1980: THE 200 GREATEST SONGS. 
This post: #120-111. Continues: tomorrow.

Caffè Lattè presents…

1980

THE 200 GREATEST SONGS

In 1980, TV audiences tuned in for the answer to the question who shot J.R. on “Dallas”; Moscow hosted the Summer Olympic Games which were boycotted by many nations; war broke out between Iran and Iraq; Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States and the world mourned after John Lennon was assassinated outside his Dakota apartment in New York City.

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YOU MAY BE RIGHT Billy Joel

This hit begins with the sound of breaking glass. The single peaked at #7 in America and #6 in Canada.

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I HOPE I NEVER Split Enz

Written by lead singer Tim Finn, this ballad reached #18 in Australia where the group (originally formed in New Zealand) was based. It was the second single lifted off the album ‘True Colours’ which topped the charts in both Australia and New Zealand.

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STOP ME Donna Summer

As the leading disco act of the 1970s, Donna Summer positioned herself for the shift in popular opinion concerning dance music. As the Eighties began, the public was moving away from disco. This was reflected in her 1980 album ‘The Wanderer’. “Stop Me” was written by Pete Bellotte and Keith Forsey. The former co-produced the album project with Giorgio Moroder.

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THE BOYS LIGHT UP Australian Crawl

After breaking through with “Beautiful People” in 1979, this was chosen as the follow-up. The single climbed to #22 in Australia. It was the title track from the Australian group’s debut album which reached #4 domestically.

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CUPID / I’VE LOVED YOU FOR A LONG TIME The Spinners

The Spinners languished while at Motown, but success followed once the soul group quit and switched labels to Atlantic Records. In 1980, this single peaked at #4 on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The song consisted of a medley featuring a cover of Sam Cooke’s 1961 hit “Cupid” and a song by The Spinners’ producer Michael Zager entitled “I’ve Loved You For A Long Time”.

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COME AROUND Mental As Anything

Group member Martin Plaza wrote and sang lead vocals on this Top 20 single by the Australian group.

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TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet soon became one of the leading “New Romantic” acts that were a chart force in the early 1980s. This was the English group’s first single, reaching #5 in Britain. It was included on debut album ‘Journeys To Glory’ which was issued in 1981.

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ALL I DO Stevie Wonder

This song was first recorded by Tammi Terrell as “All I Do Is Think About You” back in 1966. Co-written by Stevie Wonder, he cut his own version for the ‘Hotter Than July’ album.

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SISTER The Flowers

The ‘Icehouse’ album reached #4 on the Australian charts. In 1981, the disc made inroads into the U.S.A., climbing to #82. “Sister” is a track on The Flowers’ debut LP.

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RUN WILD Barbra Streisand

This track from the ‘Guilty’ album was written by Barry and Robin Gibb. It served as the B-side for the global #1 smash “Woman In Love”.