Rick’s Top 10 Songs From The 80’s

What can be said? Michael Jackson was the 'King of Pop.' Winner of 12 Grammy Awards, awarded Grammy's Living Legend Award in 1993. His CD 'Thriller' has sold over 40 million copies and, to this day, is still one of the biggest selling albums of all time.

This Philly duo went on to become a hit-machine in the early to mid 80's. By the time the late 80's rolled around Daryl Hall & John Oates went on to surpass The Everly Brothers as the #1 charting duo of the rock era.

Taking this song at face value, it sounds like children rebelling against the school system, but according to Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, it's actually an attack on the formal school system. Waters felt that teachers were more concerned with keeping the kids quiet than teaching them.

One of my all-time favorite groups and one of my all-time favorite movies, 'Back to the Future.' San Francisco's Huey Lewis & News doesn't disappoint with this pop/rocker. You can also see Huey's cameo in the movie as Marty's band, 'The Pinheads,' try out for the Battle of the Bands and Huey says, "I'm afraid you're just too loud." Turn this one up and push the pedal to the metal to 88 mph.

The beginning of the end for the David Lee Roth era of Van Halen. Tensions were tight as Eddie Van Halen strayed from the guitar and started using the synthesizer. According to some, Roth was not too happy about that. The ongoing battle continues on which version of Van Halen was better, David Lee Roth's or Sammy Hagar's. The good news for DLR fans is that he is back in the studio with the Van Halens (Eddie, Alex and Wolfie) working on a new cd.

You can call me cheesy for this one, but what a great pounding drum beat to this former #1 record from Survivor. It stayed at the top of the charts for a total of 6 weeks, so it can't be that bad. Plus, being featured in the movie Rocky III didn't hurt either. Sylvester Stallone used a 'scratch track' where this song would later be used. If he had had his first choice, during the big fight scene you would have heard Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust," but Freddie Mercury and Queen said no. They were probably still stinging from their last movie soundtrack song, "Flash Gordon."

After leaving Lita Ford and the Runaways, Joan Jett formed her rock & roll group The Blackhearts. Jett is best known for this #1 record which held the spot for a whopping 7 weeks, but you may also remember her fictional band, The Barbusters, from the movie "Light of Day," in which she starred with Michael J. Fox.

If anyone wants to dispute the power of MTV, one has to look no further than this song right here from Dire Straits. Sting helps the group with his begging of, "I want my MTV.' It's interesting to note that when Weird Al Yankovic was working on his parody of this song, called "Beverly Hillbillies," Dire Straits guitarist/singer Mark Knopfler agreed under one condition, that he be able to play the guitar lead on the song.

According to the Aerosmith autobiography, 'Walk This Way,' this song started out with the working title, 'Cruisin' For A Lady.' It wasn't until Steven Tyler noticed Motley Crue's Vince Neil all glammed up, at a bar, and surrounded by pretty women. He wondered how someone could be surrounded by so many women when he, Niel, looked like one himself. This song would be the beginning of the 'clean & sober' era of Aerosmith.

From the starting vocals of, "Love me like a bomb, baby, come and get it on," this power rock anthem doesn't let up. Can you imagine buying a copy of Def Leppard's "Hysteria" and not having this song on the cd? Well, it almost happened. The band had finished up recording the album, when producer, Mutt Lang, came to them with this gem and urged them to record it and put it on the cd. In my opinion, this is THE song that took the Sheffield Lep's from 'opening act' to full on 'headliner" arena tours. For Def Lep fans, you should definitely check out their brand new live double-disc "Mirror Ball."