Sunshine Radio's Smoothest Eighties Pop (1980-1984)

Pexels

To recreate the early 1980s radio feeling, I chose to play yacht rock tracks and pop hits, mixed with original radio jingles and air checks from the era. Around the mid-eighties ordinary looking guys like Christoper Cross were completely wiped away by glamours pop stars who seemed to be made for MTV, such as Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran and Adam Ant. “The video killed the radio star thing was absolutely true in my case”, Christopher Cross says in the recent HBO documentary about yacht rock.

In 1976 American singer and entertainer Donna Lynton moved to the Netherlands, because of her Dutch boyfriend and later husband Charlie. A year later she began to release a few singles, of which Theme From Charlie's Angels became an instant hit. Her version of Marty Balin’s hit Hearts sounds quite reminiscent of Toto’s Africa.

Nowadays known as a yacht rock phenomenon, the band Pages was disbanded after their third self-titled album in 1981, due to disappointing record sales. Main members Richard Page and Steve George returned to their session work. The idea for a new pop/rock band, Mr. Mister, came together while the duo was on tour with Andy Gibb. Although Page had turned down offers to join Toto and Chicago, Mr. Mister was not an instant success. His faith finally paid off with the release of Broken Wings, the first single from their second album in 1985. 

Enjoy this new show on Sunshine Radio!

Tracklist:

Byrne & Barnes – An Eye For An Eye (1981)
Donna Lynton – Hearts (1984)
The Quick – One Light In A Black Out (1982)
Chaka Khan – What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me (1981)
Pages – If I Saw You Again (1981)
Neil Diamond – America (1980)
Carrera – Lucky One (New York Boy) (1983)
Christopher Cross – Say You’ll Be Mine (1980)
Nielsen & Pearson – Too Good To Last (1983)
The Kazu Matsui Project Feat. Robben Ford – Standing On The Outside (1983)
Daryl Hall & John Oates – Open All Night (1982)
Patrick Simmons Feat. Tower Of Power – Sue Sad (1983)
Michael James Murphy – Living Again (1983)
Finis Henderson – Blame It On The Night (1983)
Giorgio Moroder & Joe Esposito – A Love Affair (1983)
Charlie Dore – Pilot Of The Airwaves (1980)
Rick Springfield – Don't Talk To Strangers (1982)
America –  You Can Do Magic (1982)
Michael McDonald – I Keep Forgettin’ (1982)
Lawrence Schwedler – No Reason To Cry (1981)
Sergio Mendes – Never Gonna Let You Go (1983)
Peabo Bryson – I’ve Been Down (1981)