The shattered dreams of 1988

On this week's Stuck in the 80s podcast: The one-hit wonders of 1988. And let me say this right now: It's a painful, painful list.

And thanks to the wonderful technology at IMEEM.com, you can hear the proposed playlist ahead of time -- before Mr. Daly and I even record a single slurred word. (You may need to register to hear the songs in their entirety):

Are we missing one of your favorite tunes? Drop us a comment and let us know. You have until tomorrow afternoon to sound off!

Comments

[Indy Nile]

1988? Did I miss the one-hit wonders of 1987?

[Marissa]

I can already hear Sean's falsetto on a couple of these .. Climie Fisher anyone?

Eight of those 15 songs are on my iTunes. One is on my 'guilty pleasures' playlist. I'll let you guess which one it is.

[jane]

That. Is one awful list. I have exactly two songs from that list on my iTunes: "Beds are Burning" and "Under the Milky Way."

I got all excited when I saw "Night and Day" -- but then realized it wasn't the version I was thinking of. Unfortunately.

There have got to be other options, but I'm stumped right now as to what they could be...

[Manchester Mike]

I enjoyed "The Promise" and "Beds are Burning"

Some other 88 hits not on the list -

Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Billy Ocean - .

Wild, Wild West, Escape Club - Got us ready for the 90s

Fast Car, Tracy Chapman - Good song, but completely 1-hit

Electric Blue, Icehouse - this song brings me back to my days in high school and working with a blond.

And of course, an honorable mention to "She like the wind" Patrick Swayze.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Hey, what's Basia doing on that list?

I have her on my two-hit wonder list, "Time & Tide" and "New Day For You". In fact I'd consider "T&T" the more obscure of the two.

[Paul]

I feel I would remiss in my duties if I did not point out that Midnight Oil was hardly a one-hit wonder.
Mainstream Radio, ok, I'll give you that. But over on Modern Rock radio Midnight Oil was on the airwaves for years to come. "Blue Sky Mine", "Forgotten Years", "King of the Mountain", "Drums of Heaven", "Truganini", and "Outbreak of Love" all broke the Top Ten, with two of them hitting #1.

Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers: "Tomorrow People," Giant Steps: "Another Lover" and Sly Fox: "Let's Go All the Way"

[El Mike]

Hey Steve, adding the imeem widget is a great idea.

I would add Fleetwood Mac's classic "Everywhere" to the list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbsaj0XHUeg

I also enjoyed these 1988 hits, which got heavy airplay at my high school dances:

- It Takes Two, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
- It's The End Of The World As We Know It, R.E.M.
- Knocked Out, Paula Abdul
- "Wild Thing", Tone-Loc

And yes, most of these sound more like 90's pop music, instead of 80's.

[Carla]

Can "Wild Thing" be considered a one-hit wonder? He did hit the charts with "Funky Cold Medina"??

[El Mike]

Oops! Missed that "one-hit wonder" part. Shouldn't be watching tv and surfing the web at the same time. So scratch my whole list.

Yes, both Tone-Loc and Rob Base would actually be two-hit wonders.

Tone-Loc: Wild Thing & Funky Cold Medina
Rob Base: It Takes Two & Joy and Pain

[Marissa]

It's okay, El Mike. We all get a little confused from time to time. I knew it was either that or you'd only been coherent for 1988 and now.

[Tonianne]

Gentlemen, I must toss the BS flag on this one. When I think "One-Hit Wonder" I think Gerardo of "Rico Suave" fame, certainly not Basia. No love for "Time and Tide," "Miles Away," "Cruisin For Bruising?"

What do you have against Australia? Midnight Oil is no more a one-hit wonder than, oh I don't know, let's say a-ha. And the Church? Check out "Metropolis," "Almost With You," "Just For You," "Terra Nova Cain."

Bobby McFerrin? The guy has TEN Grammys.

I'd hardly lump any of them into the same pile as Bardeaux (whose cheesy song - I cringe recalling - was on my answering machine).

Instead, why not consider Tanita Tikaram's "Twist in My Sobriety," Boy Meets Girl's' "Waiting For a Star to Fall," or S-Express's "Theme from S-Express?"

[Bassnote]

Here's a few from my iPod:
Common Ground - Rhythm Corps
What's On My Mind (Pure Energy) - Information Society
I'm An Adult Now - The Pursuit Of Happiness
Are You Sure - So
Goodbye Horses - Q. Lazzarus
Walk The Dinosaur - Was (Not Was)

[David P]

If you take the "one-hit wonder" label too literally, you'll drive yourself batty. Off the list would have to come Johnny Hates Jazz, who scored a second top 40 hit in '88 with "I Don't Wanna Be a Hero" (oh sure, act like you don't remember it!), the Escape Club (who hit the top 10 in 1991 with "I'll Be There"), and Information Society (who hit the top 10 a second time with "Walking Away"), not to mention Icehouse and Tracy Chapman.

Maybe Steve should put an asterisk after the term "one-hit wonders" in the show title for this week!

[Gary]

I say this with a staunch record of undisputed heterosexuality...I like Johnny Hates Jazz. There I said it. I'm out. http://garyj.vox.com/library/post/dirty-little-secrets-and-guilty-pleasures.html

[Bobbi]

Basia had a Top 30 hit just a few years after "Time and Tide" called "Cruising for Bruising".

[Ian from Down Under]

Oh well, I knew the time would come sooner or later. Steve and the list makers have lost their minds. I know you all know I am biased towards Australia, but having Midnight Oil and The Church as one hit wonders is like saying that Crocodile Dundee is a true representation of Australians. The first sign of failing came last podcast with Less Than Zero being labelled a "Bad" movie. Perhaps there should be a disclaimer on these one hit wonder shows stating "All artists appearing on this podcast were at one time one hit wonders. Although some of them later released songs that were hits as well, we still have them on this show because...because...well just because"
Can't wait for the Beatles one hit wonder show.

[Ian from Down Under]

Just adding a couple or three to the list.

The Only Way Is Up - Yazz & Plastic Population
Forever Young - Alphaville
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong (well he is a one hit wonder in our lifetimes anyway)

[Kevin]

1988 was one sorry year for music. Rock turned into "soft" hits and hamburger music in the late 80s. Bon Jovi was about the only thing approaching the real hard driving classics of the 70s and early 80s.

[Marissa]

I knew this would bring out the pros. yea! I looked at the list and wondered if more than a couple were 1-hit wonders, but I don't hail myself a music trivia know-it-all. So, I kept silent.

I don't agree that all the songs on that player up yonder are painful.
For me, the steaming piles of cow dung are Bardeaux and Vixen. Otherwise, it's not a sickening list.

Sure, some might be overly shmoopy and capable of causing tooth rot. That just makes them guilty pleasures.

[Marissa]

So, I went searching to see what other sites called one hits of 1988. Most of the songs Steve has on the player are all on the lists. Such as, The Church and Midnight Oil. Go easy on the Spearsy.

[Jeff in Cuba]

This list has to include Boy Meets Girl.

It's sort of an '88/'89 tweener, but "Waiting For A Star To Fall" is a classic piece of one-hit wonderdom; a Whitney Houston song that even Whitney Houston wouldn't sing.

[Greg L]

I'm really scared to hear Sean give a go to that last note of "When I'm With You"....

Hey Steve -- any problems with us adding you as a "friend" on imeem so that we can keep up with your playlists? Thanks!

[Spears]

Add away, Greg.

[Ian from Down Under]

I'm not really having a go at Spearsy, just the whole one hit wonder process. What is a one hit wonder for one country, differs greatly for another country. I guess it's the little brother thing, but when the boys do an outside broadcast in Melbourne, I want to see them walk down the streets of this great city with a placard saying "Midnight Oil is a one hit wonder". And since they haven't made it here yet, the boys can't hide behind their Funion shield. I promise this is my last complaint about one hit wonders. Because there is only one year to go on this subject and then we can start all over again with two hit wonders.

[Rock_Vbrg]

I was in college in '88 and thought that I didn't listen to the radio as much then because of school. Now I remember that it was because a lot of the songs coming out were just crap. Some of the songs on the list just make my skin crawl as I dive for the "next" button others I really liked back in the day.

I do have a question though. Does "When We Kiss" sound like it should be from the sound track of those movies Sean finds so irresistible?

[John Hays]

I like Shattered Dreams and Beds Are Burning!

[Mike F]

I suppose Midnight Oil & The Church were one-hit wonders in the U.S., but definitely not elsewhere....the old A-Ha controversy is rearing it's ugly head again. BTW, Asia only had one hit in Australia, does that make them a one-hit wonder ?

[Boe]

The Church is one of my top three favorite bands. They are still making great music and played the State Theatre last year. Under the Milky Way is a fantastic song but there are many, many others. Give them a chance and they really grow on you. Noone else like them.

[Ray]

Just wanted to chime in with a quick compliment. I really like the addition of the imeem playlist.

I had been using seeqpod; however, this seems like a more stable tool.

[Al]

Hi Steve,

Fun podcast. However, Sheriff originally released their self-titled and only album in 1982 up here in Canada, not in 1988.

Technically, "When I'm With You" was recorded and made in 1982, and was a hit up here.

Other than that, good work!