In the late '80s, soft rock tunes were plentiful on the St. Louis airwaves. Here's what I heard on this day 36 years ago:
KSD 93.7 FM
- Every Little Kiss-Bruce Hornsby & The Range (To my ears, the vocals, lyrics, and piano accompaniment in this 1987 hit have held up well. The tune's structure is somewhat unusual for a pop hit, to its credit. The Ralph Butler Band covers this effectively in concert.)
KRJY 96.3 FM
- You Got It All-The Jets (Elizabeth Wolfgramm's vocals really sold this Rupert Holmes-penned ballad. In early '87, this had constant radio airplay. Also recommended: "Rocket 2 U." When was the last time you heard the band's more energetic 1988 hit on the radio?)
- I'd Really Love To See You Tonight-England Dan & John Ford Coley (To this day, I let this oldie play out whenever I hear it. The vocals are breezy and welcoming, and lyrically, this is a pleasant way of saying, "I'm not looking for a lifetime commitment, but if you'd like to meet and get caught up, let's do that soon.")
KLTH 97.1 FM
- Calypso-John Denver (This is yacht rock at its finest. This is one of Denver's best songs, thanks to the carefree spirit and gusto with which he sings it.)
WMRY 101.1 FM
- Real Love-The Doobie Brothers (If you've heard even a little of Michael McDonald's output with the group, you know how slick and well-produced his songs are. Not many singers can match the power of McDonald's vocal range, so the glossy production values resulted in smoothly structured hits that have never worn out their welcome.)
KHTR 103.3 FM
- When I Think Of You-Janet Jackson (Rhythmically and vocally, this is one of Jackson's best hits, and it received considerable airplay in 1986.)
- Higher Love-Steve Winwood (In retrospect, I'm not surprised that this was one of Winwood's biggest hits. The percussive opening catches the ear, priming the listener for the vocals, and the song's hook isn't forgotten easily.)
