1980: THE 200 GREATEST SONGS. 
This post: #60-51. 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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0

PLAY THE GAME Queen

The opening track on the English group’s ‘The Game’ album was written by Freddie Mercury. Although it just missed out on the US Top 40, the single peaked at #14 in Britain.

5

9

LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO ME Boz Scaggs

A ballad featured on the ‘Urban Cowboy’ film soundtrack that reached #14 on Billboard’s US Hot 100. Boz Scaggs co-wrote the song with David Foster. The latter co-produced the track with Bill Schnee.

5

8

LIFE STORY Barbra Streisand

Written by brothers Barry and Robin Gibb, this track from ‘Guilty’ was the B-side on the single for that album’s title song.

5

7

WATCHING THE WHEELS John Lennon

After retiring from the music business, John Lennon released ‘Double Fantasy’. This track deals with the years he spent as a house-husband raising his son Sean. It was issued as the third single from his comeback LP, reaching #10 in America and #30 in the UK.

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6

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU’RE FOOLIN’ Donna Summer

‘The Wanderer’ was the first album Donna Summer released after switching record labels from Casablanca to Geffen.

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5

BAGGY TROUSERS Madness

Written by group members Graham “Suggs” McPherson and Chris Foreman, this single peaked at #3 on the UK chart.

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4

9 TO 5 Dolly Parton

In America, this title song from the 1980 comedy film starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton, topped the Pop, Country and Adult Contemporary charts.

5

3

I CAN’T LET GO Linda Ronstadt

In 1966, The Hollies scored a #2 UK hit with this song. Linda Ronstadt covered it for her ‘Mad Love’ album. Her remake reached #31 in the U.S.A.

5

2

LATELY Stevie Wonder

Written, performed and produced by Stevie Wonder, this ballad was included on his ‘Hotter Than July’ LP. The single peaked at #3 on the British chart. It was covered by Jodeci in 1993. That group’s version topped the R&B Chart and climbed to #4 Pop.

5

1

ME AND I Abba

An album track on ‘Super Trouper’ that finds Frida Lyngstad on lead vocals.