8 of the 80s: 10/10/13 (1984)...

Hey gang, it's time for this week's 80's throwback, and now I'm back to 1984, the year that BBC news anchor Michael Buerk presented the networks reporting on the famine in Ethiopia in October, which inspired Midge Ure and Bob Geldof to put together the Band Aid relief effort  ("Do They Know It's Christmas", Live Aid) later in the year...

Bonnie Tyler - "Take Me Back"
from the album Faster Than The Speed Of Night (1983)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #46
Songwriter: Billy Cross

Bonnie's follow-up to her #1 hit "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" was written by a guitarist for Bob Dylan in the late 70s, and produced by Meat Loaf svengali Jim Steinman, but stalled right under the top-40.

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Yes - "It Can Happen"
from the album 90125 (1983)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #51
Songwriters: Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Chris Squire

The British progressive rock titans interpolated lines from Oscar Wilde under the musical landscape. THe original version of this was recorded before lead singer Jon Anderson joined the reunion lineup.

Def Leppard - "Bringing On The Heartbreak"
from the album High 'N Dry (reissue, 1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #61
Songwriters: Steve Clark, Joe Elliot, Pete Willis

The second time was the chart for this 'remixed' version of their album track from 1981 which rock radio bode the time between the band's current albums with...

Krokus - "Midnite Maniac"
from the album The Blitz (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #71
Songwriters: Marc Storace, Fernando Von Arb

The Swiss metalheads had their first "pop" chart hit with this ode to the crazy night.

Molly Hatchet - "Satisfied Man"
from the album The Deed Is Done (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #81
Songwriters: Thomas DeLuca, Tom Jans

The arguably "hardest" of the Southern rock bands went a bit more mainstream with this radio-friendly hit from the mid80s.

Hagar, Schon, Aaronson, Shrieve - "Whiter Shade Of Pale"
from the album Through The Fire (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #94
Songwriters: Gary Brooker, Keith Reid

The pairing of future Van Halen singer with the guitarist from Journey covered the Procul Harum classic for a arena rock lover's lighter-raiser.

Helix - "Rock You"
from the album Walkin' The Razor's Edge (1984)
Billboard peak: #101
Songwriter: Bob Halligan

The Ontario metal group co-opted this song to Canadian brewmeister Labatt's for a commercial, and later on was a running gag on the show Trailer Park Boys.

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - "I Love You Love"
from the album Glorious Results of A Misspent Youth (1984)
Billboard peak: #105
Songwriter: Gary Glitter, Mike Leander

Joan and the boys covered an old Gary Glitter track on their forgotten album from 1984...

That's it for this week's 80's flashback, and I'll be back tomorrow with another Song of the Day and my top 100 tunes for the week. Cheers!