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&R | title | artist | Hot 100 | Cash Box | WLS |
82 | I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World) | Donald Fagen | 100 | ||
81 | Love Will Turn You Around | Kenny Rogers | 72 | 80 | |
80 | Crimson & Clover | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts | 78 | 46 | |
79 | Waiting On A Friend | Rolling Stones | 94 | 88 | |
78 | Hold On | Santana | 61 | 54 | |
77 | Always On My Mind | Willie Nelson | 22 | 31 | 55 |
76 | Goin' Down | Greg Guidry | 97 | ||
75 | Without You | Franke & the Knockouts | 63 | ||
74 | Just Once | Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram | |||
73 | Gloria | Laura Branigan | 75 | 26 | 42 |
72 | Southern Cross | Crosby, Stills & Nash | |||
71 | What Kind Of Fool Am I | Rick Springfield | 84 | ||
70 | Key Largo | Bertie Higgins | 17 | 41 | |
69 | Blue Eyes | Elton John | 62 | 59 | |
68 | Should I Do It | Pointer Sisters | 89 | ||
67 | Don't Fight It | Kenny Loggins with Steve Perry | 97 | 48 | |
66 | Spirits In The Material World | The Police | 96 | ||
65 | Mirror, Mirror | Diana Ross | 86 | 53 | |
64 | Turn Your Love Around | George Benson | 27 | 70 | 37 |
63 | Shake It Up | The Cars | 23 | 23 | 64 |
62 | Maneater | Hall & Oates | 22 | 76 | |
61 | Heart Attack | Olivia Newton-John | 30 | ||
60 | Man On Your Mind | Little River Band | 92 | 81 | |
59 | Tainted Love | Soft Cell | 11 | 50 | 67 |
58 | Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny) | Elton John | 76 | 78 | |
57 | Keep The Fire Burnin' | REO Speedwagon | 50 | 63 | |
56 | Heartlight | Neil Diamond | 67 | ||
55 | Time | Alan Parsons Project | |||
54 | You Could Have Been With Me | Sheena Easton | 64 | 73 | |
53 | Love Me Tomorrow | Chicago | 29 | ||
52 | Truly | Lionel Richie | 7 | 52 | |
51 | Vacation | The Go-Go's | 87 | 39 | 74 |
50 | Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me) | Rod Stewart | 98 | ||
49 | Through The Years | Kenny Rogers | 99 | 70 | |
48 | Cool Night | Paul Davis | 52 | 24 | |
47 | I've Never Been To Me | Charlene | 38 | 29 | 66 |
46 | 867-5309/Jenny | Tommy Tutone | 16 | 38 | 35 |
45 | Take It Easy On Me | Little River Band | 41 | 85 | 9 |
44 | Only Time Will Tell | Asia | 49 | ||
43 | Do You Believe In Love | Huey Lewis & the News | 51 | 84 | 33 |
42 | Centerfold | J. Geils Band | 5 | 3 | 6 |
41 | Caught Up In You | 38 Special | 53 | 64 | 60 |
40 | Steppin' Out | Joe Jackson | 32 | 30 | |
39 | You Can Do Magic | America | 65 | 42 | 19 |
38 | Even The Nights Are Better | Air Supply | 37 | 55 | 50 |
37 | You Make My Dreams | Hall & Oates | |||
36 | We Got The Beat | The Go-Go's | 25 | 15 | 44 |
35 | Who Can It Be Now? | Men At Work | 30 | 13 | 21 |
34 | The Other Woman | Ray Parker Jr. | 26 | 20 | 57 |
33 | The One You Love | Glenn Frey | 75 | 43 | |
32 | Did It In A Minute | Hall & Oates | 66 | 68 | |
31 | '65 Love Affair | Paul Davis | 39 | 60 | 28 |
30 | Heat Of The Moment | Asia | 40 | 43 | 16 |
29 | Only The Lonely | The Motels | 29 | 49 | 32 |
28 | Leader Of The Band | Dan Fogelberg | 35 | 62 | 22 |
27 | You Should Hear How She Talks About You | Melissa Manchester | 18 | 25 | 17 |
26 | Freeze-Frame | J. Geils Band | 49 | 27 | |
25 | Take it Away | Paul McCartney | 70 | 45 | 69 |
24 | I Love Rock N Roll | Joan Jett & the Blackhearts | 3 | 5 | 2 |
23 | Wasted On The Way | Crosby, Stills & Nash | 57 | 52 | 45 |
22 | Love's Been A Little Hard On Me | Juice Newton | 47 | 37 | 80 |
21 | Gypsy | Fleetwood Mac | 83 | ||
20 | Up Where We Belong | Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes | 9 | 12 | |
19 | Eye In The Sky | Alan Parsons Project | 32 | 28 | 26 |
18 | Chariots Of Fire | Vangelis | 12 | 10 | 38 |
17 | Somebody's Baby | Jackson Browne | 68 | 33 | 41 |
16 | Sweet Dreams | Air Supply | 28 | 48 | 27 |
15 | Abracadabra | Steve Miller Band | 9 | 2 | 15 |
14 | Make A Move On Me | Olivia Newton-John | 84 | 35 | |
13 | Don't You Want Me | Human League | 6 | 6 | 5 |
12 | Hurts So Good | John Cougar | 8 | 14 | 7 |
11 | I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) | Hall & Oates | 15 | 32 | 40 |
10 | That Girl | Stevie Wonder | 43 | 12 | 79 |
9 | Hold Me | Fleetwood Mac | 31 | 19 | 31 |
8 | I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near) | Michael McDonald | 81 | 24 | 39 |
7 | Jack & Diane | John Cougar | 7 | 8 | 10 |
6 | Eye Of The Tiger | Survivor | 2 | 1 | 3 |
5 | Ebony and Ivory | Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder | 4 | 4 | 18 |
4 | Rosanna | Toto | 14 | 18 | 8 |
3 | Don't Talk To Strangers | Rick Springfield | 20 | 17 | 14 |
2 | Hard To Say I'm Sorry | Chicago | 10 | 11 | 1 |
1 | Open Arms | Journey | 34 | 21 | 11 |
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.
Glad to see my girl ONJ make the list twice but where's Physical? 1981 list, maybe?
ReplyDelete"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.)
DeleteThe dates tabulated for the 81 of 81 were Jan 9, 1981 through Nov 27, 1981.