Category: 1980s

1. I Get Weak – Belinda Carlisle
2. Out Of The Blue – Debbie Gibson
3. Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
4. Just Like Paradise – David Lee Roth
5. Father Figure – George Michael

These were my Top 5 hits exactly 30 years ago this weekend – Sunday March 20TH 1988.

WHYI Y-100 and WHQT HOT-105 were my (Miami Florida) radio stations of choice back then. Y-100 was the heritage TOP 40 radio station at the time – approaching its 15TH anniversary. (It’s still going strong today as the longest-running continuous TOP 40 radio station in North America.) HOT-105 was the new kid in town, and their strategy was to play continuous back-to-back hits during the 8-hour work day with 1 or 2 long commercial breaks per hour and no deejays. They played their biggest hits frequently – about every 90 to 120 minutes around the clock. That strategy ultimately failed, and HOT-105 flipped to Urban Contemporary later in 1988 – a format that’s been wildly successful for them over the past 30 years.

I abandoned mainstream TOP 40 radio at the start of 2002 (going electronic dance) – returned early on in 2004 – and then abandoned it for good during the Summer of 2006 (upon my salvation).

This upcoming Monday night I’ll present my TOP 10 current hits – God’s music on the radio.

If you like what you see then follow me – and tell a friend that may like it as well.

1. Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
2. Need You Tonight – INXS
3. Father Figure – George Michael
4. Foolish Beat – Debbie Gibson
5. Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen

These were my Top 5 hits exactly 30 years ago this weekend – Sunday February 28TH 1988.

On “American Top 40” Casey Kasem revealed the new # 1 smash from coast to coast as “Father Figure” from George Michael.

Casey Kasem was my idol growing up. I began listening to his countdown during the late-1970s on WPGC-FM (Washington D.C.) and WCAO-AM (Baltimore MD). I lived between the two cities. I’d write down the songs as he counted them down. 40 years ago this Sunday Casey revealed “Stayin’ Alive” from The Bee Gees as the # 1 smash in the U.S.A.

I didn’t get to be America’s favorite radio deejay as I envisioned all of those years ago, but I get to do this on social media.

I’ve been producing my own personal weekly hit music chart off and on for the past 30+ years. Next Friday it’s back to the future – to 10 years ago in 2008.

1. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man – Prince
2. Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
3. What Have I Done To Deserve This ? – Pet Shop Boys With Dusty Springfield
4. Hazy Shade Of Winter – The Bangles
5. The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson

These were my Top 5 hits exactly 30 years ago this weekend – Sunday February 07TH 1988.

Back then a young 20-year-old version of me cranked-up Y-100 (Miami) and danced to the hottest pop hits in the land. I had just arrived at my new home – Homestead Air Force Base Florida – a few months earlier – and my only form of transportation was a 10-speed bike that got me all around the base. (A NEW CAR would arrive in 1989.)

Fun Fact:  Rick Astley turns 52 in a few days. He was 21 when “Never Gonna Give You Up” entered the U.K. pop charts during the Summer of 1987, and I was there !

I’ve been producing my own personal weekly hit music chart off and on for the past 30+ years. Next Friday it’s back to the future – to 10 years ago in 2008.