8 of the 80s: 11/28/13 (1981)..

Hey gang, throwback Thursday 80's style takes us back this week to 1980, the year the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda gained independence from the United Kingdom. (I've included links to buy anything on CD or MP3 when I could)...

REO Speedwagon - "Keep On Loving You"
from the album Hi Infidelity (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriter: Kevin Cronin

The song that rocked in the new decade was the big break for the midwestern band that proves that perseverance pays, waiting till their ninth album to make it big..

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Journey - "Who's Crying Now"
from the album Escape (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriters: Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry

The song that led the volley of singles from my favorite album from the group was their moodiest and instrumentally more cohesive and nuanced.

Marty Balin - "Hearts"
from the album Balin (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8
Songwriter: Jesse Barish

The former Jefferson Starship singer had his biggest solo moment with this minor-key charmer that eschewed rock for older ears.

Alan Parsons Project - "Games People Play"
from the album The Turn Of A Friendly Card (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #16
Songwriters: Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson

The lead singer on this track from the progressive pop wonders was Pakistani-born Lenny Zakatek, who also sung on Gonzalez' disco hit "I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet"...

Kim Carnes - "Draw Of The Cards"
from the album Mistaken Identity (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #28
Songwriters: Kim Carnes, Bill Cuomo, Dave Ellington, Val Garay

The gravelly-voiced singer followed up her mega-hit "Bette Davis Eyes" with this spooky poker shuffle.

Loverboy - "Turn Me Loose"
from the album Loverboy (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #35
Songwriters: Paul Dean, Mike Reno

This post-disco rock nugget won Canada's Juno Award for Song of the Year in 1982.

Donna Summer - "Who Do You Think You're Foolin'" 
from the album The Wanderer (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #40
Songwriters: Pete Bellotte, Silvester Levay, Jerry Rix

The lesser-known of the three singles from Donna's foray into rock and new wave at the start of the 80s.

Don Felder - "Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride)"
from the album Heavy Metal (Original Soundtrack) (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #43
Songwriter: Don Felder

The former Eagles guitarist provided the theme to the cult-classic animated film that captured the genre at its most transitional.

 That's it for this week's 80s trip...I'll be back tomorrow with another song of the day and my top 100 tunes from the week. Have a great Thanksgiving, those in the US!