The 100 Greatest Songs of 1981 #1 Super Freak

[northern exposure 1,540]

50 minutes ago, Mister CIA said:

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

ETA: Probably died in your arms.

If it happened tonight, you might be thinking of Cutting Crew.

ETA - I did see Mr. Mister in concert  my girlfriend at the time was a huge fan.

Edited February 27 by northern exposure

[Ghost Rider 6,377]

No shame in having seen Mr. Mister. Their hits were money. 

Leather and Lace is a nice little tune.  

[FairWarning 1,072]

15 hours ago, Leroy Hoard said:

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.

I saw him at one of those also.  I think he had his son on lead guitar.  It sounded good, but he looked like Joe Cocker.  Gramm did survive some serious health issues, probably the steroids changed his look some.   Urgent hasn't aged well, but Foreigner 4 was probably a top 10-15 album in 81.  

[Bracie Smathers 3,781]

13 hours ago, timschochet said:

Stevie Nicks and Don Henley “Leather and Lace”

You have to tell the back story about this song.  One of the smartest friends I knew in college was into country music and casually mentioned what the song was about once when we were out on a beer run.

Waylon Jennings wore leather and his wife wore lace on stage.  Stevie doesn't mention that in her story but adds more personal detail.

Once you know the backstory that song means so much more each time you hear it.

Nicks: "I wrote this song because Waylon Jennings called me up and asked me to write a song called 'Leather and Lace.' It was to be a duet for him and his wife (Jessi Colter), and I worked very hard trying to explain what it was like to be in love with someone in the same business, and how to approach dealing with each other. It's probably the hardest thing in the world to do because it falls out of your hands and into the hands of the world, which tends to want you to not be able to handle it. I have to tell you now that Mr. Don Henley was pretty much responsible for this song because he came over every day and told me to either start over, or that I was on the right track, and he made me finish it (because I almost gave up many times). When it was finally finished, Don and I made a very simple demo of it - he sang it with me, and it was truly wonderful. And then I found out that Waylon and Jessi were breaking up, and Waylon wanted to just sing it by himself. After all the work I had put into the philosophy of two people dealing with this problem, I told Waylon that only 4 people in this world could sing this song: he and his wife, or myself and Don Henley. Don and I had been going out for quite awhile, and, bless his heart, he did sing it with me, and again, as fate would have it, it became one of the most special love songs that I would ever write... and remains that, even today, after all these years. All in all, it was an unforgettable experience, as was he. Blame it on my wild heart."

[DocHolliday 4,208]

2 hours ago, FairWarning said:

I saw him at one of those also.  I think he had his son on lead guitar.  It sounded good, but he looked like Joe Cocker.  Gramm did survive some serious health issues, probably the steroids changed his look some.   Urgent hasn't aged well, but Foreigner 4 was probably a top 10-15 album in 81.  

For some reason, Foreigner songs have always annoyed me.   

[Ghost Rider 6,377]

23 minutes ago, DocHolliday said:

For some reason, Foreigner songs have always annoyed me.   

I can't go that far, but while I have always enjoyed their hits and their many classic rock staples, they have never really been a band I went out of my way to hear.  I even bought their debut on CD way back when I first got into classic rock because I figured it was one I needed, but it became one I would never play.  

[Mr. Mojo 1,345]

10 hours ago, northern exposure said:

If it happened tonight, you might be thinking of Cutting Crew.

ETA - I did see Mr. Mister in concert  my girlfriend at the time was a huge fan.

I really like both of those bands! 

In fact Mr Mister - Welcome To The Real World  and  Cutting Crew - Broadcast are 2 of my favorite 80s CDs. 

Edited February 27 by Mr. Mojo

[Ghost Rider 6,377]

11 minutes ago, Mr. Mojo said:

I really like both of those bands! 

In fact Mr Mister - Welcome To The Real World  and  Cutting Crew - Broadcast are 2 of my favorite 80s CDs. 

Hell yeah! I am a big fan of Broadcast! I Just Died.. is the only one anyone remembers now, but it had several other hits, and the album is loaded with good deep cuts.  

[zamboni 7,425]

29 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

I can't go that far, but while I have always enjoyed their hits and their many classic rock staples, they have never really been a band I went out of my way to hear.  I even bought their debut on CD way back when I first got into classic rock because I figured it was one I needed, but it became one I would never play.  

I also find Foreigner to be hit or miss, so to speak. Like a lot of classic rock bands of their time, they have some good songs but also a lot of substandard songs.

Probably my favorite song of theirs is Starrider off the debut you mention, with Gramm and Mick Jones sharing vocals.

[timschochet 35,029]

71. Billy Squire “My Kinda Lover” (from Don’t Say No) 

https://youtu.be/nI33SNkIsMw

1981 was the year that Billy Squire’s career took off, with one smash hit after another all from this album. He’s lived off its success ever since and why not? These are good rock songs, well-crafted, highly accessible. There’s no brilliance here, nothing innovative, but they’re solid. We will hear from Billy a few more times coming up. 

Edited February 27 by timschochet

[zamboni 7,425]

11 minutes ago, timschochet said:

70. Billy Squire “My Kinda Lover” (from Don’t Say No) 

https://youtu.be/nI33SNkIsMw

1981 was the year that Billy Squire’s career took off, with one smash hit after another all from this album. He’s lived off its success ever since and why not? 

If it weren’t for those meddling video producers a few years later, he would have gotten away with it, too.

Edited February 27 by zamboni

[Pip's Invitation 7,687]

40 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

I can't go that far, but while I have always enjoyed their hits and their many classic rock staples, they have never really been a band I went out of my way to hear.  

This is pretty much how I feel about them too. The debut and 4 are pretty good but not something I need to revisit. And I was out on them once I Want to Know What Love Is happened. 

[Pip's Invitation 7,687]

8 minutes ago, timschochet said:

71. Billy Squire “My Kinda Lover” (from Don’t Say No) 

https://youtu.be/nI33SNkIsMw

1981 was the year that Billy Squire’s career took off, with one smash hit after another all from this album. He’s lived off its success ever since and why not? These are good rock songs, well-crafted, highly accessible. There’s no brilliance here, nothing innovative, but they’re solid. We will hear from Billy a few more times coming up. 

Bobby Chouinard's band! 

[Doug B 7,106]

11 minutes ago, timschochet said:

71. Billy Squire “My Kinda Lover” (from Don’t Say No) 

Misheard these lyrics as a yute  

(Or maybe this)

[zamboni 7,425]

2 minutes ago, Doug B said:

Misheard these lyrics as a yute  

 

Mauna Kea Lover?

[zamboni 7,425]

9 minutes ago, Pip's Invitation said:

18 minutes ago, timschochet said:

71. Billy Squire “My Kinda Lover” (from Don’t Say No) 

https://youtu.be/nI33SNkIsMw

1981 was the year that Billy Squire’s career took off, with one smash hit after another all from this album. He’s lived off its success ever since and why not? These are good rock songs, well-crafted, highly accessible. There’s no brilliance here, nothing innovative, but they’re solid. We will hear from Billy a few more times coming up. 

Expand  

Bobby Chouinard's band! 

Again the power of MTV. Whenever I think of Bobby, I think of his leg kicks at the end of the Rock Me Tonite video (4:20 mark).

[wikkidpissah 19,215]

13 hours ago, Mister CIA said:

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

ETA: Probably died in your arms.

Mr. Man

[wikkidpissah 19,215]

21 hours ago, wikkidpissah said:

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

 

1 hour ago, timschochet said:

71. Billy Squire “My Kinda Lover” (from Don’t Say No) 

https://youtu.be/nI33SNkIsMw

1981 was the year that Billy Squire’s career took off, with one smash hit after another all from this album. He’s lived off its success ever since and why not? These are good rock songs, well-crafted, highly accessible. There’s no brilliance here, nothing innovative, but they’re solid. We will hear from Billy a few more times coming up. 

oh, that....

[Ghost Rider 6,377]

1 hour ago, zamboni said:

I also find Foreigner to be hit or miss, so to speak. Like a lot of classic rock bands of their time, they have some good songs but also a lot of substandard songs.

Probably my favorite song of theirs is Starrider off the debut you mention, with Gramm and Mick Jones sharing vocals.

Same here!  Starrider is the one of the few songs by them I will occasionally seek out on its own. 

1 hour ago, Pip's Invitation said:

This is pretty much how I feel about them too. The debut and 4 are pretty good but not something I need to revisit. And I was out on them once I Want to Know What Love Is happened. 

I Want to Know What Love Is is blah, but I will admit to liking both Waiting for a Girl Like You and I Don't Want to Live Without You. They are nice ballads. 

1 hour ago, zamboni said:

Again the power of MTV. Whenever I think of Bobby, I think of his leg kicks at the end of the Rock Me Tonite video (4:20 mark).

As bad as that video is, it's still a damn good song. 

Edited February 27 by Ghost Rider

[zamboni 7,425]

2 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

1 hour ago, zamboni said:

Again the power of MTV. Whenever I think of Bobby, I think of his leg kicks at the end of the Rock Me Tonite video (4:20 mark).

As bad as that video is, it's still a damn good song. 

Agree. The song itself got overlooked with that ####show of pastels and satin sheets.

Edited February 27 by zamboni

[Ghost Rider 6,377]

2 minutes ago, zamboni said:

Agree. The song itself got overlooked with that ####show of pastels and satin sheets.

It actually was his biggest hit ever, and did well at the time, but I think once his creativity dried up, it was easy for people to point to that video and say, "It ruined his career!"  No, not writing any more good songs ruined his career. 

[massraider 11,435]

1 hour ago, zamboni said:

Again the power of MTV. Whenever I think of Bobby, I think of his leg kicks at the end of the Rock Me Tonite video (4:20 mark).

Spectacular comments on this particular corner of YouTube.

[Leroy Hoard 14,054]

3 minutes ago, massraider said:

Spectacular comments on this particular corner of YouTube.

"This makes Wham look like Pantera"

[massraider 11,435]

3 minutes ago, Leroy Hoard said:

"This makes Wham look like Pantera"

 

"It looks like he's doing an aerobics routine while trying to not lose his b***plug".

[zamboni 7,425]

15 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

19 minutes ago, zamboni said:

Agree. The song itself got overlooked with that ####show of pastels and satin sheets.

It actually was his biggest hit ever, and did well at the time, but I think once his creativity dried up, it was easy for people to point to that video and say, "It ruined his career!"  No, not writing any more good songs ruined his career. 

I agree that the video impact is a bit overblown, but IMO that album (Signs of Life) was pretty weak compared to his earlier efforts and that had a lot to do with his career falling off. The video was the tip of the iceberg that changed the perception of him among fans. Pretty good backstory here that’s not just fan fluff: https://youtu.be/2V9pLyEL5Ko

Edited February 27 by zamboni

[timschochet 35,029]

70. Van Halen “Unchained” (from Fair Warning) 

https://youtu.be/ojNrj-sWfpk

Speaking of straight ahead, take no prisoners rock and roll, here’s a song that some critics place among Van Halen’s very best. I wouldn’t go that far. It does have a great opening guitar lick but it’s not, at least IMO, in the same category as “Dance the Night Away”, “Jump”, or any of the material from their tremendous debut album. But it’s still very very good. 

[rockaction 26,306]

1 minute ago, timschochet said:

70. Van Halen “Unchained” (from Fair Warning)

Hey get a load of this
Well I say...that suit is you
Oooh hooh you'll get some leg tonight for sure
Tell us how you doooo...
'C'mon Dave give me a break'
Hey hey one break comin' up

Unchained

[Ghost Rider 6,377]

There is no way on God's green earth that there were 69 songs better than Unchained in 1981. 

Sidenote: there were four songs better than it on Fair Warning, but since Unchained was the only real hit from Fair Warning, I will doubt we will see the others unless Tim's moves the goal posts again on his deep cuts rule.  

[wikkidpissah 19,215]

30 minutes ago, wikkidpissah said:

 

oh, that....

 

6 minutes ago, timschochet said:

70. Van Halen “Unchained” (from Fair Warning) 

https://youtu.be/ojNrj-sWfpk

Speaking of straight ahead, take no prisoners rock and roll, here’s a song that some critics place among Van Halen’s very best. I wouldn’t go that far. It does have a great opening guitar lick but it’s not, at least IMO, in the same category as “Dance the Night Away”, “Jump”, or any of the material from their tremendous debut album. But it’s still very very good. 

oh, that...

[timschochet 35,029]

3 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

There is no way on God's green earth that there were 69 songs better than Unchained in 1981. 

Sidenote: there were four songs better than it on Fair Warning, but since Unchained was the only real hit from Fair Warning, I will doubt we will see the others unless Tim's moves the goal posts again on his deep cuts rule.  

You’re correct we won’t.  But out of curiosity I’d like to know what you think those songs are? 

[zamboni 7,425]

6 minutes ago, rockaction said:

Hey get a load of this
Well I say...that suit is you
Oooh hooh you'll get some leg tonight for sure
Tell us how you doooo...
'C'mon Dave give me a break'
Hey hey one break comin' up

Unchained

The immortal Ted Templeman with that line.

[Leroy Hoard 14,054]

51 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

There is no way on God's green earth that there were 69 songs better than Unchained in 1981. 

Sidenote: there were four songs better than it on Fair Warning, but since Unchained was the only real hit from Fair Warning, I will doubt we will see the others unless Tim's moves the goal posts again on his deep cuts rule.  

FW is my 2nd favorite VH album behind the first, so I pretty much agree with this post.

[FairWarning 1,072]

65 slots too low, minimum.

[FairWarning 1,072]

No one is getting my #1

[Binky The Doormat 12,945]

4 hours ago, zamboni said:

If it weren’t for those meddling video producers a few years later, he would have gotten away with it, too.

a reminder.

 

ETA:  oh crap ...already posted - sorry, got ahead of myself getting through the thread

apologies.

Edited February 27 by Binky The Doormat

[northern exposure 1,540]

15 hours ago, Ghost Rider said:

No shame in having seen Mr. Mister. Their hits were money. 

Leather and Lace is a nice little tune.  

What about The Hooters then?

[Binky The Doormat 12,945]

1 hour ago, FairWarning said:

No one is getting my #1

no truer words have ever been spoken.

[northern exposure 1,540]

3 hours ago, Ghost Rider said:

There is no way on God's green earth that there were 69 songs better than Unchained in 1981. 

Sidenote: there were four songs better than it on Fair Warning, but since Unchained was the only real hit from Fair Warning, I will doubt we will see the others unless Tim's moves the goal posts again on his deep cuts rule.  

Tim trying to gain some street cred?

[zamboni 7,425]

39 minutes ago, northern exposure said:

15 hours ago, Ghost Rider said:

No shame in having seen Mr. Mister. Their hits were money. 

Leather and Lace is a nice little tune.  

What about The Hooters then?

He’s taking it day by day.

[northern exposure 1,540]

8 minutes ago, zamboni said:

He’s taking it day by day.

Probably have a nervous night.

[Leroy Hoard 14,054]

16 hours ago, Ghost Rider said:

No shame in having seen Mr. Mister. Their hits were money. 

Name checked in a 2009 tune I seem to hear every time I go to the grocery store.

"Hey, Soul Sister
Ain't That Mr. Mister
On The Radio, Stereo?"

[zamboni 7,425]

28 minutes ago, Leroy Hoard said:

Name checked in a 2009 tune I seem to hear every time I go to the grocery store.

"Hey, Soul Sister
Ain't That Mr. Mister
On The Radio, Stereo?"

Whenever I hear Mr. Mister, I think of this unrelated video scene.

[Dr. Octopus 17,049]

4 hours ago, timschochet said:

70. Van Halen “Unchained” (from Fair Warning) 

https://youtu.be/ojNrj-sWfpk

Speaking of straight ahead, take no prisoners rock and roll, here’s a song that some critics place among Van Halen’s very best. I wouldn’t go that far. It does have a great opening guitar lick but it’s not, at least IMO, in the same category as “Dance the Night Away”, “Jump”, or any of the material from their tremendous debut album. But it’s still very very good. 

Unchained >>>> Jump

[FairWarning 1,072]

19 minutes ago, Dr. Octopus said:

Unchained >>>> Jump

How did I miss this.  Of course Jump isn't in the same class.  Jump could sell 15 mil more albums and not be in the same class.

[Encyclopedia Brown 2,702]

1 hour ago, zamboni said:

He’s taking it day by day.

I wonder if the Hooters and Patty Smyth ever found out where the children went. 

[rockaction 26,306]

1 hour ago, Leroy Hoard said:

Name checked in a 2009 tune I seem to hear every time I go to the grocery store.

"Hey, Soul Sister
Ain't That Mr. Mister
On The Radio, Stereo?"

Argfarb.

My brother's stepdaughter got a tattoo. It says "take these broken wings and learn to fly away learn to love so free"

The kid that worked down at the local Baskin-Robbins
Got a tattoo of a lipstick print attached above his collar
I watch him relocating pistachio to a waffle
Thinking I had lost the plot if not the passion for the novel

He asked me what I wanted. I ordered something daft
He said he liked the tattoo Alex drew me of the bats. Thanks
I like it too but modestly confess in present company my coloring is not the main event

Look at that neck. The message is immediate the guy F's chicks
I spent a lot of years making friends with cool artists
So when they drew me tattoos I could truly feel important
It's a 22 year old inside a cube of brick and mortar
Got me questioning my morals in a corny pecking order
I should give a #### less
Cherry? No. Whip? Yes

Lotta Years
Uh, Lotta Years

[timschochet 35,029]

69. April Wine “Just Between You and Me” (from The Nature of the Beast) 

https://youtu.be/t4S3CV9hu6E

This pretty rock ballad was April Wine’s other big hit in 1981. It’s passed the test of time and remains, so many years later,  a pleasure to listed to. 

 

 

[FairWarning 1,072]

14 minutes ago, timschochet said:

69. April Wine “Just Between You and Me” (from The Nature of the Beast) 

https://youtu.be/t4S3CV9hu6E

This pretty rock ballad was April Wine’s other big hit in 1981. It’s passed the test of time and remains, so many years later,  a pleasure to listed to. 

 

 

Outstanding song that has held up over time.  

Edited February 27 by FairWarning

[northern exposure 1,540]

2 hours ago, Encyclopedia Brown said:

I wonder if the Hooters and Patty Smyth ever found out where the children went. 

They probably got together with Cat Stevens and he told them where the kids play.

[northern exposure 1,540]

3 hours ago, zamboni said:

Whenever I hear Mr. Mister, I think of this unrelated video scene.

Somewhat related. I was watching an episode of Seinfeld recently and that guy shows up as The Maestro.