Don’s Top 10 From November 23, 1986

(#8 last week) Anita Baker's had it tough in recent years: health issues, royalty battles with an ex-husband that almost resulted in her being jailed, an off-key rendition of the National Anthem at the NBA Finals. Let's remember a younger, happier Anita, & her debut hit.

(#10 last week)  Cameo originally called themselves the New York City Players but changed their name to avoid a lawsuit from the Ohio Players. The group originally had 17 members, including Gwen "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent" Guthrie, but were down to five core members by the time "Word Up!" hit it big. Yowwww....

(#11 last week) God bless Eddie Money for giving the great Ms. Spector a well-deserved, although all-too-brief, comeback. 1986 saw the heights of 60s nostalgia with retro-tinged gems like this hit.

(#12 last week) Wow, has this hit disappeared from the airwaves. It was co-written by the legendary songwriter Cynthia Weil.

(#5 last week) Congrats to Tony Award winner Cyndi, for her "Kinky Boots".. Back in the 70s, Cyndi damaged her vocal cords & was told by three doctors she'd never sing again. Wrong.

(#2 last week) "True Blue", the third single & title track from Madonna's third album, was an unabashed love song to her then hubby Sean Penn. Yet another 80s hit with a retro 50s-60s sound.

(#6 last week) One of the most enduring hits of the 80s. Check out Jon's hair in the video. Shades of Peter Frampton! 26 million views of the official video. Not bad. :-)

(#4 last week)  I forgot how much I like this song, with its jangly guitar & creamy vocals. From Boston's third album "Third Stage", which came out eight long years after their second album.

(#3 last week) "Shake You Down", according to Abbott, was an attempt to express from a man's point of view how a woman they like might make them feel. I wonder if he wrote it when married to the stunning Freda Payne ("Band Of Gold").

(#1 last week; 2nd week at #1) This sure sounds like it was written by Human League, but no, it was written & produced by uber-producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson). HL leader Phil Oakey modestly said that he thought "Human" was the best ballad since "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling".