Don’s Top 10 for January 28, 1982

(#4 last week) We didn't know it then, but this would be the last pop top 40 hit in a string of smashes for EW&F that had started seven years earlier.

(#10 last week) The oldest song on the survey, it's been in the top 10 since September 15 & on the list since August 18! Anyone remember "Captain Kangaroo" doing a puppet version of this? Definitely one of the cool early MTV videos. Not the kangaroo one.

(#7 last week) Nationally, this song was stuck in the #2 position for a record 10 weeks, which must have driven the band crazy. The very distinctive synthesizer was performed by a then-unknown Thomas "She Blinded Me With Science" Dolby. It's included in the Broadway musical "Rock Of Ages".

(#6 last week) A pretty surprising remake of a 50s doo-wop classic from the Queen of Motown, notable for another reason: Ms. Ross wasn't on Motown anymore, having left for RCA Records, starting with this single, her followup to the #1 smash "Endless Love".

(#9 last week) Co-written by Toto's Steve Lukather, this won the Grammy for Best R&B Song. TMI? One of the other co-writers, Jay Graydon, came up with the melody while in the bathroom.....

(#8 last week) This schmaltzy country/adult contemporary hit did better locally than nationally, where it peaked at #13 pop. The ultimate anniversery song, & at weddings for the father/daughter dance.

(#5 last week) The "medley" craze of 1981-82 continued with an unlikely source, this disco-fied set of the classics. This reminded many people of the 1976 hit "A Fifth Of Beethoven". The RPO is sometimes referred to as Britain's "national orchestra". The arranger, Louis Clark, also worked with ELO.

(#3 last week) The J. Geils Band ("J" stood for Jerome, the group's guitarist) were formed in Boston, but three of the six members came from New York City, including lead singer Peter Wolf (real last name: Blankfield).

(#2 last week) Not only was this a pop smash, it was a soul smash, & on the dance chart & even the adult contemporary chart! Talk about multi-format appeal. Hall actually said at the time, "I'm the head soul brother in the U.S. Where to now?"

(#1 last week; 7th week at #1) "Physical" may have been the biggest hit of lovely Livvy's long career, but it caused quite a backlash at the time due to the suggestive lyrics. Many stations banned it, but it stayed at the top nationally for 10 long weeks, suggesting the public wasn't as offended as some in radio. Newton-John only had three more hits after this one, though.