K-Chuck Radio: Forgotten Hits of the 1980’s

Here’s another batch of hits that, no matter how long you listen to your local oldies station, they aren’t getting any airplay.  And of course, this is despite the fact that they were actually decent radio hits at the time of their release.  But I suppose when your playlist requires you to play Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” every hour on the hour (yes, I’m talking to you Crush FM), there’s not enough time to play some of these other classics.

And of course, that’s why there’s K-Chuck Radio.  So crank up your computer speakers, click on those YouTube clips and let’s get started!

DIESEL was a Dutch band who recorded an album in 1979 and had a couple of European hits.  Two years later, the album was released in America, and this song – “Sausalito Summernight” got a lot of airplay.

CHILLIWACK had dozens of hits in Canada, but this track – “My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)” – was a decent radio hit in the States.  It also had a very infectious hook; “A gone gone gone, she’s been gone so long, she’s been gone gone gone so long…”

FRANKE AND THE KNOCKOUTS‘ lead singer Franke Previte was a former boxer, ergo the nickname “Knockouts” for his band.  They had several Top 40 hits, including this classic, “Sweetheart.”

Rochester, New York. Home of DUKE JUPITER. And don’t anyone tell you differently. Here’s their big hit, “I’ll Drink To You.” And I’m sure it’s getting played on Rochester radio stations today.

MOVING PICTURES was an Australian pop band, and their song “What About Me?” was a hit in 1983 – and then it was re-released a few years later, when it became a hit all over again!

THE MONROES had the worst luck imaginable. Their song “What Do All The People Know” was poised to be a monster pop hit – until the record company they were associated with shut down their American operations.

When I was in college, the AOR band POINT BLANK used to get played TO DEATH on WOUR and on Rock 107 (the only two radio stations people listened to when they weren’t listening to WHCL).  This song, “Nicole,” was probably a #1 song in Utica – because I think that’s the only place where anyone ever heard it more than twice.

There’s an interesting history to FACE TO FACE.  They were the “band” in the Walter Hill movie Streets of Fire, and at the same time they recorded this dance track “10-9-8” with New York City producer Arthur Baker.  Oh, you blinked?  Then you missed Face to Face.

The band SILVER CONDOR had one hit, “You Could Take My Heart Away,” and it got played a few times on American Top 40.  It’s a decent pop song, it’s got a nice melody to it… but now it’s lost in the mists of time.

And finally, we have ORION THE HUNTER.  This band featured former members of the group Boston, including guitarist Barry Goudreau and bassist Fran Sheehan, as well as future Boston vocalist Fran Cosmo.

All the hits… even the forgotten ones… right here… on K-Chuck Radio!!