One of my favorite shows to guest host on KCOU was "Retro 88." I got to pick out a bunch of fun tracks from the '80s, including well-known hits, hits that should have been better known, and album tracks that deserved more play in the '80s, and segue them with frequent requests from listeners. This was my playlist on this day 22 years ago:
1. Slipping Away-Dave Edmunds
(My favorite Edmunds track; it's an infectious hit that still holds up.)
2. Girls-Dwight Twilley
3. The Gap-Thompson Twins
(The Thompson Twins performed this on "Saturday Night Live" in 1984, and that year is stamped all over this song.)
4. She's A Beauty-The Tubes
5. Call Me-Skyy
(Although this is far from the only song to incorporate a dialed and ringing phone, both effects are well-placed here.)
6. White Horse-Laid Back
(A memorable instrumental groove with minimal lyrics. "Call Me" and "White Horse" are two of the first songs I think of in connection with '80s KMJM.)
7. I Ran-A Flock Of Seagulls (*)
8. Der Kommissar-Falco (*)
(After The Fire's version is catchier, but this works, as well.)
9. Lost In The Supermarket-The Clash
("Train In Vain" and "Lost In The Supermarket" have held up best, among the band's best known tracks. This track still works as a theme song for someone who feels overlooked.)
10. Come On Eileen-Dexy's Midnight Runners (*)
(According to Jeff, the regular host of "Retro 88" during the semesters I subbed for it, this was the most requested "Retro 88" tune. That didn't surprise me, considering the violin and vocals are nearly impossible to forget once you've heard them, and this is one of the most recognizable '80s tunes.)
11. Our House-Madness
(One of the best hits of the '80s; the opening swoosh draws you right in and keeps you primed for the tale of "our house, in the middle of our street." Well-sung, well-played, and well-produced.)
12. Poison Arrow-ABC
(If you liked the feel of "The Look Of Love," you probably liked this similar-sounding hit, as well.)
13. No More Words-Berlin (*)
(Berlin's best hit single; a prototypical '80s hit.)
14. I Melt With You-Modern English (*)
(This was one of the more overplayed hits on college and modern rock stations, but "Retro 88" is incomplete without it.)
15. Love Plus One-Haircut 100
16. Whirly Girl-Oxo
(Looking back, I think this was only popular in the states for about five minutes; no one ever remembers it when I bring it up. The melody is hard to dislodge from your mind once you hear it, though.)
17. Little Too Late-Pat Benatar
(I always thought this was one of Pat Benatar's more appealing hits, but I've almost never heard any radio station play it since it was a hit.)
18. Jessie's Girl-Rick Springfield
(I'm surprised that I got 18 tracks into the show without someone requesting this.)
19. 99 Red Balloons-Nena (*)
20. Who Will Stop The Rain-Heaven 17
("East side, west side..." This track would have worked in a promo for a TV weather forecaster.)
21. Tempted-Squeeze
(As I mentioned in a previous post, this was one of Paul Carrack's highlights during his stint as the group's lead singer.)
22. It's Inevitable-Charlie
23. Whisper To A Scream-Icicle Works (*)
24. Standing In The Light-Level 42
(So many radio-friendly tracks, and yet, only "Something About You" and "Lessons In Love" were American hits. That still baffles me.)
25. The Sun Always Shines On TV-a-ha (*)
26. Medley-Stars On 45
(I wasn't surprised that this was a number one hit in the Summer of '81, considering that it consists of accessible sound-alike clips of "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies and a bunch of Beatles tunes.)
27. The One Thing-INXS
28. I Eat Cannibals-Total Coleo (*)
(Sigh...A listener wanted to hear "I Eat Cannibals," a song that fits the "Retro 88" concept that I would never have played if it hadn't been requested. "Radio is for the people, radio is for the people, radio is for the people," or so I told myself.)
29. Goody Two Shoes-Adam Ant
30. Can't Stop The World-The Go-Gos (*)
31. 2000 Miles-The Pretenders
(It's not just for Christmas...)
(*) indicates a listener's request.
