5 (more) 80’s Songs You Have Forgotten, Like Totally

Recently, I profiled 5 bands that had chart hits in the "Big Decade" that have been largely forgotten...and that article got a big response...so, let's do it again!

"Dreamtime"--Daryl Hall

Jim Gearhart's engineer, Brian, is the biggest Hall and Oates fan that I know...he will back me up. Did you remember, or even know that Daryl Hall embarked on a solo career in the 1980's?

Born Daryl Franklin Hohl in Philadelphia, "Hall" met John Oates in 1967, while they were students at Temple University. Each was fronting their own band, when they met in an elevator at a bands competition.  The two started working together around 1970. Daryl sang backup with various soul groups, before forming Hall & Oates around 1972. Early hits including: "Sara Smile," "She's Gone," and "Rich Girl" earned the duo the "blue-eyed soul" moniker...even before scoring in the 80's with songs like: "Kiss On My List," "You Make My Dreams" and "Private Eyes."

Arriving at the height of the duo's 80's success, "Three Hearts In The Happy Ending Machine" was released in 1985.

I played "Dreamtime" on the air at a Central New Jersey AM station, as a brand new baby DJ...the single was on the now-classic tan RCA  (45 rpm) label. Yes, I was playing vinyl records at the time.

The first time that a CD was played on-air, I was filling in on the Saturday night oldies show. I brought in my own CD player and a stack of discs. I hooked my CD player through the line input on the reel to reel tape deck in the on-air studio. It sounds more technical than it is...but it worked.

"Dreamtime" went to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986. (The followup single, "Foolish Pride" could only manage to hit #33 in 1986).

Check out the synthesizers, and heavy drum machines, a bit of a departure from the "Hall & Oates sound."

Above: ENJOY "Dreamtime" as performed on "Live at Daryl's House." Its very faithful to the original!

"Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime"--Korgis

This British band was James Warren on vocals and bass, and Andrew Cresswell-Davies (stage name: Andy Davis) on guitars and keyboards.

The duo first got noticed in their native England, with the mid-tempo ballad "If I Had You," which went to #13 (on the UK charts) in April 1979.

Far from being newcomers to the British music scene, the guys had been making records with the progressive-rock quartet "Stackridge" between 1968 and 1976. After Stackridge disbanded, Warren and Davis continued to record, following up the success of their debut single with this sensitive ballad. It would be their only US hit.

"Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" was a #18 hit, in late 1980.

I had forgotten about the song until I was given an aircheck (tape recording) of my buddy and former co-worker (the late) Big Ron O'Brien on "Music Radio 64, KFI" in Los Angeles.

Ron was the night guy, and he would count down the biggest songs on the "KFI Hit Parade." The station was top-40 (ish) at night...and with 50,000 watts, could be heard for hundreds of miles, after the sun went down. Yes, there was music on AM radio in 1980.

Imagine hearing this haunting ballad through the night time atmospherics...the person who recorded the show that night lived in Northern California...

The first time I listened to this prized radio recording, I remembered the song within the first few notes. It all came back to me....and the distant-signal way in which I heard it, gave me goosebumps! True "radio geeks," who will listen through the noise of a distant AM radio signal at night (especially to hear that rare music station, even for a few moments before it fades away) will understand.

Back to this 'one-hit-wonder' band (according to the New Jersey-based charts): While "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" was the band's high point, James Warren kept the Korgis alive, with a constantly changing lineup, through the early 90's.

This Korgis song has been covered by other bands in the intervening years, including: The Dream Academy in 1987, Yazz in 1991...and the 2004 version as sung by Beck was featured in the Jim Carey movie "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind."

"Call To The Heart"--Giuffria

Yet another lost 80's hit...inspired by a radio aircheck...more in a moment!

Giuffria was a band formed by Gregg Giuffria in 1983, after his departure from the glam rock/heavy metal band "Angel," which was based in Washington D.C.

The band featured Giuffria on keyboards, David Glen Eisley on lead vocals, Craig Goldy on guitar, Chuck Wright on bass, and Alan Krigger on drums.

MCA Records signed the new band in 1984. Their debut album "Giuffria" was a #26 seller on the Album charts...

"Call To The Heart," the lead single, went to #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1985.

In the fall of 1985, after working the late night news shift, I am driving home, listening to WLS from Chicago...on the "skip" in Central New Jersey. "The BIG 89" is coming in clearly, so I throw a cassette in the tape deck when I get home, and start recording.

By this time, the few "big" AM stations that are (still) playing (some) music, have softened their playlist...avoiding "hairbands"...but not WLS. It still rocks!

A few years later, when the top-40 station that I am working for is clearing out the vinyl record library (in favor of CDs), I find "Call To The Heart" (as seen above).

Back to the Giuffria story: The band toured with Deep Purple and Foreigner in 1984...and they played a few shows in Japan in 1985. A video of the Japan shows was released.

After a few lineup changes, the 1986 followup album, "Silk And Steel" was a disappointment...as both singles failed to crack the top-40 charts (in part due to poor label support).

Giuffria left the MCA label in 1987...and called it quits shortly after recording several song demos for a proposed third album (which never happened).

Further research shows that lead singer David Glen Eisley did some TV acting in the 1990's, and appeared in commercials.

Here's a "fun fact": Eisley is the singer of "Sweet Victory" in the Spongebob Squarepants episode "Band Geeks" (above).

And, there's MORE!

Giuffria is set to appear in England later this month...part of the "Rockingham lineup" at Nottingham's Rock City show! Eisley, Goldy & Krigger will support headliner "Dokken" NEXT Sunday, October 25th!

Got frequent flier miles?

"Back On My Feet Again"--Babys

When you think of this British band, you think of the 1970's music scene...but, they had a top-40 chart hit in the "Decade of Decadence!"

Formed in 1974, the Babys signed a contract that was the highest ever for a new music act, at that time. The first 2 albums, "The Babys" and "Broken Heart" were well received ("Isn't It Time" was a #13 record in 1977).

The 1976-1978 lineup included: vocalist/bassist John Waite, keyboardist/guitarist Michael Corby, drummer Tony Brock and Wally Stocker on guitar.

The third album, "Head First" would give the band a second #13 hit, "Everytime I Think Of You" (early 1979).

By 1979, Michael Corby had been replaced by two new American band members: Jonathan Cain on keyboards, and Ricky Phillips on bass. Although the Babys formed in England, they recorded, and were based, in Los Angeles...

About the band name...John Waite said in a 1979 interview that it was meant to be a joke!

"We took the name simply because the record companies wouldn't listen to any bands they thought were rock & roll...they wanted sure-fire teen bands...we couldn't get anybody down to hear us to get a record deal, so we called ourselves The Babys. We thought we'd keep the name just for two weeks. Then, the word got around in London that there was a band playing rock & roll called The Babys and it seemed so off the wall, so completely crazy, that it was worth taking a shot with. It really appealed to everyone's sense of humor."

The dawn of the 1980's brought the harder-edged/punchier  "Union Jacks" album, and the Baby's last top-40 hit...our profile song.

"Back On My Feet Again" (#33/1980).

Various reasons have been cited for the band's 1981 breakup, including the feeling that the Baby's didn't get the recognition they deserved. In John Waite's words: "We were better than people thought we were."

The post-Babys years have been good to the individual band members.

John Waite would embark on a successful solo career, including the smash hit "Missing You" (#1/1984). Cain would join Journey. Stocker and Brock would work with Rod Stewart, Elton John and Air Supply, among others. In the late 1980's, Waite, Cain and Phillips would reunite in the band "Bad English" ("When I See You Smile" #1/1989).

But wait...there's more!

In 2013, Tony Brock and Wally Stocker reformed the Babys, with vocalist/bassist John Bisaha, and guitarist Joey Sykes.

Last year, the Babys released their first new album in over 30 years, called "I'll Have Some Of That!"

Earlier this year, the Babys took to the road, touring across the U.S.

"Everytime You Go Away"--Paul Young

Paul Young was born in Luton, Bedfordshire England, the middle child of three.

In his youth, besides playing soccer, Paul Young played bass for several locals bands.

"Kat Kool & The Kool Kats" was the first group for which he became lead singer.

In the late 1970's he joined "Streetband." Upon disbanding in 1979, several Streetband members stayed together, forming the "Q-Tips." Named after the cotton swab, this British band opened for the likes of  The J. Geils Band, The Knack, Thin Lizzy, The Average White Band, and The Who.

BBC Radio called The Q-Tips "easily the best live band working at the moment."

That moment ended in 1982, when Paul Young signed a solo deal with Columbia Records.

Young's debut album,"No Parlez" turned him into a household name, and somewhat of a teen idol (in 1984).

His smooth, and soulful, voice landed Paul Young in the genre called "blue-eyed soul" (sound familiar?).

"Come Back And Stay," "Love Of The Common People" and a remake of the Chi-Lite's classic "Oh Girl" (1990) kept Paul Young on the radio, and the hit charts, worldwide.

"Everytime You Go Away" would be Young's biggest hit. It would reach #1 in 1985!

Yet, one never hears this hit on the radio anymore...it has been largely forgotten...

Since the late 1990's, Paul Young has released very little new material, but he continues to tour all over the world!

Click here for Paul Young's official site.

Just one more thing...

Recently, Daryl Hall was asked how he felt about his songs being "sampled," or remade by other artists:

"Once it leaves me, it belongs to the world. As long as you pay me, do whatever you want...playing around with songs is an interesting idea. I'm all for it. As long as you don't denigrate it or change the meaning to something that is inconsistent with the point of the song."

Daryl's Favorite remake of a song that he wrote?

He lists TWO (its his prerogative): "Rich Girl" as done by "Bird and the Bee," which put out a 2010 interpretive/ tribute album to Hall & Oates...

...and "Everytime You Go Away" by Paul Young.

This article comes full circle.