8 of the 80s: 5/8/14 (1981)...

Throwback Thursday continues to this week's 80s trip, and this time I'm back to 1981, the year reggae icon Bob Marley died of cancer at the age of 36.

Eddie Rabbitt - "I Love A Rainy Night"
from the album Horizon (1980)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriters: David Malloy, Eddie Rabbitt, Even Stevens

The last time the Billboard Hot 100 sported back-to-back country songs at #1 happened when Eddie's stormy single succeeded Dolly Parton's "9 To 5".

(Click below to see the rest of the post)


Ronnie Milsap - "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me"
from the album There's No Gettin' Over Me (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
Songwriters: Walt Aldridge, Tom Brasfield

The blind country singer/pianist's biggest hit owed more to the soft-rock of the early 70s than the western troubadours of the 60s.

Terri Gibbs- "Somebody's Knockin'"
from the album Somebody's Knockin' (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #13
Songwriters: Jerry Gillespie, Ed Penney

Another sight-impaired country singer also had a fruitful year in 1981, nabbing awards from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association shows.

Dottie West with Kenny Rogers - "What Are We Doin' In Love"
from the album Wild West (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #14
Songwriter: Randy Goodrum

The pair's hat trick of #1's on the country chart together ended with this slick piece of urban cowboy emotion.

Pure Prairie League - "Still Right Here In My Heart"
from the album Something In The Night (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #28
Songwriters: Dan Greer, Jeff Wilson

The League's last album with future country star Vince Gill as lead singer produced this top-40 pop nugget.

Emmylou Harris - "Mister Sandman"
from the album Evangeline (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #37
Songwriter: Pat Ballard

On Harris' album, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton provide the backup vocals, though the single version has Emmylou alone for contractual reasons. By the following decade, the "Trio" would have a couple best-selling albums together. Goes to show you need to let the artists' do what they do best.

The Allman Brothers - "Straight From The Heart"
from the album Brothers Of The Road (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #39
Songwriters: Dickey Betts, Johnny Cobb

The southern rock band's last top-40 pop hit was this nod to the adult contemporary country that was ruling the day.

Blackfoot - "Fly Away" 
from the album Marauder (1981)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #42
Songwriters: Rick Medlocke, Jakson Spires

Another country-rock outfit peaked right under the pop top-40 with this aviary number.