10.
The Waiting -
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakershands down my favorite song of theirs'. has just the right amount of Heartland and NRG. A lot like I feel with Bruce's
"Glory Days" .Toms' songs from this album always added a defining aspect. The suspenseful drum intro for ""Woman In Love...." the contrast of vocals on "Stop Draggin'...." and for this song I always turn to the fish hook intro. The same one that returns after the last chorus. It's a short buildup but perfectly gets you in gear for a great Album rock ride.
9.
Our Lips Are Sealed -
The Go-Go'sI get
Butterflies & Hurricanes rank. I really do. It's me putting a live version of
"Rock And Roll all Nite" at #1 for late 80' s Mainstream RD all over again. This is a New Wave classic. Kinda glad it made top 10 among all this other guitar fire.
8.
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around -
Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersRight about now some of you might be kicking yourself for letting this show up below
Kim Carnes and
Phil Collins. This is one of those few all time being a perfect Album Rock duets. I figured between all of us we would get it top 5. Some of those ranks below 20 seem harsh.
7.
Bette Davis Eyes -
Kim CarnesGreat song, but I couldn't do any better than top 40. Idk how much
EMI America payola'd Rock format top play this one, but I can understand it's appeal. For me it's that clapping/wacking sound used through out the song. One of my favorite percussion effix used in the 80's, and one of the reasons the song sounds soooo good to me. Plus this song got a nice 2010's with that
'Final Girls' flick.
6.
In the Air Tonight -
Phil CollinsActually one of Phil's better solo songs. Like I mentioned the percussion is the strongest part for me. It's one of those build up kinda songs, but takes it's sweet time getting to the apex. It does sit in my '45s collection, but Its appearance on this list of songs was way overdue.
5.
Crazy Train -
Ozzy OsbourneOne of the most perfect Heavy metal songs of all time. I loved it so much cruised it over to my 1982 charts which is when I actually compiling my weekly top 20. If you look this up on Wiki it says
Randy Rhodes on Electric and Classical guitars. Now I know for a fact it takes at least two main guitarist to get your guitarworks to sound like a train. Brad and Jeff did it on
Night Ranger's
"Don't tell Me You Love Me'. So either Randy had some uncredited help ,or he was one extraordinary MF. Either way the song feels like a train on fire. From Bob's bass in the intro to Ozzy's aiahaiah's you knew this was a ride you either jump on or pass up. I jumped on it at 5 years old and never get off again. and if I hade to add the song is about the most melodic song in Ozzy's discography. That melody in the verses has been used in more pop songs than the amount of bats he decapitated in concerts. Did I think the song was gonna win. Nope. I was sure
"Tom Sawyer" would win. Am I gonna surrender and say why put this jam at #1 if It's doomed? Nope I'm gonna slot it right were i think it fits and hope others follow my lead. For me the best sound on a mainstream rock format is the song that comes closest to Heavy/Hair/Glam Metal. I'll take this top 5 slot and still consider it a conquest.
4.
Limelight -
RushI can finally say I'm super stoked both RUSH songs made the top 5. I had to choose which one to put in my top 10. It could have gone both ways .Actually this was my favorite of the two for years. Even the one that performed best on my charts, but"
Tom Sawyer' remained in my top 20 for 20weeks+. Most of them at it's peak of
#8. That is some feat when you only have 20 slots to begin with. This song still has the best intro ,and vibe when it comes to guitar album rock, but "Tom Sawyer" is the better song.
3.
Edge of Seventeen -
Stevie NicksGreat song, but not my favorite Stevie Nicks song. Not by a long shot. don't even get bummed out by the death lyrics as they are not in your crammed in your face. I do as you can see prefer it so much more on Rock radio than pop. I thought it was a horrible song for pop.
2.
Tom Sawyer - Rush
I'm very surprised this didn't win as it is the very best Rush song ever. The synth alone are majestic, and it takes the song to those music realms that makes progressive rock sound outer worldly to me. There are some serious spacey rock elements going on too, and it's all tied together with some amazing vocals works from Geddy. The most concerning point would be that this is the more progressive of the two, while
"Burnin' For You" is more of your standard catchy guitar hooks rock vibe. keep reading..
1.
Burnin' for You -
Blue Öyster CultI really didn't even think this would be in the top 10. I thought way too guitar hook catchy for
PULSE, but it does have it's progressive rock silver lining in the verses. I love this song , and since there are not too many other BOC tracks in my archives I consider this one their second best. You can hear my favorite BOC track in the
Rob Zombie's Halloween soundtrack. Funny enough the lowest ranks for these two crown songs are from the same member. That same person put my
#1 choice at
#2 so that works.
rowellfarm490Amazing Rd. Gotta say 1981 has the biggest ratio of rock vibes I enjoy. You got the powerrballads, progressive rockers, The Metal pounders songs ,and some of the best sounding AOR jams ever written. Great vids .great stats. The Extras were just as exiting as I charted quite a few of those as well. I will get to that last set of extras. and I kept my
YE closeness crown. LOL at Tom being my biggest threat , but he rules 80's Modern Rock ,and I rule 80' Mainstream.