iconic. 
ETA I forgot to mention that incredible saxophone by the legendary Junior Walker. 

Yeah...this is one of those omnipresent tunes that definitely holds up, but have heard so much I don't feel a need to ever hear again. I know that's my own thing- absolutely a good song.

[Leroy Hoard 14,028]

3 hours ago, Ghost Rider said:

I had never heard Insider till just now. It was okay.  Kind of weird as I thought Tim was not putting deep cuts in these countdowns, but I won't quibble. 

I'd rather listen to a decent song I've never heard than one I've heard too much.

[timschochet 35,001]

For the record I don’t regard “Insider” as a deep cut. It’s been part of Petty’s live repertoire for years and was featured on both a greatest hits and greatest hits live collection. 

[wikkidpissah 19,164]

ooo, what's the next fetid & festering, poprox hair drivel, Mr. Man?

[Binky The Doormat 12,943]

20 minutes ago, wikkidpissah said:

ooo, what's the next fetid & festering, poprox hair drivel, Mr. Man?

It's URGENT, URGENT, UUUUUUURRRRRRGENT!!!

[Leroy Hoard 14,028]

Just to diffuse the current tension concerning the list, let me share a story from a few summers ago.  I'm sitting on my front porch at night and suddenly I hear the voice of Lou Gramm wafting from the nearby  downtown area.  Turns out he was the headliner for a July outdoor festival.  Actually sounded pretty good through the lemonade/vodka haze.

[Andy Dufresne 12,806]

Urgent is just not fun to listen to.

The vocals near the end sound like Judge Doom at the end of Roger Rabbit.

[massraider 11,376]

2 hours ago, Binky The Doormat said:

It's URGENT, URGENT, UUUUUUURRRRRRGENT!!!

Now I feel dumb for suggesting that rockers don't age well. 

[Binky The Doormat 12,943]

1 hour ago, Andy Dufresne said:

Urgent is just not fun to listen to.

The vocals near the end sound like Judge Doom at the end of Roger Rabbit.

agree.

however, I would put it on a loop if the other choice was "Hot-Blooded"

[rockaction 26,152]

Well, they can't all be sure-fire winners like Journey's '81 output, can they?

 

[zamboni 7,393]

On 2/23/2021 at 8:53 AM, timschochet said:

87. Foreigner “Waiting For a Girl Like You” (from 4)

https://youtu.be/5jhocSCSZzk

Very nice power ballad. One thing I learned for the first time when reading up on this song: that very distinctive synthesizer is by Thomas Dolby, then unknown. 
Earlier I praised Steve Perry as being one of traditional rock’s greatest vocalists, but Lou Gramm is certainly up there as well. Just a fantastic voice. 

Going back a bit here when reading up on Urgent.  Turns out also Bob Mayo on keyboards. Bob Mayo. 

Edited February 26 by zamboni

[timschochet 35,001]

72. Stevie Nicks and Don Henley “Leather and Lace” (from Bella Donna) 

https://youtu.be/iLEMiDrdSKU

So as it turns out Tom Petty wasn’t the only major rock star that Stevie collaborated with in 1981. There was also this gorgeous ballad that she wrote and put on her solo album with some help from one of the Eagles. 

 

[Leroy Hoard 14,028]

1 hour ago, zamboni said:

 Bob Mayo on keyboards. Bob Mayo. 

Please hold that thought.

[zamboni 7,393]

45 minutes ago, Leroy Hoard said:

2 hours ago, zamboni said:

 Bob Mayo on keyboards. Bob Mayo. 

Please hold that thought.

What the hell, man.

[Pip's Invitation 7,604]

9 hours ago, Uruk-Hai said:

I thought Bridges To Babylon was good and can usually find at least 2 or 3 songs I like from their more recent albums. But they are just recycling stuff they've already done (& in most cases, better) before. 

It's really strange because, where many of their peers realized they had enough good will banked to try all kinds of whacky stuff (Paul, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Bowie, Prince, etc...), the Stones have almost completely relied on rewriting their hits. I don't know if it's fear or laziness, but it's pretty much all rote now.

God bless 'em, though - they're richer than God doing it their way.

Mick is a businessman as much as he is a musician. Why Keith went along that path too, dunno.

[zamboni 7,393]

2 minutes ago, Pip's Invitation said:

Mick is a businessman as much as he is a musician. Why Keith went along that path too, dunno.

Keith isn’t a bad businessman either. Learned a lot hanging out with Andrew Carnegie.

[Mister CIA 8,610]

8 hours ago, wikkidpissah said:

ooo, what's the next fetid & festering, poprox hair drivel, Mr. Man?

Sadly Wikipedia indicates that Mr. Mister did not grace our presence until 1982.  My optimism just died.

ETA: Probably died in your arms.

Edited February 27 by Mister CIA