8 of the 80s: 6/13/13 (1989)...

Hey gang, it's time to coast back to the 80s, and this week I'm back to 1989, the year the world's first HDTV broadcasts came in Japan. This week it's eight superstars of the decade with lesser-known nuggets...

Cyndi Lauper - "My First Night Without You"
from the album A Night To Remember (1989)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #62
Songwriters: Cyndi Lauper, Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg

This retro-styled break-up track is a hidden gem in the catalog of the recent Tony Award winner, with understated production and one of her most powerful vocals ever.

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U2 with B.B. King - "When Love Comes To Town"
from the album Rattle And Hum (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #68
Songwriters: Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton (U2)

The highlight of U2's back-to-basics semi-live album brought Bono's most shredded growl to match the great blues master.

Debbie Gibson - "We Could Be Together"
from the album Electric Youth (1989)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #71
Songwriter: Debbie Gibson

This was Debbie's first single in the US to miss the top-40 after eight big hits. Lesson to Taylor Swift - nothing lasts, even if you write your own stuff. Also, too, Debbie has 10X the class of TS.

The Jacksons - "Nothin' (That Compares 2 U)"
from the album 2300 Jackson Street (1989)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #77
Songwriters: Babyface, L.A. Reid

While this "reunion" track with Randy, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie did well on the R&B chart, it sounded a little too Osmond and not enough Jackson.

Bad Company - "Shake It Up"
from the album Dangerous Age (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #82
Songwriters: Brian Howe, Terry Thomas

The iconic rock band's 80's lineup with Brian Howe on vocals were guided by Terry Thomas of Charlie, a band I adored back in the day.

Glenn Frey - "Livin' Right"
from the album Soul Searchin' (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #90
Songwriters: Glenn Frey, Jack Tempchin


Glenn Frey - Living Right by jpdc11
Oh, how the far the eagle has fallen. Glenn gets sponsored by Bally's and proceeds to make Huey Lewis' "Hip To Be Square" seem edgy in comparison.

 Paul McCartney - "This One"
from the album Flowers In The Dirt (1989)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #94
Songwriter: Paul McCartney

Minor hit from Macca's overlooked 1989 set, which is sonically still amazing, and lyrically deeper than it seems. On every Paul playlist I put together.

'Til Tuesday - "(Believed You Were) Lucky"
from the album Everything's Different Now (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #95
Songwriters: Aimee Mann, Jules Shear

Lead singer/defacto head Aimee Mann collaborated with her boyfriend Jules Shear, who she ended a relationship during the course of this emotional album's recording.

That's it for this flashback to the 80s...I'll be back tomorrow with another song of the day and my top 100 songs for the week. Cheers!