8 of the 80s: 9/12/13 (1980)...

Welcome back to this week's throwback to the 80s, and now I've got eight more nuggets from 1980, the year the St. Gotthard Tunnel opens in Switzerland - at over ten miles the longest highway tunnel in the world.

Olivia Newton-John - "Magic"
from the album Xanadu (Original Soundtrack) (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriter: John Farrar

There's no way you can hate this song and be my friend. (I'm kidding. -ish.)

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Billy Preston & Syreeta - "With You I'm Born Again"
from the album Late At Night (1979)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriters: Carol Connors, David Shire

The man sometimes referred to as the "fifth Beatle" teamed up with Stevie Wonder's ex-wife Syreeta for this epic bedroom ballad. While Elton played around with the media about his sexuality, Billy was openly gay but never discussed it as a press tool.

Linda Ronstadt - "Hurt So Bad"
from the album Mad Love (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8
Songwriters: Bobby Hart, Teddy Randazzo, Bob Weinstein

This is how I felt when I heard Linda's lost her voice to Parkinson's. Damn.

Kenny Rogers - "Love The World Away"
from the album Urban Cowboy (Original Soundtrack) (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #14
Songwriters: Bob Morrison, Johnny Wilson

My favorite Kenny song, from the stunning Urban Cowboy soundtrack. God, this still gives me tears.

Dan Fogelberg - "Heart Hotels"
from the album Phoenix (1979)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #21
Songwriter: Dan Fogelberg

One of the best songs to hear on my parents' stereo system when I was a youngster. Sonically amazing, in a soft-rock way.

John Stewart - "Lost Her In The Sun"
from the album Bombs Away Dream Babies (1979)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #34
Songwriter: John Stewart

1/3 of the iconic folk group the Kingston Trio and the man who wrote "Daydream Believer" gets production help from Lindsey Buckingham on this wistful number.

Elton John - "(Sartorial Eloquence) Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?"
from the album 21 At 33 (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #39
Songwriters: Elton John, Tom Robinson

This forgotten gem of a break-up song was co-written with the British punk star who rocked the genre with "Glad To Be Gay" and the queer anthem "2-4-6-8 Roadway".

Ali Thomson - "Live Every Minute"
from the album Take A Little Rhythm (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #42
Songwriter: Ali Thomson

Brother of Supertramp's Doug has a life lesson for the week...

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