8 of the 80s: 4/24/14 (1989)...

Now we move on to today's 80's throwback, and this week it's eight more from 1989, the year that NATO celebrated its 40th anniversary...

Wang Chung - "Praying To A New God"
from the album The Warmer Side Of Cool (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #63
Songwriters: Nick Feldman, Jack Hues, Dean Rotheman

Wang Chung followed up their success with "Everybody Wang Chung Tonight" with one of those frenetic overpromising singles that missed the mark success-wise.

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Figures On A Beach - "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"
from the album Figures On A Beach (1989)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #67
Songwriter: Randy Bachman

This new wave outfit from Detroit covered the 70s classic rock standard for the dance floor. Like Bachman-Turner NewOrderDrive.

Duran Duran - "Do You Believe In Shame?"
from the album Big Thing (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #72
Songwriters: Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor

The "Fab Three" (by this time) struck out with a different sound on this midtempo nostalgia trip.

Information Society - "Repetition"
from the album Information Society (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #76
Songwriter: Paul Robb

I guess the public wasn't as ready for a ballad from the band who successfully fused new wave and freestyle.

The Escape Club - "Walking Through Walls"
from the album Wild Wild West (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #81
Songwriters: Johnnie Christo, John Holliday, Trevor Steel, Milan Zekavica

After two campy singles in "Wild Wild West" and "Shake For The Sheik", the British rockers toned it down for this strummy single.

R.E.M. - "Pop Song 89"
from the album Green (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #86
Songwriters: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe

Lead singer Michael Stipe directed this video himself. Plus, boobies!

Midge Ure - "Dear God"
from the album Answers To Nothing (1988)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #85
Songwriter: Midge Ure

The more 'silent' half of the pair behind Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", the former Ultravox singer made the top 10 on the rock chart with this anthem.

The Hooters - "500 Miles"
from the album Zig Zag (1989)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #97
Songwriters: Eric Bazilian, Rick Chertoff, Rob Hyman, Hedy West

Philly's pride took this old folk song and gave it a really cool reggae/roots-rock twist, though pop radio wasn't ready for it.