8 of the 80s: 11/21/13 (1980)...

I'm ready for this week's 80's throwback, and this time I'm back to 1980, the year Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter and John Anderson in the presidential race.

KC & The Sunshine Band - "Please Don't Go"
from the album Do You Wanna Go Party (1979)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriters: Harry Casey, Richard Finch

The Florida disco kings survived the disco backlash for a short while with two massive ballads, including this one, which would be remade in the 90s by neo-disco outfit KWS.

Kool & The Gang - "Too Hot"
from the album Ladies Night (1979)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
Songwriter: George Brown

This slick disco jam hid a lyric full of heartbreak.

Jimmy Ruffin - "Hold On To My Love"
from the album Sunrise (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #10
Songwriters: Robin Gibb, Blue Weaver

Brother of former Temptation David went 14 years between top-ten hits (from "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted") with this Bee-Gees assisted nugget.

Neil & Dara Sedaka - "Should've Never Let You Go"
from the album In The Pocket (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #19
Songwriters: Phil Cody, Neil Sedaka

The veteran singer and songwriter enlisted his daughter for his final top-40 hit.

Utopia - "Set Me Free"
from the album Adventures In Utopia (1979)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #27
Songwriters: Roger Powell, Todd Rundgren, Kasim Sutton, John Wilcox

Only Rundgren could think of including the Iran Hostage Crisis and Kent State in a power-pop music video.

Rupert Holmes - "Answering Machine"
from the album Partners In Crime (1979)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #32
Songwriter: Rupert Holmes

Ahhh, the 80s. Another song from the technology of the times.

Felix Cavaliere - "Only The Lonely Heart Sees"
from the album Castles In The Air (1979)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #36
Songwriters: Felix Cavaliere, Jay Tran

Former Rascal Felix struck out on his own in the world of yacht-rock with this adult-contemporary hit.

The Babys - "Turn And Walk Away"
from the album On The Edge (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #42
Songwriters: Jonathan Cain, John Waite

The final hit single for the power-pop outfit that would end up kickstarting Waite's solo career...

That's it for tonight...I'll be back tomorrow with another Song of the Day and my top 100 tunes from the week. Cheers!