9/5/16

Radio & Records Top 82 of '82 CHR

In summing up the year, Joel Denver said the key words for contemporary hit radio (CHR) in 1982 were variety and creativity while observing the widening gulf between the album-oriented rock (AOR) and adult contemporary (A/C) genres. Praising the artists for their continued and expanded creativity, Denver said the variety of CHR - its ability to play the best of AOR, A/C, and black crossovers - was its strongest suit. (PDF)
Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) was a term coined by Radio & Records magazine in the early Eighties to designate certain Top 40 stations holding onto the diverse hits-driven format, playing all genres as long as they were hits. From 1974-1981, I listened to WLS, an AM Top 40 station out of Chicago, but when we moved to the 62nd largest radio market in the country in 1981, I began listening to KWFM and KLPX, two album-oriented rock (AOR) stations. (I later discovered both stations along with KROQ were reporting AOR stations for Radio & Records.)
The chart below features the 82 most popular CHR hits from January through November 1982, according to the CHR radio stations reporting to Radio & Records. For comparison's sake, each song's year-end rankings from Billboard's Hot 100, Cash Box's Top 100 and WLS's Big 89 are also listed. For my tastes, this one leans more towards the softer Adult Contemporary than the harder Album Oriented Rock or edgier New Wave despite Denver's observations of diversity. Still a great playlist, though, don't you think?
R&RtitleartistHot 100Cash BoxWLS
82I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)Donald Fagen100
81Love Will Turn You AroundKenny Rogers7280
80Crimson & CloverJoan Jett & the Blackhearts7846
79Waiting On A FriendRolling Stones9488
78Hold OnSantana6154
77Always On My MindWillie Nelson223155
76Goin' DownGreg Guidry97
75Without YouFranke & the Knockouts63
74Just OnceQuincy Jones featuring James Ingram
73GloriaLaura Branigan752642
72Southern CrossCrosby, Stills & Nash
71What Kind Of Fool Am IRick Springfield84
70Key LargoBertie Higgins1741
69Blue EyesElton John6259
68Should I Do ItPointer Sisters89
67Don't Fight ItKenny Loggins with Steve Perry9748
66Spirits In The Material WorldThe Police96
65Mirror, MirrorDiana Ross8653
64Turn Your Love AroundGeorge Benson277037
63Shake It UpThe Cars232364
62ManeaterHall & Oates2276
61Heart AttackOlivia Newton-John30
60Man On Your MindLittle River Band9281
59Tainted LoveSoft Cell115067
58Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)Elton John7678
57Keep The Fire Burnin'REO Speedwagon5063
56HeartlightNeil Diamond67
55TimeAlan Parsons Project
54You Could Have Been With MeSheena Easton6473
53Love Me TomorrowChicago29
52TrulyLionel Richie752
51VacationThe Go-Go's873974
50Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)Rod Stewart98
49Through The YearsKenny Rogers9970
48Cool NightPaul Davis5224
47I've Never Been To MeCharlene382966
46867-5309/JennyTommy Tutone163835
45Take It Easy On MeLittle River Band41859
44Only Time Will TellAsia49
43Do You Believe In LoveHuey Lewis & the News518433
42CenterfoldJ. Geils Band536
41Caught Up In You38 Special536460
40Steppin' OutJoe Jackson3230
39You Can Do MagicAmerica654219
38Even The Nights Are BetterAir Supply375550
37You Make My DreamsHall & Oates
36We Got The BeatThe Go-Go's251544
35Who Can It Be Now?Men At Work301321
34The Other WomanRay Parker Jr.262057
33The One You LoveGlenn Frey7543
32Did It In A MinuteHall & Oates6668
31'65 Love AffairPaul Davis396028
30Heat Of The MomentAsia404316
29Only The LonelyThe Motels294932
28Leader Of The BandDan Fogelberg356222
27You Should Hear How She Talks About YouMelissa Manchester182517
26Freeze-FrameJ. Geils Band4927
25Take it AwayPaul McCartney704569
24I Love Rock N RollJoan Jett & the Blackhearts352
23Wasted On The WayCrosby, Stills & Nash575245
22Love's Been A Little Hard On MeJuice Newton473780
21GypsyFleetwood Mac83
20Up Where We BelongJoe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes912
19Eye In The SkyAlan Parsons Project322826
18Chariots Of FireVangelis121038
17Somebody's BabyJackson Browne683341
16Sweet DreamsAir Supply284827
15AbracadabraSteve Miller Band9215
14Make A Move On MeOlivia Newton-John8435
13Don't You Want MeHuman League665
12Hurts So GoodJohn Cougar8147
11I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)Hall & Oates153240
10That GirlStevie Wonder431279
9Hold MeFleetwood Mac311931
8I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)Michael McDonald812439
7Jack & DianeJohn Cougar7810
6Eye Of The TigerSurvivor213
5Ebony and IvoryPaul McCartney with Stevie Wonder4418
4RosannaToto14188
3Don't Talk To StrangersRick Springfield201714
2Hard To Say I'm SorryChicago10111
1Open ArmsJourney342111

The two Joan Jett tracks, as well as Greg Guidry's song, are still absent from Spotify's library.

The chart below features peak positions from Billboard's Hot 100, Rock and Adult Contemporary (A/C) charts.
R&R
title
artist
Hot 100
Rock
A/C
82
I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)
Donald Fagen
26
17
8
81
Love Will Turn You Around
Kenny Rogers
13
1
80
Crimson & Clover
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
7
6
79
Waiting On A Friend
Rolling Stones
13
8
78
Hold On
Santana
15
17
34
77
Always On My Mind
Willie Nelson
5
2
76
Goin' Down
Greg Guidry
17
11
75
Without You
Franke & the Knockouts
24
74
Just Once
Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram
17
7
73
Gloria
Laura Branigan
2
28
72
Southern Cross
Crosby, Stills & Nash
18
39
6
71
What Kind Of Fool Am I
Rick Springfield
21
70
Key Largo
Bertie Higgins
8
1
69
Blue Eyes
Elton John
12
1
68
Should I Do It
Pointer Sisters
13
19
67
Don't Fight It
Kenny Loggins with Steve Perry
17
4
66
Spirits In The Material World
The Police
11
7
65
Mirror, Mirror
Diana Ross
8
64
Turn Your Love Around
George Benson
5
9
63
Shake It Up
The Cars
4
2
62
Maneater
Hall & Oates
1
18
14
61
Heart Attack
Olivia Newton-John
3
60
Man On Your Mind
Little River Band
14
26
59
Tainted Love
Soft Cell
8
12
58
Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)
Elton John
13
18
57
Keep The Fire Burnin'
REO Speedwagon
7
2
56
Heartlight
Neil Diamond
5
1
55
Time
Alan Parsons Project
15
10
54
You Could Have Been With Me
Sheena Easton
15
6
53
Love Me Tomorrow
Chicago
22
8
52
Truly
Lionel Richie
1
1
51
Vacation
The Go-Go's
8
13
50
Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)
Rod Stewart
20
29
49
Through The Years
Kenny Rogers
13
1
48
Cool Night
Paul Davis
11
2
47
I've Never Been To Me
Charlene
3
7
46
867-5309/Jenny
Tommy Tutone
4
1
45
Take It Easy On Me
Little River Band
10
14
44
Only Time Will Tell
Asia
17
8
43
Do You Believe In Love
Huey Lewis & the News
7
12
42
Centerfold
J. Geils Band
1
1
41
Caught Up In You
38 Special
10
1
40
Steppin' Out
Joe Jackson
6
7
4
39
You Can Do Magic
America
8
5
38
Even The Nights Are Better
Air Supply
5
1
37
You Make My Dreams
Hall & Oates
5
35
36
We Got The Beat
The Go-Go's
2
7
35
Who Can It Be Now?
Men At Work
1
46
34
The Other Woman
Ray Parker Jr.
4
33
33
The One You Love
Glenn Frey
15
2
32
Did It In A Minute
Hall & Oates
9
29
31
'65 Love Affair
Paul Davis
6
5
30
Heat Of The Moment
Asia
4
1
29
Only The Lonely
The Motels
9
6
27
28
Leader Of The Band
Dan Fogelberg
9
1
27
You Should Hear How She Talks About You
Melissa Manchester
5
10
26
Freeze-Frame
J. Geils Band
4
8
25
Take it Away
Paul McCartney
10
39
6
24
I Love Rock N Roll
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
1
1
23
Wasted On The Way
Crosby, Stills & Nash
9
9
2
22
Love's Been A Little Hard On Me
Juice Newton
7
4
21
Gypsy
Fleetwood Mac
12
4
9
20
Up Where We Belong
Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
1
3
19
Eye In The Sky
Alan Parsons Project
3
11
3
18
Chariots Of Fire
Vangelis
1
1
17
Somebody's Baby
Jackson Browne
7
4
14
16
Sweet Dreams
Air Supply
5
4
15
Abracadabra
Steve Miller Band
1
4
28
14
Make A Move On Me
Olivia Newton-John
5
6
13
Don't You Want Me
Human League
4
1
12
Hurts So Good
John Cougar
2
1
11
I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
Hall & Oates
1
28
12
10
That Girl
Stevie Wonder
4
10
9
Hold Me
Fleetwood Mac
4
3
7
8
I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
Michael McDonald
4
8
7
Jack & Diane
John Cougar
1
3
6
Eye Of The Tiger
Survivor
1
1
27
5
Ebony and Ivory
Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder
1
34
1
4
Rosanna
Toto
2
8
17
3
Don't Talk To Strangers
Rick Springfield
2
11
30
2
Hard To Say I'm Sorry
Chicago
1
1
1
Open Arms
Journey
2
35
7
In case you were wondering, 67% of these songs made the A/C chart while only 51% made the Rock chart. A surprising 23% made both charts.

2 comments:

  1. Glad to see my girl ONJ make the list twice but where's Physical? 1981 list, maybe?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Physical" ended up at number 57 on the 81 of 81 CHR list. [PDF] But to be fair it had only been on the CHR chart eight weeks by then and was still rising at number 2 in that particular issue. (Unfortunately, I uncovered no further info on it possibly peaking at Number One between then and the end of year. The 1982 Year End issue (linked in my post above) reports the song peaked at number 9 on January 8.)

      The dates tabulated for the 81 of 81 were Jan 9, 1981 through Nov 27, 1981.

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